Litesong I learned long that the internet leads many astray,however
I was not trying topsychoanalize you nor was I making apologies for you
but merely going by your many posts which I follow with interest.
I guess maybe I should follow my own advice with regards to forming
opinions via the net but for the last 2 yrs or so I had the impression
you are a serious enviromentalist trying your best to live up to the
image you project thru posts.
If i am wrong then shame on you for being a sham artist.

 

Well, that's the end of that thread. Let's move on shall we?

 

somethingness...Never been called a creepy geek. You wish to end this thread with your creepy geek characterization? Do you also sucker punch people & run, too?

bigtsr...Myinkling of environmentalism gets magnified on car websites & 'treehugger' labels easily get thrown around, as you have done. At other times I'm attacked for not being a treehugger. So you have erred twice in your 'treehugger' & 'sham artist' labels. I'll let you whiffat another generalization for your third strike. Then, I will tell you what I am.But you might be asleep already.

 

I made the decision to buy a Caliber after renting one for 4 days this past weekend. I see you guys seem to get better MPGs with the 1.8, why is that, I would think the bigger engine with a little more horsepower would get better MPGs (the engine doesnt have to work as hard to get the car moving) what is the HP on the 1.8 and 2.0, I was driving the SXT and was quite pleased, if I get the 1.8 how much power am I giving up?

 

10HP. 1.8L puts out 148HP, the 2.0 puts out 158HP. However, in regards to mileage, there's also the issue that the 1.8 is only available with a manual transmission, while the only tranny for the 2.0 is CVT.

(The almost-Luddite in me wanted a conventional auto tranny, but that's not an option.)

 

Hi Nohbody...Sorry for your...ludditity. ha ha ha

However, I see your ludditity did not deter you from lucidly loving the SXT. ha ha ha...again.

Your impression of the CVT is correct. The utter smoothness of the new tech CVT is different from othertrannies &delightful in operation.The CVT is continually in the proper gear in mostsituations to gain betterMPG than 4 speed automatic transmissions & never jerks along like usual automatic & manual trannies. If driven with a featherfoot, it can come close to the MPG manual transmissions gettoo. It mighteven beat manual trannies, except for the fact that underheavyacceleration, the CVT tranny's hydraulic pressure approaches 1000 pounds per square inch. Thispressure is supplied by the engine. MPG are lowered, not only because it is driven hard, but because it has to also supply those high pressures. However, featherfooting avoids those pressures & relatively high MPG can be obtained.

Don't worry that 4 speed automatics aren't available for the Caliber. Other cars have to worry that they don't have CVT transmissions.

Treat the CVT Caliber like an airplane. Set your rpms & away you go. Like an airplane propellor pulling you down the road(runway), you have acceleration without jerking. Like an airplane engine, the Caliber engine doesn't rise & fall in rpms. Can you imagine how disconcerting an airplane flight would be if it had to jerk & change rpmsevery change of 15MPH the plane experienced.

Unlike an airplane however, if you drive for economy, the Caliber enginedoesn't vibrate & roar. You see, the Caliber doesn't have to fly.

 

I know the CVT is supposed to be more efficient than an A/T, but even with going easy on the gas as much as possible the mileage I'm seeing isn't exactly knocking me out. Granted, it's better than the ~15MPG I was getting with my Eagle Talon, but so far I'm seeing only a little more savings on gas expenses through improved mileage than not having to buy premium grade gas (turbocharged engines not particularly caring for low octane ratings).

 

Nohbody, unless you have 75-89 degree hills where you live or floor it everywhere, you can count on 28-32 mpg and avg. 30 mpg on 13 gallons at avg. 60 mph 70% hwy and 20% city with the 2.0 cvt. I don't neccessarily feather-foot the car...I just try not to exceed 2000 rpm when getting up to speed, and not resuming cruise from 26mph. I have had my Caliber since January and have put 4800 miles on it right about. That's 12-13 tanks. So I will stick with those findings.

 

Hello all, I'm just a second cousin from over in the CTD section, and had a few questions. Most of them were answered in earlier postings, but it seems that the best possible mpg's for these Calibers are in the mid 30's. Anyone getting closer to 40 mpg?
I'm interested in a second but smaller vehicle to take some relief off of my beast for my daily driving.
Currently I drive a 2006 3500 CTD designed for heavy towing, which I occasionaly tow a 16k, 37' 5'ver.
Mileage isn't bad considering that this truck is over 8k lbs., 18 to 20 mpg. So, has basically, everyone been satisfied with the reliability and fuel economy of their Calibers? Has there been any reports of Dodge building a Caliber with a diesel engine? I know that VW is returning their Jetta in 09' with a 2.0 TDI that will see close to 45 mpg, maybe better.

Just shakin the bushes here, looking for good or bad opiinions on this car.
Thanks...

 

I have been driving my SXT for 1-1/2 yrs and the best mpg US for highway
has been 34-35 but this is not driving it to achieve better.
I usually set on cruise at 70mph and have been up to 80 mph more
than once on hiway.

Yes the Caliber comes in a 2.0L CRD diesel with a 5 spd but it's for
export only and it uses the VW engine,too bad I would have bought one.