When you look at the pics, it doesn't look too bad, but I'll wait to see it in person though. I like the hood treatment and the rims. I read its got the brakes from the 300C upfront, but why not go all the way and use the ones from the SRT-8 300C? I guess we'll have to wait and see what the finished product looks like in person and go from there. I wish they could recess the grill inserts more though, something to give it a more aggressive appearance and less like a Durango!

 

Haven't seen one of these up close. I owned/drove a stock SRT-4 (neon) before my xfire and can testify to some scary-a$$ power in that econobox. The interior is as cheap as they come and it feels fragile on the inside. What an incredible shame. One of the absolute fastest cars you can buy (THE fastest for about 20 grand), yet the car screams Tupperware interior. Actually, that's a slight on Tupperware - Tupperware's a lot more sturdy than the materials in the Neon.

HOWEVER - for 16 grand used (what I paid last May) you cannot get more bang for your buck. The interior may suck - but the engine internals were designed to take 500 HP. It was truly a marvel. No turbo lag - just like being shot out of a cannon.

I hope the Caliber surprises like the Neon did. I hate what it looks like - but there will be plenty of people out there who will buy them. People love ugly cars - that's why manufacturers make them - I guess. As for me - I don't really need all that power, that's why I bought a beautiful car with decent power (My Xfire!).

 

hmm... if the general public were to have the same thoughts as those expressed in this thread (the car's ugliness...) and didn't buy this car (although it's projected to be dodge's selling leader) I wonder if they'll discount it to the same degree they did the xfire.

 

At least the seats aren't cheap in the Neon SRT-4!

 

Yeah, those Viper-inspired seats are cool! (and having four doors was nice on such a rocket.)

 

if you currently drive a crossfire then don't give the caliber anymore thought... i cam from a turbo '98 rt neon and a srt-4 neon after that... those where fun fast cars... then i went to take a look at a caliber at the dealer. it is taller than our pt cruiser, yet shorter and narrower !? so cramming 300 hp into a shoe box is the new trend i see. i will be happy to drive my underpowered sports car with full comfort and luxury with no worries of tipping the thing over haha...

if you want some real strong opinions on this car, ask what srt-4 neon owners think of it at srtforums.com ... large majority of them hate it with a passion for killing off their beloved neons ... i couldn't agree more with them honestly, what a waste of production space...

 

Well its not as ugly as the pontiac aztec but it sure is ugly...
I don't care how fast it goes in a line, can it turn?
The last good looking neon was the 1999 two door.
I would drive a focus before this thing.

 

i was trying to figure out who the parents were! obviously they did not opt for safe sex "that night".


funny... thanks

 

I saw the one at the Detroit Auto Show. My sister-in-law fell in love with it. She drives a PT Cruiser right now. She's excited to drive the kids around in it. But she probably won't get a srt.
The one thing that I saw on it that was a cool feature was the extra storage place above the glove box. It looked like another glove box that lifted open from the top of the dash. It turned out to be a cooled space to put your cold drinks in, and they would be kept cold for so long as you wanted. I would use something like that.
I definitely wouldn't look at the Caliber to replace the XF. They aren't in the same class!! I think the Neon people are going to hate it too. It's too much like a station wagon. Or a mini-me SUV!