Comments on: Review: 2008 Dodge Caliber SE

By: W.L.

W.L. — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:11:01 +0000

I bought one in October & so far it seems to be a good little car. Good zhandling, runs well, speed & acceleration is fine. Has some cute features for a basic car. I also found a place locally (Tampa/St. Pete area) that gave me an estimate of $800 to install automatic locks & windows. Not too bad in my opinion. I have not had it done yet because so far crankin a window by hand hasn’t bothered me too much.

By: Michele brown

Michele brown — Thu, 20 May 2010 00:47:49 +0000

I am thinking about get one as well. All I’ve heard is the appearance of the car what about the engine and reliablity? Pls help going to buy in a few days!!

By: W.L.

W.L. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:19:24 +0000

Thanks for the review. My Car recently died and I find myself suddeny and unexpectedly needing to replace it. I am considering a 2008 Caliber SE for many of the reasons mentioned in the review more specifically; the price. Does anyone know if it is very expensive to have power locks and windos installed on this vehicle?

Thanks in advance.

By: Olle Jonsson

Olle Jonsson — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:06:08 +0000

Hello again Tim,

I have now had my Dodge Claiber in 7 months and will in a week have the second service. I´v driven it about 2500 kilometer under those 7 months. At the next service they will change the brake oil which I think is quite unnecessary, given the short time that I drove the car, I drive mostly on motorway. It has worked well and I am happy with it when I look at what it cost. What I am dissatisfied with is the gearbox. I will have to think in a completely different way and shift down much earlier than with other cars. I compare it to Saab and Volvo. It is much more plastics than the cars that I otherwise tend to drive, but despite this it is worth every dollar. The comfort is very comfortable but the view thrue the windows could have been a little better. What can be experienced as plastics becomes more evident when it closes a door a little too hard, there are not that heavy sound when the door closes. I hope that the Caliber will remain on the market and that FIAT want to keep the model, so I hope they look at the gearbox as I think it is really bad. Would I have bought a Caliber if I have known what I know today – yeas probably but If I was very rich? No that would have been out of the question.

Thank you and excuse that it was late in my reply – better late than never.

Olle Jonsson
* Most of this was writen in Swedish and then translated at Google.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:36:15 +0000

Olle,

Your English is easily readable, and definitely better than my Swedish would be. It sounds like you got a good price for the new car, even though you didn’t get much for your trade-in. I would be interested to hear how you like the Caliber after a few weeks of driving it. My quick review may not have done it justice. – Tim

By: Olle Jonsson

Olle Jonsson — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:14:33 +0000

Thanks for an intresting article… I try to read nearly everything about the Caliber. Tomorow I will get my first american car after that I have sold my Volvo V50 diesel that I have driven for 2 years, a total of 100.000 kilometers. I have read some swedish motorjournalist verdicts and they have some complais on this Dodge… I think they are wrong… they say that it´s difficult to look out throe the window in the drivers seat. Then I sitt in my Volvo I do not feel that the Volvo is better at that point, articles tend to be a bit favorable to the local car industri. I gott a god price for this new 2008 Dodge Caliber 1,8 SXT, an inferno red – in swedish crowns I pay 160.000 SEK, and on that price I also got 4 extra tyres for the winter and a hook for a trailer. ( aprox: 26.500 dollars, tax and al included ). The trade-in price for my Volvo was aprox: 16.500 dollars and that sucks…

Sorry for this poor american/sedish… but I think it´s redable.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:08:21 +0000

I’ve never had the… uhm… privilege.

By: Mike Arvin

Mike Arvin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:59:01 +0000

Tim, have you ever rented a Geo Metro Convertible?

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:30:47 +0000

Trisha,

Thanks for stopping by. Particularly with small children, this car makes a lot of sense. Awesome on getting the power locks added after the fact. I’m still baffled about the equipping of the car for rental the way it was. – Tim

By: Trisha Doudou

Trisha Doudou — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:16:59 +0000

I bought a Caliber and love driving it. I have two small children and couldn’t afford anything over 16,000, so it works for me. As for options, having no power locks is crazy!!! I got the dealership to foot the bill to have them put in. The windows do not bother me, but no cruise control has been hard to get use to. All in all, I wish i could’ve spent a little more money and got a better equipted car, but for now, it’ll do.