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Dodge Calibre; Any Good?
Topic Started: Mar 20 2007, 09:52 AM (717 Views)
Shadowman
Engineer
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Thinking of buying a Dodge Calibre.......a 56plate with around 11000 on the clock.

Yet to have a test drive, but saw one parked up the other day and thought "I like that!"

Anyone have any experiences of these or have heard any reviews etc?
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John
Team Boss
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Big and a bit flash.... has one of the cheapest plastic interiors I've seen in a while and I suspect with each new Budget it's emissions and mpg will cause headaches...

but it is cheap and spacious for it's sector... Styling is a bit marmite... Yank tanks don't do it for me... but many will like it... It will be a rare sight on the roads which would be a bonus...

The Dodge will not be good on the twisty bits but will love the motorways...

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The Saint
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When we were looking at getting a new little run around I had a look at the Calibre (it was released here about a year ago). I was going to take one for a test drive (though to be honest I was never hot on the thing) but I never got past the sitting in the seats. The interior was decked in cheap and hard plastic, a horrendous cabin.
I ended up with a Honda Accord, and though more expensive, a million times better.
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The STIG
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This may help

click for TG test
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Kerri
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Chief Engineer
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Urgh! That Dodge is not nice! :(
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Kerri
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Chief Engineer
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Mind you, most cars sold in America look pretty awful! :(
And that Dodge is no exception! They drive bad aswell :(
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The Saint
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I beg to differ Kerri
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The STIG
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You may beg to differ, but you will have to do more than that if you're going to win the ensuing argument.
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John
Team Boss
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Kerri,Mar 26 2007
07:37 PM
Mind you, most cars sold in America look pretty awful! :(

Actually most cars sold in the US are Ford pick-ups.... <whistle>

If we had the same roads and access to cheap fuel more of us Europeans would be driving yank tanks... <think>

Like their styling or not ... you cannot argue with the standard equipment and the prices they pay... <thumbs>
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The STIG
Unregistered

lets see now.

Take 2 pick ups. for fairness we'll have an American Ford Ranger and an European (gah!) Ford Ranger, both XLT models

American Ranger

Standard Features (from www.ford.com)
Exterior:

- Raised Power Dome Hood
- Blk Nostril Bar Grille
- Black Manual Mirrors
- Black Door Handles
- Bumpers, Black
- Solar Tinted Glass
- Tie Down Cargo Box Hooks
- AM/FM CD/ MP3/Sat Capabl w/Auxjack

Interior:

- Rally Gauge Cluster
- LH/RH A-Pillar Grab Handle
- 60/40 Cloth Splt Bench Se
- Air Conditioning
- Color Coordinated Carpet and Floormats

Functional:

- Power Rack Pinion Steering
- Independent Sla Frt Suspen
- Gas-Filled Shock Absorbers
- 100k Mile Tune-Up Interval
- Intermittent Frt Wipers


Safety & Security:

- Personal Safety System
- Driver/Passenger Air Bags
- Adjustable Safety Belts
- Anti-Lock Braking System
- Child Seat Tether Anchor
- Rear High Mount Stop Lamp
- Securilock Pass Anti Theft
- Tire Pressure Monitor Sys

Warranty:

- 3 Yr/36,000 Miles Bumper / Bumper
- 5YR/60,000 Powertrain
- 5YR/60,000 Roadside Assist

Price for the standard car...
$16,500 = £8,394.07 (bearing in mind the favourable (to Brits) rate of exchange)

European Ranger (from www.ford.co.uk)

Key features include:
New powerful 2.5-litre Duratorq TDCi 105 kW (143 PS) diesel engine
16" 6-spoke allow wheels with 245/70 R16 tyres
Double-skinned steel pick-up box with 2-position drop-down tailgate
Pick-up box interior tie-downs and load rest
Pick-up box exterior rope rail
Electrically-operated door mirrors with body colour housings
Chrome front grille
Full-length polished stainless steel side steps
Two-tone metallic paint
Tinted glass
Front fog lights
Air conditioning
Black/Grey velour trim
Chrome-finish interior door trim inserts, window switches and door handles
Chrome-effect, embossed scuff plates
Leather-wrapped steering wheel with silver inserts
Electrically-operated front windows
Driver, front passenger and front seat side airbags
Premium 6-CD/MP3 audio system with 6 speakers

Cost - £15,995 = $31,446.75

Now for a wildcard we'll throw an Aussie into the ring

Key Features
3.0L Turbo Diesel common-rail direct injection engine
5-speed manual transmission
16" x 7" Alloy wheels Power steering Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
Driver and front passenger airbags
Fully independent double wishbone front suspension
Dual rate semi-elliptic leaf spring rear suspension
Front ventilated disc brakes
Front bucket seats
Rear jump seats
Sports Weave seating trim with matching door trims
Passenger side sliding lunch tray
Double lid centre console with arm rest
Under floor storage in rear compartment
6-disc in-dash slot CD player with MP3 compatibility and AM/FM radio
4-door dual rear access system
Rear quarter opening window
Chrome front grille,
door handles and tailgate handle.
Front fog lamps
Power exterior mirrors and windows Side steps^^
Remote central locking
4X4 shift-on-the-fly with electronic remote front wheel hub lock~
Up to 3000kg towing capacity**

Cost = $44,990 (austrailian of course) = £18,519.90

So. The American car is indeed the best value for money.
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u4coffee
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The STIG,Mar 27 2007
12:57 PM
American Ranger

Standard Features (from www.ford.com)
Exterior:

- Raised Power Dome Hood
- Blk Nostril Bar Grille
- Black Manual Mirrors
- Black Door Handles
- Bumpers, Black
- Solar Tinted Glass
- Tie Down Cargo Box Hooks
- AM/FM CD/ MP3/Sat Capabl w/Auxjack


It may be better value, but having the radio on the outside has gotta be a pain <think>
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The STIG
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HA! and that's a direct copy from the website too!
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Rob
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Admin
Kerri,Mar 26 2007
02:37 PM
Mind you, most cars sold in America look pretty awful! :(
And that Dodge is no exception! They drive bad aswell :(

A lot of cars sold in the US are a bit on the ugly side, I really cannot disagree with that, but we do have some of the best performance per dollar cars anywhere.
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The STIG
Unregistered

Calibre is better looking than PT cruiser.
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Startline Ed
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Engineer
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Anything is better looking than a PT cruiser.
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