Dodge Caliber

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by harryyiii » The next PT Cruiser will be based on the same chasis. I thought the the Caliber was on the Neon Chassis; and the PT was also on the Neon Chasis.

[millster]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »I thought the the Caliber was on the Neon Chassis; and the PT was also on the Neon Chasis.The Neon as we currently know it has been discontinued. The Caliber platform is replacing the Neon and its derivatives.

[jake75]

What is really strange is how they keep these cars on a "platform" so you can't see them up close. I was told in Ohio that there is a state law that requries this for cars not yet available for retail sale. Seems strange but we have a lot of very strange laws when it comes to the automobile business. None of the dealers can do any "business" at the auto show. They have to do that at their geographically restricted location only. For example, a dealer could not open up a mini-showroom at a mall. In Ohio the state sets minimum prices for beer, wine an title insurance too. Why? Follow the money. See who is contributing to the politicians.

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by harryyiii » This is intended to be a serious, high volume sales car. I never got the same impression about GM and the Vibe. I mean, I think vibes are great cars, don't understand why they don't make and sell twice as many as they do

[ZubenElGenubi]

I might add that the interior did not seem at all much larger than the Vibe's. Also, the rear seats on the show vehicle were cloth-backed! That's a poor design choice, IMO.

[Petrucci914]

I don't like how the tail-lights stick out. Looks pretty ugly with that. The fabric on the back of the seats is good and bad. On the Vibe the plastic gets dirty, scratches, and allows stuff to slide around. But if you have fabric you're looking at the possibility of tears and such that would not be good for the whole seat. We'll have to see how it plays out. I'm very pro-foreign cars but the Ford Edge looks to be a bit sportier and is based on the Mazda6 platform, so I hear. Looks interesting as well.

[ToolGuy]

The only thing that bothered me right off the bat and I saw it at DCX in December was...On a bright yellow car, production intent, the rear wiper squirter left fluid on the flat hatch ledge under the rear window. This ledge is painted body color and guess what? When that nice bright blue fluid evaporated it left blue outlines on the yellow ledge paint...I am sure people will notice this on just about any color! Too bad because it probably could have been fixed if someone thought about it. I suppose engineering though it would blow off or run off but it did not, dried right up. Now maybe this cars window was cleaned while it was in the stall I saw it in but still it could happen... This is being picky for sure I know but if I saw it so will others and really complain about it I am sure. I still like the car and may end up in one when my PT lease is done.

[Petrucci914]

It'd also be nice if cars projected a large bubble when it rained so our paint wouldn't get dirty. Of course that's rediculous. Functionality over beauty.

[ToolGuy]

"However this vehicles engine is a joint effort between DCX/Mitsu and Hyundai The World Engine. And the auto transmission used in the car is a CVT, a version found in the Nissan Murano. It is a Japanese transmission, JATCO is the company."Some of the engines will be built in Michigan...

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »The transmission should be solid as Nissan is good with their power train, now for the engine I am curious about for sure.... Too bad the 2.0 gas engine was not built in Japan or Germany... I read somewhere that the diesel engine has Audi and Volkswagen stamped on it. You are correct with the diesel... It is a 2.0L VW and will be introduced over seas only at first. For the states when it comes is rumored to be a 1.8L VM diesel. The reason why a 1.8L and not the 2.0L here is the 2.0L cannot pass the new emission standards.

[ToolGuy]

LOL!!!! I was just looking to make sure I spelled it right...VM Motori. Or people just say VM. Italian based and make one heck of a great Diesel. Widly used over seas too. Here is more after a google search... VM Motori s.p.a. of Cento (near Bologna), Italy is a major developer and manufacturer of turbocharged diesel engines. In the late 1980s and early 1990s they developed the series of HOAE described below. In 1995, VM Motori was acquired by Detroit Diesel Corporation of Detroit, Michigan. In turn, DDC was acquired in 2000 by Daimler-Chrysler. VM Motori is now known as DDC Cento. Details of the company can be found on the Detroit Diesel Website. VM Motori is still active in many aspects of diesel-engine applications, but not in aircraft engines. However, the Voronezhskoyeoptyno-Konstruktorskoye Byuro Motorostroeyeniya (VOKBM) in Voronezh, Russia has acquired a license from VM Motori and is in the process of setting up production of the VM TPJ 1304 HF described below. An outline of the five-year plan for VOKBM to bring the engine into production could be found until recently on the internet. VOKBM is well known for piston engine production including the well-known M-14 radial.

[millster]

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »Voronezhskoyeoptyno-Konstruktorskoye Byuro MotorostroeyeniyaNow I'm thinking you made that one up! To see the name Detroit Diesel in there, I've little doubt it's a good engine. It would be VERY nice to see DC bring a diesel to the states to compete with VW.

[Petrucci914]

They're all going to be diesel engines, or just the 1.8L? This is a big surprise...... never imagined a american/japanese company offering disel engines.

[ToolGuy]

For sure millster, Detroit Diesel would be great! In the states the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4L will all be gas... Not sure if when DCX introduces the 1.8L diesel here will it replace the 1.8L gas at this point. The VM 1.8L diesel is in the PT Cruiser over seas now! When you are charged for fuel by the size of the engine over there, a 1.8L is very good! Once this German guy was amazed was had a 6.0L engines over here!