0
0
« Black Sheep CarDomain Blog Home What Did You Do This Weekend? »
March 30, 2009
It's Quick, Expensive, and Made of Plastic
By Mike Musto
RideLust.com
The title of this blog should pretty much sum up Dodge’s Caliber SRT-4. I’ve been driving this little bugger for 4 days now and although it’s not a bad car, it’s not overly wonderful either. The SRT-4 is Dodge’s answer to cars like the Honda Civic Si, Mitsubishi Lancer, and Subaru WRX. A domestic import of sorts, the SRT-4 is the kind of car you may buy when you’re in your early 20′s, as this is the image that the car projects. Is the car quick? Yes, it actually is–with 285hp under the lid, 0-60 in about 6.3 seconds, and a top speed of 155 mph, the little Dodge is able to hold its own with the imports.
The styling is pure boy-racer with bulbous fender flares, hatch-mounted rear spoiler and no less than three non-functional hood scoops. I understand the marketing behind it, but it just doesn’t do anything for the car. Look at cars like the Honda Civic Si or Subaru WRX–the styling cues are subtle and not over the top, thus extending the car’s marketable age demographic by about 10 years. At 36 years old, driving this car made me want to feel like I was 18 again, but in the end it just made me feel like I was a 36-year-old man TRYING to be 18… there is a difference.
Opening the door and climbing into the SRT-4 revealed a sea of plastic. The car has these wonderful SRT seats with leather and suede. But then you see that the dash, A-pillars, center console, and door panels were all done with this cheap grey plastic. Chrysler, if you are listening–what the hell are you doing? I can see the rental-car interior on the base Caliber, but on an SRT-4 that stickers for over $27K?? I understand the Caliber is a smallest of the SRT line, but I expected a lot more from you guys than this.
Performance wise the Caliber SRT-4 is hampered due to its front wheel drive configuration, as it suffers from a massive amount of torque steer. What I don’t understand is that Dodge makes the Caliber R/T in AWD, so why not carry that drivetrain over to the SRT-4? That’d solve a lot of the SRT’s driveability issues, with parts that are already on hand.
Sound deadening is also lacking. As a driver, it’s fun to spin the little mill at higher RPMs in every gear. It gives you the impression you’re going fast and makes for fun “ricer fly-by’s” on unsuspecting motorists. As a passenger though, I found out quickly that the fart-can exhaust note can give one a quick headache as my wife kindly pointed out when she told me to knock it off and shift. Now you may be asking yourself if I did in fact like anything about this car, and actually I did. The transmission was a peach, incorporating smooth shifts and short throws, handling was nice and crisp with smooth side-to-side and emergency transitions. No complaints about the brakes either.
In the end though, Chrysler has to look in the mirror and make a decision. You either make a commitment to producing a good quality car or you don’t. The Caliber SRT-4 is a car that is a bean counter’s compromise, and because of this, it doesn’t do anything particularly well. If you are going to try and sell me a $27,000 car, then make a $27,000 car. Don’t try and fool us into thinking you’ve done it–we’re smarter than that, we’ve got choices, and in the end we simply won’t put down the cash.
Comments
Post a comment
Please login to CarDomain to post a comment.
HEMIRYDER
May 8, 2009 at 9:16 pm
STARTING A CLUB FOR DODGE N CHRYSLERS HEMI R NOT NOT IN THE MARYLAND AREA IF THATS U CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
desertsoldier22
Apr 11, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Blah Blah biased domestic hater review…As far as paying 27K for a CSRT-4, this editor got raped. With dealer incentives they are going for 20K in a lot of places. That makes them a steal. The reason why the Caliber goes 0-60 in 6.3 is because this guy does not know how to drive. Most people on the forums have gotten the car to hit 5.8 which puts it in line with the 08 WRX and a 10th quicker than the MS3. Go to youtube and you will find a stock Caliber SRT-4 that ran a 13.7 1/4 mile time. These things are hard to launch and they have a radical boost limitation for the first two gears. They are also only a $400 dollar factory Ecu upgrade from running low 13′s
holyavenger69
Apr 1, 2009 at 8:09 am
And this is for all the uneducated people who seem to think the CSRT is not well built:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjQiQa_7DUk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecaliberforums%2Ecom%2Fforums%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D9262&feature=player_embedded
11.62 @ 128 mph
Stock internals
433whp/533wtq
factory turbo with a compressor upgrade
Darell Cox Racing is shooting for a 10.99 or less with a turbo upgrade kit they just came out with. Thats on STOCK internals may I remind you.
If thats not impressive, you guys need to stay out of the tuning crowd and stick to slow base model grocery getters.
holyavenger69
Apr 1, 2009 at 8:04 am
And one u cut open the top of the airbox, the middle hood scoop becomes “fully fucntional” since there are degrees of functionality according to the uneducated populus.
holyavenger69
Apr 1, 2009 at 8:02 am
Not only are the hood scoop and heat extractors functional, but it ALSO has a ram air style snorkel BITCHES!
___nes___
Mar 31, 2009 at 9:23 am
Another bad Caliber review! I knew it.
GreaseMonkeySRT
Mar 31, 2009 at 3:41 am
Killersharq, with a skilled driver, this car is entirely capable of sub 6 second 0-60 runs.
GreaseMonkeySRT
Mar 31, 2009 at 3:41 am
Killersharq, with a skilled driver, this car is entirely capable of sub 5 second 0-60 runs.
TrinityNX
Mar 30, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I am really tired of the whole “cheap interior” crap people keep claiming. hop in a neon… and tell me that this interior isnt perfectly fine for what it is, an upgrade to its predecessor. It’s more than adequate in my opinion. That SRT has a 27k because of all those options/add ons.. and probably was not negotiated. You can get them for plenty less with those features lol
I also dont know how you do not understand why this is not AWD. The R/T AWD retail was about $20k to begin with. Add all the SRT components, and modify the AWD to actually be AWD all the time… and you have a $35k 4banger dodge. No one wants to pay $35k for a 4banger dodge! They’d just go get the STi or Evo.
Lastly… what “fart can” sound are you even talking about? Have you ever heard a fart can or a neon SRT? This car is VERY quiet in comparison.
this is just another bias negative little review because someone expected “perfection” and didnt get it. Boo hoo.. go buy a luxury car if that is what youre looking for.
Killersharq
Mar 30, 2009 at 3:56 pm
0-60 in 6.3s @285hp seems pretty slow when you consider the 08 Cobalt SS does it in 5.5s with 260hp.
Blackcompany
Mar 30, 2009 at 1:50 pm
SRT-4 = Crap, next song.
rayjj
Mar 30, 2009 at 1:16 pm
the hoodscoop functions exactly as it was designed for this car. Just because other cars use them to direct air into the intake, does not mean that it is incorrect to use it in other ways. Other SRT vehicles use them to direct cool air onto the intake manifold to keep temps down, that it was designed that way does not make it incorrect. You need to open your mind up a little and realize that because something worked one way in the past, doesnt mean that is the one and ONLY way things function.
SouthernGuy8503
Mar 30, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Greasemonkey – my point is that even though its funtional its not being used as what a true hood scoop is made for, a true hood scoop is made to take the cool air from the scoop directly to the air intake, yes its funtional because its not some cheap ass stick on scoop you buy at the parts store, just that it doesn’t do what a hood scoop really supposed to do which is to take the air and put it in the air intake not just in the engine compartment
GreaseMonkeySRT
Mar 30, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Now you just want to argue semantics. Partially functional, non-functional, not a true hood scoop….please.
It is FUNCTIONAL. It is functioning as it was designed, which is to do exactly what I had just described. It is not just there for looks.
You also want to argue on the air flow now too. Dude, just give me a break.
I’ll learn to comprehend when you learn to use correct grammar.
SouthernGuy8503
Mar 30, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Greasemonkey – if you actually read what i said, i said they’re funtional just not fully funtional, they’re only partially funtional, a true fully funtional hood scoop takes the air from the scoop and put it right in the air intake, that scoop doesn’t do that but its still functional, just partially functional, learn to comprehend
>>
also i know about air pressure differences, hot air will rise as cold air falls but look at the size of the engine comapartment, there’s no room at all so it wouldn’t matter, the hot air will jsut mix with the cool air coming in the middle scoop
GreaseMonkeySRT
Mar 30, 2009 at 12:41 pm
If you look at the positioning of the “scoops” you will understand how they work with a quick and simple explanation of how they work.
The center scoop allows fresh air to come into the engine compartment while at speed. This creates a high pressure area inside the engine compartment. Now, since physics tells us that nature likes balance, that high pressure want somewhere to go. Since it won’t be going back out of the scoop where higher pressure air is coming from, it needs a place to go.
Since the exhaust vents are slightly further back, this makes it the ideal spot for that hot air to escape (remember hot air rises) and effectively help cool the engine compartment.
The reason all three are not completely cut open is to fight against water, snow, and whatever else get into the engine compartment through the hood. That’s why there is a plate in the middle which will deflect water away from the engine compartment, but not air.
They are not as open and effective as full open scoops, but they are functional.
Look at the Challenger SRT8. They have a very similar set-up.
GreaseMonkeySRT
Mar 30, 2009 at 12:36 pm
*Sigh*
So the vents on top of the Viper SRT10 are fake too?
We have had several chats with the SRT Engineers on caliberforums.com. They have said time and time again that they are functional and do operate. Just because they aren’t used with the intake system to the engine does not mean they are not functional.
Have you ever even heard of air pressure differentials in your lifetime?
SouthernGuy8503
Mar 30, 2009 at 12:26 pm
blackcompany – look at the middle scoop, how would hot air go out of it while your driving and while air is going in the scoop, when you only way hot air would come out of that middle scoop is if it was sitting in one spot idling, when your moving forward the air from the outside is going to be going in that middle scoop so it would block hot air from from escaping through it fromt he engine compartment
Blackcompany
Mar 30, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I don’t know if I would allow it in the category of Lancers or WRX’s…base lancers and Imprezzas maybe…at least you didn’t try to bump it into EVO or STI level. The WRX does 0-60 in just over 5 seconds now. Non functional scoops would make me take a dump on the car, literally if I was drunk enough. Car companies have been doing it for years and it has always been retarded. Even if its not straight cool air to intake it can be a vent to allow hot air to flow out of the engine bay…come on America!
SouthernGuy8503
Mar 30, 2009 at 11:42 am
GreaseMonkey – obviously you don’t know the purpose of a true hood scoop, a true functional hood scoop doesn’t let cool air in the engine compartment, it lets cool air straight into the air intake system to go into the engine so that so called air scoop on this car isn’t a true functional, but ya your right about the other 2 scoop that they let the hot air out of the engine compartment, but thing is since those let hot air out and the center scoop just lets cool air in the engine comapartment then they kind of ster up all the air so neither one can do its job 100%, so a true air scoop lets air directly into the engine’s air intake system, not into the engine compartment, so the scoop on this ca ris only partially functional, not an actual functinal hood scoop
I_Luv_Dusty
Mar 30, 2009 at 11:39 am
The AWD system used in the Caliber R/T is not capable of handling the power put out by the turbocharged SRT power plant.
GreaseMonkeySRT
Mar 30, 2009 at 11:17 am
FYI, the three hood scoops are functional. The main one allows cool air to pass into the engine bay at speed, and the other two are exhaust vents that allow hot air to exit. It’s called physics. Pop the hood and take a look for yourself.
Also, the AWD used on the R/T is not an active AWD system like Subarus. It only powers the rear wheels when it detects slip, and it also cannot handle the power and torque of the SRT4 engine.
NWSilverado
Mar 30, 2009 at 10:58 am
Awesome Review Mike, but, I too agree that it should have an AWD Stance especially with 285 hp at your foot. Though it seems a bit “brickish” perhaps it will appeal to some market. It just looks to much like a squished RAM To me….