Caliber

Just finished renting a Dodge Caliber - I usually rent a car for a trip
I might be interested in purchasing to see how I like it .. drove it 567
miles, mostly freeway, less than 100 miles city/town.

Won't be buying one. On STRAIGHT road, it requires constant steering,
doesn't handle corners well at all - ALOT of engine noise when
accelerating / decellerating.

Cosmetically -- the dashboard is like 3 times larger than it needs be,
VERY uncomfortable seat belts, radio / CD controls very complex. The
back "quarter glass" supports create a "blind spot" when backing. The
location of the cigarette lighter < for cell phone > was NOT driver
friendly.

It was "OK for a rental" and the gas mileage was "average", but I do
know after 567 miles in it, I won't be buying one.

Jon Jon wrote:
>On STRAIGHT road, it requires constant steering,
> doesn't handle corners well at all

I found that problem is the stock tires. Changing to decent tires cured
the issue completely.

- ALOT of engine noise when
> accelerating / decellerating.

I notice some noise on hard acceleration but not bad. It takes awhile
to understand the CVT transmission. Acceleration is actually faster if
you DON'T have your foot into it hard. Just takes getting used to the
difference in how the CVT works.

> Cosmetically -- the dashboard is like 3 times larger than it needs be,

Thats true but I find that common with so many newer vehicles. Maybe
has to do with the cab forward designs of today.

> VERY uncomfortable seat belts, radio / CD controls very complex.

Seats, belts seem very comfortable so not sure why they didn't for you.
They are adjustable on the B-Pillar for different height drivers.
I've driven a lot of Dodges and am used to the radio controls as they're
all the same.

> back "quarter glass" supports create a "blind spot" when backing.

Thats true. Could be better.

> location of the cigarette lighter < for cell phone > was NOT driver
> friendly.

Most of the time I do not use the lighter outlet and instead use the A/C
outlet on the center console.

> It was "OK for a rental" and the gas mileage was "average", but I do
> know after 567 miles in it, I won't be buying one.

It's nothing great but it competes well against other cars in it's
class. I greatly prefer the Caliber's interior to the Matrix or Mazda 3.