DODGE CALIBER SXT Part 2 - Photography

After considering the financial implications relative to Dodge's smallest car, a Caliber SXT came into The Good Car Guy's possession. 

Before the official Driven review of the test drive appears in this space, GCBC figured images to be a good enough taste test. 

Indeed, many'a potential Caliber customer could be truly turned off by the blunt two-box design. 

Then again, what was found within the truck-ish design is certainly the Dodge Caliber's greatest advantage. 

GM CLOSES PLANTS

You were already directed to live video of Rick Wagoner's meeting with shareholders. I can't imagine that even the coolest, calmest, and most collected CEO enjoys shuttering plants. Now the news is confirmed:

Moraine, Ohio (midsize SUVs); Oshawa, Ontario (full-size pickups); as well as Janesville, Wisconsin; and Silao; Mexico (full-size SUVs) will shut down in 2009 or 2010. The sites average about 2,500 employees. The Ontario, Wisconsin, and Mexican factories build vehicles that are manufactured elsewhere, and there is not a small amount of conversation surrounding the product of Moraine (TrailBlazer, Envoy) going the way of the dinosaur.

The possibility of the Hummer brand being sold - any takers, any takers? - was also brought up by Chairman Wagoner. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

GM CLOSING PLANTS

CNN.com has live video of Rick Wagoner speaking to shareholders about the closing of multiple plants. This is just 'coming across the wire', but it seems as though Oshawa, Ontario, one plant in Ohio, another in Mexico, and perhaps another in Wisconsin are under the gun and likely won't last more than another year or two.

Keep in mind, it appears as though these manufacturing sites are all builders of SUVs or trucks. Wagoner is, after all, citing gas prices as the basic reasoning. This link takes you to a Reuters preview. Here is where you'll find the CNN action. If that doesn't work, check the main current headline at CNN.com.

DODGE CALIBER Part 1 - Canada

Two steps down from the Charger recently reviewed here at GCBC, $14,900 will buy you a very basic Dodge Caliber in the United States. About $1900 fewer dollars nets you a basic Dodge Caliber in Canada. Meanwhile, UK consumers can't get into a Caliber until they fork over £12,505. This proves a couple things: firstly, don't use XE.com to figure out the future price of a British-market vehicle. It don't work. Secondly, Chrysler LLC is treating Canadian customers very favourably.

Just how favourably? Though it's very true that the Caliber is somewhat uncategorizable - priced like a Toyota Yaris but sized like a Corolla or Matrix - a fairly direct competitor such as Canada's best selling car, the Honda Civic, costs many thousands of dollars more. Worst kept secrets don't come any worse than the fact that GoodCarBadCar.net has plenty of kind words for the Civic. "Good car" is a mightily apt description of Honda's almost-iconic small car. But....

But what? The Good Car Guy has already written about Chrysler's success in Canada and the Caliber's role in that growth. Then again, Honda isn't exactly swimming in debt and few would deny the emphasis that the term 'best-selling' has in describing a company's achievements. Nevertheless, GoodCarBadCar.net considers it an open-minded, enthusiast-driven website's responsibility to consider the options. Here's the Caliber's Canadian story, by the Numbers.

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5 - total Dodge Caliber trim lines available north of the border, plus the R/T with all-wheel drive, one fewer than that of Dodge in the USA which sticks the SE Plus between the SE and the SXT

2,073 - average price difference, measured with an assumed equivalent dollar, between equivalently named Caliber models in Canada and the USA, with the American car being more expensive every time, most notably with the $2,040 cheaper high-horsepower SRT4

36 - converted mpg rating from the Canadian goverment fuel economy testing for a Caliber SXT with the CVTransmission, 7mpg better than the U.S. government labels the same car

59 - estimated extra monthly cost, in CDN dollars, to buy basic Honda Civic in Canada, over and above a base Dodge Caliber, using as many similar terms as possible using the manufacturer's own websites

17 - estimated extra monthly cost, in CDN dollars, to buy a basic Honda Fit in Canada, over and above a basic Dodge Caliber, using as many similar terms as possible from the manufacturer's own websites

35 - estimated monthly fuel savings for either the basic manual-trans Civic or Fit compared with the basic manual-trans Caliber, using a fuel cost of $1.40/L and 2000 kilometres a month and the vehicles' combined fuel economy ratings

Check back soon for a detailed Driven article on the Caliber SXT and perhaps even more

RECENT CAR NEWS - By The Numbers

15 - vehicles available on the American market with six-speed automatic transmissions in 2001

181 - vehicles available on the American market with six-speed automatics today

3,000,000 - anticipated total of annual transmission production with six speeds by General Motors in 2010

1,300,000 - total production of six-speed automatics by the preeminent transmission maker ZF last year

2012 - year in which Ford believes 98% of its North American vehicles will have six speeds

18.9 - average number of income weeks needed by a Canadian family to buy a new car, making 2007 car prices relatively similar to that of 1991 car prices; at least as reflected by before-tax income

28 - years of seniority claimed by a General Motors plant worker who disobeyed signs warning against cell-phone cameras, resulting in photos of the new Chevrolet Camaro in production and.... a firing

60 - years since the first Porsche 356 received type approval and homologation, to be officially marked on June 8th

4,500 - jobs to be created by Ford's $3B investment in its Cuautitlán, Mexico plant where production will switch from F-series trucks to the next Fiesta

5,564 - USD equivalent charged by Audi to have full LED headlamps on an R8, taking the total to 54

12 - life-cycle of the first Ford Ka, ready to be replaced by the '09 Ka, a cah (Kennedy-speak) that shares much under the skin with Fiat 500

30,855 - base price in the United States and in USD of the Lexus IS250

31,900 - base price in Canada and in CDN of the Lexus IS250, a price gap of just $1,045 that excited Canadian Lexus buyers to no end

FIT+ = HONDA FREED

Eight seat transportation in North America typically comes standard with a large V6 (minivan or large crossover) or a gigantic V8; as in Chevrolet Suburban or Ford Expedition. Imagine those eight seats squished into a vehicle that's not nearly as long but rather upright and suitably wide. Imagine again - an eight seat vehicle with a Honda badge (not a Pilot) that's powered by a small four-cylinder. Just 1.5litres of four-cylinder, freed to transport you, your offspring, and their friends.

It's unusual to suggest that an automatic transmission or CVT; paired with an engine pumping out little more than 100 horsepower, is freed to do anything. Not surprisingly, Freed is used in connection with a Japanese-market vehicle, a place where the Mysterious Utility and the Bravo Exceed for outdo Freed for dorkiness.

The Freed will be a very inexpensive family vehicle. Honda figures that 40% of its parts were already produced for the Fit, a version of which is a member of GoodCarBadCar.net's Good 12. Honda sales have jumped over 7% this year in a country that's facing a dramatic decline in overall sales. The hope is to push 4,000 Freeds per month in their home nation.

Doubtful though it may be that the Freed competes on space terms with a good ol' Texas Suburban, Honda knows good and well that Tokyo roads are suitable only for vehicles of small stature. At the same time, Japan's government and many businesses are pushing families to reproduce at a higher rate. Replacing the Mobilio with a front or all-wheel drive, somewhat fun-to-drive, very economic solution should hit at the core of what 4,000 buyers need.

Could the Freed compliment the Odyssey in the North American Honda lineup? Don't count out the possibility, as Honda is open to exporting the Freed. Gas prices would have to continue to rise, and even with that, a Civic-sized engine would perhaps be mandatory for power-hungry midwesterners.

SHENANDOAH -BY PT CRUISER

If you leave Chantilly, Virginia and head west towards Front Royal, consider yourself very close to Shenandoah National Park. The Skyline Drive heads south from Front Royal until the park ends and you enter the George Washington National Forest. You can soon consider yourself on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which will take you around Roanoke and into North Carolina. Skyline Drive , from the north at Front Royal to the south at Rockfish Gap, runs 105 miles (170km). However, you are not driving the typical highway speed of a mile-a-minute, nor do you wish to.

We were definitely enjoying the space of a Chrysler PT Cruiser. There are a few quirks I could do without in the tall retro hatch, such as window controls above the stereo; underneath the clock. Didn't I adjust? Not quickly, and even after 12 days the adjustment seems ridiculous. Besides, once home, there was no adjustment required for the normal position of window controls. Overhead lighting was under the sole jurisdiction of the driver at all times; and placed far in toward the wheel on the left control stalk. Awkward.

Radio reception was abysmal. When I say abysmal.... I mean... abysmal. One drive in another automobile, seven years the PT's senior, made clear that the radio difficulties were not peculiar to the mid-Atlantic states. Relative to the four passenger doors, either I was stupid (along with The Good Car Girl and brother) or the door design was poor. For instance, leading up from the side mirror to the highest point of the door edge was a terrible curl. My head is not prepared for that. We predict straight edges or something somewhat akin to straight. Thud, crack, bang, ouch. At least twice a day.

Cupholders were way to low for easy access. While driving, one's right arm would need a dose of Go-Go-Gadget to reach the drink and still have a head that was anything close to watching the road.

Whine whine whine, complain complain complain. There are specific circumstances in which these complaints surface. Impossible to read map on a busy and dark Virginia highway trying to find our hotel? Blame the overhead lighting. Driving the Skyline and wishing the camera could extend out the window just a bit? Try finding those window switches... grr. Want some hoppin' music for such a beautiful drive? Not gonna happen. I mean, not gonna happen. Out and in and out and back in the car taking pictures on the 3500 ft high overlooks in Shenandoah? You'll soon be concussed. Want your drink? Be sure not to drive off the side of Signal Knob while reaching.

But always the optimist, I discover these things. The Chevron at Elkwallow only charged $2.97 a gallon for regular gas, cheapest we saw all trip. The PT Cruiser was only gently sipping, which, in spite of the low speed, seemed impressive considering the mountain climbing. We were sitting in remarkably comfortable seats. Must've been inspired by the former Benz dominance in the company. The Chrysler had no trouble pulling up to overlooks at Gooney Run, Jenkins Gap, Hogwallow Flats, Gravel Springs Gap and Little Hogback. From the very high point near Little Hogback, we began to descend back to the 2304 feet at the Thornton Gap Entrance Station.

Exiting the park we headed for the caverns at Luray, west of Skyline Drive. 500,000 people do a 2 km walking tour underground each year. Of those 500,000 visitors and their many tour guides, some throw substantial amounts of money into one specific underground pool. Over the last fiftyish years, $623,000 has been collected from that pool and given to charity.

That pool is not the best reason to travel to the Luray Caverns. Clearly, it will inspire you to drain your pockets after already paying the $19 entrance fee. T'would be far better to pay attention to the stalagmite and stalactite formations; breathe in the cool, moist 14ºC air; listen to the stories of the discoverers; and check out the small car museum next door. Home to one Hispano-Suiza; one Bugatti; a couple Model T's; and at least one ancient Rolls-Royce. The PT Cruiser's fenders fit in quite well.

Before we left the D.C. area we considered driving back to the hotel by way of the main highway. Having already done over 30 miles on the Skyline Drive, we were positive in our resolve to experience the reverse drive with different lighting and angles and the low speed limit. There would be something sweet about a 10/10ths drive on the Skyline, but not your first or second or even fifth time through. We'd have missed so much.

Cyclists, hikers, and bikers abounded. The adjoining picture shows that some people had muscle cars which would have savoured an aggressive drive. The collective enjoyment of everyone we saw was an impressive thing to behold in itself. Plenty of oohs and aahs at the overlooks. Many impressive automobiles being used solely as seating and air conditioning units to effectively transport humans to the next overlook.

The PT Cruiser fulfilled its role on the only exclusive Virginian day of our trip. The slow and easy Skyline Drive would be met - within hours - by metropolitan Washington's rush hour. Hold on tight.