No kidding. I'd order one of those in a red hot minute, then roast the back tires off it at every stoplight until I lost my license. That thing is pure badass.
I felt the same way when I drive the Charger R/T. I also feel the same way about the Mustang GT.
I wonder what it's like to drive. The Magnum is a large vehicle - the SRT is surely quick, but I wonder if there's a lot of roll in curves.
Nothing a stiff suspension wouldn't fix.
Small car is a Chrysler victory. The Chevrolet Cobalt is depressing - it brings absolutely nothing new to the game, it's not fun to drive, it's slow, and it's dated in more ways than one. Would you honestly say that the Ford Focus is any better? The Dodge Caliber really is the best car in this segment. The interior is classy (for the price point), it runs a CVT - a huge bonus in a car this small as it helps both acceleration and fuel economy; it's good-looking, and it's a roomy hatchback. It's very easily the best amongst this competition. By no means am I calling it best-in-class, but it bests the other domestic makes.
Note: I'm including non-domestic vehicles in my analysis because Chrysler/Dodge isn't JUST competing with domestic products.
To the bold: Yes, yes I would. The Focus has a billion things going for it more than the Calibur. But the most important thing is, handling. It grips, it doesn't understeer as bad as some would think for a FF card, and most importantly becase of the control blade rear suspension this car can do lift-off oversteer--which trust me is a blast. The others in this segment couldn't if their lives depended on it. I'll break down the small car segment as such:
Ford Focus = comfy, good looking, good options for the price (aka value), manual transmission models are quick, and the build quality is pretty decent for a Ford.
Chevy Cobalt = slow, cheap feeling interior, non-SS models are slow, horrible automatic (as bad as the Focus autobox), but it has decent value as a point A to point B car--which is the point.
Dodge Calibur = ugly outside and in, slow minus SRT4 model, interior feels even cheaper than the Cobalt, not good value, build quality is lacking, and the name is just terrible.
Honda Civic = too expensive, interior needs to be learned be liked, exterior is well designed, decent build quality, good mpg, lacking in overall sporty feel--and this includes the Si, and did I mention that it is too expensive?
Nissan Sentra (new model) = ugly outside and inside, too tall, seats are comfy, moderately priced making it decent value, definately has a better driver's feel than the others mentioned, and the engine is bulletproof and quite fun to abuse.
Toyota Corolla = ok looking outside and in, good mpg, slow, expensive when you equip it with options, comfy, and its still a girls car.
So I'd put the Civic and Focus at a tie basically, as it would be personal preference at this point. The Calibur is last, dead...freaking...last. I don't care if it had a HEMI under the bonnet--it is still rubbish.
Midsize sedan is, to me, a Chrysler win. I will admit having never driven the new Sebring, but I have driven the new Avenger. I thought it was quite powerful (and that was with the four-cylinder) and I loved the interior. I mentioned the reliability issues that ours had, although it was recalled for that problem; it handled nicely and the interior was quality. The Ford Fusion, on the other hand, is slow, it handles for crap, and the interior is awful. The Fusion wins on price - barely - but Chrysler offers better and more interesting options. Obviously Chevrolet is not a player in this segment awaiting the new Malibu.
Ford Fusion/Mazda6 and the Nissan Altima wins this segment hands down. Followed by the Honda Accord. The build quality of the Nissan and Honda alone trump anything from Chrysler. The Avenger is Hideous...and that is with a capitol H. The interior of the Chrysler products may look inviting to some, but it is horrid in terms of the feel and build quality. The Sebring's one trick pony gimmick--the heated and cooled cupholder--will no doubt fail within 60k.
Large sedan too goes to Chrysler, though that's a fact that most people would concede, given the 300 and Charger in comparison to the Crown Victoria (or Five Hundred) and Impala (or Grand Prix). Awaiting new vehicles in this segment from General Motors as well.
I'm again going to have to disagree with what seems to be everyone's love affair with the 300. Everyone knows how I feel so I'll just talk about its competitors.
The Five Hundred/Taurus for 2008 has the massively awsome D35 Duratec 3.5L V6 engine. And since it probably has more interior space than the 300 AND it is cheaper trim to trim, that to me makes it more of a value. Not to mention it would literally lap the 300's V6 models on the Nurburgring. But, I'd gladly pay the extra $$$ for the Nissan Maxima or the Lincoln MKZ. Or when it comes out, the Commodore...errrr...G8. At least the Charger is a better choice than the 300--and I would gladly buy an R/T Daytona with my own money...it just doesn't try to pretend to be something its not--like the 300 pretending to be a luxury saloon. Or sport saloon--I'm talking to you 300C! The Charger is one of only a handful of things in Chrysler's arsenal that is actually worth a damn.
And the Chrysler products worth something are:
- Charger
- Magnum
- Viper
- Wrangler
I think the list ends right about there...
On the midsize SUV front, Chrysler of course dominates with its Jeep division. The Grand Cherokee, even in base-model V6 guise, has a decent interior (not great, but okay for the price point) but better than that, good handling (great handling, in my book - nicely weighted, good feedback - perfect for an SUV) and very competitive pricing, particularly considering the overstock most dealers have. The V8s are thirsty and they definitely need a more competitive V6, but amongst its domestic competition - the ageing Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Trailblazer - it easily takes the cake. Regarding Ford's new Edge, I have strong reservations about that product and I don't believe quality is up to Jeep's level.
Jeep? Are you serious? The Jeep SUVs aren't the end all to be all in the SUV segment. The only Jeep product that should ever exsist is the Wrangler--and it is a purpose built vehicle like the Charger--and it doesn't pretend to be anything less than what it is. A rugged trail capable offroader that when modified can be a monster offroad vehicle.
We all know that Chrysler builds a better minivan than General Motors, which lacks a vehicle in this segment (though I have driven an Uplander and was quite unimpressed) and Ford, whose Freestar is among the worst automobiles I have ever driven.
The Winstar is out and is terrible from the driver's point of view. But there are much better people carriers than the Caravan. Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest, and the Kia. Yes, I said the Kia.
To the small SUV game, Chrysler would concede this one, running a dated Jeep (the Liberty) against an all-new and very popular Ford product, the Escape. However, a new Liberty is to arrive within months, I'm told. General Motors has no player in the segment, Equinox being notably too long (before you argue, this has been discussed before - it's an inch longer than the Honda Pilot - ready to call that a small SUV?). Dodge's Nitro belongs here and while I approve of it - and even marginally of its styling - I realize I am generally alone in that approval. And even I would certainly rather have an Escape.
The old Escape was trash, the new one is not. The Liberty is trash and the new Nitro thing is also trash. Honestly, and I mean this, the WORST vehicles I've ever driven wear a Dodge or Chrysler badge. Small SUV segment I feel goes to the new Rav4 or the new Escape. The new Rav4 is a huge improvement over the last model--and it has a beast of an engine. The new Escape fixes everything I hated about the old one. While I hate the CRV personally, it is still a much better vehicle than any Chrysler small SUV. I haven't driven any GM small SUVs so I can't comment on them.
On the large SUV front, the Durango is getting dated, but I consider the Chrysler Aspen a large SUV rather than a premium model, as similar Aspens are only $1000 or thereabouts more than Durangos. They're big, they're floaty, and they're not Tahoes, but they're not priced like Tahoes either - they've got more standard spec and a nicer interior for several thousand dollars less. I know the Aspen has been knocked here for being just a 'dressed-up Durango' but to me that's fine - it's minimal investment and though it won't get much popularity, it should. They're decent vehicles. Yes, General Motors has some new players in this segment in the form of the GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook - I'd love to get behind the wheel of one of those before making any judgements. Certainly the Aspen isn't as good as those vehicles, but they're not direct competitors anyway.
The Durango isn't as ugly as everything else under the Chrysler umbrella, but it isn't as good value as something along the line of; Nissan Murano, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX7, Ford Edge, Chevy Trailblazer, Subaru Forester, and the Toyota 4runner.
I'd take the Ford Edge or Mazda CX7 here, followed by the Forester and the Murano. Or if I wanted something larger I'd buy a Ford Expedition Limited. The new one seems to be 500% better than the previous generation.
That's my take on Chrysler vs. domestic competition. To me, Chrysler's vehicles seem to be simply on a slightly higher level than Ford's and General Motors'. However that's simply my take on the issue, outlined above.
That's ok, everyone is entitled to their opinion. 👍
A mini sports sedan? The automatic ones don't even have a tachometer.
No thanks - the Caliber might be slow, but at least it's not seven years old. In my opinion the present Focus is one of the worst small cars on the market.
Oh well, to each his own.
EDIT; The only models w/o a tach are the S models. Most Focuses I see are the SE's, or the S's with the optional tachometer.
The tachometer on the automatic transmission equipped Focus' from 2005-2007 are STANDARD on the SES but OPTIONAL on the S & SE models. Hell, the S and SE models with a MANUAL transmission have an OPTIONAL tach. That is one of the things that drove me batty on my 2007 SE 5spd--no tach. Well, no analog tach. There is a debug mode in the LED where you can get the car's technical data--which includes the RPMs in digital form.
And, M5, the Focus is most certainly NOT the worst small car on the market. I just can't believe you said that--and you prefer the Calibur all in the same thread.
So... a hint of sarcasm add in that post?
