Suitability Parameters:

Speed Merchants: Yes
Fashion Victims: No
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: No
Tuner Crowd: Yes
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: Yes
Euro Snobs: No
Working Stiffs: No
Technogeeks: No
Poseurs: Yes
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: Yes
Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:

*Mazda Mazdaspeed3
*Volkswagen GTI
*Subaru WRX
*Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X
*Toyota Matrix XRS
*Honda Civic SI
*Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V

Vitals:

Manufacturer: Dodge
Model tested: Caliber SRT4
Model year: 2008
Base Price: $22,435
Price as Tested: $26,145
Engine type: 2.4 Liter DOHC I4 Turbo
Horsepower: 285 @ 6,400 RPM
Torque: 265 @ 5,600 RPM
Red line: 8,250 RPM
Transmission: Getrag six-speed manual
Curb Weight: 2,966 lbs
LxWxH: 173.8" x 68.8" x 60.4"
Wheelbase: 103.7"
Tires: 225/45R19 BSW All-Season Performance Tires
Drive type: FWD
0 - 60 mph: 6.0 seconds (some claim 5.8 seconds)
1/4-mile: 14.5 seconds
Top speed: 155 MPH Electronically Limited
EPA Fuel economy city/highway: 21/26 MPG
NHTSA crash test rating: *****/*****

Also see:

• 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, Part One
• 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, Part Two

Acceleration:***
The 2.4 Liter DOHC inline-four features a small TD04 turbocharger connected to a relatively large intercooler mounted behind the grille, giving the trained eye a hint of the power lurking underneath. The little turbo spools up quickly and, given enough juice, propels the Caliber nearly as quickly as the Neon SRT4 that proceeded it, despite the addition of nearly 200 pounds.

Braking:****
Anyone who drives around Chicago can attest to the fact that, on most streets, one encounters a real-life example of every Driver's Ed video ever seen. Delivery trucks pull out of alleys you didn't notice, people on bikes zig and zag out of traffic, and pedestrians appear out of nowhere, making the brakes of utmost importance. In this case, the SRT4 was a worthy car for the Second City. The massive 13-inch vented disc brakes up front are shared with the Charger and provide serious stopping power without fail, even on snowy streets.

Ride:**
It feels as though the team behind the SRT4 was asked to set-up handling and ride in a way that would benefit both the more casual driver and the weekend racer. Unfortunately, both consumer types will be disappointed. If you don't plan on utilizing the car's MacPherson strut front suspension for spirited driving, you'll be bummed by the jolts you're going to experience on anything but smooth roads.

Handling:**
Respect should be given to whoever engineered the anti-sway bars, as the SRT4, which feels nearly as tall as it is, manages to keep the driver from feeling as the car is going to tip over when engaged in serious maneuvering. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the ESP. I was treated to an impromptu test of the car's electronics when it began to snow and found myself on the wrong side of a snow plow. The traction control light flicked on and off like it was part of a pinball machine. I never felt as though enough power was getting to the ground.

Gearbox:***
The Gertrag six-speed manual does its part in getting the hatch moving, providing crisp throws the whole way. The only complaint I have about the gearbox is its placement, neither high on the dash like the Civic SI, nor placed conventionally low. Once you get used to it isn't quite so annoying, but it's a drawback for those with long arms.

Audio:***
The audio system is routed through the navigational display, which is slightly awkward when flipping through the stations and trying to navigate at the same time. It's not a major flaw, but the new Chrysler system looks much better. Controls for the audio system are set behind the steering wheel, as opposed to integrated into it, which is something I prefer for a sports car. It suddenly takes the joy out of driving if the steering wheel is too cluttered with controls.

Toys:****
Because of the flat tire, I ended up driving two Caliber SRT4's (a pre-production and a production version). The only difference between the two was that the production model featured extra electronics, including the UConnect Hands-Free communications system and navigation. The UConnect system worked well, integrating with my bluetooth-enabled Samsung phone and providing ample sound quality (though the voice recognition, as always, left something to be desired). The nav system, on the other hand, was of the dial-and-enter variety found on other Chrysler products—not the new touch-screen version found on the new 300C. I wasn't a big fan.

The most unique feature on the SRT4, and the one worth the actual money (skip the navigation system if you want to save some scratch) is the performance display. Using a button next to the right reconfigurable display, the driver can switch from showing the temperature to screens that measure acceleration (0-60 mph, 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile) G-force and braking distance. I wouldn't bet my life on these numbers, but it helps when bragging to friends. Why isn't this feature on more cars in this class?

Value:***
With a price of $22,435 the SRT4 is a decent value, providing a lot of power and a fair amount of space. Nevertheless, there are better cars available at a similar or even lower price. For example, the Mazdaspeed3 comes in at about $200 cheaper and offers a slightly higher level of refinement. If you can do without the extra doors, the VW GTI starts with a base that's $400 less expensive.

Overall: **
The SRT4 never quite achieves what it's going for in terms of style or performance. Look at it straight ahead and there's something bold about the style, but step back and you'll notice the lines that still make it a Caliber. Open it up on the highway and there's enough power to get you smiling, but drive it on less-than-stellar roads and there's enough uncertainty to get you to slow down. I don't see it gaining the same following as the original Neon SRT4.

Part One of the Dodge Caliber SRT4 review appeared yesterday, Part Three will appear tomorrow.

For example, I've heard that adults love to parallel park. I'm barely an adult—I'm just turning 25. But when I got behind the wheel of the Caliber, I figured I should experience the car through adult eyes. And that meant I had to try to parallel park the SRT4.

If parallel parking is an aspect of your grown-up life, I'm here to tell you that you're not going to want the SRT4. The greenhouse slopes downward at the back, leaving a small rear window. The tiny window between the C and D pillars is completely useless. Bad-weather parallel parking is especially dicey. There's so much power flowing to the front wheels that it's hard not to spin them when trying to drive off of a small block of ice to realign the sporty hatch.

Once I got the SRT4 parked, I did a walk-around to assess the vehicle's visual impact—once again, through adult eyes. You know what hurts adult eyes? Non-functional scoops and vents. The stock Caliber hood gets three big holes and only one of them, the center hood scoop, actually does anything. The wannabe adult in me also didn't particularly care for the illuminated cup holders. They look pretty but are too large to fit my coffee.

Taking the car to Target made me feel better. Adults love Target. The SRT4 carries over a reasonable amount of storage from the base Caliber, including the Chill Zone storage above the glove compartment. This feature can keep water bottles cool—perfect for 14-degree Chicago weather. The interior contains the cheapest cut plastics I've seen in a long time, but at least it has a built-in iPod dock for when the kids want to play their spiffy tunes.

Wait, what the hell? I don't have kids. What am I thinking? It wasn't until I pulled into my local mall's parking lot for coffee that it hit me: I was taking the wrong approach to the SRT4. I have Nate to thank for setting me straight. Nate's responsible for making sure people don't park their cars at the mall and walk somewhere else. It's the kind of adolescent job that requires an adolescent mindset. He heard the turbo whirring from down the street and was there to greet me with his camera phone when I shut the door. He was pumped.

Nate loves to talk about cars and, specifically, about his early '90s CRX. At least I suspect it's an early 90's CRX, but neither the paint nor the body panels match. Though slightly older than 17, Nate possesses the spirit of a driver unrestrained by the concepts of ergonomics, mileage or contemporary trends in automotive design.

Talking it over with him, something in me changed. Remember I'm not yet 25, I'm 24. I could suddenly see the SRT4's appeal. The designers manage to take the not-quite-SUV looks of the Caliber and transform them into not-quite-sports-hatch. If you're into the import scene, the four-banger with that little turbo manages to produce an exhaust note both loud and, dare I say, somewhat more refined than the coffee can hanging off of Nate's Honda.

When I started driving the SRT4 like a teenager, it was a much better experience. Take off at every stoplight? Why not. Like the original SRT4, this version lacks the reassuring handling dynamics of its European competitors. But it doesn't make any promises in that area. It goes fast in a straight line, which is exactly what it's supposed to do.

There was only one problem. When you drive like a kid, you're only looking to avoid cops. When you drive like an adult, you look out for things like potholes. One of my driving companions during the week I had the SRT4 claims he saw the pothole that destroyed the front right tire, but I'm convinced it materialized only microseconds before we merged onto the freeway.

By the time we pulled into the gas station, you could hear the air escaping the tire at maximum velocity. My adult self really started to kick in and was understandably disappointed when I discovered that the car didn't have a spare tire. Adult self did like Chrysler Roadside Assistance, which sent over a flatbed truck promptly.

Youth, apparently, does have its drawbacks.

Dodge Brand Helps Tune Up a Tuned-Out Relationship This Holiday Season

Auburn Hills, Mich., Dec 13, 2007 - Zach Madrid of Colorado Springs, Colo., has been named the winner of the Dodge brand's "Are You Tuned Out?" search for the nation's most "tuned-out" car enthusiast and vehicle tuner. Nominated by his fiancée, Tricia Champagne, Madrid represents the 63 percent of men who, according to a survey conducted by Dodge and Ipsos Public Affairs1, are "tuned in" to their cars and trucks, sometimes at the expense of their personal relationships.

In her nomination essay, Champagne said Madrid is completely "tuned-out," so much so that she has no chance of having a "civilized conversation" with him if there is any sort of car show on television. According to Champagne, Madrid has sketch books full of visions, concepts and customized versions of his favorite Dodge cars, and has memorized the exact horsepower and torque for the entire SRT lineup.

"The Dodge Caliber SRT4 is awesome. I can't believe I'm going to have a brand new one sitting in my driveway," said Madrid. "I never thought when Tricia nominated me that I would end up winning the 'Are You Tuned Out?' contest! I couldn't have asked for a better wedding present or a better fiancée!"

In the last year, vehicle customization and tuning has exploded into a $36.7 billion industry, and Americans are spending 18 billion hours tuning and maintaining their vehicles annually2. To help these tuners (and tuners-in-training) get cool rides without having to spend all of their free time and money in the garage, the Dodge brand launched a search for the most "tuned-out" car enthusiast. Of the nearly 1,000 enthusiasts who entered the contest, Madrid was named one of four finalists to win an all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 - a vehicle that comes performance-tuned straight from the factory, which means tuners can spend less time working on their car and more time with their friends and family.

"In the 'Are You Tuned Out?' contest, we were looking for people who are so obsessed with automotive performance and personalization they never leave the garage long enough to really connect with their significant others, family and friends," said Ralph Gilles, Vice President - Jeep®, Truck, Advance Interior and Component Design, Chrysler LLC. "The Dodge Caliber SRT4 is a high-performance, race-inspired vehicle that comes 'pre-tuned' straight from the factory. We hope it will help tuners like Zach live more balanced lives, because all the tuning work is already done."

While Madrid won an all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, Champagne will be awarded a Dodge prize package, which includes Dodge gear and a $100 gift card for nominating the grand prize winner. The three runners-up will each receive a Dodge prize package, which includes Dodge gear and a subscription to Mopar magazine.

"While there's no guarantee Zach won't end up right back in the garage to further personalize his Caliber SRT4, we think the vehicle's 285-horsepower and incredible acceleration will keep him and Tricia happily cruising together for a long, long time to come," said Gilles.

Tuner Roadblocks
With so many people tuned into the tuning trend, Dodge asked consumers what they considered to be the biggest roadblock to having a tuned-out ride. Cost and lack of time were identified by 41 and 34 percent of tuners respectively, while only seven percent said being in a relationship was the biggest roadblock to tuning.

Additional survey results showed:

* Putting the Grrrr in Garage - Seventeen percent of men say the garage is their favorite place to spend time at home
* Date Night vs. Drag Night - Twenty-two percent of women and 16 percent of men would rather spend an evening without their significant other rather than have to give up their vehicle for the same night
* Tuner Vision - More than one in three women (34 percent) say they are tuned in to cars and trucks

Tune In to the Are You Tuned Out Contest Details
Between Oct. 24 and Nov. 15, consumers were invited to nominate themselves, their significant other, friends or family for a chance to win an all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4. During the registration process, participants were asked to submit a 250-word essay answering the questions, "Why are you or your significant other tuned-out?" and "How will winning an all-new Dodge Caliber SRT4 help you or your significant other tune back in?"

An independent panel of judges reviewed all of the entries and the four contestants who received the highest scores were named finalists. Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 10, consumers were invited to vote for their favorite tuner or tuner-in-training online at www.DodgeRUTunedOut.com. The results of the online voting were added to the judges' scores, and the tuner with the highest combined score was awarded an all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4. [Source: Chrysler]