Any topic in which brings up my poor car, I am subject to ridicule, yet here on this site I remain. And I won't convince you to think better of it, I know she's horrible in a lot of regards. But she does exactly what I need her to do, go from point a to point b, which most of america needs. The ones who want to do it quickly are a lot less. But the thing is you guys hate on it unconditionally. They made something different, ok you hate it. Then they did what they could to improve it, fine you still hate it. But I get the feeling that even if we were to take the interior of a BMW and put it in there you'd still hate its guts, unconditionally. Sure it's all quite relative, and relative to most of the jalopnik viewers this car is crap, yet I can't help but find large amounts of humor in the fact that I see them on a daily basis. A car that 99% of you hate yet on the roads more often than you think. It does it's job for traveling with space and it does that at the very least. And I'm sure there are plenty of other cars that have stood though the ridicule of the automotive enthusiast world, but we aren't the majority, so just realize that your opinion is just as relative as anyone elses'.
As for the actual interior, about bloody time. What it should have been when it started, at the very least, if not more. This is what happens when you get that blood leech Daimler off of what used to be a better brand. Hopefully older better Chrysler comes out of this. Sure it's slow progression, but the key word is progression.
@UglyDuckCar: It would be interesting to have a Two Minutes Hate-Off between the Caliber, the Sebring, the Camry, and the Prius. All generally loathed by the commentariat, but for very different reasons. Pundits expect the Caliber and Sebring to split the Chrysler vote.
@skitter: Three would emerge alive. The Sebring would be unrecognizable even with dental records on hand.
The Caliber's weaknesses stem from a miserable CVT and a (formerly?) awful interior. The Camry's are eye-searing styling and an utter lack of driving confidence. The Prius's main fault is its owners and what it represents, as it has become a more capable car. But the Sebring has nothing in its defense.
@lauwd, she was lovey-dovey: It's a sad story we see over and over again. A young girl moves to Frankfurt straight out of high school, getting off the bus with nothing more than a small suitcase and dreams of being a car show model. Suffering rejection after rejection at her auditions, and losing her waitressing job for taking off too much time for auditions, she begins losing hope. She realizes that the competition is fierce in Frankfurt, and beautiful women are a dime a dozen. One day, after filling out an application at Starbucks, she sits down to read the local free paper. She sees an ad in the back: "Car models needed. All ages and sizes." She calls the number, and the man gives her an address and tells her to be there tomorrow at 3pm. She tries to ask some questions, but he responds, "Just be there at 3pm." She goes to the address, which is a warehouse in the middle of an industrial area outside of Frankfurt. She walks inside and sees a Viper, a Challenger and some other vehicles on the warehouse floor, and her eyes light up. The man she spoke with yesterday approaches her from an office, they have a short conversation, and he says, "You're perfect. Sign this contract and let's get started. I'll give you $1000 at the end of the shoot. Why don't you take a seat behind the wheel of that Viper and I'll snap a few pictures." The man takes a few pics, then says, "Beautiful. You're doing great. Now let's move on to the Challenger. Perfect. Now, would you mind moving on to the 300 over there?" She reluctantly agrees, after he reassures her that it's alright and that this is how all shoots work. They snap a few pictures, and then he leads her to another room, and takes her behind the blue curtain, and she sees the Caliber. She gasps a little. "No, I'm not comfortable doing that," she whispers. He says, "Come on baby. It's $1000, but you have to complete the shoot. That will pay your rent for two months. I tell you what, I'll give you an extra $500 if you model the Caliber." She thinks about it, and decides she needs the money more than her pride. But as Lauwd, She Was Lovey-Dovey said, the pictures went on the internet, and they will follow her around for the rest of her life.
@bmoreDLJ: An airbag is considered a passive safety device. This is in contrast to seat belts which are considered active safety devices because the vehicle occupant must act to enable them.
The size of the airbag is conducive to the size of the vehicle driver. So, in this particular case, the airbag is huge so it will give the utmost protection to the huge person behind the wheel.
@skaycog - Snarky?: Ha. My Australian friend was surprised the other day that virtually every American he knows either carries a pocket knife. Once he learns that lots of Coloradans have guns he'll be even more freaked out.
I guess the Paul Hogan stereotype doesn't really fit.
@skaycog - Just do it!: Hey, I still drink Coors, I just don't pay for it. Free samples at the brewery tour FTW! And if your friends were drinking Coors before, I'm surprised my comment had any effect ; )
Pocket knives aren't necessarily weapons; they're tools, like a screwdriver. And like a screwdriver, they can be used to stab people.
@Mad_Science: I've been in the back seat of an early Caliber, and they feel like they're made of plywood. The legroom is also only accomodating if your legs happen to be removeable (and, oddly, possibly made of wood).
Do we get the choice of blonde, brunette, or readhead model, or is it one of those "take what you can get while supplies last" things?
Also, I suppose that I should have known, given the Caliber's ranking against its competitors, but I never fully realized that the Caliber competes with itself.
@Tanshanomi: I can see it now...
Elegibility requirements for C4H (Cash for Hags)
Hag must be:
Under the age of 55
Over 150lbs
In a steady relationship with you for at least 1 continuous year.
Trade in value will be assessed on the basis of the attractiveness difference between your hag and the woman you wish to obtain. The bigger the attractiveness difference (on a standard scale from 1-10), the more you get for trade in value.
All traded in hags will be disabled by means of being sent to a nunnery.
FP: Your Volvo is awesome! Anyway promoted this comment
Psiu! Puxa!: You're right, Mopar or no car! was starred
Psiu! Puxa!: You're right, Mopar or no car! was unstarred
09/16/09
As for the actual interior, about bloody time. What it should have been when it started, at the very least, if not more. This is what happens when you get that blood leech Daimler off of what used to be a better brand. Hopefully older better Chrysler comes out of this. Sure it's slow progression, but the key word is progression.
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09/17/09
The Caliber's weaknesses stem from a miserable CVT and a (formerly?) awful interior. The Camry's are eye-searing styling and an utter lack of driving confidence. The Prius's main fault is its owners and what it represents, as it has become a more capable car. But the Sebring has nothing in its defense.
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I'm not sure Chrysler can hope for a better marketing slogan any time soon.
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"sigh...these pictures are going on the Internet..."
/implied face palm
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Well-played, sir.
09/16/09
That airbag cover is HUGE...it's even bigger than the airbag of a 1991 LeBaron! Why?
09/16/09
The size of the airbag is conducive to the size of the vehicle driver. So, in this particular case, the airbag is huge so it will give the utmost protection to the huge person behind the wheel.
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.50 (I win) ;)
09/16/09
.50 S&W? My .44 Performance Center was da bomb until they came out.
09/16/09
@skaycog - Snarky?: Ha. My Australian friend was surprised the other day that virtually every American he knows either carries a pocket knife. Once he learns that lots of Coloradans have guns he'll be even more freaked out.
I guess the Paul Hogan stereotype doesn't really fit.
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Pocket knives aren't necessarily weapons; they're tools, like a screwdriver. And like a screwdriver, they can be used to stab people.
09/16/09
Just look at those inviting rear seats:
[jalopnik.com]
They'll be outselling the Caliber in no time.
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Huba Huba.
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Also, I suppose that I should have known, given the Caliber's ranking against its competitors, but I never fully realized that the Caliber competes with itself.
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Elegibility requirements for C4H (Cash for Hags)
Hag must be:
Under the age of 55
Over 150lbs
In a steady relationship with you for at least 1 continuous year.
Trade in value will be assessed on the basis of the attractiveness difference between your hag and the woman you wish to obtain. The bigger the attractiveness difference (on a standard scale from 1-10), the more you get for trade in value.
All traded in hags will be disabled by means of being sent to a nunnery.
09/16/09
That reminds me of a joke my musician friend told me: "I quit the band. Now I just play with myself."
09/16/09
dash boards are now done by hand and not by ruler!!!!!!!!!!
i can already see progress!!!