Dodge Caliber SRT-4 Forums - View Single Post

04-06-2008, 11:06 AM

i figured this had topic had been explored before, judging from the similarities in specs on the cars, but i did a search of the archives and didnt really come up with much, so i figured id throw it out there.

my situation is this: i get out of school in a year, and im looking to get something new to replace an old celica ive been driving for about 5 years. i was gonna go for something more economical, but started looking at the more ballsy cars under the idea that this would be the only chance i'll have to drive something like that for a while, before i get bogged down with work and family. i should have about $15k to put down by the time im ready to buy. right now, it looks like a 2 horse race between the MS3 and CSRT4 after having more or less eliminated the thought of a wrx because they are crawling all over here, and the new volvo C30 T5 because i feel like it would probably be an expensive pain in the ass to get fixed when it comes that time.

the MS3 has been touted as a fantastic handler, and i've heard almost nothing but good things about it. i do like the styling of the caliber a little better, but i am more concerned about the performance, reliability, and every day drivability. i walk around at about 6'4", 185 lb, so im thin, but i need the leg room. the specs are similar between the 2, but most american cars i've been in have a tendency to feel a bit roomier anyway. i've also read some warnings about the clutch being lightswitch-quick on the CSRT4. i dont plan on living in an area where i'd have to sit in much traffic, but that would definitely not be much fun in daily driving use.

i have yet to get out and test drive either vehicle, and i feel that that alone may be my deciding factor. another big influence is that my uncle is a chrysler corp employee, and he would be able to cut the price by about $2k for me on the CSRT4.

im just looking for anything anyone has to say on the topic, even with possible alternatives, as im still in the research phase, so let it loose. thanks in advance for your help.

04-06-2008, 11:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
ianmcp Posts: n/a	CSRT4 vs MS3 i figured this had topic had been explored before, judging from the similarities in specs on the cars, but i did a search of the archives and didnt really come up with much, so i figured id throw it out there. my situation is this: i get out of school in a year, and im looking to get something new to replace an old celica ive been driving for about 5 years. i was gonna go for something more economical, but started looking at the more ballsy cars under the idea that this would be the only chance i'll have to drive something like that for a while, before i get bogged down with work and family. i should have about $15k to put down by the time im ready to buy. right now, it looks like a 2 horse race between the MS3 and CSRT4 after having more or less eliminated the thought of a wrx because they are crawling all over here, and the new volvo C30 T5 because i feel like it would probably be an expensive pain in the ass to get fixed when it comes that time. the MS3 has been touted as a fantastic handler, and i've heard almost nothing but good things about it. i do like the styling of the caliber a little better, but i am more concerned about the performance, reliability, and every day drivability. i walk around at about 6'4", 185 lb, so im thin, but i need the leg room. the specs are similar between the 2, but most american cars i've been in have a tendency to feel a bit roomier anyway. i've also read some warnings about the clutch being lightswitch-quick on the CSRT4. i dont plan on living in an area where i'd have to sit in much traffic, but that would definitely not be much fun in daily driving use. i have yet to get out and test drive either vehicle, and i feel that that alone may be my deciding factor. another big influence is that my uncle is a chrysler corp employee, and he would be able to cut the price by about $2k for me on the CSRT4. im just looking for anything anyone has to say on the topic, even with possible alternatives, as im still in the research phase, so let it loose. thanks in advance for your help.