ianmcp

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.

TheJohnCarlson

I own and CSRT4 and as far as the clucth goes, you will be completely adapted to it within a couple of weeks.

As far as the MS3 goes, all I can say is that I sat in one at the Dallas Auto Show this weekend and seats alone would have made the decision for me.

I sat in virtually every car in the CSRT4's class while I was there and none of the came close to the world class seats that are in the SRT.

ianmcp

yea, i went down to the javits center for the new york auto show a couple weeks ago. they had the speed3 there, but it was locked up, so i only got a chance to sit in the regular 3 coupe, and the seats in that definitely weren't top of the line, especially for someone my height.

GreaseMonkey

The MS3 blends in with everything else on the road. I don't like it.

Go with the CSRT-4.

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'08 Caliber SRT4

cSRT4

I find it frustrating when you google cSRT4 reviews, car and driver and a bunch of other pub's all bash the hell outta it, but IMO most of it is biased crap. I find myself reading these reviews and completely disagreeing with most problems/negative things they have about the car, and want to call up the guy who wrote it and give him my review.
I'm living in Ottawa Ontario and am using my cSRT4 as a daily driver, I gotta say i like how quick the clutch is on this thing; it does take alittle time to get used to it, but its fun and a quik throw. Ottawa's roads are pretty shitty right now after all the snow we had this year, potholes everywhere, and bumps galore, but the cSRT handles it all well (nice deeking and dodging with very little dody roll), i'm glad i got'r, plus it's a pretty practical car. I just helped my g/f move and was able to fit SOOOO much crap in the back of that thing, as much or more then my jeep liberty.
I checked out the MS3, but in my opinion, only fat old men wanting to feel young again buy MS3's.

tsaotablem

Well I was going to stay silent but the juvenile statement in the last post changed my mind.

I was ready to buy a CSRT4 in the fall but when they delayed the start of production and I needed a new car I bought an MS3. Although I still like the CSRT4 I am very glad that fate ended up pushing me into the Mazda. Phenomenal car. An absolute joy and thrill to drive. I love it. And there are many reasons that the car gets almost universally positive reviews.

BTW, I'm not fat, and I guess some people consider 34 to be old.

ianmcp

what kind of gas mileage are you guys getting? i know what the stock specs are, but i can push at least 4 extra MPG out of my celica by shortshifting it in more stop-and-go driving, and i figured the caliber could prob be capable of the same gains if i laid off the throttle a bit and didnt really run the boost up too high.

TheJohnCarlson

According to the car's computer, I average 25 mpg. I do mostly city driving and I by no means baby it.

ianmcp

shit, thats even better than i thought. i figured it'd be at least a couple below that under those conditions. there are naturally aspirated 4 bangers on the road that can't even run 25 mpg if you push em on city roads.

GreaseMonkey

That's because there's more load and more throttle to get them accelerating at a decent speed.

Ah, the beauty of horsepower and torque.

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'08 Caliber SRT4