Also, a suggestion? Look for a Saturn Vue with the Honda V6. 2004-2007 MY. They aren't screwed together the tightest, but by god they last. The major mechanical things are solid, plus the running gear is all Japanese. They're a breeze to work on, and really do hold up well. I've always like the "original" Saturn's, and I consider the 1st gen. Vue to be the last "real" Saturn. It wasn't, really, but it was close.
Dodge Caliber?
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Look for a 2013 or older Corolla with the 4-speed auto.
The Caliber is/was basically a restyled and renamed Neon. How many Calibers or Neons has anybody here seen with 200k miles on it? That should give you a rough idea about what to expect from a 155k mile Caliber. I assume that YOU are going to be the person that she calls when the car breaks? Personally, I wouldn't put MY daughter or anyone else that I love in one.
You didn't mention how much you were willing to spend, but if you want something really cheap and still reasonably reliable/durable, get her an older mid/full size GM product with the 3.8L V/6 engine. A side benefit is that these cars are fairly heavy and actually quite safe. Insurance, repair, and maintenance costs will be low. Your daughter probably won't like it as well, but when SHE is paying for it she can buy what SHE likes, in the mean time she can either drive what YOU buy her or walk, this is what I told MY kids. I am a Toyota fan myself, but when it comes to really cheap cars, you can't buy a Toyota really cheap unless it has 300k miles on it, and even Toyota products wear out.
You didn't mention how much you were willing to spend, but if you want something really cheap and still reasonably reliable/durable, get her an older mid/full size GM product with the 3.8L V/6 engine. A side benefit is that these cars are fairly heavy and actually quite safe. Insurance, repair, and maintenance costs will be low. Your daughter probably won't like it as well, but when SHE is paying for it she can buy what SHE likes, in the mean time she can either drive what YOU buy her or walk, this is what I told MY kids. I am a Toyota fan myself, but when it comes to really cheap cars, you can't buy a Toyota really cheap unless it has 300k miles on it, and even Toyota products wear out.
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Originally Posted By: dogememe
A coworker has one and it seems to have treated him well though he is having some transmission problems it still drives.
Pass on this one. CVT issues and that will cost more than you paid for it. I saw a 2011 go to the yard last month with a bad CVT in it.
A coworker has one and it seems to have treated him well though he is having some transmission problems it still drives.
Pass on this one. CVT issues and that will cost more than you paid for it. I saw a 2011 go to the yard last month with a bad CVT in it.
I had an 08 SRT Caliber. The drivetrain, brakes and seats on it were terrific for the money. 3rd gear pulls would leave much more expensive cars behind.
That said, the rest of the car was horrible. I had an 04 Focus ZTS that was better in just about every-way quality wise. The Caliber had a leak somewhere around the back hatch, hard plastics everywhere (still have elbow pains). Like some one else mentioned they had corrosion issues as well. For me the only reason to ever get a caliber is the SRT version, or there are no other choices.
That said, the rest of the car was horrible. I had an 04 Focus ZTS that was better in just about every-way quality wise. The Caliber had a leak somewhere around the back hatch, hard plastics everywhere (still have elbow pains). Like some one else mentioned they had corrosion issues as well. For me the only reason to ever get a caliber is the SRT version, or there are no other choices.
How about a Pontiac Vibe, for a similar car with good (?) reliability?
You get what you pay for -- in the market, cars with a reputation for reliability will be ratty or will be pricey...
You get what you pay for -- in the market, cars with a reputation for reliability will be ratty or will be pricey...
Originally Posted By: brages
How about a Pontiac Vibe, for a similar car with good (?) reliability?
+1, great idea. Go for the fwd version instead of awd since less to go wrong. 2003 was their first year so 04-08 will be good. Reliable engine, trans etc...
Same basic design as a Caliber.
Check them out on www.carcomplaints.com to get an idea. An 11 or 12 Caliper will be much more reliable than an 07.
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Dodge/Caliber/
How about a Pontiac Vibe, for a similar car with good (?) reliability?
+1, great idea. Go for the fwd version instead of awd since less to go wrong. 2003 was their first year so 04-08 will be good. Reliable engine, trans etc...
Same basic design as a Caliber.
Check them out on www.carcomplaints.com to get an idea. An 11 or 12 Caliper will be much more reliable than an 07.
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Dodge/Caliber/
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Maybe something like this:
Originally Posted By: buck91
Looking at a 2007 Caliber for my college age daughter but I just don't know much about these. The price is OK but the miles are so-so at 155k (in the ball park of anything else in her price range). ANy major issues or common things to watch out for on these?
If its less then $2500 car in good shape maybe. Back in 2007 they were and are one of the worst cars you could buy in every way. Just way below average. I have no idea on build quality which would just be the final swift kick when you down with a mediocre vehicle like that.
Looking at a 2007 Caliber for my college age daughter but I just don't know much about these. The price is OK but the miles are so-so at 155k (in the ball park of anything else in her price range). ANy major issues or common things to watch out for on these?
If its less then $2500 car in good shape maybe. Back in 2007 they were and are one of the worst cars you could buy in every way. Just way below average. I have no idea on build quality which would just be the final swift kick when you down with a mediocre vehicle like that.
Originally Posted By: buck91
Looking at a 2007 Caliber for my college age daughter but I just don't know much about these. The price is OK but the miles are so-so at 155k (in the ball park of anything else in her price range). ANy major issues or common things to watch out for on these?
My recommendation with a Chrysler of this vintage around this mileage is to have a budget prepared for repairs. These weren't known to be the most reliable vehicles.
I speak from experience of ones my dad and I have repaired and from the particular vehicle a co-worker of mine owns which has 200,000km (125K miles) on now.
It's never major failures with these like engine/transmission but little things like sensors, window regulators, struts etc.
If the price is right and a repair budget is kept aside you are fine.
Looking at a 2007 Caliber for my college age daughter but I just don't know much about these. The price is OK but the miles are so-so at 155k (in the ball park of anything else in her price range). ANy major issues or common things to watch out for on these?
My recommendation with a Chrysler of this vintage around this mileage is to have a budget prepared for repairs. These weren't known to be the most reliable vehicles.
I speak from experience of ones my dad and I have repaired and from the particular vehicle a co-worker of mine owns which has 200,000km (125K miles) on now.
It's never major failures with these like engine/transmission but little things like sensors, window regulators, struts etc.
If the price is right and a repair budget is kept aside you are fine.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Don't get a vibe/matrix with stick shift.
This. As long as automatic Vibe is excellent in reliability. Orphaned brand means good deal too.
Don't get a vibe/matrix with stick shift.
This. As long as automatic Vibe is excellent in reliability. Orphaned brand means good deal too.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Originally Posted By: 14Accent
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Buck, I own a 2014 Jeep Patriot, which is a Caliber in faux Jeep clothing. Many quality control changes were made in 2011, 2 years after Fiat took over. More changes were made in the following years, and the change to the Hyundai 6 speed automatic transmission in 2013 was a huge improvement. I have a MOPAR professional mechanic friend that I consulted prior to buying mine and he had a whole list of improvements made after 201l. PM me if you want more detailed information, but you will forever be putting money into that 2007 model. FCA even made some small improvements to the solid (but unrefined) Dundee made GEMA engine after Chrysler parted ways with the joint venture.
He isn't wrong. The newer ones are MUCH better put together, and the Hyundai transmission is very solid.
The early ones have HORRIBLE suspension problems, alternator problems, AC compressor problems, HVAC problems, TIPM problems, the list goes on.
Remember, Chrysler was insolvent in '07, and the quality shows. The good parts suppliers wouldn't extended them credit for parts, so the cheaper suppliers did. Take, for example, the lower control arm on a Caliber. The OEM piece looks and feels awful compared to even a Mooh "RK" series piece. I say this with absolute distaste for RK series Moog parts (which are, inherently, cheap).
That, and the fact that they're pretty awful to drive and you could get a WAY better value for whatever money they're asking for the Caliber.
I don’t know that car … but thread could stick with that car. We passed a 2007 300 to my son … has more miles than this … zero unplanned work. We did the T-belt PM and elected to do water pump while doing the belt …
Never used a drop of oil …
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Buck, I own a 2014 Jeep Patriot, which is a Caliber in faux Jeep clothing. Many quality control changes were made in 2011, 2 years after Fiat took over. More changes were made in the following years, and the change to the Hyundai 6 speed automatic transmission in 2013 was a huge improvement. I have a MOPAR professional mechanic friend that I consulted prior to buying mine and he had a whole list of improvements made after 201l. PM me if you want more detailed information, but you will forever be putting money into that 2007 model. FCA even made some small improvements to the solid (but unrefined) Dundee made GEMA engine after Chrysler parted ways with the joint venture.
He isn't wrong. The newer ones are MUCH better put together, and the Hyundai transmission is very solid.
The early ones have HORRIBLE suspension problems, alternator problems, AC compressor problems, HVAC problems, TIPM problems, the list goes on.
Remember, Chrysler was insolvent in '07, and the quality shows. The good parts suppliers wouldn't extended them credit for parts, so the cheaper suppliers did. Take, for example, the lower control arm on a Caliber. The OEM piece looks and feels awful compared to even a Mooh "RK" series piece. I say this with absolute distaste for RK series Moog parts (which are, inherently, cheap).
That, and the fact that they're pretty awful to drive and you could get a WAY better value for whatever money they're asking for the Caliber.
I don’t know that car … but thread could stick with that car. We passed a 2007 300 to my son … has more miles than this … zero unplanned work. We did the T-belt PM and elected to do water pump while doing the belt …
Never used a drop of oil …
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