Hello GPONA. The time has come for me to buy a new vehicle for daily driving. I drive 15 miles to work every day and need to maintain a decent gas mileage, while still having room to store a few things and carry my dog around in if we take her somewhere, without her having to tear up my back seat haha. I have looked around for the past six months and have decided on getting a dodge caliber. It will certainly be a change going from a Grand Prix to a 2.4L 4 banger engine, but I think I will enjoy the change. Not to mention the car is a manual. I have driven a manual plenty, but have never owned one I will miss the power of the V6, even though it isn't much, but I need the extra space, gas mileage and the reliability that comes with a new vehicle.

I found one in St. Paul, MN which is an hour or so away from me and am going to be looking at it on Friday. It is a Dark Blue 2010 Dodge Caliber R/T. 2.4L with 19,300 miles on it. It comes with the remainder of the 3yr/36000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and the 5yr/100,000 mile power train warranty. It has a clean carfax with only one previous owner. The owner was a corporation, so I assume it was a company car. I think this would mean that is was well taken care of, but I cannot be sure until I see it in person. The asking price is $14,488, but that is with $1000 off for financing with them. I will not be financing with them, because of their high interest rates. My bank gave me a very good rate on the loan I need and I have a large amount saved up for a down payment so I only have about a $10,000 loan. I am going to be paying cash for the car with my saved up cash and the loan money from my bank. So the asking price for the car will be $15,488.

Because of this, they offer no $1000 off. I called the dealership anonymously a week or so back asking about another car and asking if there was any incentives for paying cash for the car, but they said they do not offer any benefit for paying cash, because they want to make money from buyers financing with them. So obviously their rates would probably be high ha.

If the test drive goes good and I like what I see, I am going to get it. I know there may be those that don't like them or say there are better options, but this is the one I want and choose haha. I have looked around for this model in my area for quite some time and this is one of the better deals I have seen. I love almost everything about this car.

This is not the first car that I have purchased, but the GP I got from a dealer in my home town that was friends with the family, so I got a good deal and no hassle required. This dealership is out of town, so I just want to be as safe as I can with this and be confident before I drive this baby home.

Anyone have any suggestions on how I can get them to knock some dollars off since I will not be getting the $1000 off for financing? Also what things should I make sure to ask the dealer and make sure they do before I purchase the car? My girlfriend's dad is coming with me to look at it and he has a long history of cars, so he will be a help, but I want to get some outside input as well.

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Quite the opposite in most cases actually since it's not an actual person's car, they don't give a crap about it because it's not their's, thus not their responsibility. I personally hate Calibers, friend had one because his uncle owns a Dodge/Chrysler dealership, and it was a POS even when he got it brand new!!! Fit and finish was terrible, engine had no power, the CVT was really inconsistently (obviously not a problem with the 3 pedal model), and the interior quality and plastic was just unexceptable. I think the plastic Saturn door panels are softer than a Caliber's interior pieces. Granted it was 07 SXT, so maybe they got better over the years (they did get a tweaked interior in 2010 so hopefully that better than what the early ones were), but it's an econobox that's for sure.

Just my .02.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

I will have to really be careful then. I will have to be thorough. I like that it has a warranty that will last me at least through the end of the year in case though.

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Yeah, any car you go look at, look at everything. Press every button, open/touch everything, look underneath, look around in the engine bay very closely, so on and so forth. Check the dipstick for oil level and any weird coloration. Even check to see if the spare and jack are in the car (also good to note if the spare has been used before). Just take your time and check as much as you can.

14.5 is a lot of money for a car which offers so little and doesn't even net very good MPG's, but again, that' just me. I could think of a lot of other cars to spend that kind of money on.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Yes, I know there are other options, but for me this seems like one of the best options. I like the way they look, they get good gas mileage and have enough space to store some stuff without giving up too much gas mileage. 29-30 MPG highway is good to me. I driver 15 miles highway to and from work every day so that is where all my miles are going to be at. Barely any city driving for me.

With only 10,000 left to pay off after my down payment, I should be able to pay it off in a year and a half with my current situation. That leaves me a lot of time with a decent vehicle and no car payment. That is what I am looking for most in this car, is the fact that I will have a newish reliable vehicle that will last me for quite a few years.

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Don't get a Caliber. There's many better hatches out there. Especially avoid corporate cars, because as Matt mentioned, nobody really cares about company vehicles. Former squad cars are a different story (need to be in good shape), but corporate cars get trashed. Look at a Focus. I like them, despite what others have said.

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2012 Ford Focus SE Sport
2012 MINI Cooper Clubman

I have ADHD and drive a Focus. Ironically.
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.

Focus isn't a bad idea, but I'd personally go with a Mazda(speed or regular) 3 Hatch.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Dodge Magnum FTW

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All sho no go...

This. But Mazdaspeed FTW.

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2012 Ford Focus SE Sport
2012 MINI Cooper Clubman

I have ADHD and drive a Focus. Ironically.
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.

Buy mikes car so he can get a BMW

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All sho no go...

Yeah. About damned time.

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2012 Ford Focus SE Sport
2012 MINI Cooper Clubman

I have ADHD and drive a Focus. Ironically.
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.

That's a shit ton of money to pay for a Caliber. I don't mind them, they're good little cars.. but the build quality sucks and the CVT transmission is horiffic.

If they're not willing to haggle, walk. They'll come around.

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Everything needs more Corsa. No exceptions.

Follow my journey of flight at
http://alwaysastudentpilot.blogspot.com/

Guy I work with is trading his Caliber for a Forte Koup. He hates it. Everything rattles, the CVT is AWFUL, it gets bad gas mileage, the list goes on. He's having a ton of problem with it and its only got like 30 something thousand miles on it.

Company cars are beat on. The truck I drive for deliveries at work was 8000 miles OVERDUE (so 13K miles total) for its last oil change.



Focus is a very good car. The Fiesta is a good car. Chevy Sonics are "cute." We just got one for deliveries at work but I haven't driven it yet. Impreza hatches are very good cars.

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'05 WRX STi - COBB Stage 2|Invidia DP|3" Borla XR-1|Coilovers|Camber Plates|Swaybars|Endlinks|Bushings|Braces|Anti Lift Kit|DBA4000s|SS lines|
Sold: 06 Cobalt SS/SC, 99 GTP 245WHP/326 Ft-lbs, 06 R6

Huge ditto on everything. The CVT sucks donkey balls, again not a problem is this particular cas in a manual, but being a company AND a manual is just asking for trouble. Chances are people who can't drive a stick to save their life drove the car so the synchros are probably worn and/or the clutch disc is worn pretty badly or at least glazed. At least an auto in a company car has a chance of slightly less abuse.

And yeah, that is way too much for a Caliber especially a company owned one (that's like saying a rental car company charging KBB for excellent condition on a car that was driven by 100 people and abused by at least 50% of them). And if they aren't willing to come down in price on something already overpriced, it's not worth trying to go further. Walk away for sure.

Don't make the mistake many people do in they buy the FIRST car they go look at. There are a million other fish in the sea and many others better priced, better quality, and better maintained.

Caliber is just like the Neon it replaced and how many people say "Wow, my Neon is such a good car. I'd willing pay thousands more than it's worth for another one with a crappy interior, so-so mileage, and fit and finish you can fit a finger between."

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Yeah, IMPREZA HATCH!!!!!

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2012 Ford Focus SE Sport
2012 MINI Cooper Clubman

I have ADHD and drive a Focus. Ironically.
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.

I can give you a great deal on a 91 VW Cabriolet

Impreza Hatch is a great choice and makes a sound that drops panties

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

I can make you a better deal on a 91 VW Cabriolet!

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'05 WRX STi - COBB Stage 2|Invidia DP|3" Borla XR-1|Coilovers|Camber Plates|Swaybars|Endlinks|Bushings|Braces|Anti Lift Kit|DBA4000s|SS lines|
Sold: 06 Cobalt SS/SC, 99 GTP 245WHP/326 Ft-lbs, 06 R6

Here's how you get your cake and eat it too. Ask the dealer if there are any penalties for paying off the loan early. If no penalty, finance through them and then pay it off with the bank loan = instant $1,000 savings. Make sure you do your research with the bank first to see if they will make that loan after purchase, and at the same rate.

Side note: Don't waste that tip on a Caliber.

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2005 GTP | F-body brakes | Parrot Bluetooth
2008 Silverado Crew Cab

^^Good advice, especially the side note.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

I say get a seat cover for the rear seat, then get a good tune and the gp should not have any issues getting high 20's on the highway. Just drive it like you want mileage.

Sent from my DROID X using my Thumbs via Tapatalk

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2001 white gt coupe with enough crap to make it run mid 13's with 3 bad pistons
2002 40th GTP sedan mostly stock

The lady friends 97 get's about 35MPG on the highway with a custom tune (when she's driving it's more like 31-32 though since she's a speed demon. I'm a slowpoke). Who needs a 2.4L 4 banger when you can get better mileage with a 3.8?

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

my GTP gets 36 on the highway but it has higher compression lol

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92 LeBaron Convert: Turbo 3L 97 Grand Prix GT 4dr "Frankenstein": L67 4t65 swap
97 Grand Marquis: Summer DD 99 Grand Prix GTP: Top Swap Beater

I may be able to run a vehicle history report or two on cars you're seriously considering on buying. If you're gonna look into a Subaru or Acura, I can run the VIN though the manufacturer's website and see if there's any recall work that needs to be done, or if there's an extended warranty on some drivetrain parts.

I personally recommend a Subaru Legacy/Outback or the Impreza WRX/WRX STi. The base Impreza is fairly decent looking but really has no balls after 3.5k rpm.

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