Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: 451Mopar]
#79811
06/26/08 01:28 AM
06/26/08 01:28 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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If the Avenger had a 5sp stick available I would consider it. Before I bought my civic I was giving the avenger a good look over. I liked the mini-charger look of it, figured I could dress it up a bit and make it look cool, maybe do a mini-daytona/super bee package to it. The 2.4 put out decent power, but the outdated 4sp auto trans with no stick shifter available was a deal-breaker. The stick shifter in my civic shifts so sexy I just couldn't make myself go for an auto, even if it was a mopar. I know the caliber has stick available, but the looks of the caliber do nothing for me. However on the other hand if I would have waited another year for the SRT-4 version to come out, I might have choosen differently...
If fuel economy was not an issue, I would choose the magnum. I always loved the look of those cars. If you needed the milage, then the avenger. I don't care for calibers except for the SRT's.
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: 451Mopar]
#79812
06/26/08 01:35 AM
06/26/08 01:35 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 70,126
Here
DirectSubjection
Tacohead. The First and Only
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Tacohead. The First and Only
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 70,126
Here
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Any factors like mileage? Cargo carrying ability? What Magnum for under $15K? 
Ride eternal, shiny and chrome
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: DirectSubjection]
#79813
06/26/08 01:53 AM
06/26/08 01:53 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
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I have a friend who is an autobroker and can bid on these at the auctions. Most of these cars are fleet/rentals and the magnum seems to be the most car for the money where the price of the Calibers is almost what the dealers are asking.
The Avengers are all 2008 models, I guess they did not have a 2007 model?
The car is actually for my daughter who has a one year old, so the car has to have some room for the car seat and at least two adults. She isn't thrilled with the large size of the Magnum, but it is probbably the best car for the $$$. She likes the Calibers size and she wants denent fuel economy, but the Caliber seems almost too small for her needs, so I am leaning towards the Avenger. I test drove the 4-cylinder and the 6-Cylinder flex-fuel model and the 4-cyl seemed decent. The 6-cyl only seemed marginally quicker.
It's probbably too late to get this at the auction if you want it, but the auction has a Purple SRT8 Charger, I think #287 of 300 made?
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: 451Mopar]
#79815
06/26/08 04:15 AM
06/26/08 04:15 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,204
Fort Worth, TX
Clair_Davis
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,204
Fort Worth, TX
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Of those choices, and for the driver in mind, I'd say Caliber. The Caliber was my second choice when I was shopping last year, and it's a nice little car with great crash test results and a functional interior. I ultimately didn't buy it because I didn't like the way the base models handled, and bought a Honda Fit instead. The Fit is a tad smaller than the Caliber, but that suits me just fine, it's purely a commuter car for me. I just wasn't going to tolerate something that wasn't fun to drive, and IMHO the Caliber wasn't fun. Even the R/T handles only as well as a Honda Ridgeline truck according to one of the auto rags (C&D, IIRC), so it wasn't worth the premium price to me. I think your daughter would probably enjoy an SXT though, and she can fit a ton of family crud in one. Toting two child carseats and a giant stroller is cake in my Fit, so I know you can do the same in the Caliber. Plenty of headroom, and the front seats adjust easily, too. If the Caliber had a better tuned suspension, I would have probably pulled the trigger on one of those, but the Fit just blows it out of the water on any sort of sporting ride quality and in outright cornering. If that's not a real priority, the Caliber looks really good.
Clair
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: Clair_Davis]
#79816
06/26/08 07:38 AM
06/26/08 07:38 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225
Charleston
sixpackgut
Drag Week Mod Champion
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Drag Week Mod Champion
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225
Charleston
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just bought a new caliber and got the 2.99 gas deal. i like the car alot more than i thought i would.
i have checked milage a couple times now. it has been between 25 to 30 miles a gallon.
if you buy new, pay attention to the packages offered. like on the caliber you can get A/C for a $1000 option but the Prefered Group includes A/C, aluminum wheels, bigger tires, car mats, etc and will cost $1690 but then the give a package discount of $900.
Gen 3 power 6.22@110, 9.85@135
Follow @g3hemiswap on instagram
performance only racing, CRT, ultimate converter, superior design concepts, ThumperCarbs
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: cogen80]
#79819
06/26/08 11:55 AM
06/26/08 11:55 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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Quote:
i would be looking at something loke a Corolla. they have room for two adults and a kid with no problem. good size trunk too. and very good gas mileage. most likely in the mid 30's. they have the 1.8 l motor so they go decently. at auction you should be able to find them easy in that price range. in my opinion they are a way better car then what you have on that list.
You don't want a corolla. They just don't get gas mileage like they used to. They've just gotten to be too big of a car I guess. My parents had an 04 corolla with an auto trans and it just did not get impressive fuel mileage at all. Traded it in for a yaris sedan with a stick and it makes that corolla look like it's getting suv mileage in comparisin. That yaris with the 1.5 gives my 07 civic a good run for it's money as far as fuel mileage is concerned and is still bigger than the previous generation corolla(think 2001).
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: mark7171]
#79821
06/26/08 05:45 PM
06/26/08 05:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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dude, if she has a kid, a caravan is the only way to go.....
or look for a dodge stratus. dead nuts reliable, and really, really cheap (what the avenger replaced)
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD
1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!***
2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T
2017 Grand Cherokee Overland
2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: 451Mopar]
#79822
06/26/08 10:11 PM
06/26/08 10:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 70,126
Here
DirectSubjection
Tacohead. The First and Only
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Tacohead. The First and Only
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 70,126
Here
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Okay - reading the application I vote Caliber, I have one and really like it.
Ride eternal, shiny and chrome
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: DirectSubjection]
#79823
06/27/08 01:50 AM
06/27/08 01:50 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
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My friend went to the auction today and he said all the "small" economy cars were bringing top end prices. We didn't get anything today.
Talked to a guy who has a 1999 Caravan with 130K miles on it for $3200? He claims it is in excelent condition and has new tires?
The fuel mialage of these newer cars is not really impressive. The kid was driving my 1997 Concord LX with the 3.5L and it averaged 24 MPG, and can get 30 highway, but its about worn out with well over 200,000 miles on it, and almost no repairs. Here is a list of things that needed to be repaired: at 80K - A/C blower motor controller module. At 150K - Fuel Pump. At 160K - ERG valve replaced. At 180K - replaced the struts, cradle bushings, and intake manifold gasket.
I did replace the timming belt, plug wires, radiator hoses, accessort belt, coil pack and water pump as PM at 120K miles. Other than that just regular oil changes, and at every 60K do the trans fluid/filter, sparkplugs, fuel filter, and PCV.
I'm looking to replace the car because the trans started leaking, the brakes need replaced, car needs an alignment (suspension is probbably getting wore out?) and the plastic stuff is starting to become brittle and break, like the headlights and washer resivor.
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: 451Mopar]
#79824
06/27/08 08:01 AM
06/27/08 08:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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FWIW we have a 2006 grand caravan SXT 3.8L, rear air, power side doors, stow-n-go etc. we get 18-20 in the city in the summer and 25-28 highway. in the winter those numbers drop ~ 2mpg. it's very comfortable for 2 adults, a baby, 2 70lb dogs, and all our stuff on trips, is cheap to insure (less to insure than my wife's old 2000 escort ZX2 was)
and with all the seats folded down, you can haul 4x8 sheets of plywood...
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD
1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!***
2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T
2017 Grand Cherokee Overland
2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: Daily driver under 15K
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#79825
06/27/08 10:58 AM
06/27/08 10:58 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 247
DuPont, Washington
DZJim
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 247
DuPont, Washington
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Quote:
Quote:
i would be looking at something loke a Corolla. they have room for two adults and a kid with no problem. good size trunk too. and very good gas mileage. most likely in the mid 30's. they have the 1.8 l motor so they go decently. at auction you should be able to find them easy in that price range. in my opinion they are a way better car then what you have on that list.
You don't want a corolla. They just don't get gas mileage like they used to. They've just gotten to be too big of a car I guess. My parents had an 04 corolla with an auto trans and it just did not get impressive fuel mileage at all. Traded it in for a yaris sedan with a stick and it makes that corolla look like it's getting suv mileage in comparisin. That yaris with the 1.5 gives my 07 civic a good run for it's money as far as fuel mileage is concerned and is still bigger than the previous generation corolla(think 2001).
Well, after driving my '72 Valiant as daily/only driver since '99, and getting 17 mpg winter 19-20mpg summer, I bought a new '08 Corolla last January. Basic car, 5 speed, manual everything, and AC (can't get w/o AC)
Average mpg since I drove it away from the stealership: 43.1 mpg
Includes 900 mile trip from Calif to here.
My driving habit is what you might call subdued. I'm usually into 4th after 25 mph and 5th by 40 mph. Its flat around here and my commute is 12 miles one-way, mostly freeway. The speed limit is 60 and that what I drive, in the right lane.
$14,817.11 tax/license/fees. Out the door.
It is a pleasant little car. Stereo works good. AC works good. I expect that it will require little or no maintenance over the next 5-10 years.
My '65 El Camino awaits its resurrection patiently. I don't have much use for big blocks, soit will probably get a small block stroker.
The Plymouth? Its still running OK. Its #3 backup after the '89 Toyota pickup. 
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Have you seen the size of those things, they are sizable units for a supposed economy vehicle! We can fit 4 adults in my parents 4dr sedan Yaris no problem, so if these adults can't fit into a Caliber, IMO they have bigger(think belt size) problems! 
