Traded The Bee - But There's A Twist

[jeffaary]

I traded in the Bee today, but I didn't get the Challenger. The kids still can't get in and out of the car seats by themselves, so I still need four doors. If you may recall, just prior to joining this group I owned a Neon SRT-4, which is the best/most fun to drive car I've ever owned. I was T-boned in it and wanted to replace it with something with side curtain airbags, which is how I came to purchase the Bee. Well, with the current state of the economy and the auto industry there are some killer deals out there. Earnhardt's (a dealer I never thought I'd buy from after my previous expereinces there over the last 22 years) made me an offer I couldn't refuse on a Caliber SRT-4. Sticker was 26K and I got it for 17K, and I didn't get duped into buying Auto Butler, a security system, or any of the other nonsense they try to get you for. A legit 17K out the door, and I did alright on the trade-in. No sales tax, because the trade-in was worth more then the purchase price of the new car - never had that happen to me before. So I'm back to my roots, an SRT-4 with the correct number of pedals (3!!!!!!). This was really a no-brainer because the SRT-4 is almost as quick as the Bee (can be made quicker pretty easily if I choose), way more fun in a corner, and between the payment and gas my monthly car expenditure was just cut in half. I also got a new car in exchange for one that would have been out of warranty in another 4 months. I did have a bit of buyers remorse while I was waiting for them to prep the SRT-4, but when I left the dealership I was reminded of how much more fun three pedals is than two. I'll miss the Bee, but I can always get another one down the road. Now I have to figure out how to break it to the kids...

I'm glad we decided to change from AZLX to AZMMM!

[Junior]

If I ask really really nicely, can I take it out once? I've always wondered...

But cool man, congrats. You need to rally that thing!

[BritishNate]

sad to see the Bee go but congrats on your new ride i really like the SRT4 Calibers....

[jeffaary]

If I ask really really nicely, can I take it out once? I've always wondered...

Sure, you can try it.

As far as wondering goes, I'll just say this. When I did my SRT Track Experience last November there weren't any Caliber SRT-4 owners present, every one was either an LX or Jeep GC owner. When it came time to do the road course, the available cars were the Charger, Magnum, 300, and Caliber. The instructor told everyone that when cars came in they should jump in whatever was available in order to keep things moving. The first few times the Calibers came in they just sat. No one but me wanted to drive them. However, after I convinced a few people to try them, it was the LX cars that sat. Everyone who could drive stick wanted to drive the SRT-4.

The SRT-8's are slightly quicker in a straight line, but the SRT-4's are so much more fun to drive in a corner. Our trip to Tortilla Flats is what got me thinking about making the move. When we were going through the twisties, all I could think about was how much more fun it would be if I was in an SRT-4.

[Junior]

Put me in, coach! I'd love to try her out!

[jeffaary]

Put me in, coach! I'd love to try her out!

Well let's get that trip we talked about to Strawberry/Sedona going. That is the perfect way to put the SRT-4 to the test.

[srt8_hmi]

Glad you are happy, that's all that matters. Share your info on your trade, year, miles, etc. It helps people determine their market value. Just a thought.

[jeffaary]

Every dealer is different, and in my situation the dealer had a bunch of SRT-4's they couldn't move so they were willing to deal, but if you need to know numbers I will share them. The going rate for low mile (under 10K) 2007 Super Bees on Ebay is about $26K. Mine was not low miles, relatively speaking (32K), so I doubt I could have got that. I got $23K from the dealer, but if I had sold it privately I would have had to pay tax on the Caliber. That would have been almost $2k. So to match the dealer's offer I would have had to sell my car privately for $25K. I think that is the absolute best I could have done on my own anyway (I posted it here and on the Charger forum in February for $26K and didn't have a single interested party), and I didn't have to deal with selling it myself. So I feel good about the trade-in (for once).

[srt8_hmi]

I'd say you did pretty good on the trade-in amount. Ohio has the same tax break when buying new. It's so much easier doing the trade at the dealership as well.

[jeffaary]

If anyone else wants to get into a new SRT-4 cheap, Earnhardt's has 3 more (two orange and one black). You should be able to buy any of them for about 9K under sticker:

http://www.dodge.com/hostc/getWindow...HB68F28D564991

http://www.dodge.com/hostc/getWindow...HB68F48D713482

The window sticker for the third one is not online right now, but it should be back soon. They thought they had it sold earlier in the week, then the financing fell through. You can look it up here, it is the one with the price of $24,625:

http://www.earnhardtsgilbertdodge.co...8&SBmake=Dodge

[gn300]

What supprised me about the caliber is you can get an r/t in awd, but not a high hp srt they are front

wheel drive only?

is it the gatraig that doesn't work with awd or what?

[clifcuda65]

Congrats on your new SRT-4... Even though that "Bee" was also Sweet! I can't wait to see the new ride. As for SRT-4's, my brother just loves the hell out of his and says the same thing you do... It's the most FUN car he has ever had!

I also agree with you... 3 pedals are more fun then two!

Former ACCC member
Long live the AZMMM!

[ChargerChick]

Sorry to see the bee go, but congrats on the new car. I wonder what the kids are gonna say!!

[Jontoad]

3 pedals is fun. i do miss manual, but when i was at the SRT experience i was one of the few who would drive the calibers but they were way less fun. second and third seemed to be the only gears with pull, but those 2 gears did pull nice. the torque steer was horrendous with that car. it even drifted around the lane at like 60mph due to torque steer. the front end liked to push in the autocross too.

id like it for a Daily driver but i would never replace the Charger SRT with it.

[jeffaary]

I'm expecting the worst when I get home tonight. When we test drove the Challenger in February, Kyra got in and said she liked it. When I explained to her that in order for us to take the Challenger home we would have to leave the Bee there, she got a real pensive look on her face, took about 3 seconds, then told me she liked the Challenger but wanted to take the Bee home.

It will take them about 2 seconds to realize the Caliber doesn't have a DVD player (yet).