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In 2016 you could add a Premier Interior option to Premium models. That was mostly hand stitching but also soft touch doors and better leather. Currently, that isn't a separate option but part of a new trim level and includes even more hand stitching and soft touch.
So I added the panels from the new trim level to have more hand stitching and padding.
Original red stitching in the car (and added GT350R steering wheel):
Old hard plastic and new wrapped, stitched and padded panels:
In 2016 you could add a Premier Interior option to Premium models. That was mostly hand stitching but also soft touch doors and better leather. Currently, that isn't a separate option but part of a new trim level and includes even more hand stitching and soft touch.
So I added the panels from the new trim level to have more hand stitching and padding.
Original red stitching in the car (and added GT350R steering wheel):
Old hard plastic and new wrapped, stitched and padded panels:
Installed:
.
Nice addition!! I avoided red interior in my old foxbodys at all cost, but love it in the 05 and up cars.
Did the worlds longest and smokiest burnout,my first in the stang.I tried a couple times before,but didn't realize I had to turn off the traction control
Yesterday I turned it off before leaving work,but didn't try to do a burnout.Today I decided to try it on the way home,but I didn't realize you have to turn it off every time you start the car
I thought she was a total gutless turd till I figured that out
Probly took off 10,000 miles of tread life
She just goes straight as an arrow till high gear,or letting off.That's why peg leg burnouts just aren't much fun to me.On the other hand,I'm such a doofus that I can't do a decent burnout in the cop car with traction lock and 4.56 gears either.I always let off in the first 30 feet cause it gets so sideways I'm afraid I'll lose it
Today (well, yesterday as I type this, go to BED, me...), Awesome and I went to work. And back. Yay!
The Caliber pulled up lame with a big misfire. Again (as it'd done it a few whiles back, so I knew exactly what it was. Not 'again' as in "dangit, it keeps doin' it!", 'cause that'd be "*AGAIN*!", see?) I wasn't far from home, so I just dragged the thing back and dug Awesome out of the garage. Started right up pretty as you please, but it's only been a month since last adventure, so not bad. She still doesn't have A/C right now, but today was thankfully not at all hot enough to be uncomfortable with the windows down. It was right nice actually.
Went to work, got stuff done, went home, but stopped at the Autozone what had a four pack of the ignition coils for the Caliber. Yeah, they're Duralast, but guess what: Lifetime warranty. I'll be usin' that, don't you worry. It's also *seriously* easy to replace these things, I had them swapped out in about 15 minutes, and tada, Caliber was all fixed. Cleared the codes, took it for dinner, good lil' test drive, yay me and all that. Thing is *IT* has A/C. It doesn't have heat. Totally backwards for winter/summer, but that's ok, I'mma get Awesome's A/C fixed (it's arranged-ish, I just gotta drop her off with the parts and it'll be all done), then tear up the Caliber for the heater core (it's a dash out thing, just like a Mustang! )(that one'll be me doin' that work, yay) then they'll both be all fixed.
Until one breaks again, but that's life with a 15 year old and a 14 year old. Gotta do stuff to 'em sometimes.
Anyway, Caliber fixed, I re-swapped the cars (as the Caliber sits outside, the worktruck that it is) and Awesome is awaiting her next outing.
Let me tell you, the differences between the cars is *stark*. The Chrysler(?) cruise control is *awful*. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, I just don't get it. It also takes its time when it does decide to work. It's like it has to weigh your decision to actually use it. Silly. Whereas the Ford cruise is *perfect*. Instant on, instant response. I miss it so very much when I drive the Caliber.
The other is the flickability of Awesome. I have that car set up just so very *sweet*. Just a little flick to the left, then a flick to the right and I've changed lanes. No leaning. Corners at stupid speeds. I just love driving that car. That Caliber is good for hauling things. It sips gas. And it's actually kinda fun to drive in it's own way, but man does it lean on turns and lane changing. If I could get better sway bars, that might help...
It's just night and day between the two. One makes me drive like a nervous grampa from a stop... forced to wait for a *giant* opening before I even put my toe in the waters of the road... the other makes me Speed Racer and it's "YOLO, b****es!" as I scramble out the entrance/exit of wherever I'm at, Awesome squealin' tires and roarin' away in a competent handling, powerful enough fury of fun right up to the speed limit.
Anyway. That's what I did: Got her out today for work. Put her back up, tank full, and very *very* thankfully patted upon her haunch, a grateful owner am I to have her.
TL;DR: We went to work, Awesome and I, and it was... well, awesome.
legacy Tms Member MEMORIAL Rest In Peace 10/06/2021
Joined: September 16, 2009
Posts: 3,381
Likes: 125
From: Clinton Tennessee
I traded my 2007 Dodge Caliber in on my 2011 Mustang v6. I knew the blue book trade in value was $9,000 with perfect condition and 25,000 miles. The Ford dealer gave me $9,500 for it. All was good, I was sad to see the Caliber go, but even with the MOPAR header and C.A.I., two inch MOPAR lowering springs and a Magnaflow cat back exhaust it would still only do 9.7 seconds for the 0 to 60 times (G-Tech timed) I had the 2.0L with the CVT transmission
Glad you got your misfires fixed.I tried for years and several sets of coils on the Vic to no avail.Now it has at least 1 dead cylinder because of no power getting to one of the coils,as far as I can tell
It can still do the best burnouts ever though,and absolutely effortlessly
Drove it with the new Bama 93 oct "race" tune for the first time.NICE!
Somehow I swear it's much quieter.On the cold start,I noticed it didn't idle crazy high like stock,so I figured that was why it wasn't nearly as loud,but upon driving to work,it still sure seemed much quieter.
I may not bother putting a muffler on it now.I've been trying to decide on an exhaust setup since deleting the muffler.I have a good pair of 2 1/2" Thrush "Welded Mufflers" which I think are a copy of the good ol' Flowmaster 40's everybody used on the old pushrod 5.0 Stangs.Been thinking about using one of those in the stock location,or putting it right after the y-pipe with a 90 degree turn on the back of it for a side exit,or using both with an x-pipe.I'm so indecisive,I obsess over every little thing 24/7 for months,or years,and half the time never end up making a decision
Anyway,loving the tune so far,and my new lowering springs and bumpstops just came.Just in time for the weekend
)(that one'll be me doin' that work, yay) then they'll both be all fixed.
(G-Tech timed) 
tha ks for sharing some pics of your new to you pony. Congrats. She is a real beauty.