Anyone have experience with Durango's?

ViciousJay

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
20,266
Location
Chi Burbs
So I've had a few issues with my Jeep and corporate wants to buy my car back with is fine. I'll been looking at everything on the market but 2018 Durango's R/T have intrigued me. Aggressive style, mileage isn't any worse then my jeep, and I'm able to haul stuff. I also have a g/f with two kids so driving them around would make like sooooo much easier. Another plus is they are will to shave 10K off the sticker. So again does anyone have any personal info, likes, dislikes?
 

03Sssnake

TK-421
Established Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2002
Messages
40,163
Location
not at my post...
I love the styling, but have no personal experience with Dodge ownership. If I were in the market for an mid-sized SUV, that Durango would be on my short list to check out.
 

ViciousJay

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
20,266
Location
Chi Burbs
I love the styling, but have no personal experience with Dodge ownership. If I were in the market for an mid-sized SUV, that Durango would be on my short list to check out.
I like the Jeep SRT's but I'm not forking out 65k+ when I can get everything and more for 15K cheaper. I also see the 5.7 being just fine for a daily. Here's what I'm looking at and they are willing to come down another 5K

https://www.dupagechryslerdodgejeep...e-durango-awd-sport-utility-1c4sdjct2jc115496
 

03Sssnake

TK-421
Established Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2002
Messages
40,163
Location
not at my post...

ViciousJay

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
20,266
Location
Chi Burbs
It's actually stout on the straight line and does even better with body roll in turns. I'm glad Jeep Corp is buying mine back after two calipers fell off @ 65 mph on the high way and I lost all my brakes. When I say fell off the bolts snapped and the calipers where spit through the wheels. When the tow truck driver came his mouth was on the pavement. I have pics of this too.
 

ViciousJay

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
20,266
Location
Chi Burbs
Posted above in a link.

Again Fait/Dodge/Jeep is buying my vehicle back and I talked them into dropping the price, if not I was going to send my lawyer in.
 

SID297

OWNER/ADMIN
Administrator
Joined
Mar 27, 2003
Messages
55,705
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
It's actually stout on the straight line and does even better with body roll in turns. I'm glad Jeep Corp is buying mine back after two calipers fell off @ 65 mph on the high way and I lost all my brakes. When I say fell off the bolts snapped and the calipers where spit through the wheels. When the tow truck driver came his mouth was on the pavement. I have pics of this too.

Post the pics. I'm pretty sure the Durango is basically a stretched version of the Grand Cherokee.
 

ViciousJay

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
20,266
Location
Chi Burbs
Post the pics. I'm pretty sure the Durango is basically a stretched version of the Grand Cherokee.
https://imgur.com/SKoeiPf - direct link to the rear but the front was mangled in the front drivers side. All brakes were said to be at 65% last time I had updates to the ECU.

Outside of tires and the fluids being changed (front and rear diffs, trans, coolant) that's it, when the mechanic looked further when at the dealer he and the service manager took off running to get a engineer to diagnose my issue immediately.
 

HISSMAN

The Great Bearded One
Super Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2003
Messages
25,633
Location
WV
My wife has a 2016 Durango R/T. It has been a very good vehicle. It's actually the first automobile she has given a name to.
 

Grabber

Yep...
Established Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2008
Messages
3,819
Location
Wheeling, IL
I have one, love it.

Granted, comparing it to an SRT-8 which is easily double the price is not the most logical thing. SRT wins in performance hands down.

Rides great, after 10K miles so far within 1.5 years of ownership, I'm happier than ever.

I went with the R/T with AWD, Nav, towing package and the captain's chairs. I get about 14 MPG which is street driving. Highway is a bit better as I've gotten 18-19 MPG on short stretches around 75 MPH. Very comfortable and the interior is pretty good quality. No rattles of any kind, yet.

For such a large mid-size SUV (about 5,500LBS with me in it), it surprises a lot of people on the street.

There are a couple of hiccups that could be better. Sometimes, the trans will stay in 2nd gear when coming to a stop. It won't always go back down to first, and will start in 2nd gear. There was an update for this, but, I never did it. I usually put it back in park really quick and that fixes it. The other hiccup is when it does downshift, you can feel a slight knock going from 2-1. Again, I believe there is a fix out there for it, but, I have not brought it in yet.

I decided on this after testing an Explorer Sport since that was the other option. Stock for stock, they are nearly identical in terms of performance, while making nearly the same HP/TQ, with the Durango weighing hundreds of pounds more. However, the Sport felt like a Sedan to me. Too low and I couldn't get around that.

I think you'll be happy with it Jay.

Hear from Dood lately? Been forever since the three of us hung out, especially from the days of your Lightning vs. my Cobra with Erdal driving, haha.
 

Blk04L

. . .
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
11,315
Location
South Florida
Got the wife a 15 R/T Durango.

She loves it. I enjoy driving it too.

Comparing it to the Explorer Sport, it lacks the down low torque but makes up for it in the mid to high range. Exhaust note is very impressive for stock.
Overall, I like it more over the Sport.

Not sure if they fixed it for 18, but the suspension is noisy up front. My dads GC SRT does the same creak. They claim it's "normal" but I'm not buying it.

We are averaging 20-21 mpg with it. Space comes in handy.
 

ViciousJay

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
20,266
Location
Chi Burbs
I have one, love it.

Granted, comparing it to an SRT-8 which is easily double the price is not the most logical thing. SRT wins in performance hands down.

Rides great, after 10K miles so far within 1.5 years of ownership, I'm happier than ever.

I went with the R/T with AWD, Nav, towing package and the captain's chairs. I get about 14 MPG which is street driving. Highway is a bit better as I've gotten 18-19 MPG on short stretches around 75 MPH. Very comfortable and the interior is pretty good quality. No rattles of any kind, yet.

For such a large mid-size SUV (about 5,500LBS with me in it), it surprises a lot of people on the street.

There are a couple of hiccups that could be better. Sometimes, the trans will stay in 2nd gear when coming to a stop. It won't always go back down to first, and will start in 2nd gear. There was an update for this, but, I never did it. I usually put it back in park really quick and that fixes it. The other hiccup is when it does downshift, you can feel a slight knock going from 2-1. Again, I believe there is a fix out there for it, but, I have not brought it in yet.

I decided on this after testing an Explorer Sport since that was the other option. Stock for stock, they are nearly identical in terms of performance, while making nearly the same HP/TQ, with the Durango weighing hundreds of pounds more. However, the Sport felt like a Sedan to me. Too low and I couldn't get around that.

I think you'll be happy with it Jay.

Hear from Dood lately? Been forever since the three of us hung out, especially from the days of your Lightning vs. my Cobra with Erdal driving, haha.

Thanks for a true owner response! Last time I talked to him he was going state and since has fallen off the grid. I offered him free room and board on the weekends but again haven't heard from him.

Hey what year to do you have?
 

beau t

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Messages
596
Location
sc
wife had a 07 aspen which is the same thing just looked better back in the day, it was the best riding vehicle we had, she got a 16 jeep GC to replace it and complains about the ride quality compared to the aspen. The only maintenance was a battery and water pump, got rid of it at 140k it had a 4.7 motor, hope this helps
 

ViciousJay

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
20,266
Location
Chi Burbs
I have one, love it.

Granted, comparing it to an SRT-8 which is easily double the price is not the most logical thing. SRT wins in performance hands down.

Rides great, after 10K miles so far within 1.5 years of ownership, I'm happier than ever.

I went with the R/T with AWD, Nav, towing package and the captain's chairs. I get about 14 MPG which is street driving. Highway is a bit better as I've gotten 18-19 MPG on short stretches around 75 MPH. Very comfortable and the interior is pretty good quality. No rattles of any kind, yet.

For such a large mid-size SUV (about 5,500LBS with me in it), it surprises a lot of people on the street.

There are a couple of hiccups that could be better. Sometimes, the trans will stay in 2nd gear when coming to a stop. It won't always go back down to first, and will start in 2nd gear. There was an update for this, but, I never did it. I usually put it back in park really quick and that fixes it. The other hiccup is when it does downshift, you can feel a slight knock going from 2-1. Again, I believe there is a fix out there for it, but, I have not brought it in yet.

I decided on this after testing an Explorer Sport since that was the other option. Stock for stock, they are nearly identical in terms of performance, while making nearly the same HP/TQ, with the Durango weighing hundreds of pounds more. However, the Sport felt like a Sedan to me. Too low and I couldn't get around that.

I think you'll be happy with it Jay.

Hear from Dood lately? Been forever since the three of us hung out, especially from the days of your Lightning vs. my Cobra with Erdal driving, haha.

Second question, my cousin has one and does 60 mile round trips daily as I do, she says she fills up every 7-10 days, is this accurate? I fill up twice a week already and would prefer a bigger tank if the GM is decent. I'm mainly highway.
 

HISSMAN

The Great Bearded One
Super Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2003
Messages
25,633
Location
WV
We have 32K miles on ours already. All highway we can average about 19-20mpg. It just depends on how much stop and go driving you have to deal with. The 8 speed auto is great. Shifts like butta. Also, we have the AWD R/T as well. Mid row captains chairs are a must. Our infant sits behind the passenger seat, and our 6 year old twins sit in the 3rd row.
 

ViciousJay

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
20,266
Location
Chi Burbs
We have 32K miles on ours already. All highway we can average about 19-20mpg. It just depends on how much stop and go driving you have to deal with. The 8 speed auto is great. Shifts like butta. Also, we have the AWD R/T as well. Mid row captains chairs are a must. Our infant sits behind the passenger seat, and our 6 year old twins sit in the 3rd row.

Well again I have a 7 year old and a 10 month, plus 3 small dogs so they will be in the 3rd row ha. It's nice to know it's big enough. How often do you fuel up?
 

HISSMAN

The Great Bearded One
Super Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2003
Messages
25,633
Location
WV
Probably once a week. It just depends on how much she drives it. She is a stay at home mom.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top