ST1FLER
Banned
in case you missed it on page 1
Trading my T4R for a Durango R/T
- Thread starter commbubba19
- Start date
DEERUNNER
Member
You have a way with words. You have a way with words.
flighht2k5
New member
commbubba19
New member
I believe it was a 5.9 Magnum V8 before the Hemi was brought back.
Again I appreciate all the feedback.
Yes I'm concerned on quality but reading Durango owners threads, these issues you refer to just don't seem to exist. However, I'm still concerned on quality and resale.
I have an Affiliate rewards number which gives me 1% below invoice plus any incentives and no fees. That helps with resale I think.
Forum I'm reading for reference:
Dodge Durango Forum
Seems like a good group. Not the same as 4Runner folks but the Durango pulls in a different crowd (mullet and all haha).
Again, I haven't even heard from my dealer in 2 days since the order was supposedly submitted and didn't even give them a deposit so I have plenty of time to back out.
However, the Durango is nice. If you guys haven't, go check one out for a test drive. Make sure it's a R/T.
Okole
New member
The new Sienna is really nice.
LandCruiser
New member
Runer4Life
Member
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Ron4RNevada
New member
My info a bit dated
I owned a 1935 Dodge Panel Delivery. Cool engine rebuild once a year.
Then a 1946 Dodge Club Coupe. Beautiful - engine rebuild once a year.
Finally a 1961 Dodge Lancer. Tranny let go at 50,000 miles.
Haven't had any Chrysler products since.......
Lots of Pontiacs, Chevrolets, GMCs, Buicks, Cadillacs, two Fords, two Land Rovers, now third Toyota <- these are the most faithful.....
I owned a 1935 Dodge Panel Delivery. Cool engine rebuild once a year.
Then a 1946 Dodge Club Coupe. Beautiful - engine rebuild once a year.
Finally a 1961 Dodge Lancer. Tranny let go at 50,000 miles.
Haven't had any Chrysler products since.......
Lots of Pontiacs, Chevrolets, GMCs, Buicks, Cadillacs, two Fords, two Land Rovers, now third Toyota <- these are the most faithful.....
I seriously considered the Durango as well. When we decided to get a larger vehicle, a third-row was critical. I've been driving BMW 3series and SAVs for the past decade so I also wanted something that was a bit more "manly"(my wife's term, not mine) than a lot of current SUVs. We drove the Acadia, Equinox, Explorer, Durango, Highlander and 4Runner. In the end the only two that were in serious consideration were the 'runner and the Durango. I liked the Durango's powertrain (transmission and engine were smooth and quiet) and the creature comforts (push-button ignition, proximity key, very adjustable seats, dual climate control, etc.). I didn't like the knob gear selector (seems gimmicky and, though I am sure I would get used to it, impractical) and Dodge's reputation for quality(or lack thereof). Since we were buying this vehicle rather than leasing as we've done for nearly twenty years, I was concerned that I'd have nothing left in value after five years.
However, the Durango did help us decide to focus our search on 4Runner Limited vehicles so that the truck didn't feel so analog. I was able to track down a 2015 Limited with the 3rd row for not much more than I was being quoted for an SR5 premium. I don't love all of the chrome, but I am enjoying everything else with this purchase.
As an aside, I remember being paranoid about putting the baby-seat (particularly the "bucket") on one of the side seats and not in the center. I wonder about safety of those seats in the captain's chairs (I recall that the side-curtain airbags were the issue here). If you then need to put the bucket in the way-back you're still stuck with crawling over and around seats to put the baby in. Don't forget also that the Durango, like the 4Runner only has two third-row seats which might expose your baby to another side curtain airbag in the way back (no center seatbelt like the Equinox or Tahoe).
Finally, with respect to space behind the 3rd row when up. We generally have one child in one seat leaving one seat flat in the back. This buys us a bit of space. A roof-top box is your friend on long trips (as will be the case with any non-Suburban or other LWB SUV).
However, the Durango did help us decide to focus our search on 4Runner Limited vehicles so that the truck didn't feel so analog. I was able to track down a 2015 Limited with the 3rd row for not much more than I was being quoted for an SR5 premium. I don't love all of the chrome, but I am enjoying everything else with this purchase.
As an aside, I remember being paranoid about putting the baby-seat (particularly the "bucket") on one of the side seats and not in the center. I wonder about safety of those seats in the captain's chairs (I recall that the side-curtain airbags were the issue here). If you then need to put the bucket in the way-back you're still stuck with crawling over and around seats to put the baby in. Don't forget also that the Durango, like the 4Runner only has two third-row seats which might expose your baby to another side curtain airbag in the way back (no center seatbelt like the Equinox or Tahoe).
Finally, with respect to space behind the 3rd row when up. We generally have one child in one seat leaving one seat flat in the back. This buys us a bit of space. A roof-top box is your friend on long trips (as will be the case with any non-Suburban or other LWB SUV).
I refuse to buy another Chrysler product for 3 reasons:
1. A friend purchased a 2015 Cherokee last summer, it's since been lemon law'd. Within the first couple months of purchase it had been at the stealership for numerous issues. Their Cherokee spent more time at the stealership than with them.
2. My FIL purchased a new 2010 Wrangler, lemon law'd a few years after purchase. Electronic gremlins plagued his vehicle. From the infotainment system to completely shutting off at highway speeds.
3. I purchased a new 2011 Durango. Mashing the gas pedal sure was fun. Trips to the stealership for warranty issues was not. Headliner was replaced within a few months of ownership. Multiple trips for the infotainment system and transmission. It was lemon law'd and Chrysler bought it back a couple years ago.
1. A friend purchased a 2015 Cherokee last summer, it's since been lemon law'd. Within the first couple months of purchase it had been at the stealership for numerous issues. Their Cherokee spent more time at the stealership than with them.
2. My FIL purchased a new 2010 Wrangler, lemon law'd a few years after purchase. Electronic gremlins plagued his vehicle. From the infotainment system to completely shutting off at highway speeds.
3. I purchased a new 2011 Durango. Mashing the gas pedal sure was fun. Trips to the stealership for warranty issues was not. Headliner was replaced within a few months of ownership. Multiple trips for the infotainment system and transmission. It was lemon law'd and Chrysler bought it back a couple years ago.
MeefZah
New member
You'll have to bend the exhaust for a side exit if you go this route.
MeefZah
New member
OP, good luck with your choice.
I've heard too many people complain about the Durango for me to ever consider one, and I've personally seen our EMS chief's new Durango spend 2 months in the shop with 600 miles on it, with transmission issues.
I think Jeep / Dodge are "decent" in the sense that they are 2 year vehicles. When new they are genrally "okay". Buy one and keep it inside the warranty period and let them deal with whatever shit goes wrong and get rid of it before it starts costing YOU money.
The 4R is a lifetime vehicle. Buy it and drive it until it decomposes or until internal combustion engines are outlawed.
That's the real difference IMO. Disposable commodity v. lifetime purchase.
I've heard too many people complain about the Durango for me to ever consider one, and I've personally seen our EMS chief's new Durango spend 2 months in the shop with 600 miles on it, with transmission issues.
I think Jeep / Dodge are "decent" in the sense that they are 2 year vehicles. When new they are genrally "okay". Buy one and keep it inside the warranty period and let them deal with whatever shit goes wrong and get rid of it before it starts costing YOU money.
The 4R is a lifetime vehicle. Buy it and drive it until it decomposes or until internal combustion engines are outlawed.
That's the real difference IMO. Disposable commodity v. lifetime purchase.
I almost got an rt Durango black awd but coming from the car business , dodges have the worst trade in of any car . Toyota specifically the 4Runner is the absolute best vehicle made for trade in and resale value of any car on the market . Wrangler is a close second, Durango is a nice product but if it has the dodge name Eh , if you don't off road it should be good for racing !! anyway hope you really like the Durango man there really fast !! If I was gonna buy something other than my t4r which was $47k and going to spend in the $60k of that Durango rt I would get a Yukon Denali .
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Beer_Runner
New member
Will the OP change his screen name to DRango_Unchained? :guitar2: that is the question
MeefZah
New member
They actually named it "master race"? Man, I heard the Japanese were racist but that's a whole new level.
Former Durango owner
As a former Durango owner and brand-new 4Runner owner, let me offer my perspective. For reference, I traded in a 2006 Durango Limited HEMI AWD for a 2016 4Runner Limited 4WD ten days ago.
We bought the Durango in 2006 in order to haul kids & carpool (needed 6-7 seats), tow a 6000lb trailer, do very light off-roading (Colorado mountain dirt roads mostly) and have ability to transport fairly large internal loads. It performed all of those tasks well, with loads of power and pretty good space...for the first 6-7 years. At that point, the truck really started to degrade.
For more background, I am a hands-on mechanical engineer and do my own wrench-turning, so I became intimately familiar with components which were wearing out or breaking:
...And I know I'm forgetting a dozen other things. Truck had 110k at trade-in.
Summary: the truck performed its functions very well, right up until it didn't. Reliability was piss-poor once it passed 50-60k.
My young daughter has even memorized my new mantra: "The first rule of buying a vehicle is to drive right past any Chrysler dealers." It made my decision to buy a 4Runner instead of considering a 4-door Wrangler very easy. Fool me once, shame on you...and you won't get the chance to fool me twice.
As a former Durango owner and brand-new 4Runner owner, let me offer my perspective. For reference, I traded in a 2006 Durango Limited HEMI AWD for a 2016 4Runner Limited 4WD ten days ago.
We bought the Durango in 2006 in order to haul kids & carpool (needed 6-7 seats), tow a 6000lb trailer, do very light off-roading (Colorado mountain dirt roads mostly) and have ability to transport fairly large internal loads. It performed all of those tasks well, with loads of power and pretty good space...for the first 6-7 years. At that point, the truck really started to degrade.
For more background, I am a hands-on mechanical engineer and do my own wrench-turning, so I became intimately familiar with components which were wearing out or breaking:
- Everything plastic started degrading rapidly at the 5-7 year point. Truck was garaged, cleaned, and generally cared for. Dodge appeared to use poor quality plasticizers and the material became brittle. Seat belt covers...switch bases...interior panels...underhood components....
- Rear diff bearings failed at ~60k.
- Front wheel bearings failed at ~75k, followed by CV joint at ~80k.
- Check engine light started randomly lighting and then disappearing after ~60k. Codes were all over the place, but most common involved unexpected atmospheric pressure. This is a common occurrence among Dodge owners, and you just become numb to CELs.
- Had to disassemble and clean throttle body every 10k miles after ~50k. HEMI engine runs very dirty and recycles a LOT of oil residue back into the airbox and throttle body.
- THE KILLER. Engine started degrading at ~100k. Keep in mind that all maintenance was performed on schedule, using high-quality fluids and materials. Ended up replacing a dozen components (sensors, coil pack, injector, multi-displacement solenoid, etc) chasing the issue, and tore down the top half of the engine at least 8 times in order to troubleshoot the valve train, cylinder-deactivation system, lifters, etc. Ultimately decided that further investment was more than I wanted to stomach, and traded the truck in. If I had to guess, I'd say that the plastic alignment components that Dodge uses to keep their variable-length lifters aligned failed, probably taking one or more lobes off the camshaft. That's right, Dodge uses plastic pieces to align critical mechanical components of their high-power engine....fascinating bit of engineering buffoonery.
...And I know I'm forgetting a dozen other things. Truck had 110k at trade-in.
Summary: the truck performed its functions very well, right up until it didn't. Reliability was piss-poor once it passed 50-60k.
My young daughter has even memorized my new mantra: "The first rule of buying a vehicle is to drive right past any Chrysler dealers." It made my decision to buy a 4Runner instead of considering a 4-door Wrangler very easy. Fool me once, shame on you...and you won't get the chance to fool me twice.
If resale value matters to you, here's my reference point. For a 10 year old SUV with a nearly flawless body, clean (loaded) interior, and a 5.7L HEMI engine that was running well enough on the day of trade-in to pass the dealer's once-over, I got $6500. That was as high as any dealer in the Denver area was willing to go, and this is obviously a region that values AWD/4WD vehicles.
Value for a similar 2006 4Runner? About double.
Value for a similar 2006 4Runner? About double.
op2: 
Loadedpocketz
New member
This post tells me you're going to purchase it no matter what anyone here says. So why post in the first place?
Regardless, by reading this thread, I learned quite a bit about the quality (or lack thereof) of Dodge products. I never considered the Durango in my purchasing decision. I did consider the Jeep Grand Cherokee and pretty much heard the same sort of feedback on it. Which ultimately made my decision to purchase the 4Runner TEP an easy one. [emoji6]
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