who has a durango?

[Hale on wheels]

OK guys, I know some of you have durango's for the wife. My wife is starting to hint at me that she wants one in the form, "I want a durango. " How do you like them, and would you get another one? Any typical problems, and how is the power of their 4. 7L? I had a chevy 1/2 ton with their new 4. 8L, and it was a rocket. I am sure the dodge motor is just as stout. Thanks

 

[RustyJC]

We have one - see signature. You couldn't pry my wife out of it - she loves it. No problems at 18,000 miles to date.



Rusty

 

[Rotty]

My wife has a 2000 durango 4x4, 4. 7L, LSD, ABS, etc, etc. She absolutly loves it. I like the getup and go on the 4. 7L. We get between 15-18MPG depending on who's driving, me 15. lead foot, her 18.

 

[Hale on wheels]

I'm glad to hear you guys like them. She seems pretty set on one, and we haven't even driven one yet. The bad thing is she has a 99 Grand Prix GT that is paid for, so I hate to get rid of that and acquire another car payment, but I am a cheapscate and I suppose I'll get over it. I am probably going to go back to grad school next year so I am trying to not get into too much debt now. Maybe the market will turn around by next year and I won't have to worry about it, right?

 

[GSchlegel]

My wife loves her 2000 Durango. It has all the options including the 4. 7 and full-time transfere case, big tires, etc. She hasn't had to shift the transfere case yet. She hasn't slipped even in last year's ice storm. Only downside to that transfere case is the mileage - in town, short drives it gets 10 to 11 mpg, highway around 16 mpg. I've kidded her and said we should get a trailer so the truck could tow her Durango to Colo. on vacation cause the truck would get better mileage towing the Durango than it gets solo!



Again, the only problem is mileage with the full time transfere case. She keeps telling me how much she loves "Little Mule".



Gene

 

[Hale on wheels]

Whoa!!:--) I was going to get the part-time 4x4 anyway, but I had no idea the full time dropped the mileage that much. My buddy's Land Rover with full time 4x4 sucks gas down too.

 

[RustyJC]

If fuel mileage is a concern, I'm not sure I could recommend the Durango. Maybe the 4. 7 is better (hopefully by a bunch), but my wife's 4x2 5. 9L is, frankly, a gas hog. These things are heavy, and it takes BTU's to move 'em around!



The fact of the matter, however, is that my wife doesn't care! Paying the bills is my problem. :{ :{



Rusty

 

[Hale on wheels]

Well, I'm gonna get pretty much screwed paying gas bills for a while anyway. She has her mind set on an SUV, so that means Durango or Tahoe. No, a diesel Excursion is out of the question... she would hit everything on the road. And she is determined to work at Parkland hospital(she graduates nursing school in May). That is fine, except that we live about 40 miles from there!

 

[Steve M]

Ya'll are starting to sound like the Sierra Club! We love our Durango and the whole package is worth 12mpg around town with my lead foot and 20mpg highway 70-72mph. They are tough too. Did ya'll see the cops episode where a Durango was stolen and run over parking lot islands and planters and flew through the air several times like the General Lee only to keep right on going? And it's also civil and easy on the environment! The music of a V8 is so restful and pleasing why... , the spotted owls are starting to multiply. And it leaves virtually no noticable footprints in the forests!

 

[HiPerf360]

My father has a fully loaded Durango and t is pretty nice and has a decentamount of power, but I would look at the Tahoe a little more. I think they are a little nicer, better ride and have more room.

 

[JConley]

We had a 98 Durango, and it was great! unfortunately there were some things I didnt like, and I think the new 4. 7 engine might be better.



What we didnt like.

We had every option including the full time 4X4 transfer case with the 318. That Durango was so underpowered, it couldnt get out of its way. It would get 12 MPG running 70 with a big headwind. In the Mountains it ran like a V6, and still got 13 MPG.



It would heat up in the summertime, as the radiator wasnt big enough for the 318 when it was 110 degrees outside with the AC on. You could see the temp rise, and the fan noise when locked up was annoying. We had the common problems that plagued the first year model, and most of those have been fixed.



We traded for an Excursion since it had a Diesel, gets 19 on the highway, and the Durango could fit inside the Excursion. We needed more room, and more power.



The Excursion fits my needs better, but the Durango is still a great vehicle.



FWIW, We have 10 1998 Durango's at work, and the guys have not torn them up yet. That is saying a lot!

 

[klenger]

I had a Jeep '98 Grand Cherokee 318 Auto full time 4WD, and got 14 - 18 MPG, just like the sitcker said. We pulled a 21' Trailite TT in the mountains of Colorado with no problems. I guess the Durango must be a lot heavier.

 

[RonaldLarson]

Got an 01

And we are completely satisfied. The 4. 7 is a magnificent engine with a lot of power and good mileage. The 01,02 models are far better than the early models in quality and power. City mileage running 13. 7-14. 2. The interior comfort and ergonomics are real high quality, and the ride is far superior to the Tahoe and Exploder. We traded a 99 Grand cherokee with the same engine, and the only good thing in the GC was the 4. 7 engine and the transmission/transfer case.

Seven year/100,000 mile warrantees on the 02 drive train and 3. 9 financing makes it even better.

Ron

 

[gitchesum]

Definately the second best vehicle we've owned. Of course the dually being #1. Mileage in Houston traffic averages about 16. 3. Seems to have plenty of power with the 318. It's only a 2WD so that might be the difference. The only problem I have with it is the fact that I usually find myself in the passenger seat.

 

[E7mack96]

2001 Durango

Bought a 2001 Durango when I bought the ram (see sig). It is loaded and has the 5. 9 litre. It IS a gas hog. My wife refuses to go less than 70 on the interstate. (speed limits are 55) at this speed it gets 12. 7 mpg. Otherwise, it is a great vehicle. we have the rear ac/heat. and our 4 kids love it. The Durango was the wifes' christmas present last year. She also had been asking for one for a couple years.

 

[midnight1black]

Durango

Oo. We have a 98 and purchased it new, it has been great.

Now for the only thing Bad about it is the gas mileage just like the other have said. Now only at 34000 miles replaced brakes once , it still looks and runs Great !

 

[Big K]

'01 Durango

Mommy's happy now.

4. 7, 3. 92, loaded. 15-16 avg. , no hwy trips yet. 25k mi. No complaints.

 

[Hale on wheels]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. I am glad to hear all the good comments about them. I guess we'll start looking at them more closely. I sure hate to see the Grand Prix go though. It drives great, it is really quick, and the Bose stereo cannot be beat by any stereo I have ever heard in a vehicle. The biggest speakers in there may be 6"x 9", but they can handle more bass without any distortion than the lowered '63 Buicks with hydraulics and 15" wiffers (yes I spelled it incorrectly on purpose) that pull up beside you on the streets! It is tempting to just keep the Pontiac and keep some miles off my truck.

 

[mikel]

We have the Durango in the Sig. and have 32k on it. It's only been back to the dealer for a few minor things. We get about 15-16 mpg, but I drive it WAY too fast.



I bought the biggest engine that was offered, so I'm not unhappy with the mileage.



Good luck,

Mike

 

[dresslered]

My wife has a 5. 3L '99 Durango SLT+ with every option on it (3. 93 rear end) and just loves it. We have never had a single problem with it. The only drawback is that it gets 11-12 mpg empty!