SUV's

[SMOKEDYA]

Well they totaled our jeep so now we are on the hunt for another SUV. Anybody with experiance with the durango's? Seen one it's a 01 with the hemi Also seen another 2000 jeep grand cherokee limitied. I did the blue books on both and there priced right at the dealer we seen them at. She wants the H2 or the magnum,cherokee (again) but also likes the durango. So anyone ever had any of these suv's? Or know anyone that has had 'em? It's most likely going to be the durango or jeep again. This is our second jeep 1st was a wrangler sport 4.0 H.O. The jeeps definitly hold up to there name! The magnum isnt big enough and who wants to pay $400-$700 a month for the next 8-10 years just to have a vehical (H2). Let alone the gas bill then of course the ins. peace



john

 

[74courier]

i drove a 02 durango for awhile i wasnt a big fan of it. felt like i was riding in a slammed car on coilovers. but that was my own opion id say read up on them and take it for a test drive.

 

[03roush463rwhp]

i have had the liberty to be able to work on a h2 and they suck! too big, small motor, trans problems. i work at the eugene dodge dealer and the most comon problem with the durangos are the 5.7l hemis beak valve springs. the 4.7l are golden. i would go with a durango for a family hauler.

 

[WANNA_BE_GT]

Puh to the Durango. Those things are very ugly. For just a family rig, get mid 90's explorer with the 5.0. How much do you want to spend?

 

[SMOKEDYA]

I wanna stay around $10,000. I'm not a big fan of the exploder's. We got stranded on larch moutian in ours cause the trans went out all the way. Our cousin's explorer with the 5.0 trans went out. Majority of explorers have this problem. I will check into the durango's and of course the grand cherokee's, this is the way we are leaning. I will also contact my uncle he's a service manager at a dodge dealer so he would know as well he's been there like 30 some years. peace



john

 

[wythors]

I've worked in dealerships for a lot of years and have met a lot of former Durango owners. I've never met one that was enthusiastic about it. Most dumped them for one of two reasons: 1. The previously mentioned horrible ride quality, or 2. Appallingly bad gas mileage, even considering that it's an SUV. The fact that the front wheels had a disturbing tendency to fall off (ball joint recall) was a factor as well.

 

[74courier]

I've worked in dealerships for a lot of years and have met a lot of former Durango owners. I've never met one that was enthusiastic about it. Most dumped them for one of two reasons: 1. The previously mentioned horrible ride quality, or 2. Appallingly bad gas mileage, even considering that it's an SUV. The fact that the front wheels had a disturbing tendency to fall off (ball joint recall) was a factor as well.

i forgot about the ball joint recall ive seen two durangos on the side of the road missing their hubs that went rolling down the road ahead of the car.

 

[WANNA_BE_GT]

i forgot about the ball joint recall ive seen two durangos on the side of the road missing their hubs that went rolling down the road ahead of the car.

HA, that's worse than having the tranny break, lol.

 

[84Gt350]

TAHOE! I've had 5 Suburbans/Yukons and all were dead reliable.

Dan

 

["Mongoose"]

I'd look at Edmunds.com and read the reviews and True Market Pricing,
before making a final choice. The used SUV market is over loaded right now so, you can really find alot to choose from, and get a good price.

Have Fun and Good Luck,
Roger

 

[SMOKEDYA]

So theres one for chevy. I was thinking of one of there vehicals, but none really catch our eye. Ford is out unless it's a stang, thats the only ford i would ever buy. Durango well looking like thats going to be out as well. H2 out.So it just may be a jeep again? We'll look at the chevy SUV's The tahoe's are like the biggest we want, the suburban is to big. peace



john

 

[almostblown]

We had a Durango for a while. We got rid of it just before it started having all kinds of problems. We sold it to my aunt and uncle and it seemed like they were constantly having problems with it. I remember they always had to carry a bunch of coolant with them. There were other things. They got rid of it.

H2s... We have one. Like mentioned above, big, and under powered. To me, it seems like GMs have a lousy shift schedule. That, or all the ones I have experience with are underpowered and require it (go figure). The running board plates were over torqued and the ends broke off (I know, install problem, even the installers cant get their shyt right). It makes clunking noises. The interior has a cheap feel to it (tap on the dash board, it feels and sounds very hollow). They dont wheel very good, either.

 

[SMOKEDYA]

We had a Durango for a while. We got rid of it just before it started having all kinds of problems. We sold it to my aunt and uncle and it seemed like they were constantly having problems with it. I remember they always had to carry a bunch of coolant with them. There were other things. They got rid of it.

H2s... We have one. Like mentioned above, big, and under powered. To me, it seems like GMs have a lousy shift schedule. That, or all the ones I have experience with are underpowered and require it (go figure). The running board plates were over torqued and the ends broke off (I know, install problem, even the installers cant get their shyt right). It makes clunking noises. The interior has a cheap feel to it (tap on the dash board, it feels and sounds very hollow). They dont wheel very good, either.

Good to see someone putting to use a 4x4 vehical! Thanks for the input! peace



john

 

[white 89 GT]

I like my dakota, I think the durango is based on it but not sure.
There is only one thing I like about it the motor seems to just keep going, the truck itself is an electrical pos. Seems something is going haywire all the time.

Check with nat hwy safty admin for tsb`s and see what problems have been reported.

 

[SMOKEDYA]

Well i talked to my uncle and he said stay with the 4.0 L jeeps only. Stay away from the jeeps with the V-8's. As far as the durango's ther nothing but pile of junks! All years all engines he caint even beleive they still sell them! This is comming from a service manager thats been with dodge/chrystler for 30 years. peace





john

 

[almostblown]

Good to see someone putting to use a 4x4 vehical! Thanks for the input! peace

No problem!

I was actually quite surprised what it wasnt abe to do compared to my 03 FX4 Ranger with the same tires. Ive had both out by the river in Woodland in the sand. I was expecting it to do much better, but it just doesnt flex like my Ranger will. It 3 wheeled awefully quick.

 

[SMOKEDYA]

Yeah, i paid $15,000 for my old jeep it was all blinged out with a slight lift on it. I took it 4X4'n and everyone thought i was crazy! I said well it's a 4X4 thats what its made to do. Still funny with all these people buying SUV's and trucks then never going off road and putting stupid ass 20's 22's 24's on them 1/2 of them prob dont even know how to engage the 4X4. peace



john

 

[saleen556]

Well i talked to my uncle and he said stay with the 4.0 L jeeps only. Stay away from the jeeps with the V-8's. As far as the durango's ther nothing but pile of junks! All years all engines he caint even beleive they still sell them! This is comming from a service manager thats been with dodge/chrystler for 30 years. peace





john

I guess I've been lucky. We have an 03 durango with the 4.7 that we bought new and haven't had any issues at all. It's got 63K on it and still runs great.

 

[jdium]

No interest in imports? Personally, I'd recommend a 4Runner if you are ok with buying something with 2x the mileage as the jeeps you are looking at. There are tons out there, so if you have the patience to sort through them for 1 that has full maintenance records, responsible owner, etc, you can find one that's good for another 80k miles easy...

just my

 

[tehnick]

I'd check into Toyota. They seem to be doing pretty good with their trucks/SUVs lately. I tested one of the new Tundras with the 5.7L V8 and it was pretty peppy. 381HP/401TQ, 4V DOHC engine with VVT-i, etc...

The Toyota FJ Cruiser looks pretty nice but it's too heavy for the power it makes with the V6. Curb weight could run up to 4,295 with 4WD auto and the engine is a 4.0-liter DOHC 24-valve SFI VVT-i V6 with 239 hp @ 5200 rpm and 278 lb.-ft. @ 3700 rpm.