I was just reading about this on Autoblog, what a great Mean looking SUV... I really like the hood on this thing...

Dodge adds fire-breathing Durango SRT for 2018 - Autoblog

 

13 or 14 is when they dropped in the ZF8. That's the one you actually want. They also drastically improved the infotainment and other bits of the interior and gave it the initial facelift. I wouldn't get anything that didn't have those things but that's JMO.

FWIW, you can buy a new one for not much more than a used one. The resale value of those is insane.

 

The only thing the ZF8 has over the old 5sp is fuel efficiency. I liked the infotainment in the 12 models..

 

Its faster, too.

 

Is it the same as the Hellcat trans.. geared to +200 mph?

 

Is it quicker tho?! I'm guessing so.. probably launch control.

 

2014 is when they made the change.

 

The ONE critique of the 2012 SRT when it came out was that it wasn't much better performance wise than the 1st gen. This trans made a big difference I believe.

 

HOLY FUCK. What a burnout. Now this is a MAN's SUV. I'd be proud to have this in my driveway.

I could tow my CTS-V wagon (4398 pounds empty), a U-Haul trailer (2k pounds), and have extra gross vehicle weight enough to hold all my family's stuff. Here's hoping it's not too expensive. The concept of something like this my mind.



Probably end up with a R/T still, though....

 

Sarlacc - how has the interior held up so far, mainly the seats? did they use decent quality materials?

 

bob you need the SRT. Just go big and go for it. What a garage that would be. Durange SRT, CTS-V Wagon, NSX

 

What's the difference between 1500 HP and a pile of dead babies?

 

Tempting. However, the SRT will probably be more than I'm willing to spend, and I refuse on principle to pay market upcharges, which is what will happen when this hits the market in the fall. The R/T, however, is a rather inexpensive lease compared to my current RLX Sport Hybrid.

 

the interior has held up great. Interior of my challenger was great. And my wife's jeep has been great. Even with kids in the back...

 

Can't go wrong with the Durango R/T and price is superb for what you're getting.
I know it's a lease, but if Bob ends up buying it, power adders at will!

 

The ZF8 is a lot better than the old 5 speed in a lot of ways. Most importantly fuel economy, refinement, proper gearing, and overall performance.

Here's what'll happen if you get the RT:
- Bob is driving to work one sunny summer day in his RT
- Pulls up at stoplight looks to the right
- Sees SRT version of his RT (immediate regret in purchase), SRT owner smirks with disapproval of your inferior SUV
- Light turns green
- SRT launches forward in a cloud of tire smoke and engine roar
- Your feeble RT can't even fathom how to hold its own against the might of the SRT
- Bob goes home with tail between legs

Be smart Bob, buy the SRT.

FWIW, my Jeep's interior has held up awesome over 1.5 years and 22k miles. This is with taking road trips and carting the dog around. No issues whatsoever both cosmetically or mechanically.

Says the guy that bough a NSX.

 

Attachment 99948

 

This guy.. spending other people's money. Maybe you pay the difference.
If Bob was looking for one replacement.. maybe, but he has the Vagon.
He needs a solid DD commute car.. not much tire shredding to be done in traffic.

 

Mr. Doe is the king of winning stop light races.

 

If that's the case then there's a V6 Durango that will do just as good at DD commuting as a RT.

You don't even know the price of the SRT yet and Bob has said that he wants something fun, powerful, and makes a good noise.

I have a S2000, it doesn't win any stoplight races unless there's a long curvy section between lights.

 

Good to know that FCA fit and finish has improved from the DC experience I had 20 years ago. I've owned two Mopars in my life and had sworn off them because they were both POSs. Now, 16 years after I got rid of the last one....I'm willing to have a change of heart.

If I do it, I will be buying a Corsa exhaust and Hawk brake pads. Power adders....we'll see.

You forgot a part....Bob stakes out same stoplight in CTS-V wagon...sees dude in SRT Durango....smokes him with superior power to weight balance...all is right with the world...

The 8-speed transmission is SMOOOTH. Felt good in my mildly exuberant use on the test drive. I'd be happy with it.

If the price is right, I could do a SRT. My lease doesn't end until the fall, and Acura will probably try to tempt me with a three months' early exit. If I can get an inexpensive loyalty lease on a MDX SH-AWD, it is also in the realm of possibility. I'd trade out now, but the value of the RLX, even the hybrid, as a trade is far less than the residual value in my lease. Thanks, Acura.

I got a decent deal on my NSX. The new one I'm not touching until used ones are under $100k....which at the rate they are not selling, will happen sooner than later. I can wait.

If the SRT is reasonably priced, or I can get a decent lease on it, it could happen. If not, The R/T is perfectly fine and is fun enough for me to survive the winter not driving an NSX, or driving my V wagon rarely.

As above. We'll see. I'd love for Sarlacc to get an SRT. Hopefully it's less than the $70k folks are predicting....because $70k for a Durango is just freaking nuts. As for the V6 Durango,

 

1) You can get the v8 in other trim levels...the V8 isn't what differentiates the RT...much sportier/stuffer suspension as well. Aside from being a top trim model.

2) I could only wish to be able to afford the SRT. That is not in the cards any time soon. Maybe one day I can find a nice preowned one.

 

We are looking to replace my wife's Dodge Grand Caravan later this year, mostly likely closer to fall. After my caravan I said i don't think I could own another dodge again because the quality on our caravan SUCKS! I have always been a Japanese type of guy because of reliability and stuff so we were thinking of getting an odyssey or highlander (wife would much prefer an SUV) but I think the domestic vehicles have gotten better over the last few years and I started considering a Ford Explorer 2011+ or Durango 2011+. How is the 2011+ Durango V6? I want a V6 because i do need decent gas milage and I know Hemi will suck for that.

What year Durangos should be avoided?

 

When turned me on to the the Durango was renting a 2011 V6 Crew on a trip and I fell in love.

The 2014 is the refresh, I would stick with this year and up. Not sure there is a year to be avoided in the current gen. You'd have to research it.

 

Bob, another thing to consider is an Exploder sport. More HP, similar torque, and with a tune, a lot more of both.

 

Yea the Explorer Sport or Platinum are awesome! The interior in the platinum is amazing!

 

Good thought, and LOL! Not as much room, as I understand.

 

Been in the expolder. Don't like them.

I lile the flex. More usable.

Neither match the interior of the Durango imo. Or the pure American rawness.

 

I love the exterior of the Durango but the interior of the Explorer Platinum looks so much fancier.

 

Have you tried the new (2015+) ones? Actually quite nice on the inside. I agree that Durango is nicer than the old version but the new one has a lot of value for money. It's definitely not as raw though.

Platinum is BOSS but expensive. I think it starts at like $55k or something like that.

 

X2 on this one. The 2014+ model saw A LOT of very important changes like the move to an 8 speed vs the very crappy 5 speed and also the arrival of uconnect 8.4" screen vs the ultra shitty tiny ass screen on the previous navi. I also beleive the dash cluster got a digital portion in the 2014+ models.

While I love the 3.5 ecoboost and the potential it opens up. My gripes with the Explorer is the styling, sloppy transmission, and that it is a police crusier. The biggest gripe is that it is a FWD based vehicle so uses a slip and grip awd system. The durango has true full time AWD capable of sending 70% to the rear constantly with much better tow capacity (iirc).

I have not been in the Explorer platinum yet, it looks really good in pics. The top level durango is has leather on the door panels (here in Canada) though which is nice and I can bet th SRT will have a leather dash like the GC SRT does. So it might end up being a wash.

 

I've never heard the 6spd in the Explorer ever described as sloppy. They are used for police duty and are therefore quite durable. Styling is to each their own. The AWD system is more than adequate for anything people will do with it, same for the Durango. The big difference being low range that most people will never actually use in something within this market. The tow capacity for the Durango is much better though (7k vs 5k).

You can't go wrong with either. Just up to where you want to put your money.

 

By sloppy I meant sluggish, not weak. I got that impression from a 2011 and 2013 ford explorer with the 2.0t and one with the 3.5l V6 that we rented for a few weeks each. Never with the ecoboost 6 so that may change my impressions. I agree on styling, I think from some angles it is attractive, but others need work. The AWD system is adequate, agreed, just that I am an AWD junkie and I am a strong supporter of full time systems. Not that the part time systems are not good enough. I just will give preference to full time systems is what I am trying to say.

I agree with you though, neither is a horrible choice.

 

He also called the 5spd in the Durago R/T crappy. Not sure how a stout, reliable automatic that can handle 580 ft lbs of torque is crappy but what do I know. Oh wait, my Charger has the 5spd. Well I guess I do know. You can't.

 

Compared to the 8 speed, yes I feel the 5 speed is crappy. Just because it can handle that much power doesn't make it not crappy because there are other variables that come into play when I define how good I feel a transmission is. I have A LOT of experience with the old 5 speed (2005 Jeep GC V6, 2008 Jeep GC V6, 2011 Jeep GC V6, 2012 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi and most recently in a 2012 Jeep GC limited with the 5.7 Hemi ). I also just bought a 2010 dodge charger V6 with the 5 speed auto. From what I gather the 5 speed (like the 8 speed) is not the same from the V6 and V8 models, however I have experience with both V6 and V8 versions. You can feel free to have your own opinion on that like I do.

 

So you gave me all the cars/trucks you have experience with the 5spd, yet you told me nothing about what makes it so crappy. In your opinion of course.

 

many argue they were sluggish in the non performance models.

My experience is limited. But we all have different opinions. I find jeeps 9spd to be totally shitty, but Sam likes his in jeep. Which is also one model year newer with some supposed fixes.

 

Exactly what Sarlacc said. IME the 5 speed is extremely sluggish with a reluctance to shift and with gears spaced so far apart it robbed performance. Furthermore the shifts are not as smooth as I would like them to be. I can't seem to find the article, but one of the major car publications (I think car and driver, I'll search after and post if I can find it) reviewed the 2014 GC V6 with the new 8 speed and stated that it was faster to 60 than the 2011-2013 model with the Hemi V8. Those are tangible differences to me.

This exactly 1000%, thank you for posting this. I admit to not having any experience with the sport model 5 speed transmissions, so that may be a different animal.

 

Good to see not much has changed here. Drooling over SUVs with big motors. BFD

 

Hey look, its Mr. Fucko, just who no one gives a rat's ass about.