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My new Gen3 Durango Citadel - ask me questions

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dbuckho

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Attached are two quick photos I took of my new Mineral Gray V-8 RWD Durango Citadel yesterday.

Didn't opt for the rear entertainment package (couldn't stand the idea of visible, outdated RCA plugs in my ride), but added the tow package since that has the full size spare tire. Now I just need to get something to tow!

Feel free to ask me any questions about how the car is performing? I've put about 60 miles on it so far and am still getting used to it since I'm switching from a very low driving position (CLK320) to a much higher one. But so far I'm really liking the ride. comfort, and features.
 

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#2 ·
That's Beautiful! Good luck with it and keep us posted weekly if you can!

Steve
DOC Pres
 
#7 ·
JWhirl06 said:
Love it, welcome to the DOC.

What kind of mileage are you getting? No 4x4?

Most importantly,

How well does she spin the tires and make smoke? :twisted:
Click to expand...
AWD not really required in Santa Monica CA
 
#8 ·
Yeah, but just like 4x4 everybody has to have it. It's a stylin' thing.
 
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Discussion starter · #9 ·
JWhirl06 said:
What kind of mileage are you getting? No 4x4?
Click to expand...
I'm still trying to figure the gas mileage out - certainly one of the things I'm most curious about. Especially whether the 20 MPG HWY rating is based on the V-8 engine running full blast, or is that the max MPG even with the 4 cylinder multiple displacement mode kicking in?

I picked it up at 11 miles and drove it about 30 miles back from the dealer, mostly on the freeway. Most of the time it was flashing the ECO symbol at me saying I was driving in a economical manner. And it has a bar that tells you your mpg in real-time based on current driving - the bar was hovering right around 22 mpg. So I was excited. But the avg fuel economy number hadn't budged off 14.1 when I got home. So I reset it. All my driving the past 2 days (about another 30 miles) has been stop light to stop light on local roads here in West Los Angeles -- avg fuel economy is down to 11.

I think the answer to this question will take more time and more miles to really see and will report back. Hoping there's an initial period the computer needs to really calculate the average.

JWhirl06 said:
How well does she spin the tires and make smoke? :twisted:
Click to expand...
Not sure I'm ready for a burnout and drift yet! Though one thing I can already feel is the handling. While this is my first SUV, I used to travel a lot and get SUVs/trucks as rentals all the time. When I take a turn in the D, I can start to really accelerate before I've fully turned the front wheels back straight and it feels more like my Mercedes than a truck. One first drive review I read described this feeling as the back digging in during a turn and I think this is the sensation I'm experiencing. I'm not an expert on SUV handling, but in my rental SUVs the way I drive/turn felt really awkward, I always thought I needed to let my foot off the pedal and straighten out or I might tip over. Not in the Durango, it's full pedal ahead.
 
#11 ·
20MPG will be the long term estimated average for highway driving in all conditions.

13MPG is the city estimated mileage and again it's based on an average in all conditions.

20MPG Highway + 13MPG City = 33MPG ALL
33 total / 2 variables = 16.5MPG General Average

Thus, 16.5MPG should be your perfect mix estimate over all at 50/50 driving of city and highway.

Now, Cali has many blends of fuel, so your mileage will vary based on the fuel source and type alone. If you get 14 on the average overall, that should be expected. If you travel somewhere out of State and get a lot of highway time, you should creep up to something a lot closer to your 20.

My D was rated at 13/18 and I get 12 consistently, 16 on a trip. Never 18 because that's perfect and nothing is perfect in reality.

With all that said, never trust the overhead computer? it's only an estimate. Use pen and paper and do the math of miles driven divided by gallons needed to refill to get your actual mileage.

Note: You don't buy a SUV, a Durango and a Hemi with the intention of getting good gas mileage. If you can appreciate all of the other values and find the fuel consumption marginally acceptable, consider it a win.

Topic change: How does the 500+ watt stereo sound and how's the subwoofer quality?

IndyD
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Agree! I bought the Durango based on other needs, not for good gas mileage. Just curious how it performs.

The stereo sounds great but I haven't really pushed it yet. Guess I have an excuse to go find my Tchaikovsky 1812 overture CD for a test tomorrow.
 
#13 ·
If it's anything like my '07 JGC Hemi, the engine is in break-in mode for the first few hundred miles. Performance will change after that.
 
#14 ·
That's correct Tom. There's a program in the PCM to control several performance items during break-in.
After about 1000 miles, things should feel different.
Steve
DOC Pres
 
#17 ·
Looks nice and welcome! Look forward of future comments on the new Gen3.

-Steve
 
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#18 ·
Looks good! Keep us posted on your likes and dislikes as you get some miles on it.

Jim
 
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#19 ·
Welcome,

With the break-in period, I've heard some bad reports if you keep driving it at same RPM. The trick is to vary the RPM and also allow the higher RPMs in (i.e. getting on to the freeway, give it 3/4 throttle.)

You have a very nice ride and nice to see a local posting!
 
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#20 ·
That's correct, you must have varied driving conditions.
A good mix of highway/city etc., etc.
Steve
DOC Pres
 
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