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Holy Hannah the deal is ready to be made.. I need last minute input

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19K views 91 replies 23 participants last post by  L-Dub  
L
#1 ·
Durango lovers its put up or shut up time for me. I have a dealership that wants my 16 Pilot and is willing to pay over invoice to get it. Thus, last night the family looked at a 15 R/T.

Guys and gals, I really need help in fully understanding what warts the Durango has. I know that the gas mileage will suffer, I know that the D has limited storage space when compared to the mini van, I mean Pilot. I need help determining what else I need to consider.

The Durango I am wanting, is a 15, technology package, towing, rear buckets, entertainment package, sunroof, blacktop, and napa leather. Any help is appreciated as I am hours if not days away from signing paperwork.

looking back is this a car that I own or lease.....

I will also need thoughts on snow tires for the beast.....

please advise.
 
#2 ·
I've had what sounds like the exact D you're describing for about a month. Every option available with the exception of the engine block heater, I think. I have to tell you, I love it. If I had to find some things to nit-pick...

- The front center console is very small with the entertainment package. The BluRay player takes up 75% of the space. There's room in there for maybe a pair of gloves. It's tiny.
- Overall paint quality is not as good as I would like. That said, it's probably not any worse than any other American SUV out there. Just dissapointing that a $50k vehicle doesn't have a little nicer finish.
- It's not a Honda, so don't expect overall Honda quality. It pains me to say that, but it's realistic. I've seen some posts on here about radiator leaks, water pump failures. Certainly not a trend, but not something one expects to see with a new vehicle. Go into it eyes wide open, and make sure the dealer will provide a loaner if your D needs to go in for service.
- Gas mileage, as you indicated, is not great. On the plus side, it makes a sweet V8 sound as it burns the precious liquid dinosaur remains at an alarming rate. I've averaged about 16mpg, mostly city driving.

I live in Iowa and have had no need for snow tires. It goes great in the snow. Unless you're somewhere that gets LOTS of snow and ice, I don't know why you'd need them. I had Blizzaks on my Subaru BRZ and they were awesome, but I see no need for it on the D.
 
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L
#4 ·
Brother, you had me at "I've had what sounds like the exact D you're describing for about a month." without going into to much details, what happened? Train? Or should I have read what you have posted as "I have what sounds......" not nit picking just don't want to follow one so-so decision with another. Quite frankly I have two dealerships really pushing to get this deal done. The stars seems to have aligned.
 
#7 ·
I don't understand the question. Are you reading it as though I don't have the truck anymore? lol

I'll try again.

I currently own, and have owned for about a month, a D that is almost identical to the one you're looking at...

Better? :D
 
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#6 ·
I would go get it done. While I don't have one equipped like the one you are looking at ('14 Limited, V-6, AWD) it's the best vehicle I've ever owned. I have absolutely no complaints about quality - yes, you'll see posts here about people with problems, but that's the nature of a forum, and really, life in general. Most people don't post to tell you that they have no problems, they post when they have an issue and want advice. I can say that in a year and a half, with 51K miles, other than when I hit a deer, the only time it's been in the shop has been for scheduled oil changes/tire rotations.
 
#8 ·
don't look back, keep pushing forward. I have 80k miles on my 2012 challenger V6, only issues are the alternator and airbag recall. the V6 trans seems to hunt alittle, but I'm not worried. It hasn't changed its shifting pattern since day 10, some 850 days currently.
 
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#10 ·
I drove both bought the DD RT. Much better look and feel.

If I didn't care about that I'd of gotten a Honda Odyssey, mom jeans and all.

I'm sure fit finish and overall quality are better on Honda but the DD is just plain sweet looking and sounding

I havent regretted it !
 
L
#12 ·
to be honest I am not all impressed with the fit and finish of the Honda. If I really had time, I would take the pilot in to get both roof rails reseated. There are a few other items that are just suspect. Where the Honda really shines in in storage. The console between the front buckets is huge....I mean like store 6 IPads huge. There is also double storage compartments in each of the doors, front and rear. The car has like 14 cup holders, and the third row seats fold completely flat.

do you have the DVD player in your DD? If so, can one start a movie for the kiddos from the front seat? is it fairly easy?

thanks
 
L
#21 ·
Interesting.....Being that my local dealership has offered to sell me a 16 at invoice minus half of the holdback you raise an interesting question. I was going to get the lifetime warranty, so maybe the 15 is less attractive than I thought.. Can you expand on the updated uconnect?

Thank you
 
#22 ·
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C
#25 ·
We just bought ours. Not in the R/T class but a Limited. Limited, Blacktop, Premium group and we negotiated down to 14% off MSRP in San Diego. Having the 100k warranty was the kicker for her. I'd definitely negotiate further down otherwise, paying the same price for a '16 seems the way to go. Assuming you can be patient
 
L
#27 ·
OK, schedules have kept me from making the transaction. However while I have waited another deal has popped up. Can I get some input about which deal to take?

deal 1) 15 RT/ Blacktop. Tech/Napa/Tow/Rear Captains. MSRP $51,040 price $46,000 (941 miles) (no DVD)
deal 2) 15 RT. Tech/Napa/DVD/Tow/rear Captains MSRP $53,410 price $47,250 (50 or so miles) (no Blacktop)

Deal 1 offers $1K better on my trade....

I should complete the transaction on Friday. Thanks in advance.
 
#28 ·
If it's the same dealer for both, they should offer you the same trade in price for both. Otherwise I'd personally pick deal 2, less miles and DvD, but I have a baby so that dvd will be getting some use in the next few years. To me blacktop package isn't worth it for the wheels and blacked out head lights.
 
#30 ·
I still say ordering a 2016 is your best bet. You can get the newer year model, with the same options, for a cheaper price.

The rear seat entertainment isn't worth the $2k MSRP to me; especially when my kids have Kindles, and we have iPads and such for them to watch movies and play games on long trips.
 
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#31 ·
stoopalini said:
The rear seat entertainment isn't worth the $2k MSRP to me; especially when my kids have Kindles, and we have iPads and such for them to watch movies and play games on long trips.
Click to expand...
I agree. The rear entertainment system is overpriced and archaic (and looks kinda goofy on the seats IMO). For the same money you could get a couple of iPads which are infinitely more functional and can be used both in and out of the car.
 
A
#32 ·
agreed. i need to figure out a good ipad type device + hard drive solution, complete with wireless headphones and screen holders

then i need to figure out how to get said movies onto said hard drive, from amazon, or assorted mostly scratched dvds and bluerays.

i get why people still buy in the in car dvd systems. no one has really put together a complete solution, which is weird. Or maybe they have ?
 
#33 ·
The kindle has a micro SD card slot, and each of my kids have 32GB of space. Plenty for games and movies without the need for an Internet connection.

The iPad can download movies from iTunes to be watched also while disconnected for the Internet. Or, you can get the HotSpot subscription from uConnect/Sprint and have the connected while driving; although I don't find the cost of that to be worth it.

When I want Internet while we're driving, I simply enable the HotSpot option of my iPhone and connect the devices to it. Even through it uses my paid data from AT&T, it's still cheaper than the uConnect/sprint plan.
 
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#34 ·
This was our solution last summer on our drive to the beach. Had a 1/8" headphone splitter connected so me and the wife weren't bothered by the movie sound.

That's my wife's iPad suspended with a bungy cord :)
 
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#35 ·
stoopalini said:
This was our solution last summer on our drive to the beach. Had a 1/8" headphone splitter connected so me and the wife weren't bothered by the movie sound.

That's my wife's iPad suspended with a bungy cord :)

View attachment 27007
Click to expand...
That's hilarious - it's **exactly** what I did for our road trip! And here I thought my genius was somehow unique.

Why pay $2k for an entertainment system when an iPad and bungee cord are all you need? :D
 
#36 ·
I didn't want the BluRay player either. My dealer ended up making about 1250 in concessions for me, which made it cost $250 more than the other vehicle we were looking at. The one we ended up with had a $500 lower base price - I assume there had been some kind of pricing change between when it was built and when the other one was built.

So...

$2000 Blu Ray
- 500 lower base MSRP
-1000 additional trade allowance
- 250 lower purchase price.
-----------
$250

Anyway, the point is: stick to your guns!

I'm glad it worked out that way, because other one didn't have the blacktop package, and these wheels and the all black grille have really grown on me.
 
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