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Don Fox

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
The old:
Some of you may have noted that my avatar was updated a few weeks back. My flame red 2004 SLT 5.7L D pulled out of the driveway for the final time tonight. A fellow in the roofing/construction trades saw my ad on FB Marketplace, and came by to take it home.

It was here for just over 13 years, having been purchased in March of '10. Other than cosmetic issues due to our wonderful SW Ohio winters, I would drive it anywhere in a heartbeat.

So, the new, as mentioned, is the '20 Destroyer Gray D SXT Plus that came home from Michigan on 2/24/23.

It had just under 32k on it when I picked it up. While not as fancy as the '04 was, I think it's pretty well equipped.

This is Durango #3 for me. Hoping that it lasts me as long as #2, if not longer.
For those who will wonder about missing the Hemi. Of course, I'd have preferred one, but the current market would dictate another $5-7k for one with mileage in the 65k mile or more range, with no warranty, and $10k or better for one with a Hemi and factory warranty left.

Don
 

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#2 ·
I have said this before but the 3.6 with the A8 trans seems to have more pep than my 2013 5.7 JGC. I could never chirp the tires from a dead stop but my 2017 DD GT seems to do this on certain types of roads. I looked at the 0-60 times and apparently the GT has the same time as the 2013 JGC. I also like that I average ~19mpg with ESS and mostly city driving, my JGC was ~13mpg. Also when I take tight turns with the GT the front end does not seem to dip as much as the JGC. Heck I don't even miss the air ride suspension from the JGC. Truth be told I like the GT better than the JGC and the 3rd row is surprisingly spacious.
 
#7 ·
Vice-White said:
Nice new ride! The V6 and the newer (2018 & up) 8 speed trans is great.
Click to expand...
I know you know this just posting for others that may see the post, but +2016 was when the PUG was implemented...improved intake design, VVL, liquid cooled EGR, increased CR...etc.
www.allpar.com

PSU (formerly PUG) — the Pentastar V6 engine upgrade

PSU (formerly PUG) - the Pentastar V6 engine upgrade The Pentastar upgrade has finally arrived, though, for the moment, only for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. We had written, "We are expecting revised heads, direct injection, and better cam phasing, possibly affecting exhaust as well as intake, or...
www.allpar.com www.allpar.com

But the biggest improvement IMO is the 8 speed trans which was implemented on +2014. +2018 is when the secure can bus was added along with the UAS/UAQ Panasonic head units. So +2018 is the sweet spot.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Gents:
Thanks for all of the congrats!

@ Braineater:
The Hemi does possess a sweet sound. Remember, I have the '14 Charger R/T, so should I desire that V8 sound, it's but a button push away. I'll say that the '04 SLT handled very well for it's size and weight. Looking back over the last 5 years, I was averaging between 11-14 mpg with it. Of course, more highway driving would pull it towards the 14 end, but most was in town, and in the 12-13 range.
So far, I've filled the '20 D tank 4 times, and have averaged 22 mpg!

@ Vice-White:
I agree 100% that the 8 speed changes the personality a fair amount. One thing I have recently figured out. IMO, they screwed up the manual shift! I expected to move the shifter forward to move up the gears, and backward to down shift. They have set it up bass ackwards from this! I had a B & M ratchet shifter in my '72 Camaro, and it was forward for up and backwards for down.
:unsure::unsure:

@ Duh-rango:
Agree on all of this. Remember though, that '18 was also the worst year for (F) Uconnect issues, and screen delamination. Dodge should be ashamed of that debacle, and made these issues right for anyone in the 5 year 75k range.

Don
 
#10 ·
Don Fox said:
@ Duh-rango:
Agree on all of this. Remember though, that '18 was also the worst year for (F) Uconnect issues, and screen delamination. Dodge should be ashamed of that debacle, and made these issues right for anyone in the 5 year 75k range.
Click to expand...
Yeah, kinda like 2016 was the first year of the PUG and IIRC there where several TSBs on it. Generally the first year that changes are made there are a bunch of issues that are usually fixed on the following year. My 2015 challenger has quite a few TSBs compared to a 2016. Anyways, I am a fanboy of the 3.6/A8 combo despite owning a 5.7/manual challenger. When we bought our 2013 JGC we test drove the 5.7 and then 3.6, the wife and I agreed the 3.6 was a no go. However, with the 2017 GT we test drove the 3.6 and were immediately impressed and stuck with it...did not even test drive the 5.7. Although I have driven 3.6, 5.7 and 6.4 challengers and to me the difference between the 3.6 and 5.7 was not as big as the 5.7 and 6.4.

Funny thing is my 16 year old nephew keeps pestering my sister-in-law to let him drive their JGC L because he says it is peppy to drive compared to his 4 banger jeep and their toyota sienna.

Anyways, happy for you Don!
 
#11 ·
Duh-rango said:
I have said this before but the 3.6 with the A8 trans seems to have more pep than my 2013 5.7 JGC. I could never chirp the tires from a dead stop but my 2017 DD GT seems to do this on certain types of roads. I looked at the 0-60 times and apparently the GT has the same time as the 2013 JGC. I also like that I average ~19mpg with ESS and mostly city driving, my JGC was ~13mpg. Also when I take tight turns with the GT the front end does not seem to dip as much as the JGC. Heck I don't even miss the air ride suspension from the JGC. Truth be told I like the GT better than the JGC and the 3rd row is surprisingly spacious.
Click to expand...
I was initially interested in a '17 RT when it came time to trade my '02 Ram 1500. But after test driving an SXT that was $4K cheaper than the RT I was looking at, well ---- I just didn't WANT the RT anymore! The pep that little 3.6 Pentastar/Z8 trans combo of the SXT has proved to be more than strong enough for me. She definately "scoots"! So I just couldn't justify the additional price, or the projected "care and feeding" over the course of ownership of the RT. Nice machine, for sure. But "overkill" of bells n whistles I'd rarely (if ever) use.
 
#12 ·
Don Fox said:
@ Vice-White:
I agree 100% that the 8 speed changes the personality a fair amount. One thing I have recently figured out. IMO, they screwed up the manual shift! I expected to move the shifter forward to move up the gears, and backward to down shift. They have set it up bass ackwards from this! I had a B & M ratchet shifter in my '72 Camaro, and it was forward for up and backwards for down.
:unsure::unsure:
Don
Click to expand...
It’s an auto stick so can’t expect too much but push forward to downshift and pull back to upshift is correct, just like a sequential trans.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
@ davewear:
While this "new" pattern may be considered correct, IMO it goes against anything I have driven in the last 40+ years of driving. The column mounted shifter is/was PRNDL, or PRND21. Down is down, and up is up. Same with the console mounted shifters.

In the early, 80's, Ford decided to integrate the horn switch onto the turn signal stalk. You had to push the stalk in to honk the horn. It was poorly thought out, and unwise idea that quickly got negative feedback. Ford stopped that practice shortly thereafter.

To me, this is no different than suddenly deciding that Reverse need to be located where 1st gear or Low resides and has been since the autotrans came out. Sometimes folks do things just so they can say, "Hey, look at my new idea!"

Don
 
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#14 ·
I guess we should just be glad we can shift with the the stick, my wife just picked up a Macan GTS and there are paddles of course but no option to shift with the stick making it basically a glorified dial shifter….
 
#15 ·
Hi Don,

I feel for you... My Wife cried when we traded our old D in and they took it not to loose the sale.

I had difficulty letting my 05' Limited 5.7 Hemi go, but after a few little hiccups and difficulty finding parts (i.e., modules, etc.) it was time to let her go. I had her new for almost 20 years and close to 300K trouble free miles.

She was modified in every sense... engine, brakes, suspension, appearance... when something wore out I would replace it with factory or quality aftermarket or performance parts. She ran like a champ!

I sure hope my new R/T is as dependable or I will be upset!


You can see my horse stable here too... LOL
 
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#18 ·
davewear said:
It’s an auto stick so can’t expect too much but push forward to downshift and pull back to upshift is correct, just like a sequential trans.
Click to expand...
Dodge should have put a slap stick in the R/T and up trim levels. It would then shift like how Don wants which is accurate to a slap stick of the 70s.
 
#19 ·
Vice-White said:
Dodge should have put a slap stick in the R/T and up trim levels. It would then shift like how Don wants which is accurate to a slap stick of the 70s.
Click to expand...
Yeah even my Audi shifts + up and - down. I think Dodge wanted the reverse valve body shift seen on so many drag cars. Lol
 
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Discussion starter · #20 ·
As another reference, the shifter in my '14 R/T is right for up, and left for down. I can handle that, but up for down, and down for up??????

Dodge:
"For our next trick, we are going to make the exhaust exit out through the front bumper."

SMH.............

Don
 
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