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R/T vs SRT

23K views 31 replies 15 participants last post by  Robfrmny21  
#1 ·
I currently have a 17 R/T with AFE and Corsa Exhaust. A buddy of mine works at a dealership and was working a deal for me on a SRT.

While I loved the idea of it, after test driving it; I was a bit disappointed. I didn’t feel the extra power that the 392 has been known for. I don’t know if it’s because I’m being a bit closed minded as I would expect more for $20k hike in price.

I wanted to get the opinions from others, to see if anyone else has had similar experiences.

For those that have the SRT, did you test drive the R/T prior to making the decision in the SRT? If s, what are your thoughts.?

Same question for those that have a third gen R/T have you test drove the SRT. what were your thoughts?


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#3 ·
You may have a point about the 500 mile thing. I did forget about that little detail. Thanks for that.

Brakes and suspension can be purchased for under 10k and under 5k if you know where to look.


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#5 ·
I thought about it when I ordered my R/T. For me it was hard to justify the $20K bump + extra maintenance costs for the 4WD, brakes etc. + extra insurance.
Most of the time I'm slogging around town behind some old fart going 10mph under the limit or some fool dogging along yacking on their cell phone :evil:

As a DD, the R/T does just fine & is speedy enough to pass with confidence on the rural 2 lanes around here. Would love to have those SRT brakes tho ..................
 
#9 ·
Yeah, the RT is our family ride / wife's DD, and with the '18 RT looking so good with the SRT components, it wasn't worth it for our use case.

If it was my primary vehicle, I would've pushed for an SRT, I mean, clearly, the SRT is totally badass, but I've got my GT for fun/mods/etc.
 
#11 ·
Both vehicles are awesome vehicles and I think both are actually bargains for what you get. I think you may have gone in a little closed minded about the swap (there is quite a difference in performance between the two) Just look at the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times or look at the 0-60 thread on this website with those that have tuned and modded RTs. Very few are even close to what the SRT does bone stock. Again, not taking a thing away from the RT.

Take a look at the price of vehicles today. I would love someone to show me a vehicle that gives you what the DSRT does for the same or less money. And there is no way you can take an RT and get anywhere near the same all around performance as an SRT without voiding most if not all of your warranty. I would like to see you do the active suspension swap in an RT for 10 grand (components, labor and electronics reprograming).

I have looked countless times trying to find something with the passenger capabilities, tow rating, and performance of the SRT (not even mentioning looks) for the less money.
 
#12 ·
Take a look at the price of vehicles today. I would love someone to show me a vehicle that gives you what the DSRT does for the same or less money.

I have looked countless times trying to find something with the passenger capabilities, tow rating, and performance of the SRT (not even mentioning looks) for the less money.
DSRT is a bargain when compared with vehicles in the same category. If i have to pick one vehicle for the garage and also to do all family duties, it would be this one.
 
#15 ·
I think I follow you on Instagram (b5_srt_durango). What year was your Grand Cherokee?


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#17 ·
The SRT is definitely not for everyone. It is an awesome vehicle and I truly feel it’s a bargain for what you get. It’s no where near cheap, but cheaper than any alternative that competes with it and really there are none. It’s a “jack of all trades” that doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves (imo).

For me, it meets almost every one of my needs and wants. I have 4 kids, a wife and a drag car. I also like to do projects around the house. I was really hesitant to give up my truck (2007 Silverado with a 6.0, magnacharger, headers, etc). It was my daily and tow rig, but I couldn’t go to track with the family. I was looking at Yukon Denalis and expeditions, but was never that impressed. Had a deal worked on a Yukon Denali XL. Happy with numbers, but salesman was a prick with a capital D and he ruined the deal. Soooooo glad he did.

This thing tows my 27ft enclosed car hauler as well as my truck, fits my family and is fun as hell.

I have had two good friends buy Durango’s after I bought mine. Talked both of them into it. One I talked into a RT. He wanted an SRT, but doesn’t tow and really only wanted the V8 sound. The other I talked into the GT. This person would be fine with an sxt, but liked the looks of SRT. Both got great vehicles for the price.


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#18 ·
I hear you 66nova. I’m in the same boat, wife and 4 girls. Wife has the 18 R/T, she got hers shortly after i got my 17 R/T. Don’t ask as I am still a tad bit bitter about that. [emoji23][emoji23] But as the old adage goes, “Happy Wife, Happy life”.

I have an 06 magnum that i planned to make my project car, but once i picked up the Durango it became the go to mod magnet. Since that has been the issue, besides my friend putting the bug in my ear, i figured I might as well look at the SRT and throw the magnum in the deal.




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#21 ·
I guess it depends on your needs. My wife wanted a full size SUV so we looked at new Yukon Denalis and Expeditions. I wanted mid-sized but with V8 power so we looked at the Durango. I'm the one who washes and waxes it plus we don't really *need* full size so we bought the Durango R/T. The 5.7 is plenty for taking the kids to school and going to the grocery store.

IMO, if you're spending in the $70k range, hands down, the Yukon or Expedition are better choices. To be honest, the Durango is cheap. Cheaply built, cheap materials etc. You're paying a huge premium for the SRT package. I understand WHY you would want the 392, but I'm just saying it's ridiculous what they charge for it. You're getting way more for your money buying a full size SUV.

Again, just my $0.02!
 
#22 ·
Coming from a recovering GM fanboy/diehard, I truly do not get why the Tahoe/Yukon are so popular. The build quality and interior materials are not great at all for the price and lack of room in the third row and behind is just ridiculous. I was planning on buying a Tahoe, but could get over the price and for such an underwhelming vehicle. Then I had a deal worked out on a Yukon Denali XL. There were interior pieces already coming apart and the rear heater already broken on a new ride. Salesman tells me how common that is. So, I started waiting on the Expedition. I do think your argument is legit when comparing the expedition to the DSRT, but still feel you get more for the same money with the DSRT. It's easy to take an Expedition over $80,000.

Not to mention the D has more tow capacity, third row leg room and behind third row storage than the Tahoe. You can't even fit a stroller in a Tahoe without folding a seat down.
 
#24 ·
We cross shopped the GM and Ford land barges, and at the same content level, there's a solid $20L-25K difference vs. an RT, and if it's a consideration of performance, the SRT should kill them in any metric. Outside of those more objective measures, I didn't find, even at the premium trim levels, the GM/Ford offering being much better in terms of materials, F&F, paint, etc.


Side note: I have huge balls and that's no picnic either ... :mrgreen:
 
#29 ·
My main reason I am not driving an Srt is they want 1000-1100$ a month to lease it.
Hey Rob, juki_rt2d on Instagram. To get the payment in the 900$ a month for purchase I had to put 30k down.
For my budget the srt didn’t fit it.
if you had to put 30k down you might as well fucking finance and not lease it.


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#28 ·
I'm blessed to have a '15 Challenger SRT to go along with our '17 Durango R/T. The Challenger is my daily and my wife drives the DDRT.

Having said that ..... the power of the 392 can be intoxicating. Still, the 5.7 is plenty capable power-wise and I enjoy the better gas mileage on long trips.

If someone gave me a SRT, I wouldn't throw it back. But I'm not inclined to spend an extra $20K for what in my mind is about a $5K-$10K better vehicle.
 
#30 ·
I think we've seen much better lease numbers here in the forum. Considering those of us leasing R/Ts seem to be in the $500-$600 range, double that for an SRT is way off. On any lease if you care not to get into researching the residual, money factor, etc then simply shoot for a payment that is 1% of the full MSRP and you're doing OK. Not the absolute best but good. Learned that a long time ago and it holds up.

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#31 ·
I know that my '11 R/T is nothing like the newest models, but it did come from the factory with the JGC SRT sway bars and possibly some other SRT suspension parts. To tighten things up, I've added the Bwoody sway bar end links and rear upper control arms, a Grocery Getter strut tower brace and I did Brembo caliper conversion with all new R1 Concepts rotors and pads. I feel that a 2011 R/T with these upgrades is how it should have come from the factory, but I guess they had to hold somethings back on the Durango owners for when they brought out the DDSRT. I also feel that even with these upgrades, my R/T's suspension is "analog", where the DDSRT is "digital" with the active suspension. That said, mine has less electronic shit to go wrong and I'm only RWD, so less maintenance and lower repair bills. Maybe.