Mini-van is out....SUV is in

[FORDification]

Well, as mentioned a couple weeks ago Mary and I decided with a third rugrat on the way, it's time to get another vehicle....something with third-row seating. I didn't want a full-size Expedition/Suburban type, so I thought we'd pretty much agreed that for the costs involved, a mini-van was the way to go. Mary hasn't been extremely receptive to the idea though....she still sees herself as too young to be thrust into the 'soccer-mom' vehicle.

So we decided to spend the afternoon looking around and seeing what was available. We test drove a Chrysler Town and Country and were going to do the same with a Dodge Grand Caravan, but then we noticed that the Dodge Durango has 3-row seating....and it was all over from there. We took a 2003 Durango SLT out for a test drive and Mary instantly fell in love with it, and from that moment on wouldn't even discuss getting a mini-van anymore.

It's a 4WD in almost showroom condition and only 29,000 miles....and while I agree it's much sportier and has more of a 'truck' feel to it, it's also twice as expensive as a mini-van. I've tried and tried to convince her that the overall cost is going to be much higher, even though it'll probably retain a higher resale value....however, I don't think I'm gonna win this one.

So...maybe tomorrow, but probably not till late next week, we're probably going to be the proud new owners of a Dodge Durango. The one we drove was fire-engine red, but a nearby dealer has one in midnight blue with tinted windows, so we're going over in the morning to check that one out. She said she'd let me pick the color. (I'm leaning towards the midnight blue version.)

If nothing else, nobody can call us biased as far as automotive marquees go! I mean, she'll have her Chebby truck, I'll have my Ford truck and my Olds 442 and then we'll also have the Dodge as the family vehicle....we're amassing quite the diverse collection here!

[67F250CS]

Its OK Keith I have had several of each. And as you know I drive a Dodge Grand Caravan as my primary vehicle now until the truck is done. Durango is more of a truck, but I can take out my 2 back rows of seat in under a minute and put in full size sheets of drywall and plywood flat on the floor. I towed a full size Dodge truck with it to Northern Illinois. I tow my pop-up camper with it. It has his/her A/C and heat. rear air and heat. The seat right behind the driver has built in child seats. Sliding doors on both side. The rear hatch opens way up. Oh and my wifes driver is a short Caravan that has been converted by me to right hand drive. She is a rural postal carrier. Oh and I can put a small trailer in mine and drive all the way to your shop to pick up a bed.

I get around 18 in town and 22-25 on the highway.

[heep70]

I like the Durango also. They have a nice look to them. Have they improved the MPG yet. I remember when they first came out they got like 14mpg because they were so heavy. I think she picked a good one, oh and good choice on the color Keith.

[ttyR2]

We rented one for a 600 mile round trip. I loved it. Gas mileage was pretty bad, seating was good. Might check Consumer Reports auto section and see if they list any major issues with the Durango.

[FORDification]

Well, we did it....we got the red Durango:



We spent the morning looking at a few others in the area, but the ones that I liked for color didn't have the options we liked....this one had everything we wanted, plus still has the balance of the factory warranty (almost two years left of the bumper-to-bumper, and the drivetrain warranty doesn't run out until 2010.

...and rememer that thread a while back where we were discussing the lack of ashtrays in some newer vehicles? Well, guess what we didn't notice until after we signed the paperwork and were on our way home. There's no freakin' ashtray in this one! Guess I'll have to rig something up.

Overall I think it's a good deal for the family. It'll give the boys more room, it'll be easier for us to load/unload them from the car seats and I have to admit it does look sharp.

So this is our new family vehicle, and we're planning on taking it for it's first road trip in about a month. Mary and I are both taking a week off work and driving out to the other end of the state to spend a week with my daughter. Then in November we'll be headed down to southern Texas for a week or so.

[FORDification]

Here's one more pic:

[67ford4x4]

nice vehicle and good lookin family, Kieth...just hope this doesnt cut into the project budget. thats what my 1990 bronco does. get a few bucks for my 67 and bronco get jealous

[FORDification]

That's precisely why we bought this one...because of the warranty. We won't have to worry about anything for a while yet.

...oh, and one other cool fact that I forgot to mention:

We bought this Dodge in Dodge, Nebraska!

[flyboy2610]

I know where Dodge is.
One thing about driving a truck on delivery runs around Nebraska, you learn where these towns are.
There was something in the news once about Wilsonville. There isn't anything IN Wilsonville except three houses and a Co-op.
But I knew where it was!
And don't fret about the ashtray, Keith. Think of it as a hint from above!

[67F250CS]

Shweet!!!

Looks like a winner to me.

[rjewkes]

Congratulations on that sweet ride.

What kind of MPg was posted on the window sticker 18 town and 22-24 Highway? Or better? What size motor dodge 318?

As For the ash tray look to Red Green "Guess I'll have to duct tape that later" -Red Green-

Thanks for the great site and great Advice.

[flyboy2610]

I know what you mean about outgrowing vehicles.
My jids are 8 & 5. They are getting big. My wife takes them and two (soon to be three) neighbor kids to Awana at church on Wednesday nights. She doen't have room in her Topaz, and it's getting to be a squeeze in my Taurus.
So, we plan to save up all the bonuses I get at work, any extra money that comes in, and next years tax refund and then get a FORD OR MERCURY mini van. Then I will drive her Topaz to work and we will get rid of the Taurus.
I'd rather keep the Taurus but the Topaz is reall in better shape, so..........

[spartman]

Not to put a damper on your new purchase but make sure if it has the magnum engine to insulate the pcv return line or it will sludge up something fierce.

Check out the site dodgetalk.com and read the forums.

Here is the link: http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/forumdi ... c16b&f=186

It seems that if you do the maintenance on these trucks like it is stated on the forums it will last you a long time.

BTW my wife and I have a 2005 Durango with the magnum engine in it and the only way she will get rid of it is if I pry it from her cold dead hands.

[cobraF100]

Congrats....Looks like your Yougest (in the second Pic) is very happy about his New ride...
You've got a Great looking family...

See you in November....

[crazy larry]

I hope your family gets years of good service from it.

who GAS about an ash tray, what motor is in it?