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<h1>2018 Dodge Durango R/T V-8 Long-Term Arrival</h1>
One year with Dodge's eight-cylinder three-row SUV
In 2014, William Pedestrian welcomed a Granite Gray 2017 Durango GT to our lasting fleet, just to have it swiped two months after its arrival-- lock, stock, essential fob, and 25 large well worth of image equipment in the back-- from a Los Angeles-area dining establishment's valet great deal. It's most likely been carrying Russian mobsters around Kamchatka because soon thereafter because it was never recouped. For a warm min we thought about silently replacing it with a doppelganger as well as carrying on, however the '18 designs were just being announced, and we could not stand up to upgrading to an R/T version with the amazing new SRT nose. And since Dodges are less unusual and unique in the brand name's hometown (and also for this reason hopefully much less of an eye-catching hassle than they obviously are in L.A. ), the substitute car has been entrusted to our Detroit workplace for safekeeping.

Updating from a GT V-6 to an R/T V-8 includes $5,900. Figure the engine deserves $3,995 of that (that's the choice price on Castle trim levels), with the extra 2 grand getting the aforementioned angry SRT bodywork (vented hood, power outage grille, sporting activity front fascia), a decreased sporting activity suspension with load-leveling, fancier lights, rain-sensing wipers, auto parking sensors, Radar Red Nappa sport natural leather seats (with eight-way power ahead), and the big-screen infomercial setup. Our snowbelt geography demanded another ($2,600) "Durango 4" upgrade. An MP 3023 transfer case supplies on-demand variable torque-split all-wheel drive with low-range gearing and also a neutral setup (remember flat-tow RVers!). To this currently high level of conventional equipment we just included a technology package (flexible cruise ship with accident as well as blind-spot as well as lane departure warnings for $2,495), the trailering team ($995), murdered-out black wheels as well as mirrors ($695), and a cargo plan of roofing rails, go across bars, as well as a cargo cover ($395). At $51,970 out the door, it's $9,195 spiffier than our 2017 GT.

Having put our order in just as 2018-model production started, our White Knuckle appeal was improved August 17 and also delivered to us on September 22. As any type of great new owner should, we spoke with the proprietors' hand-operated burglary requirements, which were quite straightforward: "Drive reasonably throughout the first 300 miles," and also "while travelling, short full-throttle velocity within the limits of local website traffic legislations contributes to an excellent burglary." Can do! Two trips to my lakeside cabin-restoration project had our Durango totally all set for activity. On those treks we made abundant use of the 47.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the center row of seats to haul tools and also products, however the 43-inch-wide back deck will preclude us from using it for drywall or paneling delivery.


So far we are still grooving on our vehicle's negative boy looks, the Hemi's ready rumble, and the sporting activity suspension's ride/handling trade-off (fairly flexible on the bumps, respectably flat in the curves). To date, our Hemi Durango 4's gas economy is tracking that of our 3.6-liter rear-drive GT visibly. After a month of service and about 1,800 miles of driving, we're averaging 15.0 mpg. The GT handled 18.9 mpg over concerning 7,100 miles of driving. It's alluring to wish our R/T's fuel economy will boost as the engine remains to barge in, but the 20 percent decrease nearly precisely mirrors the 19 percent distinction in EPA combined ratings, so we're not holding our breath.

Our Durango's dancing card is currently loaded with set up journeys to antebellum Vicksburg, Mississippi, north Canada, and also many tailgate trips with the 10 event trailer in tow. 2012 ram 1500 front grill We'll report on all its surprises, delights, as well as any kind of potential weakness. In the meantime, if you're taking a trip in some sketchy international country and area a nice Granite Gray Durango GT, send us a snapshot.

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