2004 Dodge Durango Article at Automotive.com

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'04 Dodge Durango

Below is an enthusiast article written by the automotive experts at Truckin'. All new for 2004, the Dodge Durango has been redesigned from the ground up, to be even more competitive in a hotly contested and ever-growing market. Dodge says the fullsize SUV segment, which makes up 43 percent of the SUV market, continues to surpass 2 milli

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IntelliChoice Value Rating

The chart above shows the purchase price versus ownership cost for each car from a specific vehicle class. The cars with better than average ownership cost/purchase price correlations are the best values, and these best value cars are represented by the dots below the curve. (i.e. the cars that have a lower ownership cost compared to its purchase price.) Those cars, which are worse than average or poor values, appear above the curve.

One way to view the graph is to draw a vertical line through any purchase price. You may see several dots that fall on this line - each of which is a car with a similar purchase price. However, notice the difference in ownership costs of each car represented by the vertical position of the dot. Two cars with the same purchase price can have thousands of dollars difference in ownership costs. This is what separates "good value" cars from "poor value" cars.

What is a good car value?

A "good car value" is one whose cost to own and operate is less than expected. The lower the cost to own and operate a car compared to what is expected, the better the value of that car.

But how do we know a car's "expected cost"?

For each car in the class, IntelliChoice plots the car's purchase price against the total five-year cost to own and operate it as determined by IntelliChoice research. Each dot on the above chart represents a specific car. Generally, we find that as the purchase price of the car increases, the cost to own and operate that car increases. This is why the dots on the graph tend to rise upward and to the right. This phenomenon also makes intuitive sense - as the purchase price rises, financing costs tend to rise, as do insurance, depreciation, taxes, and most other car ownership costs.

This is an important concept. It's normal for car ownership costs to rise as purchase price rises. Therefore, we can't just establish one "average" ownership cost number for each class, since cars in the class have different purchase prices. (This is why the "Relative" shown on each chart is different for cars in the same car class.)

Using statistical techniques, IntelliChoice "connects the dots" to form a curve that defines, for this car class, the relationship between the car's purchase price and car's ownership costs. This curve is our "expected cost" curve. The curve defines, for any car in the class, the five-year ownership cost that we would expect to see at each possible purchase price. If every car in the class were an average value, then all the dots would fall exactly on the curve. However, it's rare that any dot is exactly on the curve. Some dots are a little higher or lower, and some are a lot higher or lower. The dots that are a little lower are better than average car values, while the dots that are a lot lower are excellent car values (A dot that is a lot lower than the curve has ownership costs much lower than expected for a car of its purchase price). Conversely, a dot a little higher than the curve is a poorer than average car value, while a dot that is much higher than the curve is a poor car value.

Value is a relative term, not an absolute term. It is performing better than the logical expectation.

So is a Mercedes-Benz E320 expensive to own and operate? Certainly in an absolute sense. Most other cars cost less. But, when its cost to own and operate is plotted against cars with comparable invoice prices, the E320 costs less. So the E320 is not expensive to own and operate - it is a good car value. The Mercedes does not have low ownership costs, but it has low ownership costs for its invoice price.

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Article From Truckin' Magazine

'04 Dodge Durango

This Dodge Moves Up in Size and Class / Article provided by: Truckin' Magazine

All new for 2004, the Dodge Durango has been redesigned from the ground up, to be even more competitive in a hotly contested and ever-growing market. Dodge says the fullsize SUV segment, which makes up 43 percent of the SUV market, continues to surpass 2 million units in sales per year. The in-between- size Durango, introduced in 1998, has always straddled the large and fullsize markets, capturing the interest of large families who need a fullsize SUV but don't want the bulk.

To keep up with the ever-increasing size of the fullsize competition, the new Durango also expands to present a roomier interior, and once again offer fullsize SUV capability in a smaller package, which also benefits from being more fuel efficient and less expensive than the competition. The '04 Durango is 7 inches longer, 3 inches taller, and 3 inches wider, resulting in a commodious interior that expands legroom, cargo, and headroom beyond that of the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition. In fact, the Durango offers the same or greater level of towing capacity and interior space.

As mentioned before, the Durango continues with a solid body-on-frame construction, keeping its true roots as a tough, truck-based SUV. The new body is stiffer and mounted on an incredibly rigid hydroformed, fully boxed frame. Underpinning the Durango is a new A-arm front suspension with rack-and-pinion steering for a smoother ride and more precise handling. Under the rear, a live axle with a Watt's linkage and coil springs replace the archaic rear leaf spring setup of the current Durango, while saving 40 pounds of weight and increasing wheel travel by 12 percent.

The looks are pure Dodge with its family DNA incorporated in the Durango's drop-shoulder front fenders and powerful front end -- reminiscent of the original Power Wagons. Filling the generous wheelwells are standard 17-inch wheels. Afterburner-style taillights are similar to those on other Dodge concept vehicles. Dodge hopes the in-your-face design will separate the Durango from the increasingly crowded competition, especially those sporting more mundane styling.

Dodge's emphasis on creating a friendlier interior starts with the new dash, which has been redesigned to be more ergonomic and simpler to use. The new white-face gauge cluster is comprehensive and easy to read. Ample storage room abounds, and cubbyholes can be found throughout the cabin. A perfect example is the center console which houses a large bin to keep your fast-food bags from sliding around and spilling their contents onto the floor. With a 3-inch increase in the wheelbase, passengers enjoy more legroom at all seating positions.

Power adjustable pedals help the driver to find an optimal seating position. The second-row passengers can now adjust the rear seat rake for more comfort and are graced with their own climate, audio, and DVD controls. The third-row passengers also enjoy increases in leg, shoulder, and hip room, while the distance between the rear wheelwells is a full 48 inches, large enough for containing the ubiquitous 4-foot-wide sheet of plywood. The cargo volume is 15 percent larger than before, thanks to 102.4 cubic feet of cargo room on the fold-flat load floor.

For the first time, a V-6 will anchor the engine lineup on the Durango and completes one of the most expansive engine lineups of all the large and fullsize SUVs. Engine choices are the V-6 210hp 3.7L, the Magnum V-8 230hp 4.7L, and the awesome Hemi Magnum V-8 330hp 5.7L, replacing the former top engine choice, the Magnum 5.9L, with a 10-percent improvement in fuel economy. Either a four-speed or five-speed automatic transmission is standard, depending on the chosen engine. At 6,600 pounds, the GVWR is a Best In Class and has the ability to tow an incredible 8,950 pounds of trailer weight.

Safety starts with the exceptional handling that has been engineered into the chassis and new bumper heights that match most cars. In the event you need more, the Durango has the largest ABS brakes available in its class. Borrowed from the fullsize Ram pickup, the brakes measure 13.1 inches in the front and 13.8 inches in the rear, increasing the swept area over the previous design by 30 percent. All of the seats, including center positions, offer three-point seatbelts and a full complement of airbags, including side-curtain airbags for all three rows of seats. Side-curtain airbags protect passengers from life-threatening collisions. Front seat passengers start to use the next generation dual-stage airbags. To keep collision repair costs down, the Durango-specific frame is designed with special-shaped frame horns that are replaceable after an accident. Anticipating more severe crashes, the new Durango passes the 50-mph offset barrier test.

Dodge says it is the big SUV that is not too big -- and we have to agree. After a day of driving the Durango in nearly all trim levels, all three engine options, as well as while towing a 6,500-pound, 26-foot boat with the Hemi, we were surprised at the stability and agility of this truck. The ride is firm, but comfortable and compliant. Helping out on those long journeys are the pleasing seats and hushed interior. Also impressing us was the quality switch gear and the rich interior materials -- something we are becoming accustomed to with recent Dodge redesigns.

We enjoyed many of the new convenience features, such as the extra-large sunroof, the rear door which opens a full 84 degrees, and the Bluetooth personal electronic device technology. The 384-watt stereo was crisp and clear, while the overall package was livable and easy to drive. If you are looking for a big, capable, and contemporary SUV that isn't too big for everyday use, the new Durango should be high on your list of testdrives. We'll let you know how the Durango stacks up to the competition in our SUV of the Year testing.