by L Baures | Nov 30, 2017 | Automotive News, Vehicle Reviews
2018 Dodge Durango SRT. Photo: L Baures
Who is a fast SUV for?
I just want to start off by saying, how cool is it that there is a fast SUV on the market. I was lucky enough to have an SRT engineer riding shotgun in the car with me when I got to drive it.
Before we even started talking about the car or driving specifics, I straight up asked him, “Who did you build this Durango for, who is your target market?”
I was really curious as to what the answer might be, and in particular, if it would be geared towards males or females.
The reply I got, was “don’t know, we just built it”. Very much a ‘because we can’ attitude. I commend that and I wish more car manufacturers would think like that. Just because it’s an SUV, doesn’t mean it can’t be fun or look good.
2018 Durango SRT Specs:
- AWD SUV with 3rd-row seating
- 475hp
- 470lb-ft torque
- 392 cubic inch HEMI® V-8
- 1/4 mile time 12.9 seconds
- 0-60 in 4.4 seconds
- Best in class towing at 8,700lbs
Dodge Durango SRT Interior
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Durango Interior
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SRT embossed front seats
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3rd Row seating
The interior of the Durango SRT is very similar if not the same as other SRT models in the line up such as the Challenger Hellcat.
Even though it’s an SUV, it’s still got that muscle car feel.
The front seats are a luxury suede and Laguna leather mix that are wide and bolstered. A wide steering wheel intensifies the muscle feel.
Quick access to information and/or features are available at the touch of a button the steering wheel.
Durango SRT leather interior, photo: FCA
Gear changes are also accessible with paddle shifters located at the back of the steering wheel. The paddle shifters were easy to use and a big enough not to miss.
For regular automatic shifting, the gear lever (yes a lever, not a rotary dial) is within easy reach right where it should be.
Durango SRT luxury suede roof lining
A thin-film transistor makes up the digital instrument cluster, which is customizable and shows up to 180mph on the speedometer.
An 8.4″ Uconnect touch screen gives access to the SRT performance pages, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, climate controls, the backup camera, HD radio, downloadable apps, and more.
Durango SRT performance pages with adjustable settings. photo: FCA
Standard on the Durango SRT is a BeatsAudio premium sound system. I didn’t try out the sound system, I was too amused by the exhaust notes.
The Drive
It was difficult not have fun in this SUV. Granted the exhaust note might have spurred me on a little, I did have the window cracked so I could hear it more.
Durango SRT
The SRT engineer told me that they put a lot of work into sound dampening inside the vehicle due to it being a family car. Perfect, so you don’t need to worry about the kids in the 3rd row going deaf.
When the kids aren’t in the back, open the window a little, put it in track mode and you’ll be smiling at the deep V8 cackle before you know it.
I mentioned track mode already, but there are actually 7 different drive modes;
- Auto
- Sport
- Track
- Snow
- Tow
- Valet
- ECO
‘Sport’ mode was the first mode I tried, and within a few miles, I got used to the handling and acceleration. I then switched to ‘Track’ mode and oh… my. Leaving the transmission in auto, accelerating hard, I was soon being thrown around my seat.
Gear shifts in track mode are violent and aggressive. The most aggressive I’ve ever experienced in an auto (160 milliseconds to be precise).
The Durango SRT has an 8-speed TorqueFlight transmission which is specifically calibrated for the vehicle. Shift points are designed to give the maximum torque to all four wheels.
In track mode, 70 percent of that torque is sent to the rear wheels.
On this note, I did ask how the vehicle performed in the snow with so much power.
It does have a snow mode, which will reduce power and it’s also AWD. With a good set of snow tires, I’ll be interested to see how it performs.
No time to try out ECO mode, however, if you are worried about fuel consumption on this vehicle, it’s probably not for you.
Durango SRT’s for sale
To find out more information about this fast 3-row family-friendly SUV, contact your preferred Dodge dealership or click to see Dodge Durango SRT’s in stock.
For more info, click here for contact details.
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by L Baures | Nov 29, 2017 | Trusted Auto Pros
Bill Vigil
Bill Vigil is the Parts Manager at Fremont Ford and Lincoln in Sheridan, Wyoming.
We interviewed him to find out a little more, here are the questions we asked;
How long have you worked in the auto Industry?
Bill says he has been working in the Ford parts business since August 1978, close to 40 years!
What is your favorite part of the job (pun intended)?
He likes learning about all the new technology that Ford is coming up with. (For being in the business for almost 40 years, there has to have been a lot of changes since then). Bill strives to keep all the right parts in stock as he knows how important it is to keep vehicles on the road.
Where are you from?
Born in Sheridan, Wyoming, Bill has lived there most of his life, other than for a short time when he lived in Ohio.
When you aren’t working, what are you doing?
” I like to watch Law and Order re-runs, drives in the mountains and fishing once in a while. I like to fish for brook trout, they are a little to catch”.
What is your favorite food?
“My favorite food is homemade Mexican, homemade like my Grandma used to make”.
What is your favorite Color?
Bill says his favorite color is Blue, to match the Ford blue logo.
How about music. What kind of music do you like?
“My favorite music is Dr. Hook, I don’t have any brand or type of music, but Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show is about all I listen to”.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
The craziest thing Bill said he has ever done is when he went to the Sturgis bike rally (the last year it was in the city park) for the first time. “That was a crazy situation down there”, he said.
What was your first car?
“My first car was a 1963 Chevy Impala 2 door with a hard black top on it, it was a nice car”.
If money was no object, what vehicle would you own?
“If I could buy any car out there and didn’t have to worry about money, it would be a Lincoln Continental“.
2017 Lincoln Continental Photo: Lincoln Media
Bill is currently participating in a national parts contest, representing Fremont and Wyoming. He probably knows a thing or two about Ford parts, so if you’d like to test that out and chat about Law and Order, give him a call on
(307) 248-5670 or stop by at 1658 Coffeen Avenue, Sheridan, Wyoming. by L Baures | Nov 28, 2017 | Automotive News
Photo: VW Media
Cars.com conducted a week-long challenge between SUV’s with 3-row seating for 2017. Expert judges and a ‘shopper’ drove the vehicles on the same route for a fair comparison. They compared interior quality, in-cabin storage, powertrain, ride quality, engine noise, visibility, value for money and multimedia.
2018 VW Atlas Photo: VW
The winner of the test is the all-new Volkswagen Atlas. The Atlas is a brand new vehicle that Volkswagen released this year. It’s available in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) can seat up to 7 adults. Other vehicles included in the test were;
- Volkswagen Atlas
- Chevrolet Traverse
- Honda Pilot
- Toyota Highlander
The Chevrolet Traverse came 2nd in the challenge. A previous winner the Honda Pilot fell short this year falling to 3rd place. The Toyota Highlander comes in 4th.
Why the Volkswagen Atlas won
I have to agree with Cars.com judges on this one. It seems like took Volkswagen forever and a day to build a 3rd row SUV, so long I named it the Atlast. It was worth waiting for though, Volkswagen has done a great design job, by including all the latest technology and safety features. The design isn’t mind blowing (well the way the 2nd-row folds is) but its comfortable, functional, simple and it works.
The cars.com verdict is;
“Volkswagen’s new three-row SUV hits the mark with its refined driving manners, ample passenger and cargo space, and easy-to-use technology”.
My own personal favorites on the Atlas are the touchscreen and technology. AppleCarPlay and AndroidAuto with MirrorLink make connecting a smartphone easy to use. This gives drivers the ability to use apps from a smartphone such a messaging and music. The layout is super easy to navigate, fast at loading. Oh, and the screen is pretty. Did I even just say that about a screen? Ok yeh I did, it looks modern, clean and uncluttered. Brian Wong, Cars.com Los Angeles Bureau Chief also said, “sharp screen, intuitive menus, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay waiting in the wings if you prefer those interfaces”.
Car seat heaven
Another really awesome feature on the Atlas is the ability for the 2nd-row seats to fold forward even with a child seat in place. The 2nd row reclines, can slide 7.7″ as well as 3 sets of child seat latches in the 2nd row. This makes the Atlas a great family vehicle with easy child seat fitment. Anyone with children in car seats knows that car seat problems can be a headache, so this is a huge plus. The VW Atlas gets a 5-star safety rating is listed on the Car Seat Check Honor Roll.
A warranty that’ll make other car makers cry
Another reason the Volkswagen won by a good margin is that warranty offered is way longer than any other manufacturer. Most bumper to bumper warranties are about 3 years or 36,000 miles, whatever comes first. The VW Atlas has a 6 year, 72,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty!
For more information on the Volkswagen Atlas, check out our previous article here or contact Fremont Volkswagen of Casper.
Cars.com video
Denver Auto Show: VW Atlas
Do You Legally Have To Clear Snow Off Vehicles in Wyoming?
Wiesenfelder, Joe. “2017 Three-Row SUV Comparison – Cars.com Video.” Cars.com, Cars.com, 30 Oct. 2017, www.cars.com/videos/2017-three-row-suv-comparison—cars-com-5625939125001/.
Wiesenfelder, Joe. “What’s the Best 3-Row SUV for 2017? | News from Cars.com.” Cars.com, Cars.com, 30 Oct. 2017, www.cars.com/articles/whats-the-best-3-row-suv-for-2017-1420697442087/.
by L Baures | Nov 27, 2017 | Trusted Auto Pros
New Vehicle Warranty Comparison
Here is a comparison of some new vehicle manufacturer warranties. Not every vehicle is covered by the same warranty. Warranties may also vary depending on the year the vehicle was manufactured. This list is by no means comprehensive and is just a quick glance. Be sure to always check with the manufacturer dealership or owners manual.
Noteworthy
As you can see from the charts above, the luxury brands are the leaders when it comes to the bumper to bumper warranty with Buick and Lincoln ahead of the game offering it for 4yr/50,000 miles. Most other manufacturers are steady on the 3yr/30,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. Other notable impressions on warranties is the 10 yr/100,000 mile powertrain offered by Volkswagon on the Touareg. Whilst most other powertrain warranties are 5yr/100,000 miles. When it says 5 yrs/100,000 miles, this means that the vehicle is covered for the first 5 years OR 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. So if your vehicle only 4 years old but has 102,000 miles, your warranty is no longer valid because you have the mileage limitation first.
Chips and Tuning
It is worth considering whether adding a “chip” or “tuner” to your vehicle is really worth the risk. Adding these devices will increase horsepower, performance, and/or fuel economy. There is a reason they didn’t leave the factory like that though. Manufacturers may not cover vehicles that have had modifications added in the form of chips piggyback chips or tuners. Manufacturers will also not cover vehicles that have been lifted or had bigger wheels/tires added beyond manufacturer recommendations. There are some circumstances where they will, for example, if a Ram Truck has a Mopar lift kit fitted by an authorized dealer, this is ok.
If I do an oil change myself, does it void the warranty?
No, as long you keep your records and have some paperwork to prove that the servicing/oil change was done. For example, keep the receipt from the genuine parts your bought, such as the filter, plug and oil. You can choose to have your vehicle serviced at a non-dealer. Be sure to keep the receipts as proof, in case anything should happen further down the line where you need to make a warranty claim.
by L Baures | Nov 25, 2017 | Automotive News
Ford F-Series Truck
The Ford F-Series truck (F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 etc) picked up the award for ‘Hottest Truck’. “F-Series, the ultimate Swiss army knife of the aftermarket, is a proven favorite for customization into everything from tarmac-shredding drag racers to off-road monsters. America’s best-selling vehicle is now Hottest Truck seven out of eight times in the award’s history” quote Ford. Since 2010, Ford has won around 45% of the ‘Hottest Vehicle’ Awards at SEMA.
Speaking of customizable Ford pickups. Since our record-breaking tornadoes hear in Wyoming this year, I might be addicted to watching Tornado Hunters. Have you seen the Tornado Hunters truck? It’s a pretty awesome custom truck.
Ford Truck Weekend
Ford Focus RS
The Focus had previously won the Sport Compact award at SEMA with ST and RS packages in the lineup. This year the RS took the award for ‘Hottest Hatch’. “Ford has a long history of support and partnership with the aftermarket community, bringing increased options and products for consumers,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president, and CEO. “F-Series and Focus are just two of the most recent examples of the great vehicles Ford offers for personalization.”
The Focus RS is a 350 hp hatchback that has DRIFT MODE! They are tough to find (Fremont only has 2 in stock and production of this special car will sadly end in 2018). Ford also just announced that they will be releasing a drift stick for owners to add to the drift car. The performance hand brake approved by Ken Block, is electronically controlled. The fancy drift brake will available Dec 1st from Ford Performance Authorised Parts.
SEMA
SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show is one of the biggest car shows in the U.S. Its purpose includes showcasing the industries newest designs and ideas. The show includes; Collision Repair, Mobile Electronics and Technology, Restyling and Car Care, Tools and Equipment, Racing and Performance, Hot Rods, Restoration, Trucks, SUV’s and Off-Road, Tires, Wheels and more. The show is a trade-only event and not open to the public.
You might also like Raptor Assault or check out Fremont Customs for lifted and/or custom trucks and cars.
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