Introducing the new Dodge Durango
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Introducing the new Dodge Durango
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,779
From: Denton, TX
The current one actually looks pretty good, but now... :blah:
I'll reserve my final judgement until I see one in person, but so far it doesn't look too good at all...
Dodge has the same idea going on than GM: let's slap the same style grille on everything we do. ***sigh***
TS
I'll reserve my final judgement until I see one in person, but so far it doesn't look too good at all...
Dodge has the same idea going on than GM: let's slap the same style grille on everything we do. ***sigh***
TS
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,282
WTF do new cars have headlights that extend half way back the fenders?!?!
My wife's 99 GTP headlight lenses are already starting to cloud up and have road rash....imagine the cost of replacing one of these HUGE headlight assemblies!
I think this trend is the ugliest damned thing to come along in a loooong time.........
My wife's 99 GTP headlight lenses are already starting to cloud up and have road rash....imagine the cost of replacing one of these HUGE headlight assemblies!
I think this trend is the ugliest damned thing to come along in a loooong time.........
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Count me in...
I'm with the majority on this one too. I think this thing needs a rebirth at the drawing board.
Does anybody think the "huge-grill" theme is attractive any more?
I recall back in the early '90's when Dodge came out with their new design in which the grill was attached to the hood and had the "crosshairs" in it. It was eons above and beyond the old box design they had for decades prior - even I was finding the look fresh and attractive back then. I also remember writings about how they styled it after the road tractors and "big-rigs" of the day.
But daayyuummm... it's been ten years now. It took about 4 months for the look of the new Ram trucks to lose interest for me - now I don't even look at them twice on the road. I see the same happening with this Durango (and I'm sure the Dakota will be the same too).
It looks like a bottom-feeding guppy, swimming along with it's mouth as wide open as possible hoping to suck in a baitfish or something.
On two other notes...
1) I am 100% on-board with Doug's charge of headlight-highjacking. I don't like the look of headlamps replacing a fender on new vehicles. And molded plastic IS NOT cheaper than stamped steel, so it's not reducing cost by reducing steel - weight, maybe but gees... @1-lb per car?!?! At the current rate of movement, the headlamp will be mounted about 4" behind the rear bumper by 2017.
Domestic guys, please stop this attrocity quickly!
Import designers, ummm... go for it!
2) I hope Dodge has addressed the actual mileage issues that plague the Durago. These things are notorious for 12-14 mpg, regardless of city/highway, leadfoot/featerfoot, mountain/plains. It is the #1 complaint of the two folks I know driving them daily.
Does anybody think the "huge-grill" theme is attractive any more?
I recall back in the early '90's when Dodge came out with their new design in which the grill was attached to the hood and had the "crosshairs" in it. It was eons above and beyond the old box design they had for decades prior - even I was finding the look fresh and attractive back then. I also remember writings about how they styled it after the road tractors and "big-rigs" of the day.
But daayyuummm... it's been ten years now. It took about 4 months for the look of the new Ram trucks to lose interest for me - now I don't even look at them twice on the road. I see the same happening with this Durango (and I'm sure the Dakota will be the same too).
It looks like a bottom-feeding guppy, swimming along with it's mouth as wide open as possible hoping to suck in a baitfish or something.
On two other notes...
1) I am 100% on-board with Doug's charge of headlight-highjacking. I don't like the look of headlamps replacing a fender on new vehicles. And molded plastic IS NOT cheaper than stamped steel, so it's not reducing cost by reducing steel - weight, maybe but gees... @1-lb per car?!?! At the current rate of movement, the headlamp will be mounted about 4" behind the rear bumper by 2017.
Domestic guys, please stop this attrocity quickly!
Import designers, ummm... go for it!
2) I hope Dodge has addressed the actual mileage issues that plague the Durago. These things are notorious for 12-14 mpg, regardless of city/highway, leadfoot/featerfoot, mountain/plains. It is the #1 complaint of the two folks I know driving them daily.
Last edited by ProudPony; Oct 10, 2003 at 12:44 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
I like the body and I don't have any issue with the grille.
But I certainly don't like how they attempted to graft PT Cruiser front fenders onto the design, and the headline design simply doesn't belong.....on anything.
http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/ph...ehicleTypeID=0
The whole thing gives the impression that someone who knew what they were doing had their design "altered" by a higher up.
It all started here:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/ph...ehicleTypeID=0
http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/ph...ehicleTypeID=0
Durango concept:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/ph...ehicleTypeID=0
Change the front fenders & headlights, and it will looks heaps better.
But I certainly don't like how they attempted to graft PT Cruiser front fenders onto the design, and the headline design simply doesn't belong.....on anything.
http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/ph...ehicleTypeID=0
The whole thing gives the impression that someone who knew what they were doing had their design "altered" by a higher up.
It all started here:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/ph...ehicleTypeID=0
http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/ph...ehicleTypeID=0
Durango concept:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/folder/ph...ehicleTypeID=0
Change the front fenders & headlights, and it will looks heaps better.