Driving a Dodge Journey this week - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

benhogan · #1 01-23-2012, 11:10 AM

I am driving a Dodge Journey rental car since my W201 is getting a transmssion rebuild (the original tranny was on the car for 25 years).

Back to the Dodge Journey....

Two observations-
1. It is a gas guzzler (I can almost see the needle move)
2. The driver's seat has no lumbar support

It basically sucks. It amazing that the MSRP is about $25k. Hard to believe someone would actually pay that.

jplinville · #2 01-23-2012, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benhogan

I am driving a Dodge Journey rental car since my W201 is getting a transmssion rebuild (the original tranny was on the car for 25 years).

Back to the Dodge Journey....

Two observations-
1. It is a gas guzzler (I can almost see the needle move)
2. The driver's seat has no lumbar support

It basically sucks. It amazing that the MSRP is about $25k. Hard to believe someone would actually pay that.

Funny you should post this...I'm getting a new Dodge Durango loaner tomorrow while the Tahoe goes in for a few repairs. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how it's changed from my 2001 Durango.

Lumbar support is generally listed as an option...I have a feeling you have a stripped down version.

Pavka007 · #3 01-23-2012, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benhogan

I am driving a Dodge Journey rental car since my W201 is getting a transmssion rebuild (the original tranny was on the car for 25 years).

Back to the Dodge Journey....

Two observations-
1. It is a gas guzzler (I can almost see the needle move)
2. The driver's seat has no lumbar support

It basically sucks. It amazing that the MSRP is about $25k. Hard to believe someone would actually pay that.

2 more reasons to keep your W201 on the road for as long as you could.

SwampYankee · #4 01-23-2012, 11:26 AM

And, thus, the reason for the current state of affairs in the domestic auto industry.

jplinville · #5 01-23-2012, 11:29 AM

It's rated at 26mpg on the highway...that's better than anything else in my stable, my Mercedes included

benhogan · #6 01-23-2012, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

It's rated at 26mpg on the highway...that's better than anything else in my stable, my Mercedes included

26mpg is optimistic for sure. At least for this thing I am driving.

spdrun · #7 01-23-2012, 11:39 AM

I had a Christless 300 as a rental -- rated at 27 mpg highway, but barely broke 20 in mixed driving. Oh, and trying to see out of that thing was like trying to see out of a Sherman tank. Fail.

benhogan · #8 01-23-2012, 11:47 AM

I heard an interesting thing about how they determine the 'mpg' number.

Apparently, at least for the 'highway miles', the EPA will drive the car at constant speed (I think it is 56 mph) and determine the mpg number.

The car makers know this and they game the system by programming the computer to be really thrifty with fuel at 56mph.

rscurtis · #9 01-23-2012, 11:59 AM

Those numbers are nothing to brag about. At 56 MPH, my 7300# Dodge PU will approach 30 MPG.

Brian Carlton · #10 01-23-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benhogan

I heard an interesting thing about how they determine the 'mpg' number.

Apparently, at least for the 'highway miles', the EPA will drive the car at constant speed (I think it is 56 mph) and determine the mpg number.

The car makers know this and they game the system by programming the computer to be really thrifty with fuel at 56mph.

Think you can post where this "interesting thing" came from? My guess is that it came from someone who never worked for an automobile manufacturer or the EPA.

And, if they "program the computer" to be really thrifty with fuel at 56 mph, why wouldn't you believe they would "program the computer" to be really thrifty with fuel at 1-55 mph, as well?

C280 Sport · #11 01-23-2012, 03:15 PM

Drove one before. Much better then our 2011 Caravan for sure.

The interior is awful on the Journey like 99% of Chrysler products are. The large V6 I think its like 3.6 or something is pretty peppy and with AWD will get you about 23ish MPG highway. Rear seats seem a big more cramped for the taller crowed vs. our Caravan. As usual with Dodge/Chrysler... Nothing to even bother bragging about lol. Agreed with the OP. $25,000 for it I can do much better then that.

Skippy · #12 01-23-2012, 04:33 PM

I had a Caliber rental for two weeks in September, and it was horrible. The 2.0 four banger was pretty efficient at converting gasoline into noise, but not power. The CVT was dim-witted and unresponsive. Everything about the car felt cheap. It was nearly new and already rattled more than my 317,000 mile 300D.

panZZer · #13 01-23-2012, 04:37 PM

whats a dodge journey

benhogan · #14 01-23-2012, 06:51 PM

It is actually a Dodge Caliber (not a Journey--not sure where I got that idea). It is like driving a refrigerator.

I remember reading about the 56mph in Consumer Reports. It said something like effect like the fuel consumption at 56mph is less than driving at 55mph or 57mph.

Sounds logical to me but I don't care to prove or disprove it.

Brian Carlton · #15 01-23-2012, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benhogan

I remember reading about the 56mph in Consumer Reports. It said something like effect like the fuel consumption at 56mph is less than driving at 55mph or 57mph.

Sounds logical to me but I don't care to prove or disprove it.

Well, Consumer Reports is known to be a bit cavalier with their "facts"...........so to speak.

The true facts of the situation are as follows:

Every manufacturer must run the vehicle through a chassis dynomometer whereby a driver "drives" the vehicle over a prescribed course. The test is done both cold and hot and is referred to as a "Cold-75" or a "Hot-75". Speed varies between zero and 62mph.

The specific city and highway fuel economy is derived from the performance of the vehicle and its fuel consumption (as measured by the total exhaust output), based upon an EPA algorithm attached to the dyno.)

There is absolutely no capability to "tweak" the fuel economy for a given speed.