How about the Durango/Aspen hybrids?

[Hersbird]

I know some here don't seem to like the idea of a big hybrid suv, but we are going to buy a 7 passenger 4wd that can tow 6000pounds either way. So next week I am going to go test drive a 2009 Durango hybrid. I know it's basically the same hybrid system in the Tahoe's with a 5.7 Doge V8 instead of the 6.0 GM V8. I am comfortable with the 5.7 reliability but what about the rest of those hybrid systems? This truck has 91,000 miles so maybe a little of the 100,000 mile hybrid system warranty. They only made the Chrysler hybrids a few months compared to years of the GM but a similar year and mileage Tahoe costs $10,000 more then $18,000 for the Durango. The Durango is rated 20/22, better then the 20/20 Tahoe. There are a few similar non-hybrid Aspens we are looking at for about $2500 less, although more choices. The hybrid should save us about $1000/year in fuel so I'm not worried about the initial purchase, just potential higher repairs. I see a new factory battery pack is $1820 after core charge, that is not terrible, but what about the transmission? Then I wonder if anybody has tried the normal hypermilling hybrid techniques on these full size SUVs? Can they beat the EPA ratings with a little finesse?

[darcane]

I'd be surprised if you get many responses.

Not because it's a Hybrid SUV, but because the Durango/Aspen hybrid are rare as hen's teeth. They literally made a total of about 400 of these things.

Per Jalopnik's "rarest normal cars" article:
The Ten Rarest 'Normal' Cars (Barely) Ever Made

[Hersbird]

That makes me want it even more!
That is why I linked it to the Tahoe, most of the hybrid parts are the same.

[Baltothewolf]

It may be nice to have such a limited production car, but what are you going to do for a battery when it comes time to need one?

[ksa8907]

Personally, id be more interested in the tahoe/yukon hybrid. As far as i know, the durango is the ONLY hybrid chrysler ever made. personally, im not too keen on buying an experiment.

[Hersbird]

The Durango and Tahoe are the same (hybrid wise), just the Tahoe is much more expensive. It was a joint venture so just a slight difference in the transmission housing for the bolt pattern of the engine and transfer case.
So does anyone have any experience with the Tahoe version?

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

The Durango and Tahoe are the same (hybrid wise), just the Tahoe is much more expensive. It was a joint venture so just a slight difference in the transmission housing for the bolt pattern of the engine and transfer case.
So does anyone have any experience with the Tahoe version?

Is it also the same as the system in the Cadillac Escalade?

A coworker had one of those and she seemed happy with it and didn't have any trouble with it for as long as she worked here. No first-hand knowledge of it though.

[Hersbird]

Here is the Wiki article on it, to me it starts to sound like landing a man on the moon which both inspires me and scares me. Then again it seems like the transmission is also used in city busses, seems if it can withstand that abuse, how hard can a Durango be on it?
Global Hybrid Cooperation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Frank Lee]

I wonder if the SUVs are like the PU versions. My impression of Dakotas is that they are a mid-sized truck with full-sized fe.

[Fat Charlie]

Limited production vehicles are a horrible idea for a long term daily driver. Sorry, I'm a parts guy and I love parts availability.

My memory of the Durango hybrid was that it was more of a stunt than anything else. Chrysler was spiraling into bankruptcy, had a minor hybrid research program going on and slapped something into production to hopefully get some positive attention, or at least look socially responsible when begging Congress for money. Having fielded a hybrid, they stopped. The practical goal of the hybrid system was to boost the available power as much as they could while boosting the EPA rating enough to say that it had been improved. I mean, really- has Chrysler ever done more than they absolutely had to on mileage? It's not their thing.