Dodge Durango

[Snapper]

When I arrived at Dollar to pick-up the car (booked through John and Roger of course) they didn't have any Jeep Cherokees, the normal SUV they use.

They offered me either a Jeep Liberty or a Dodge Durango. The Liberty is a bit smaller than a Cherokee and so being a pretty typical bloke I went for the biggest. The Durango.

If ever you get a chance to drive one of these things jump at it. It is the biggest, most huge, most gorgeous, comfortable, beast of an SUV I've ever driven.

I shudder to think of what the 4.7 litre V8 is doing to the environment, but for the next week I just don't care. You can't hear it, not even a peep, from the inside either; unless you absolutely floor it and then all hell cuts loose.

I'm thinking of places I can go to just as an excuse to drive it.

What a great toy! Vrooooom!

[KJH]

Steve,

How much luggage space does it have and how many seats?

Kaz

[flyrr100]

Steve...
It's funny. To you a Durango is a large car. But here it's a mid sized SUV. Next time try the Ford Excursion, or the Chevy Surburban. Both should be available through rental companies. They should have their own zip codes!
I used to have a full sized Ford Bronco. 5.8 litres. It was a great truck. Did 8 mpg on a good day!

Have a blast on your next trip!

[ctgirlscout]

We have a Suburban--much bigger than the Durango. My husband loves his--he is on his second one!

[Snapper]

Oh man! I've just gotta try a Surburban next time.

[bmwtouring]

I have booked flights and a 4x4 through one of the links above and I think the car is with dollar, would I have to upgrade more to get one of these beasties?[grin][grin]

[linda.s]

We had a Durango on our first visit, and a Cherokee last time, preferred the Durango, great car!

[Snapper]

Hi Bmwtouring,

I'm not sure. I did exactly the same as you. I booked the normal SUV which is usually a Jeep Cherokee but Dollar didn't have any and offered me either the Durango or a Jeep Liberty.

I'm assuming the Durango is an upgrade from the Cherokee so my best advice on how to play it would be at first not to ask for an upgrade. If they don't have any Jeeps you could get one and not pay for it. If they try to sell you an upgrade they are almost certainly a car short - for sure don't agree to pay for it and you'll get it anyway. If everything seems to be going smoothly then once they've sorted out your documents it could be worth asking them if it is possible to upgrade your car. I'm not sure how this all works with the voucher system and what the position would be with all the insurances but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Jeff - a Surburban pulled up at the side of me at the lights today. Everything went dark all of a sudden. I thought it was an eclipse until this monster pulled up at the side of me. I think my eyes were about as high as his doorhandle. Back home you'd need an HGV licence to drive one of those. I need one!

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

The car hire companies will just guarantee a car in the class you book. With the 4x4 class it's almost always the Jeep Grand Cherokee as that forms the majority of the fleet. To get a particular make and model the way to do it is ask at the desk on arrival and if they can accomodate you then they will. I've just spoken to our suppliers and the Durango is not in the same class as a 4x4 - it's actually in a Large 4x4 class that they only sell over the counter on request.

So you will need to ask to upgrade locally and pay any upgrade fee (as appropriate) locally too.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steveharrison
Hi Bmwtouring,

I'm not sure. I did exactly the same as you. I booked the normal SUV which is usually a Jeep Cherokee but Dollar didn't have any and offered me either the Durango or a Jeep Liberty.

I'm assuming the Durango is an upgrade from the Cherokee so my best advice on how to play it would be at first not to ask for an upgrade. If they don't have any Jeeps you could get one and not pay for it. If they try to sell you an upgrade they are almost certainly a car short - for sure don't agree to pay for it and you'll get it anyway. If everything seems to be going smoothly then once they've sorted out your documents it could be worth asking them if it is possible to upgrade your car. I'm not sure how this all works with the voucher system and what the position would be with all the insurances but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Jeff - a Surburban pulled up at the side of me at the lights today. Everything went dark all of a sudden. I thought it was an eclipse until this monster pulled up at the side of me. I think my eyes were about as high as his doorhandle. Back home you'd need an HGV licence to drive one of those. I need one!
[/quote]

[Nostromo]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steveharrison
They offered me either a Jeep Liberty or a Dodge Durango. The Liberty is a bit smaller than a Cherokee. [/quote]

Paradoxically, A Jeep Liberty would be absolutely ideal for my trip into the Great Smoky Mountains next summer----if I could only get it. My agent tells me that I'll mostly end up with a Jeep Cherookee or a Chevy Blazer (maybe even a Dodge Durango) and it is upto me to try and swap it to a smaller SUV on the spot! Even if that is possible on arrival, I would still be paying for a Cherookee since the car rental guys will only 'upgrade' and not the other way around.[V][V]