Looking to buy an SUV...but which one?

[Sunshine Girl]

I have been looking for a while now. I like the older Tahoes 2005 5.2L but also like the 2005 Dodge Durango Limited 5.7L hemi. Which is a better car? My budget now is around $5500. It would be for driving around town with kids and about 500 miles per month for out of town trips. The Tahoe just seems to be more solid safety wise...
Any thoughts?

 

[08HoeCD]

You're one a GM forum, so you can count on significant bias towards the Tahoe, rightly or wrongly.

I drive a 2008 Tahoe but I'm not heavily brand-biased. We have family friends who drove the Durango and disliked it overall. Too bad I can't give you any specifics behind the dislike.

Many people love the NBS Tahoes and actually prefer them to the NNBS for comfort and looks.

Good luck in your search!

 

[Doubeleive]

Can't speak for any dodge because I have never owned one but the 2004-2006 NBS is a good choice, Reliable well made vehicles, just keep it maintained properly.

 

[swathdiver]

I have been looking for a while now. I like the older Tahoes 2005 5.2L but also like the 2005 Dodge Durango Limited 5.7L hemi. Which is a better car? My budget now is around $5500. It would be for driving around town with kids and about 500 miles per month for out of town trips. The Tahoe just seems to be more solid safety wise...
Any thoughts?

GM has always made a more enduring product than Chrysler, still do. Those NBS trucks can easily run to 300K and we've seen more than a few with over 400K.

 

[JetBlackNali]

GM has always made a more enduring product than Chrysler, still do. Those NBS trucks can easily run to 300K and we've seen more than a few with over 400K.

The Gm gets my vote. Love these years of vehicles. Very reliable. But......

But if somebody waved a set of keys to a new Durango SRT in front of me, I wouldn't say no.

 

[Sunshine Girl]

Does NSB mean 'new style body'? A 2005 Tahoe wouldnt be a new style body would it?

 

[mountie]

For your budget, you may be choosing a higher mileage.
The reputation leads me to Chevy & GMC.

A neighbor bought a 4 year old "high-option" Dodge truck. Funny.... The truck wheels are chrome. But, HUB CAPS !! ....ouch

 

[mountie]

Does NSB mean 'new style body'? A 2005 Tahoe wouldnt be a new style body would it?

You mean, "NBS". "New Body Style". ( considering our 2000 - 2006 forum category).

"NNBS" is "New-new body style ------ 2007 and above. ( I believe - hard for me to keep up with the lingo)

 

[latvius]

GM all day. I have never owned a Durango but I have a Denali and a Tahoe (2005 models). Well built, luxury interior, easy to work on. I'll hand them down to the grandkids when I am 6 feet under.

 

[adventurenali92]

I went from a 2001 first gen Durango to my 2006 Denali xl. I had originally wanted to stay with dodge but the comfort and reliability of the 2000-2006 platform GM was too good to not go with. Given that I shopped for a long wheel based truck for extra interior space for my detailing gear and better ride quality while towing, dodge was out for that reason alone. Also a lot of the research I did on the 2005 and like year Durango suggested a lot of electrical issues as dodges were known for in those years. Not exactly a helpful fact for me. I like the 6.0 V8 in my truck more than I like the hemi also. But that’s just my preference. Parts are also cheaper for Chevy trucks SUVs and parts stores always have parts readily available. And chevys are simple to work on. Every project I tackled with my 2001 Durango was always stupid hard. Most of the maintenance and repairs I’ve had to make on my Denali have been pretty simple and straightforward.

 

[89Suburban]

Earlier Durangos were amazing. Later ones are junk.

 

[mountie]

Earlier Durangos were amazing. Later ones are junk.

I really liked the earlier '90's Durangos with the softer/ rounded body lines. ( as if a car guy designed it)...... Then Dodge completely screwed up the body into that ugly DUMB looking body.

 

[89Suburban]

I really liked the earlier '90's Durangos with the softer/ rounded body lines. ( as if a car guy designed it)...... Then Dodge completely screwed up the body into that ugly DUMB looking body.

2 guys I work with have had the old round ones for years. One still has his on the road, the other just traded his in last year for the new R/T. (That is a mean machine.) But those middle of the road squared edged fugly ass Durango's are major pieces of shit and my ex has one. I told her not to buy it but she don't listen, hence the "ex" title.

 

[mountie]

I had a conversation with a Dodge- Chrysler guy.... He said they started ( some years ago) to make the cars & trucks to last for only 3 years of reliability ( 3-year leases / warranty's) .

To save money.

 

[Sunshine Girl]

Thanks for all your replies...I was leaning more towards chevy/GMC anyway. I have seen a lot of higher mileage 2003-2005 Tahoes that have had replaced or rebuilt transmissions (higher mileage being 160000 and up) and was wondering if they were known to have problems with that?, or if it was just how the car had been driven previously which led the transmission to go?. Also, when looking at a used Tahoe/GMC is there anyway to know if the transmission is going to go bad?
I was also looking at Nissan Armadas, but after hearing horror stories about the break system totally failing and the general cost of maintenance....I changed my mind.

 

[swathdiver]

I really liked the earlier '90's Durangos with the softer/ rounded body lines. ( as if a car guy designed it)...... Then Dodge completely screwed up the body into that ugly DUMB looking body.

And the earlier ones of those still had the old 318 and not the Pentastar engines! Not hard to upgrade to a marine 340 or 383 and have some fun!

 

[mountie]

And the earlier ones of those still had the old 318 and not the Pentastar engines! Not hard to upgrade to a marine 340 or 383 and have some fun!

Maybe I'm wrong, but I was told a long time ago, a marine configured engine is quite different than a street engine. ( different crank, etc)

Imagine you buy a car & driving off the car lot, you ONLY drive up hill. Only up hill forever.
That is a marine engine.... those engines have the stress of always in water, pushing hard / higher torque requirements.
I understand that a boat engine is a gas mileage hog.

 

[swathdiver]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I was told a long time ago, a marine configured engine is quite different than a street engine.

They are usually more stout and in the case of the 340 marine, they come in left hand and right hand rotations. I probably wouldn't use the intake and Carter AFB Carb unless I knew them to be good performers. Of course, I wouldn't put a right hand motor in the truck either!

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Thanks for all your replies...I was leaning more towards chevy/GMC anyway. I have seen a lot of higher mileage 2003-2005 Tahoes that have had replaced or rebuilt transmissions (higher mileage being 160000 and up) and was wondering if they were known to have problems with that?, or if it was just how the car had been driven previously which led the transmission to go?. Also, when looking at a used Tahoe/GMC is there anyway to know if the transmission is going to go bad?
I was also looking at Nissan Armadas, but after hearing horror stories about the break system totally failing and the general cost of maintenance....I changed my mind.

It is not uncommon for these trucks at those milages to be in their second trans. It is general consensus that the 4l60e is the weak link in the platform. That being said, some guys get them to go a long time. I have yet to replace one, and I've had 3 with 150k (in my driveway) 190k (sold) , and 205k (in my garage).

You will want to feel for hard jolting shifts, or slippage as telltale trouble signs.

Also see if the rebuilds or replacements have warranties that transfer. Typically, a good rebuild or replacement will outlast the truck.

 

[Woodblocker55]

Tahoe's and yukons with 200,000 just have the bugs worked out . And if you do maintenance and don't beat hell out of it you should get 300,000 miles .most of guys get tired of them before there wore out. I see a pattern where they get bit rust . Everyone stop doing maintenance .the Mom and Pop dealerships are loaded with them . So it's people's maintenance schedule that causes the most problems ..

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