http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradv...l-turmoil.html

 

Wow.

I remember when the Durango first got started up. I worked for Lear Corp. We did JIT (just in time) production for Chrysler in Newark, DE. They literally couldn't build enough of them, we worked 50-60 hours a week non stop for months at a time. Mandatory Saturdays and automatic double time Sundays if you wanted. Put out over 800 sets of seats a day. Amazing, how things change. That plant is closed up, the GM plant in Newport isn't far behind.


Last I heard they were LOSING $7K for every vehicle that rolls off the line over there.

 

Ever since the redesign on the durango and its sister the dakota the sales haven't been the same.

 

ever since the redesign of the durango, I thought it was a mini van.

when the durango first come out, it was one of the most capable production offroad SUV.
The Dakota was a mini truck, just a little bigger or a full sized truck that was just a little smaller. It was a niche. Now everyone has one that size except ford.

 

If I read that right, its only the hybrid models, not the regular gassers...kind of implied that the hybrid and the plant that makes them and non-hybrids would cease, but that Durangos/Aspens are made at another plant. Kinda what I got from it, but could be wrong.

 

No the only plant that proudces the Durango/Aspen is the plant in Delaware and they have announced that it will be closing a year earler than planned on 31 dec 2008 and no announcement that proudction will be moving. I dont rember the proudction figures but I thing it was less than 50,000 this year for both models. They have the cherokee and the commander i think that chrysler should let Jeep have the SUV market and Dodge focus on the spory cars and Trucks.

 

I had a '99 Durango . Once I replaced some of it's poorly engineered parts with better aftermarket equipment it was a real nice vehicle . I wouldn't trade it for any Jeep . Well , in fact since my wife had it most of the time , when gas prices started going up she traded it for a Jeep Liberty and soon regretted doing do .

 

We had a 2000 and loved everything but the 13 mpg now she is driving a hemi charger at 18 so its not much better. I for one want a Cherokee but that is for mostly off road use by the time I get done with it it will not drive on the highway very well.