Is a Manual Dodge Nitro Cool?

"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve) 11/30/2014 at 21:41 • Filed to: Dodge Nitro

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These trucks never had much of a following since their introduction. They looked a bit more aggressive than other SUV's, but their interiors were depressingly tragic and its power train was deemed as "acceptable" only with the 4.0L V6. Its sister truck the Liberty could at least have the excuse of being off-road capable but this didn't have much of a point.

I just found out though that it was offered with a 6 speed manual with the 3.7 V6 that offered a woeful 210HP instead of the even more woeful 4 speed automatic. What does Oppo think about this?

Is the Nitro cool and odd with a 6 speed manual? Or is it as nasty as dipping pickles in chocolate milk?

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:46

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Depending on how good it was I'd say. I didn't mind the shape of these trucks, but I'm not a huge fan of the quality of the interior.

LappingLuke > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:47

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Ugh that 3.7 V6 is the worst engine I have ever experienced. I can't imagine any transmission could make it worth living with.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:48

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They offered this box with a manual?

big eagle > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:49

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I think that makes it a truck I would buy if I saw one on Craig's list for insanely cheap. Which is an upgrade from a truck I would not condemn if a friend said they wanted to buy one.

SlickMcRick > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:50

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It slipped my mind that they were RWD. Honestly a manual transmission makes most things acceptable. If it's a decent price I say go for it.

Funktheduck > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:51

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The manual makes it more interesting. I still don't like them.

CB > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:52

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Now we have to somehow convince Logansteno to replace his van with one of these.

fhrblig > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:56

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Cool? No. Respectable? Maybe. In the same way a Pentastar-V6 equipped Dodge Avenger might be. keep in mind that I'm VERY drunk right now.

whoarder is tellurium > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:57

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Well shoot, I had no idea these existed. Just because of the Manuel, I give it credit.

Edit: My thoughts were correct... Jeep Liberty also came in a manual.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 21:58

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They might have sold them with a manual, but I can only imagine the odds of finding one.

I think I'd still rather just have the 4.0L with 5-speed auto.

Tohru > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 22:09

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Nah, it's still like eating a toothpaste sandwich and washing it down with orange juice.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 22:16

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you can still get a brand new xterra w/ a stick shift. I kind of want to get one (my wife points out it is a high school girl's car if that gives you any indication of our ages)

dogisbadob > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 22:17

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People actually bought that shit in Europe? Really?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 22:23

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Ummm...no.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 22:26

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The 3.7 in an even heavier truck, isn't that bad. It's actually quite peppy. So this shouldn't be that bad. I would take one if it was handed to me... Probably wouldn't keep it very long, but I would take it.

I own dead car brands only > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 22:28

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I would drive one. Its a SUV, it is going to be underpowered. I should also say that i wanted a hummer h3 which is underpowered as well.

8/10, would drive

Vicente Esteve > jkm7680 11/30/2014 at 22:42

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lts the same transmission used in the Jeep Wrangler, so vague it will be.

Amazingly, it is also the same transmission used in the Crossfire.

Vicente Esteve > LappingLuke 11/30/2014 at 22:49

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It is a misery of an engine, but you never know.

Haha imagine it with PDK

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 22:49

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Its cool that you could get a manual but they were some of the worst vehicles on the road in terms of everything about them.

Vicente Esteve > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/30/2014 at 22:49

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Yup! A stick in a box

Vicente Esteve > big eagle 11/30/2014 at 22:50

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With 4WD I think it would be cool, just for the giggles

Vicente Esteve > SlickMcRick 11/30/2014 at 22:51

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I mean, its a truck with a coarse engine. I think its worth the plunge for the hoonery

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 22:52

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It's like a Large SUV equivalent of an Avenger. In other words it almost looks cool, but it reeeally isn't.

Vicente Esteve > Funktheduck 11/30/2014 at 22:52

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Even with the 2.8 diesel and manual in the European versions?

Vicente Esteve > CB 11/30/2014 at 22:56

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Haha he does like some Mopar products, and like me doesn't care for the platicky interior.

I just searched and found only 30 nationwide...

Vicente Esteve > fhrblig 11/30/2014 at 22:58

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Its a valid opinion. And 2014 V6 Avengers are retailing for 7K off MSRP. Thats seriously cheap speed.

Funktheduck > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 22:58

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Even those. What you have in the Nitro is a replacement for the neon. The neon has it's upsides but isn't known for being a great car. Same for the nitro. Then there's always the reliability factor. It could be because they're cheap cars people don't take proper care of them or it could be they were cheaply made to begin with. I can see why people like them but they're not for me.

Vicente Esteve > whoarder is tellurium 11/30/2014 at 22:59

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You know whats even more surprising?

It uses the same manual transmission as the Crossfire.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/30/2014 at 23:02

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I searched on Auto-Trader. There are 30 nation wide

There is ony 1 4WD maual orange Nitro in the US. OPPO GROUP BUY NOW

Vicente Esteve > Tohru 11/30/2014 at 23:03

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It can't be that bad!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:03

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Does it have black plastic cladding around the bottom?

whoarder is tellurium > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:04

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Yup, the Daimler-Benz parts bin 6 speed manual.

Vicente Esteve > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 11/30/2014 at 23:05

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Oh thats also an awesome truck, and quite quick actually

Vicente Esteve > dogisbadob 11/30/2014 at 23:07

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Haha, they also sold the Caliber!

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/30/2014 at 23:08

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If you saw one you'd be at least startled

Vicente Esteve > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 11/30/2014 at 23:09

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It has 210 HP. Peppy is the RAV-4 V6. But yeah, just fo the rarity alone its acceptable.

Vicente Esteve > I own dead car brands only 11/30/2014 at 23:10

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Someone should have done a comparo of the 5 cylinder manual H3 and this.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:11

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It has torque though. A decent amount, low down. It's enough to spin the hell out of the tires on a 5000 lbs truck.

Vicente Esteve > jvirgs drives a Subaru 11/30/2014 at 23:12

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Probably only worth it to have it as a museum display. I mean, its bad as a car, but it isnt common.

Vicente Esteve > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/30/2014 at 23:13

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This needs a HEMI swap NOW

Vicente Esteve > Funktheduck 11/30/2014 at 23:14

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Totally understandable

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/30/2014 at 23:14

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Yes!

Vicente Esteve > whoarder is tellurium 11/30/2014 at 23:15

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There must be some Maserati switchgear there as well.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:15

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it should have had one to begin with, but that would have hurt Durango sales.

Vicente Esteve > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 11/30/2014 at 23:16

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In sand or snow I think it would be pretty hoonable

Vicente Esteve > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/30/2014 at 23:18

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But it would actually make more sense as a product. Oh well, missed chance.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:21

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Ack. They look so bad with that.

Anon > SlickMcRick 11/30/2014 at 23:25

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When you deal with a midlands 5 speed you can say that.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:26

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Definitely.

LappingLuke > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:26

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That would probably be even worse than the shitty 4 speed it's usually stuck to!

Tohru > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:26

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Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/30/2014 at 23:27

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They do look tragic.

Also, I want to know your opinion on smoked headlamped Captivas. This was the change for the model year 2015 here.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:29

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I saw those on a black Captiva and they looked SO GOOD. I want them on my mom's Vue. They only look good on dark colors I think.

Vicente Esteve > Tohru 11/30/2014 at 23:30

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This is something I didn't need to watch.

But may become useful later...

Vicente Esteve > LappingLuke 11/30/2014 at 23:32

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Oh, or Saabs manual without clutch.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/30/2014 at 23:33

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They do look more purposeful. Logan, inherit your moms Vue.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:34

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That could actually happen. She keeps talking about how much she wants a new car.

LappingLuke > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:37

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That sounds really scary I didn't even know such a thing was possible or even existed

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/30/2014 at 23:37

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Awesome!

Tohru > Vicente Esteve 11/30/2014 at 23:41

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LA Beast has some good stuff.

Vicente Esteve > Tohru 11/30/2014 at 23:42

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I, ah

Dont.

Just no.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > whoarder is tellurium 12/01/2014 at 00:01

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It's good you're finally giving Manuel some credit...

Tohru > Vicente Esteve 12/01/2014 at 00:30

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V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Vicente Esteve 12/01/2014 at 05:11

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I have a 2008 with the 4.0 and the 5 speed auto/triptronic and 3.55s in the gear set with 4wd. It's beenvery useful over the years for me. If I drive reeeall carefully I can get 23-24 MPG on the highway. Around town is dismal though. It's gotten me to work through some pretty bad blizzards too. I bought it new. There was no way I was getting the rather terrible 3.7.

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve 12/01/2014 at 07:16

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Really, Haha? That would be so strange.

nermal > Vicente Esteve 12/01/2014 at 09:20

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I had a 2008 Liberty with a manual that I owned for about 5 years, and just traded it in a few weeks ago for a truck.

If you're gonna get one, make sure you get one from a southern state, and check to make sure it lived there the entire time. Mine lived it's entire life in the northeast, and as a result was completely rusted to shit and falling apart underneath. Driving it was actually fun, especially once I added a Hypertech chip to it (~$300, adds ~30hp at peak).

The problem with them now is that the last year they were made is 2008. So, they're all gonna be pretty beat up and most of them on the 2nd owner at least, with questionable maintenance records.

Things that are "known issues": Front wheel bearings, AC compressor, rear pinion seal, parking brake sticking, brake calipers sticking, suspension wearing out, and rust causing all kinds of mayhem.

Not sure about how dealer / mechanic support is in your area, or how good you are, but make sure you have somebody competent to work on it. If they sold the diesel / manual version of the Cherokee here, and had a good experience at any of the 3 dealers in my area, I would be driving another Jeep right now.

Vicente Esteve > Tohru 12/01/2014 at 16:31

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STAHP

Vicente Esteve > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 12/01/2014 at 16:32

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First Nitro owner I've come across! Is it n R/T?

Vicente Esteve > nermal 12/01/2014 at 16:33

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Thanks for the tips, even though I am not in the market for one. There was also a diesel Liberty if I recall correctly.

Tohru > Vicente Esteve 12/01/2014 at 17:03

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cant stop wont stop

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Vicente Esteve 12/01/2014 at 18:21

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Yup.