Confession: I like the Dodge Nitro

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno) 04/25/2014 at 22:09 • Filed to: None

2

23

Please don't kill me.

It just looks so different and unique. I think this should have stayed and the Journey go.

The interior doesn't look too bad compared to what else Dodge was putting out at the time. I'm sure it's plastic fantastic in there but whatever.

LuczOr > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:13

0

I'm with you.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:14

1

Hey, I like it too, at least exterior looks-wise. It was a rugged-looking little SUV, and much better-looking than its Liberty brother.

Your boy, BJR > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:15

2

Nitros are fucking cool.

AthomSfere > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:15

0

It was a Jeep with the wrong engineers and badging. Destined to fail.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 04/25/2014 at 22:16

3

There was one perk to the Liberty, and it's name was Sky Slider.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Your boy, BJR 04/25/2014 at 22:16

0

That's pretty damn awesome.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:18

0

It's not that bad of a car really, my dad bought one brand new back in 2007, and yeah it's not the best, but it's a decent vehicle. I mean it last quite well with me as a teenager hooning the shit out of it.

Forgetful > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:18

0

I kinda liked them when they first arrived, even test drove one, but I ended up going with the Ford Escape, which had just got its truck-like design refresh in '08.

The interior was terrible and cramped. My left foot was squeezed in the footwell. You can actually see the weird plastic box that should be a dead pedal in that picture. The Escape was bigger inside in every way.

Driving it was pretty meh, not that the Escape is a wonder of handling and performance.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom 04/25/2014 at 22:19

0

If it can survive constant teenage thrashing, it gets a seal of approval.

Your boy, BJR > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:20

1

I must say, I prefer the Nitro to another boxy Mopar SUV…….

………..

………..

…………

………….

ummmmm……….

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:20

0

It is a pre-bailout Chrysler vehicle, but as far as I know, it's holding up better then my 300 (also a 2007), plus, I jumped the mother fuckin thing going 60 and it didn't even flinch, these things are tough little bastards, AND, they came with an optional manual transmission. I tried to convince my dad to get it, but he said, "It's a pain in the ass to haul shit with a manual." Yeah, hes hauled stuff ONCE in the 7 years hes owned it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Forgetful 04/25/2014 at 22:21

0

I wouldn't expect them to drive well, SUVs like this usually don't. That footwell looks roomy compared to the one in my van where the pedals are all shoved over because of the engine doghouse.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom 04/25/2014 at 22:22

0

Waitwaitwaitwaitwait... THEY OFFERED THESE WITH A MANUAL!?

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Your boy, BJR 04/25/2014 at 22:24

1

take it back

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:25

0

I like them too, you are not alone. If I had to get a compact SUV (and I couldn't get a 2 door wrangler) this would probably be it

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:26

0

Yeah, I remember when we went to look at them back in 2007, had a whole line of manual tranny ones. Can't remember if it was 5 or 6 speed, but yeah, these fucking things came with manuals.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 04/25/2014 at 22:26

0

I'm shocked by the lack of them on the road. I guess more people bought the Liberty.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom 04/25/2014 at 22:28

0

6 speed manual. Oh my god that's so awesome.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 22:30

1

Yeah, pretty sure if my dad had got the manual, I would have died in a fiery blaze of awesome hoonage

Your boy, BJR > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 04/25/2014 at 22:32

0

Never.

Twism > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 23:11

0

They were deathtraps, sadly, they handled like they were on high heels, suspension was mushy (except on the R/T, but this one had huuuuuuge rims and was so stupidly stiff that everything inside fell apart in 2-3 years. they were also hugely sensible to crosswind, and if you tried to correct when it got battered by the winds, god help you. Interior was chrysler pre-bailout (not great).

The only redeeming feature was the 4L V6 with a manual. It was really fun to drive, but the fuel economy was terrible. I put more fuel in this than in the 2500 Ram with the hemi.

Source: I sold Dodges in 09-12, meaning new and used nitro. Also had a manual 2wd as a winter demo. (dodge meanest drift machine at the time)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Twism 04/25/2014 at 23:17

0

It's amazing how well this describes my van. They're like twins!

Twism > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/25/2014 at 23:23

0

Caravan handle like big wet boots. the chassis is so weak even if one wheel goes up in the air, the frame will bend slightly so the other one stays on the ground.

I've had a few 2-wheels-in-the-air moment with the Nitro, and believe me, it's not pleasant. The R/T was actually better suited for this, since the tire sidewall stayed rigid.