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My New Black Stallion

2K views 9 replies 8 participants last post by  davewg 
#1 ·
Here's my review: 35 days after I ordered her, I picked up my new 2014 Citadel model last Thursday at Koons in Vienna, VA (I ended up going with them because they gave me about 5% under invoice as a JeepGarage member (thank you JeepGarage) & Nader, their sales rep, seemed responsive & genuine compared to dealers near me in NJ). I had a window of opportunity to take the day off from work, so I took the Amtrak down from NYC to DC late Wednesday night last week and stayed overnight in DC in order to get back promptly to northern NJ and avoid rush hours etc. Took the Metro train from DC 20 minutes out to Vienna, where Nader picked me up at the local Metro station & got me through the process.

First customer there, I was out of there in about an hour and a half. Everything went smoothly. I ended up taking 0% financing for 36 months. When I saw the Citadel, I was like, wow! That's mine? During my inspection (in Koon's garage, where they were prepping the vehicle), the only thing I noticed was the talked-about small paint defect on the inside of the hood (2 spots right next to each other), top of the right fender, that many have mentioned, and pointed it out. A worker told me, "oh, that's just the paint," to which I said, no, that's a bubble or other defect. It didn't seem that big of a deal to me but had I not had a long drive ahead of me I probably would've have requested it be fixed; Nader gave me some touch up paint; otherwise, the vehicle seem A-ok. Anyways, although I haven't experienced buying a new car that much (this is only my second new car), this one went so well that it made the whole trip enjoyable & the trip worth it. I was at the dealer by 9 a.m, and on the road home by 10:30 am. And Nader was a great sales rep to me & I highly recommend him. A pretty humble, low key guy, he took care of me on his day off and waited for me to finish with the finance guy, and show showed how the tech & Uconnect system worked & answered my every question.

I drove 233 miles to my home in Northern NJ, and it rained most of the way, but I avoided the dreaded rush hour traffic on Rte 95. Because I didn't want to go over 55 mph per the instructions for breaking in the engine, I had all sorts of drivers and eighteen wheelers breathin' up my a___, and just did my best to stay in my lane with my majestic steed. Couldn't figure out how to work the ACC but since I got home I've done that--very pleased with it.

I'm not that saavy about vehicles & so don't have much to add to what others have said, other than that I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY THE BEST DAMN VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED!!!! Just love the thing: the way it looks, the way it rides so smoothly, the black and leather tan interior, and am pleased with the brilliant black crystal pearlcoat paint. The V6 seems to have plenty of power and pickup. The tech on it seems great. I had initially intended to get an SXT Rallye, as I preferred the darker grill and less chrome & wanted to go cheaper, but my wife wanted certain options so I had to bump it up to this--and I'm glad we did. I have to say that, now, after having it for a little while, I actually like the chrome on it and am not bothered by it. As other owners here would probably attest, the 2014 Durango has so much going for it, that ultimately the little details won't matter that much after you've bought one, driven it, and experienced its magnificence (waxing a bit too poetic here).

Because it got a lot of rain on its long drive home & seems to attract dust in my garage, I plan on detailing it this weekend to get it ready for winter & bought a bunch of Zaino products. Per info from others on here, I also ordered the sill guards & Mopar slush mats & will see how those go with it. Anyways, there's no buyer's remorse or second guessing anything here. Getting this thing makes me feel like a little kid on Christmas morning again--and then some. Thank you Dodge & thank you to all of you here on JeepGarage, without whom I couldn't have accomplished all this!!
 

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#8 ·
Congrats!!!

The black looks awesome, and the D looks right at home in your garage.

Glad the experience with Koons (and Nader) was a good one. He definitely seemed a stand-up guy when I spoke with him.

Good to hear the train trip down and ride back went well, and I applaud your thinking on when to make the return trip back. I still maintain the best reason for buying a car out of state is that the return trip is the best way to get those break-in miles started.

:thumbsup:

Enjoy it and keeps us posted with modifications!
 
#9 ·
Congrats!!!

The black looks awesome, and the D looks right at home in your garage.

Glad the experience with Koons (and Nader) was a good one. He definitely seemed a stand-up guy when I spoke with him.

Good to hear the train trip down and ride back went well, and I applaud your thinking on when to make the return trip back. I still maintain the best reason for buying a car out of state is that the return trip is the best way to get those break-in miles started.

:thumbsup:

Enjoy it and keeps us posted with modifications!
Thanks all.

Davewg, definitely, that long distance drive home was indeed a nice way to break in the car--got a lot of the requisite miles out of the way, tested some stuff out (& quickly noticed how nobody goes 55 or under anymore on the major highways). Thanks to you and Fireman for all the advice that helped my journey go smoothly.

In a moment of candor, Nader from Koons actually admitted to me (unsolicited) that he has to improve on his e-mail response time to customers. When I thanked him for picking me up at the Metro stop, he related this instance about how a customer once flew into Baltimore Airport from Seattle and he drove out to the airport to pick him up. I thought my journey was long, but this customer, he said, drove his vehicle all the way back to Washington (State) (not sure if it was a Jeep or Durango but I suspect a Jeep given that I'm not sure 5%-under would get someone to do that).

On my way home on Rte 95, about 33 miles north of Koons, I saluted the Colonel Jessup Dodge Detention Center as I passed by the exit for Jessup, MD (the train destination of my vehicle)---Colonel Jessup, as in "A Few Good Men", but I thought the name aptly applies to the Jessup holding location, given that some Dodge vehicles have been known to languish there and as Fireman educated me, there's a detention center across the street from it (& Colonel Jessup in that movie did run Guantanamo Bay). Err, I am getting off track here, so I'll stop.:rolleyes:
 
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