Buying 05 Armada OR 05 Durango

I did this trade when I bought my Armada. My previous vehicle was a 99 Durango. We decided to replace @ 75,000 miles due to the problems we had. Nothing major, nothing left us stranded, but every six months or so, something went wrong that required repair, usually to the tune of $750 or so each time. The warranty covered everything, but expired at 75,000 miles. We tow a 26' travel trailer, so towing was a major requirement.

The Armada had way more room inside, seemed to be better built, drove nicer (acceleration, handling, overall driveability), and had a more functional interior.

The Durango was less expensive ($6,000!). Interior quality was better, exterior worse. Reliability was questionable, based on previous experience.

We're very happy with our Armada, and glad we spent the extra money!

The Durango and the Armada were the two trucks we were deciding upon.

-V8 comes standard in the Armada (we got the SE)

-Center shift on the Armada more than the steering wheel mount on the Durango.

-Liked overall front seat storage and layout in the Armada.

-Outside styling, we just liked the more aggressive look of the Armada.

For us it wasn't any one big thing, but just the small details equaled the Armada for us.

Good luck!

I too went through a similar decision process before ending up with the Armada. While I don't necessarily agree that the Durango is ugly - I think it's a decent looking truck (personal opinion only) from the front - I hated how it looked from the rear. If you drive up behind one...you could easily think you were looking at the rear end of a Dodge minivan - and we all know if you drive an SUV the last thing you'd be caught in is a minivan.

Similar comments regarding the interior - the Dodge was decent...the Armada roomier...and the one thing I didn't like ...was the humongous dash on the Durango - that too reminded me of being in a minivan...for some reason that bugged me.

Lastly, the ease with which the Armada comes off the line...and accelerates through the gears compared to the Durango should be the clincher.

This is a no brainer given the costs you've posted - they're close to each other and the Armada specs out better in every way -- easy decision.

Alright the poll results are in. No surprises except some Durango owners going Armada.

Armada Forum:18-0 Armada
Durango Forum: 23-3 Durango
Jeep Forum: Even as of last night (site down for repair)

So my final decision was hands down…Armada. Basically I wanted a fullsize upgrade from a Cherokee & that was the main variable – the Durango is still a great deal if I wanted to remain mid-sized. The Armada is more expensive but loaded at $40k it seems like the better deal.

I test drove both with a friend last night. Both of us at 6-ft felt the Armada was less, uh “intimate”. He summed it up: “After a long day of boating you’d rather relax in the king sized Armada. That thing is like flying first class, the Durango is like flying coach.” Inside the Durango was fine - Jeep-like only longer. As far as power goes I have a 5.9 so everything felt the same. If I just wanted something newer I would go Durango. But I feel with family now I need the extra room. In fact, on a boat trip both our families: 4 adults & 4 kids can fit in 1 vehicle without feeling cramped! (Or 2 kids, wife, & both sets of grandparents – you get the idea), all without being in a van.

Armada Pros: Tows 9000+ lbs. Full-size room. 2nd row is limo-like w/front seats all the way back. Overall exterior/interior style is modern. Rear view camera! Electric rear hatch. AND no rattles - yet. 8-seater. Completely stock still looks good.

Armada Cons: Won’t fit in my garage (I’d have to empty it out). Gauges are not modern or white. All controls look fake – too plastic. I’ll have to deal with it. My head hits in the 3rd row not that I’ll ever ride there.

Durango Pros: HEMI. Fits in the garage. Cool gauges – white. Looks badass in black with 20” wheels & painted grille. I actually fit in the 3rd row. Great Cherokee upgrade. Makes me wish I had this 5-yrs ago when I had surfboards & no kids.

Durango Cons: 2nd row is ok. The sales guy had to move over so I didn’t crush his knees. Stock Durango looks a little goofy. Grey on grey on grey on grey interior.

So my friend is now getting a Titan instead of the Ford F350. Then this morning I just discovered my coworker just bought the Titan & loves it - he was a Ford guy. If Dodge made a full size Ram SUV I’d be all over that but they don’t for some reason & I don’t want to wait for the extended Ram 4-door. A couple of other friends bought $50k Suburbans & at $40k the full-size Armada smokes ‘em in most respects. But for a mid-size SUV the Durango is it. So it all comes down to interior room preference. I want to go full-size, so I’m getting the Armada this week!

Armada funstuff:
http://www.rockcrawler.com/trailreports/SEMA2003/nissan.asp

http://mrgrille.com/MrGrille-Nissan-Titan-Armada-04-Page.html

http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia/events.shtml

Thanks for all the input!
Jay

We knew



Figured you'd see it the way we all have.

As for the cheap looking control thing, that's true. I've been trying to see if I could get the A/C controls from a QX, but it looks like I'd have to buy the whole assembly at like $400. No thanks...

Not sure what year the Armada was (didn't pay attention) but the '05s have that nice aluminum added. There's always burtmanindustries.com if you want to spruce it up with a dash kit.

Good call! And welcome to Armada ownership!

Good for you, congrats. I walked the same EXACT road as you and came to the same conclusion. We can't both be wrong can we?

I replaced my Durango last year with a 300C.

I am now replacing my Jeep Grand Cherokee with an Armada.

See, you can have your Armada, and Hemi too.

Like you, I felt the Armada was much closer to what a $40K investment should feel like. It was frustrating going to dealerships, looking at Armadas, Durangos, Seqouias, and finding none of these $40K machines offered some of the things my $34K car has in it. Bluetooth? Nope. Nav? Sure, just bend over for us. I even had one salsemen trying to get me to ooh and ah because the seats had memory settings.

I'm thinking, yeah, OK, why would they not? If these SUVs are the flagship products of their brand, it doesn't show in the development department.

One car you may or may not have considered is the Land Rover LR3. It entered our search at the last minute and it is NIIICE. But, about $6000 more. That's money better spent on 22" rims and headset DVD systems!