[Drivesthebeast]

The truck had tons of punch, and while one could become addicted to that much torque, you can always drive it properly, and like GFX already mentioned, you CAN get awesome fuel economy with a V8 like this one, as you don't have to make the engine make any effort to accelerate or hold a speed. I know a V8 Durango would likely eat my Escape for fuel economy, as mine's got a 3.0L, 4spd auto, and full time AWD that can't be deactivated. I find I have to thrash the drivetrain in the Escape to get it to move with a sense of urgency, and also for making quick passes at highway speed too. The Hemi would do the same work with 1/3 of the throttle.

We will have to take a longer harder look at one of these again, but my wife also wants to look at the Traverse (which to me means LTZ or nothing), Acadia (SLT or better plz), and possibly the new Explorer and even the Flex (AWD 3.5TT only for me!). I really want a full sized SUV like a Tahoe/Yukon or a Aspen or Expedition, as the dealerships are practically giving them away (they are the Anti-Christ of vehicles as far as the tree-hugging NIMBY types are concerned) that not everyone wants anymore. But the wife wants to look only at CUV's, and the new Durango is the closest to a full size SUV as I'm gonna get.

Ultimately, if we want to do things right, I think we buy a lease returned or Demo CUV when the Escape is almost (or fully) paid off, get rid of the Escape, and buy a 2nd car to pop around town in...I'm thinking 1st Gen Foci, maybe an 04...

Anyways, I'm curious to see what's out there (just gotta stop researching used Nissan Skyline importing stuff...lol)

L8tz