Top 3 things you need to know about the Dodge Journey
Dodge made en exit from the South African landscape in 2017, causing prices of used Dodge Journeys, to plummet; we have listings as low as R80k on site. For this reason, it's very tempting to buy one, but, should you? Here are a few things to keep in mind before making this commitment.
1. As you would expect, most affordable models have high mileage, but it's not a popular name plate
This is not an issue if you own a workshop or you have a close friend who is going to work on your car for free, but for those of us normal people, it's simply just not wise to buy a car with high mileage, and an obscure American one at that? We do not advise. Rather buy an old car with low mileage than the other way around. If you're buying a Dodge Journey as a project car, it's a different story.
Recommended reading: Dodge Journey test drive: Make sure to check these features out.
2. Chances are you'll experience aftersales issues
There's a reason why South Africans love the big brand names like Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Lexus, and Kia so much: They have a large dealer footprint and there is never an issue with finding parts. Many Jeep/Chrysler/Fiat owners report that their vehicles' parts are hard to come by, and expensive, too. If something goes wrong, you don't want to be stuck without wheels while your Dodge gathers dust at the workshop.
3. You'll have to budget carefully for the Journey's high running costs
The engines on offer are of the high-output, naturally-aspirated American variety, and if you take our fuel prices into consideration, the last thing you need is a V6 or V8 gas-guzzler. The well-known 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar engine, however, is known to be made of strong stuff, and is widely used in a whole range of Jeep / Ram and Chrysler products. You might find older Dodge Journeys with the 136 kW 2.7-litre V6, or the 125 kW 2.4-litre inline 4-cylinder. Be that as it may, you will still need to budget carefully for fuel, parts, and services.
Did you know?
According to the latest Kinsey Report (2020), the Alfa Romeo Giulia is the executive saloon with the most affordable parts, repairs, and servicing costs in SA. While the Giulia does not compete with SUVs, we thought it noteworthy that the brand is also part of the FCA group. Should you be keen on an Alfa Romeo SUV, the Stelvio certainly makes a compelling offer...but it's nowhere near the bargain price tag of a used Dodge Journey, of course.
