2008 Chrysler Aspen Review - Rates 7.2 out of 10 - The Car Connection
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The Car Connection > Car Reviews > Chrysler > 2008 > Aspen > 2008 Chrysler Aspen Review
2008 Chrysler Aspen
7.2Out of 10
Read our editors'
Bottom Line
Full Review
Photo Gallery (5)
Specifications (2 Trims)
Related News (14)
Other Expert Reviews (3)
Consumer Opinions (69)
MSRP: $32,425 - $35,300
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By Bengt Halvorson, Editor
How We Rated
Styling
6
Chrysler aficionados will appreciate the 2008 Chrysler Aspen's familiar styling, while others will view it as dodge ram spotlightan upgraded Durango. Performance 6 The 2008 Chrysler Aspen is thirsty and not overly quick, but provides a quality ride, with handling on par for the segment. Comfort and Quality 7 The 2008 Chrysler Aspen is comfortable, and the quality is a step above the Durango. Safety 8 The 2008 Chrysler Aspen has yet to be thoroughly crash-tested, but it has many safety features to protect you and your family. Features 9 The 2008 Chrysler Aspen has more standard features than the Durango, along with high-tech entertainment options. advertisement 2008 Chrysler Aspen Limited Enlarge Photo �2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN STYLING | [6 out of 10] Edmunds: "premium features and an upscale appearance" Kelley Blue Book: "face comes off as conservative" Cars.com: "upscale version of Dodge's Durango" ForbesAutos: "carries distinctive Chrysler styling cues" Most reviewers agree that the 2008 Chrysler Aspen is indeed more stylish and boasts more creature comforts than its counterpart, the Dodge Durango--but it runs up against some tough competition, and in many ways falls short in the styling department. "Chrysler designed it to appeal to consumers interested in premium features and an upscale appearance," Edmunds notes, and "in most respects, the Aspen delivers." Cars.com says this 2008 Chrysler SUV "is an upscale version of Dodge's Durango," and thus competes with the GMC Yukon and Ford Expedition. According to Kelley Blue Book, "the face comes off as conservative -- which isn't necessarily a bad thing." Most truck-based SUVs in its class appear "boxy," but buyers can opt to boost this 2008 Chrysler's curb appeal by adding 20-inch, 10-spoke wheels and running boards. "The Aspen carries distinctive Chrysler styling cues," reports ForbesAutos, which also notes that the Aspen "has a large chrome grille up front, like the Chrysler 300 sedan, and a sculpted hood, like the Chrysler Crossfire roadster." Most reviewers agree with TheCarConnection.com that inside the cabin is where the 2008 Chrysler Aspen shines. "Similar to the Durango's, the Aspen's dashboard gains plenty of wood-like trim...cloth upholstery can be upgraded to two-tone leather or a leather and suede combination," reveals Cars.com. According to ForbesAutos, "The Chrysler Aspen's spacious cabin strives to be luxurious with faux, light-colored wood trim, LED lighting, white-faced instrumentation." Car and Driver reports that "visual flair comes from two-tone leather treatments on the steering wheel and seats." Conclusion: Chrysler aficionados will appreciate the 2008 Chrysler Aspen's familiar styling, while others will view it as an upgraded Durango. 2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN PERFORMANCE | [6 out of 10] Edmunds: "smooth ride and respectable handling" Kelley Blue Book: "handles with sure stability" Car and Driver: "We left relatively impressed" The 2008 Chrysler Aspen has HEMI power but not thrilling acceleration, though towing capacity and ride quality are strong suits. "Engine choices are a 4.7-liter V-8 or a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8," according to Car and Driver. The latter engine "is about 40 mirrors dodge percent more powerful," reports ForbesAutos. Edmunds states, "Hemi-powered models can lug up to 8,900 lbs.," thanks smarty dodge for sale to its "335 horses and 370 lb-ft of torque." Edmunds further adds that the smaller 4.7-liter V-8 puts out "303 hp and 330 pound-feet of torque," and "can tow up to 5,950 pounds." ConsumerGuide has not tested this 2008 Chrysler with the new 4.7-liter V-8, but claims "the Hemi V8 delivers plenty of power at all speeds, [but feels] no faster than a V6-powered Acura MDX." "Backing both engines is a five-speed automatic transmission delivering power via 2WD or 4WD," reports Edmunds. This 2008 Chrysler transmission was criticized by several consumer car sites consulted by TheCarConnection.com because it doesn't have a manual selection above second gear, causing a great deal of gear hunting on steep hills and requiring excessive braking on downgrades. "Rear-wheel drive is standard, and two four-wheel-drive dodge ram replacement dash systems are available," according to Cars.com; of the latter, one is designed for travel on pavement, while the other is more appropriate for off-road use. "The bigger engine comes with Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System that deactivates half the cylinders under low to moderate throttle," details ForbesAutos; "that helps the Hemi achieve slightly better fuel economy than the less powerful standard engine." EPA estimates for this 2008 Chrysler are 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway for a 4WD 5.7-liter V-8-equipped model. The 4.7-liter engine is also flex-fuel capable. Edmunds reports that the Aspen�s "ride is smooth and handling is quite respectable for an SUV weighing 2.5 tons." Kelley Blue Book agrees that the 2008 Chrysler Aspen has a well-cushioned ride that's fit for long road trips and goes on to say "too big to be agile, the Aspen nonetheless handles with sure stability, and that includes mankato dodge dealer during towing." Edmunds does, however, find some fault with steering and braking, saying the former "can feel a bit loose and the brake pedal dodge dealership houston feels vague, with lengthy stopping distances." ConsumerGuide attests that "Aspen has good grip and modest lean in corners--impressive for a vehicle this large and heavy," but adds that "steering...would benefit from less power assist and more road feel." Car and Driver proclaims they "left relatively impressed with the Aspen's 'round-town demeanor; the ride quality being nowhere near as brittle as we expected, given the rugged suspension architecture and big wheels." Conclusion: The 2008 Chrysler Aspen is thirsty and not overly quick, but provides a quality ride, with handling on par for the segment. 2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN COMFORT AND QUALITY | [7 out of 10] Edmunds: "cabin shares [the Durango's] strengths and weaknesses" Kelley Blue Book: "Aspen doesn't have a bad seat in the house" ConsumerGuide: "Ample headroom and legroom" Most reviewers agree that the 2008 Chrysler Aspen's first two rows are comfortable and offer decent legroom, but the third row is notably cramped. "The Aspen seats seven occupants in three rows, although an available third-row bench seat bumps capacity to eight," says Cars.com. While most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com report that the front seats of this 2008 Chrysler have more than ample legroom, passengers riding in the second and third rows don't have it as good. ConsumerGuide acknowledges that at best, the "3rd row...can accommodate adults for short trips." Kelley Blue Book disagrees, saying that the "Aspen doesn't have a bad seat in the house. If your passengers complain, it will be about your driving, not their accommodations." Edmunds appreciates the fact that "moving about the [this 2008 Chrysler] cabin doesn't demand the nimbleness of a gymnast," but even with captain's chairs for the second row, "the seats are fixed in place so legroom's still tight." Edmunds reports that Aspen Chrysler's "maximum cargo capacity is impressive at over 102 cubic feet with all rear seats folded." According to Cars.com, this is "a bit less than the Ford Expedition and Chevy Tahoe, dodge truck for sale which both have around 110 cubic feet." ConsumerGuide notes "that the automatic liftgate lacks a tailgate button for power close," but also details "plenty of in-cabin storage, including a deep center console and large, useful console tray." Edmunds points out that "ergonomics...are first-rate," but although "quality of materials is a bit improved over the Dodge," it "still lags behind the class leaders." This view is shared by ConsumerGuide, which praises american steel chrysler dodge the 2008 Chrysler Aspen's cabin materials for being "notably upmarket" when compared to the Dodge Durango, but adds that it "trails those of premium rivals from Acura and Cadillac." Nonetheless, 2008 Chrysler "LED lighting, white-faced instrumentation, and an analog clock atop the dashboard's center stack" lend a touch of luxury, reports ForbesAutos, and there's even a health benefit: "standard cloth seats are covered in a dirt-repellent and anti-microbial textile." ConsumerGuide contends that "road noise is decently muted, but certain surfaces can induce audible tire roar," while "highway-speed wind rush is evident from the outside mirrors." Conclusion: The 2008 Chrysler Aspen is comfortable, and the quality is a step above the Durango. 2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN SAFETY | [8 out of 10] NHTSA: Five stars, frontal-impact; four stars, rollover resistance (4WD) IIHS: No test data ForbesAutos: "Electronic Stability Program...helps maintain control" The 2008 Chrysler Aspen offers some excellent standard safety features, but top-heaviness and missing crash data means it gets a lower score from TheCarConnection.com. Where the 2008 Chrysler Aspen dodge fuel heater assembly removal falls short is in terms of rollover protection; although the 4WD version of this 2008 Chrysler gets four stars in NHTSA rollover tests, the 2WD model only rated three. The vehicle does get five stars for front-impact protection, but there are no government side impact crash-test results for the Aspen. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)dodge caravan rear axle assembly diagramhas not tested the Aspen 2008 at all as of this writing. Cars.com reports "standard safety equipment includes an electronic stability system with rollover mitigation technology, which can apply brakes in short bursts to avert impending rollovers," along with "four-wheel-disc, antilock brakes and side curtain airbags that cover all three rows of seats." ForbesAutos says 2008 Chrysler "Electronic Stability Program uses throttle and braking intervention to help the driver maintain control under a wide range of conditions and handling situations," and "includes three selectable modes that afford progressively less intervention." Edmunds details optional safety equipment consisting of "power-adjustable pedals and ParkSense rear parking sensors." ConsumerGuide is the only source normally consulted by our experts that consistently reports on visibility issues: their test drivers note that "thick front roof pillars obstruct view around corners," but overall, the Aspen offers "good rear visibility, aided by large outside mirrors." Conclusion: The 2008 Chrysler Aspen has yet to be thoroughly crash-tested, but it has many safety features to protect you dodge county wi and your family. 2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN FEATURES | [9 out of 10] Edmunds: "standard equipment includes full power accessories" Car and Driver: "Signature Series exemplifies Walter's original vision" Mother Proof: "the rear seat entertainment system is pretty robust" The 2008 Chrysler Aspen is loaded with many creature comforts even dodge truck decals in base trim. The Aspen dodge extera is offered with a single trim level, but both two- and four-wheel-drive models are available. While "standard equipment includes full power accessories," according to Edmunds, "customers who want a more upscale experience can opt for the [2008 Chrysler] 28J Quick Order Package that adds 20-inch chrome wheels, automatic climate control, leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, driver seat memory, laminated door glass and a power liftgate with rear parking assist.� The optional 2008 Chrysler navigation system and a plethora of audio and entertainment options will keep you on track and make you feel at home during the morning commute or on cross-country adventures. Mother Proof says "the rear seat entertainment system is pretty robust," but notes that the "remote control is cleverly hidden in the overhead console and can be removed, which makes it much easier for the kids to lose." Car and Driver remarks, "Aspen SUV buyers who opt for the Signature package get toys including a power sunroof, the MyGIG MP3 entertainment system with SIRIUS satellite radio, and a rear camera." This 2008 Chrysler Signature package also includes an electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case (4WD models only) and heated front seats with leather trim. Other available features include second-row captain's chairs, rear seat heaters, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, a navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, remote starting, and skid plates. Conclusion: The 2008 Chrysler Aspen has more standard features than the Durango, along with high-tech entertainment options. More on 2008 Chrysler Aspen: 2008 Chrysler Aspen Bottom Line 2008 Chrysler Aspen Full Review 2008 Chrysler Aspen Latest dodge magnum accessories News (14) 2008 Chrysler Aspen Photo Gallery (5) 2008 Chrysler Aspen Specifications (2 Trims) Get a free price quote Other Expert Reviews for 2008 Chrysler Aspen for (3) Consumer Opinions for 2008 Chrysler Aspen (69) Comments (0 total): Be The first to post a comment Post a comment: Name: (Required) Email: (Required - will not be published, sold or shared) URL: (Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL) Remember Me? Yes No Title: Comment: Also see other 2008 Chrysler Aspen 2008 Chrysler Aspen: RWD 4dr Limited 2008 Chrysler Aspen: AWD 4dr Limited See reviews of other cars 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review 2008 Dodge Durango Review 2008 Chrysler Aspen Review 2007 Nissan Armada Review 2007 Dodge Durango Review 2007 Chrysler Aspen Review 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review 2006 Dodge Durango Review 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Review News and Blogs Nardelli To Chrysler Workers... The V-8 Is Dead -- Long Live The... Spied: A Mystery Crossover GM Loses $15.5 Billion More VW Product Coming To U.S.? More blogs... Follow us on: advertisement Company Advertise With Us Careers Privacy Policy Links Site Map ©2008 by The Car Connection™ All Rights Reserved—The Car Connection is a Trademark of Car Advisory Network The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not those of R. L. Polk & Co. or its licensors. |
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Everything and the kitchen sink: How does an RV stack up to driving a plain old car? - Salt Lake Tribune
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To the Pacific Coast and back again
Everything and the kitchen sink: How does an RV stack up to driving a plain old car?
By Bob Mims
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 07/14/2008 09:28:07 AM MDT
Click photo to enlarge
Oregon's numerous scenic byways are remarkable for their corridors of greenery.
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My wife, Barbara, and I had been planning our trip to the Northwest for a year. But as the time approached to hook up our aging Dodge Ram pickup truck to our 23-foot-travel trailer, the trepidation began.
Oil prices were setting new dodge county extension highs, and dour-faced pundits filled the air waves with prophecies of gas prices soon following suit. But, driving a large V8-powered, 100,000-mile-plus gas guzzler that got 13 miles to the gallon on a good day, we knew if our RV trip-of-a-lifetime was ever going to happen, it had to be now.
Ahead of us: seven states and 2,700 miles en route to our first look at the Oregon and Northern California coasts in three decades, and my first visit ever to the
Cost of RV trip compared with traveling by car:
23-foot travel trailer, pulled by pickup truck:
Gasoline $1,162.40.
RV parking $336.45.
Food $35 (ate out twice); the cost of food brought from home is not included.
Total $1,533.85.
Medium-sized car (2007 Chevrolet Impala, 6-cylinder, 22 mpg over 2,700 miles. Source www.fueleconomy.gov), motels, restaurants:
Gasoline $499.50 (based on $4.07 per gallon regular).
Motels $1,190.37 (based on searching best rates for motels in same cities where we stopped).
Food $840-$1,050, estimated ($60-$75 per day in folsom lake dodge typical national franchise restaurant, breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Total $2,589.27-$2,799.27.
Additional cost If you took this trip renting the same car, the total cost would rise, according to www.travelocity.com best-rate search, by a minimum of $319 for intermediate-sized car (not including insurance, if needed).
Sources www.fuelgaugereport.com, www.travelocity.com
Redwoods.
As we drove north on Interstate 15 out of Salt dodge ram front bumper Lake City and into southeastern Idaho, spring was giving way to summer. The truck's windows open, the breezes out of the Wasatch Range, the pastoral scenery of dairy and ranch lands and the aroma of fresh grass and wildflowers were a tonic to my wife and me.
After brief stops in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and after traversing western Montana into Spokane, Wash., we turned our modern-day prairie schooner southwest. We crossed the Columbia River through south-central Washington's Tri-Cities and onto Oregon's Highway 84.
The river, wide and swollen from its tributaries, stretched through terrain that gradually changed from
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desert to grasslands and then ever-thickening evergreen forests; barges slowly navigated against the Columbia's whitecaps, while closer to shore wind-surfers sped along the waves.
Our first stop in Oregon: Multnomah Falls. Thirty-seven years ago, two teenagers had run to the base of this 620-foot cascade, sealing a promise of love with a long kiss. A year later, we were married. This time, we walked, but the kiss was just as sweet - certainly a happier outcome than the local legend about the falls' origins. As that story goes, an epidemic was ravaging an unidentified tribe, so the chief's daughter leaped from the cliff in self-sacrifice, hoping to stop the fatal illness. Her father found the girl's body, and as his tears flowed, water began to gush from far above and the sickness abated.
A day driving along the Historic Columbia River Highway led us through canopies of pine and cedar adorned with wild broken trailer brake lights dodge ram rhododendrons of white, gold and red.
After a night hooked up at our campsite in Corbett, Ore., we detoured northwest to see the first of several lighthouses we would visit, beginning with Cape Meares, 10 miles outside Tillamook off U.S. 101.
At just under 40 feet, the Cape Meares Lighthouse, its beacon fired up in 1890, is the shortest on the Oregon coast. Nonetheless its vantage point, 217 feet above the Pacific, affords breathtaking ocean views and is a popular spot for whale and dodge intrepid emission system seal watching (we saw the latter, not the former).
Later, we would visit the 115-year-old Yaquina Head Lighthouse - the dodge d20 van tallest, at 93 feet high, on the Oregon coast. Looking out from this point, your face bathed in saltwater mist, you see the Pacific slap off-shore islets, briefly scattering nesting seabirds; trails from the lighthouse lead to algae-clad tidal pools filled with sea anemone, mussels and barnacles.
If you go to Tillamook, a tour of the Tillamook Cheese Factory is a must, and nearby is the Tillamook Air Museum, a former World War II naval air station.
The museum is housed in the massive Hangar B, all that is left of a once-thriving World War II Naval Air Station. Today, its prime attraction is a 1,072-foot-long, 15-story hangar - 7 acres containing nearly three dozen restored, historic aircraft. My favorites included Germany's ME-109 Messerschmitt, the American-made P-38 Lighting and P-51 Mustang and Japan's Nakajima "Oscar" KI-43 fighter. More modern warplanes included F-14 Tomcats and one of the first Russian MiGs.
Newport was next on our itinerary. This town of 10,000 boasts a seafaring history going back to at least the 1860s. Still a working port for commercial fishermen and cargo vessels, its waterfront has experienced a tourism-fed renaissance. Antique shops, restaurants, art galleries and museums invite visitors dodge nitro for a leisurely walk, which also features dockside entertainment: sun-bathing harbor seals.
Newport's pride, though, might be the Oregon Coast Aquarium. This private, not-for-profit aquatic and marine science educational site offers indoor and outdoor exhibits featuring 500 species of birds, seals, otters, octopus and fish.
Coos Bay, Ore., new england dodge music center was the next stop. A town of 16,000 dating back to at least 1853, it is the gateway to forests of the Coastal Range to the east and the nearby, famed Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Coos Bay is the largest natural harbor between Seattle and San Francisco, busy handling timber, commercial and sports fishing traffic. All impressive, but we were most taken with the craftsmanship of The Oregon Connection: House of Myrtlewood.
Originally a family business founded in 1929, in its current incarnation it is a subsidiary of the Star of Hope Mission, an organization serving the developmentally disabled. The House of Myrtlewood provides much-needed revenue for the mission while giving its clients training in working with its rare namesake coastal wood as well as retail experience.
Another hookup and we continued dodge differential cover south on scenic U.S. 101 to Klamath, Calif., stopping several times to visit beautiful beaches. Then came the Redwood national and state parks, home ground for the planet's biggest and most ancient trees. Towering up to 400 feet, the redwoods' thick bases have provided photographic fodder for decades.
Barbara and I visited the Trees of Mystery and Sky Trail in Klamath, a sprawling redwoods-themed park offering miles tangerine dodgeof foot trails through a veritable tree cathedral, as well as a gondola ride above nature's giants. On top of the mountain, we saw cloud-shrouded redwoods stretching east into the horizon, while to the west, distant ocean beaches were shining through the branches. Heading home, we chose to forgo busy Interstate 5 and were rewarded by serendipity. Climbing to green summits, we often averaged only 30 mph, but it paid off dodge polara with the stunning beauty of the Klamath Mountain Range. Winding through the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, forest blacktop led through a gallery of waterfalls and picturesque hamlets on the way to Redding, Calif. From there, S.R. 99 took us through orchard country to dodge viper 2010proto type designs Chico, and onto S.R. 149 through dodge diesel stack kit Oroville. Our campsite that night was next to the Feather River, where a soft evening and the sounds of the water sped us to a good night's sleep. We rose with the dawn, heading onto S.R. 20 and then Interstate 80 through the Sierra Nevadas toward home. Was it worth it? If vacations are less about money spent, and more about memories made and tensions fading away, then yes. (See accompanying cost breakdown of the trip.) Return to Top Featured Links Moving Companies turning debt into wealth Nanny Agency Great AuPair 1 Carat Diamond Pendants Gift Ideas Moving Information Network Cell Phone Plans FREE Myspace Layouts,MYSPACE Compare Prices Sympathy Gift Baskets Isagenix Kars4Kids Privacy Policy | MNG Corporate Site Map | Copyright |
