No Dodge Nitro R/T FT 4X4 for 2007! (?)

3450 Views 23 Replies 10 Participants Last post by HighVoltageNITRO, Mar 18, 2007

Quiet Lunatic

Discussion Starter · Jan 23, 2007

I can’t believe what happened today! This was the day I was going to order a new Nitro R/T 4X4 full-time “L” package. Had driven a new R/T Saturday at another Dealer and posted how fantastic it was.

Contacted my Local Dealer which I had bought two vehicles in the past yesterday, and they called this morning with a very good price on my to-be-ordered R/T ( MSRP $31,035), complete with the “Family & Friends” discount.

The Dealer that I had test driven the R/T from also was to give me their best price today. When I called them they said they couldn’t give me a price! What? So I told them I would make a visit to understand what was going on.

Since I have a buyer for my old Grand Cherokee Limited V8 4X4 full-time four wheel drive I decided to take it in to the Dealer Service Department for a complete check-up and oil & filter change yesterday (bill was $76.74) to start the new owner off. I had planned to put 10K down with no trade and really didn’t care if it took 12 weeks to build.

What I found out floored me. No Dealer can order a full-time 4X4 R/T using a transfer case! Yes with all the past discussions concerning this issue and even had my Local Dealer call the Factory over a month ago (I posted) that it was going to be available. After receiving this info I returned to the Dealer that had given me a price. They did not want to believe another Dealer (maybe hoping they did not want to compete on a discounted price?) so they called the Factory. The end result is any R/T 4X4 ordered will have a switch on the dash! No full time four wheel drive. Both Dealers (Wife too) asked if I would accept this? I said no.

What am I going to do? Well I am going to sell my old Jeep anyway, (who knows if I can find one later?) and I can do with out a new Nitro Toy that was going to be my last new car anyway. Guess I will still hang out here and both Dealers say they will keep me informed if 4X4 transfer case comes available, but both think it might be the 2008 R/T model. I would suspect we will know here first! What a crappy day. Guess it was not to be.

PS Mods: Think this issue should be made a”Sticky”.

Dealers don’t know this, customers don’t know this, and if you use the On-Line Dodge Equip & Price it still says “Full-Time 4WD” included on 2007 Nitro R/T 4X4 L Package. WRONG. Thanks Dodge, this is your fault, not the Dealer’s. Dealers will kind of luck out since many customers will just take what comes in and if the customer refuses their “Special Order” the Dealer received a R/T much faster than if they had just ordered it for stock (sold cars receive expedited build numbers) that they will have no problem selling. Sure they might offend one customer, but they will gain another real fast.

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1 - 20 of 24 Posts

HighVoltageNITRO

· #2 · Jan 24, 2007 (Edited)

Gosh, Rick, I thought everyone looking at Full-Time 4WD Nitros understood that it would not be available until July 10th. Or at least that is the date still floating around in fleet web sites. That is why a lot of us went ahead and ordered the part-time 4WD on or immediately after Jan. 8 when the door opened for MyGIG. Like you, I really wanted the full-time transfer case. But I didn't want to wait 6 months until the factory started churning out new Liberty's in competition with the Nitro. I really suspect that this is an internal Chrysler thing where Jeep didn't want Dodge to produce a full-time 4WD Nitro until Jeep could produce a like Liberty model, even though I suspect the Liberty model will have a low range included.

You can monitor this website for future changes to the Nitro options, and their projected date of availability.

http://www.arifleet.com/production.html

Dodge Nitro
8-10 weeks

Nitro 4x4 models have a 10-12 week lead time

(RER) AM/FM CD MP3 Navigation Radio has a Job #1 of 1/29/07

Full-time 4WD w/ (EGS) 4.0L V6 engine has a Job #1 of 7/10/07

Portable utility table has a Job #1 of 7/14/07
[/list]

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Danible

· #3 · Jan 24, 2007

Looks like I might not except my Nitro then. It looks like I might look at a Grand Cherokee....

Quiet Lunatic

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 24, 2007

HighVoltageNITRO said:
Gosh, Rick, I thought everyone looking at Full-Time 4WD Nitros understood that it would not be available until July 10th. Or at least that is the date still floating around in fleet web sites. That is why a lot of us went ahead and ordered the part-time 4WD on or immediately after Jan. 8 when the door opened for MyGIG. Like you, I really wanted the full-time transfer case. But I didn't want to wait 6 months until the factory started churning out new Liberty's in competition with the Nitro. I really suspect that this is an internal Chrysler thing where Jeep didn't want Dodge to produce a full-time 4WD Nitro until Jeep could produce a like Liberty model, even though I suspect the Liberty model will have a low range included.

You can monitor this website for future changes to the Nitro options, and their projected date of availability.

http://www.arifleet.com/production.html

Dodge Nitro
8-10 weeks

Nitro 4x4 models have a 10-12 week lead time

(RER) AM/FM CD MP3 Navigation Radio has a Job #1 of 1/29/07

Full-time 4WD w/ (EGS) 4.0L V6 engine has a Job #1 of 7/10/07

Portable utility table has a Job #1 of 7/14/07
[/list]

I don't think this information was so clear in November when this was being discussed. One thing for sure, the Dealers here sure don't know as much as some do here! I must have missed this somehow, but did have the Dealer contact the Factory in December and it took the Factory two weeks to respond, with a "Yes" when the R/T is available it will be FT 4WD! I even asked about the July date, too? Their reply was not correct! Well 6 months sounds better than 2008! But as some others have said "Why not wait and buy a 2008 if it will be July 2007?" Another good question.

THANKS HighVoltageNITRO, it is so clear now why I couldn't order what I wanted today! (One Dealer was going to place my order in error.) Wish both Dealers and myself had understood this, but we didn't! Not sure even anyone you would contact @ Dodge does either. Today they didn't even give a date.
Thanks again for this great info.

AirJunky

· #5 · Jan 24, 2007

I don't see what the big deal is. I own a Nitro 4x4 with the part time transfer case & an AWD Pacifica. Big deal, there is a knob on the console. WTF?
You'll get better mileage in 2wd anyway.

backlash

· #6 · Jan 24, 2007

I'd just like to know what the portable utility table is?

HighVoltageNITRO

· #7 · Jan 24, 2007

backlash said:
I'd just like to know what the portable utility table is?

If you don't have a brochure, pick up one from your nearest dealership. In the back, there are all kinds of options, like this table, and even a tent, that will be available at some point. Some other items are listed in the accessories brochure. There is a link on this forum site to the accessories brochure, but I am not sure where. Look in the older threads from last year, or pick up one along with the Nitro brochure from the dealer. Not all of these options are available yet, just like the full-time 4WD.

Looking back on the subject of full-time 4WD transfer case. It should have never been printed in the 2007 brochure as an option, let alone listing it as standard equipment. If it had not been in print, we would have never been wanting something we can't get. This is Chrysler's SNAFU.

Rickaren-I started to wait the six months myself. But then I started asking questions about the ESP system-traction control-and found that many of our friends here on the forum feel that it compensates quite a lot for the lack of full-time 4WD. This is why I finally talked myself into ordering the part-time 4WD now, instead of waiting until the end of June. Plus, I didn't want to wait until a time the factory was using the same parts on both the Nitro and the 2008 Liberty with the possibility of a parts shortage and build delay.

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Awesome 1

· #8 · Feb 16, 2007

I really don't know how I feel about this issue. In a way I like to put in 4X4 mode and go when conditions justify it. On the other hand in full time 4X4 there shouldn't be an issue. However on dry payment it must affect gas mileage somewat. Always looking for updates in discovered at http://www.arifleet.com/production.html that the restriction is gone. Can anyone verift this. Thanks Tom

HighVoltageNITRO

· #9 · Feb 16, 2007

Awesome 1 said:
I really don't know how I feel about this issue. In a way I like to put in 4X4 mode and go when conditions justify it. On the other hand in full time 4X4 there shouldn't be an issue. However on dry payment it must affect gas mileage somewat. Always looking for updates in discovered at http://www.arifleet.com/production.html that the restriction is gone. Can anyone verift this. Thanks Tom

Good catch Tom. I guess you know what this means. All of us that have ordered R/T 4x4s may get them with the full time transfer case instead of the part time one. That would make me happy actually, but I think others wouldn't like it because they wanted to be able to drive in 2wd mode to conserve gas.

Warriorbob! Buddy, you got your ears on? Can you check with your friend at the factory about this issue?

Thanks, Tim

warriorbob

· #10 · Feb 16, 2007 (Edited)

HighVoltageNITRO said:
Warriorbob! Buddy, you got your ears on? Can you check with your friend at the factory about this issue?

Thanks, Tim

i will do my best to find out and post what i learn
i am keeping my fingers crossed he can get this info

:Banana01:

epper: :wiggle2: :ura1:

warriorbob

· #11 · Feb 16, 2007

latest info

he could not tell me if they were going to be installing the full time 4wd

but he did say if you have an order with the part time 4wd even if they start installing the full time you will get what is on your order (the plant will not change your order)

i will get the PT 4 WD no matter what (since my order is already at D status)

HighVoltageNITRO

· #12 · Feb 16, 2007

Thanks warriorbob. I can live with that. I certainly don't want to slow down production! I have called my dealer to check on the status of my Nitro, but so far nothing from them.

It sounds like the way my dealer originally explained this to me is not the case. (Go figure-right!) He told me that once the line switched over to full time 4WD differentials the part time would no longer be available because they wouldn't have both on the line for installation. I'll be happy with whatever I get. I believe he may have thought this because on the order screen he could not actually select either one. Just R/T 4X4 and you get what you get. Thanks again.

Awesome 1

· #13 · Feb 16, 2007

Thanks Warriorbob for the info. I too can live with either way also. Going to dealer today to get a status update. Thanks again Tom

warriorbob

· #14 · Feb 16, 2007

just a tid bit of info if you guys ordered the MyGiG in your R/T's it should be off material hold (BG status) and on D status as from what i was told the MyGiG should be ready to install soon

:Racing:

Quiet Lunatic

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 16, 2007

warriorbob said:
just a tid bit of info if you guys ordered the MyGiG in your R/T's it should be off material hold (BG status) and on D status as from what i was told the MyGiG should be ready to install soon :Racing:

'D' status doesn't really mean it's close to start of build. I hate to say this but it could sit in D for a long time. Depends on how many orders are before yours. Once it hits D2 or higher, then it's rolling through the body shop. F status is Paint and G status is assembly (or what they call TCF). At least your past the material hold.

warriorbob

· #16 · Feb 17, 2007

dcxguy said:
'D' status doesn't really mean it's close to start of build. I hate to say this but it could sit in D for a long time. Depends on how many orders are before yours. Once it hits D2 or higher, then it's rolling through the body shop. F status is Paint and G status is assembly (or what they call TCF). At least your past the material hold.

you are exacly correct i could have a wait but as you said atleast i know that i am not on material hold (for the MyGiG) anymore as i have been since 1-08-07 i have a VIN number now (eventhough that really means nothing) just have to wait to get to D1 to get a build date

i have a friend that works at the plant and this may help speed things up a bit (i hope)

:Banana01: :wiggle2: :ura1:

epper:

HighVoltageNITRO

· #17 · Feb 17, 2007

After reading one of our other posts, (R/T aftermarket trailer hitch) I went to the Dodge website and rebuilt my Nitro that I have on order. And true to that other post, there is no longer a FT 4X4 option box. Also, the total price with all the same options has been reduced by $650.00. So I guess the reason the FT 4X4 option has been removed from the restriction list is that it will not be available for 2007 Nitros. So those of us that have 4X4s on order, maybe we will save a few bucks when we take delivery of our rides. If anyone has better info on this, please post it here.

Smitty

· #18 · Feb 17, 2007

I just went ther to see for myself and I noticed the trailer tow group was missing also.

Smitty

Quiet Lunatic

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 17, 2007

Smitty said:
I just went ther to see for myself and I noticed the trailer tow group was missing also.

Smitty

HighVoltageNITRO mentioned on another thread that KellyBlueBook has the RT now standard for the Trailer Tow Group. I hope so, because I ordered mine with the group to haul my boat around all summer! The thing that concerned me was the the SLT has the Tow Group option with the 17in wheels but not with the 20in wheels. Hmmm...makes ya wonder what the hecks going on over in Toledo!!! Smitty...just head over to Toledo and DEMAND THE ANSWERS!!!

F45

· #20 · Feb 17, 2007

The Kelly BlueBook still lists the tow group option -AHC- for the R/T, which has now increased to $670.

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