Brucebotti Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 This review is for our Journey after 14 months and 16,000 miles. The vehicle we purchased was a new Silver 2012 SXT with 3.6L / FWD. The options on it are, the third row seating, the Popular Equipment Group, and the 19" wheels. So far it has been absolutely fantastic. We bought it in November, 2012. The sticker was $27,885. They knocked $2,200 off of the sticker, plus there was a $4,500 rebate, so it ended up being $21,185 + tax & registration. We were quite pleased. As stated, we have owned it for 14 months and have put 16,000 miles on it. We have changed the oil and filter at 250 miles and again at 3,900. We converted to synthetic oil at 6,100 miles and change it and the filter every 5-6,000 miles. We rotate the tires every 6,000 miles. I average 19-20 mpg winter and 20-21 mpg summer. The worst tankful was 17.9 mpg; the best was 25.7. I really love this vehicle. Although I am 63, we purchased it to allow my wife and I to transport our three Grandbabies and their car seats. Likes: It has been bullet proof so far and has never been back to the dealer. I do all my own servicing since I have a lift and a huge set of tools. Smooth with plenty of power. Nice smooth and quiet ride with reasonably good handling for this type of vehicle. Plenty of room inside. It is great in the snow. Love the look with the 19” wheels. Rear HVAC and individual front control is nice. Reasonable mpg. On a trip to Florida (3,000 miles) we averaged 25 mpg even at speeds of 80 mph. On a trip to NJ (500 miles) we averaged 25.5 mpg with seven people on board. Dislikes: There is really nothing major, just a bunch of nit-pick things. The A-pillar and mirror combo are huge and hinder vision. I'm sure it would be the same on similar vehicles. It just takes some getting used to. Even though I bought it in November 2012, it was produced in February 2012, so it has the smaller brakes. So far this hasn’t been an issue and they appear to be wearing okay. The transmission up-shifts too quickly on some hills, and then downshifts only after you mash the gas. This only happens on a few hills / occasions. I have learned to deal with it by shifting manually on occasion. On a cold start-up I get a whining sound. I believe it is (or at least sounds like) the power steering pump. I will get this checked out if I ever bring it to the dealer for something else, or if it gets louder. The optional 19” wheels are starting to discolor. Despite constant cleaning and several waxings, they are turning a golden / brown color in some of the crevices of the wheels. It is not as easy to get to the third row with all three car seats installed in the vehicle. Rearward vision is also limited with all three car seats installed. This would probably be an issue with any similar vehicle The clock gains at least 5-6 minutes each month. I can’t believe in this day and age that a clock could be this far off. I hope to have a similarly positive report at 24 months / 30,000 miles! Bruce rolly and jkeaton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolly Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Good report! Thanks and continued success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted to Dodge Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Nice impression!! Glad to hear you have had a great experience. Good luck in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Great report. My wife also complains about the A-piller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destination Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Nice list of likes and dislikes. And good to see a fellow CT Journey driver on here. I'm in the "Dirty-den" (Meriden). quote: The A-pillar and mirror combo are huge and hinder vision. I'm sure it would be the same on similar vehicles. It just takes some getting used to. This was an issue for me too for probably the first year of ownership. Depending on instersection elevation and angle of car sitting at stop sign to my right, sometimes they were completely hidden. I have learned to make a conserted effort to lean forward and look through windshield to right before moving through a four way intersection. This is a problem with lots of cars these days. The pillars are too thick. I agree on the too quick upshifts. Especially when the car had not reached operating temp. yet. Try using Magic Erasers on your wheels, especially down in the corners where the brake dust discolors them. They will look like new again. I cannot speak to what this will do for the paint and/or clearcoat in the long run though. I get that same whining noise, and so far at 41,000 miles it has not resulted in anything bad happening. I agree with you, it sounds like the power steering pump. I wish there was easy access to third row through the middle of the second row like in the GMC Acadia and Chevy Traverse. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brucebotti Posted January 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Nice list of likes and dislikes. And good to see a fellow CT Journey driver on here. I'm in the "Dirty-den" (Meriden). quote: The A-pillar and mirror combo are huge and hinder vision. I'm sure it would be the same on similar vehicles. It just takes some getting used to. This was an issue for me too for probably the first year of ownership. Depending on instersection elevation and angle of car sitting at stop sign to my right, sometimes they were completely hidden. I have learned to make a conserted effort to lean forward and look through windshield to right before moving through a four way intersection. This is a problem with lots of cars these days. The pillars are too thick. I agree on the too quick upshifts. Especially when the car had not reached operating temp. yet. Try using Magic Erasers on your wheels, especially down in the corners where the brake dust discolors them. They will look like new again. I cannot speak to what this will do for the paint and/or clearcoat in the long run though. I get that same whining noise, and so far at 41,000 miles it has not resulted in anything bad happening. I agree with you, it sounds like the power steering pump. I wish there was easy access to third row through the middle of the second row like in the GMC Acadia and Chevy Traverse. cheers I guess the pillars are thick to help in a roll-over. Likewise the huge mirrors to improve rear visibility. I find myself moving my head up and dow, and side to side at some intersections. I'm getting used to it now. I also have trouble looking through the rear view mirror when I have the Grandbabies car seats set up in the third row. Access is difficult to the back to buckle them in, especially when I have a third car seat in the second row. I guess I'll have to trade one of them in... ! I will definitely try that Magic Erasers on the wheels. Thanks for the tip. Thanks to all for the positive feedback. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journey Dude Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Very nice report Bruce, love to hear good things about these vehicles. Just got ours (used) but very pleased as well so far. Good luck! jkeaton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brucebotti Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Very nice report Bruce, love to hear good things about these vehicles. Just got ours (used) but very pleased as well so far. Good luck! Thank you. I am very pleased with the DJ. Hope you enjoy many years in yours! Bruce Journey Dude and jkeaton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj cowboy Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Lol..i thought my radio was the only one to do that!! Last week I looked at the time, and started driving like a Sh&*head because I thought I was late for work. I ended up being 6 minutes early.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brucebotti Posted January 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Lol..i thought my radio was the only one to do that!! Last week I looked at the time, and started driving like a Sh&*head because I thought I was late for work. I ended up being 6 minutes early.. It does seem unbelievable that in this digital age, they can't get a clock to keep accurate time. A wind-up watch is just as accurate as the DJ.. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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