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mb
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2003
11:02:31
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 Subject: Dakota in general
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I have not put a lot of miles on my Dakota (1998 SLT EXT) but I will say that it really is a great machine.
Back in 1991 my pal bought a V6 standard cab long bed Dak. All of us in my circle thought it was pretty nice. It was a non-Magnum, auto, but I liked it for what it was (a Mopar mid-sized truck). He drove it for 80K miles and then moved up to a V10 2500 EXT Larame in 1996.
The Dak left a good enough impression on my pals that we all actively looked for nice used ones to buy. One pal had just sold his 1968 Coronet 500 big block convertible just as a 1995 Dakota Sport EXT with V8, 50K miles, auto, headers, computer & intake kit showed up on the local dealer lot. He jumped on it. Its quick (high 14's in the 1/4), black, and clean. Dang thing says "Sport" on the door, but also has the "SLT" badges? Is that even possible? Anyhow, its a good machine too.
Now the guy w/ the V10 2500 just got a 2003 Dakota quad cab as a company vehicle (no charge thank you!). Its a tad on the slow side but heck, its free ya know. Very nice those '03's. The dash layout is not as attractive as my 1998 but I really like the quad cab.
We all played with the idea of picking up a 4 cyl Dak just to have as a "in town truck" (they sell for under $1000 'round here). None of us have gotten farther than a test drive yet though.
Anyhow, my point is: Dodge has a heck of a product. A mid sized truck? Heck of an idea. I always liked the "mid size." I had a Jeep Comanche pickup before the Dakota and I thought the Jeep was great. The Dakota is that truck times 10. The Dak drives well, has a great engine, and you cant beat the look of it. I hear Chevy finally caught on & will be introducing a mid-sized truck next. Geez, what took them so long?
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BiteMeDodge
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2003
15:00:14
|  RE: Dakota in general
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Ya, my Daks great. 2001 SLT CC 3.9 Auto
New rotors and pads @ 1200 miles (not covered by warranty, the stealership blamed me for not breaking in the brakes correctly. 21 years of driving and 10 new vehicles later, I guess I don't know how to break them in)
New upper control arms @ 16,000 miles (warranty)
New lower ball joints @ 16,500 miles (warranty)
New sway bar end links @ 16,501 miles (warranty)
Stealership still can't find what goes clunk.
Reflash PCM to fix idle stumble (warranty)
Loud click coming from engine. Stealership says it might be one of several things and won't fix it.
Poorest paint quality on any vehicle I've ever owned.
Interior trim pieces missing from factory. (reluctantly relaced under warranty)
Oil pressure sender replaced @ 24,000 miles. Oil pressure still indicates low. TFB says stealership.
This is the first Dodge I've owned after 6 full size Ford and Chev trucks. Last Dodge I ever buy. I picked it up because it was mid size. My next truck will be a Colorado or a Tacoma.
What took Chevy so long, you ask? I guess they just wanted to get it right instead of unleashing an abortion on the market like Dodge did.
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gg
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2003
15:21:46
| RE: Dakota in general
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i gotta 2000 r/c v6 auto 48000 mi been bracket racing it from day 1 it had 22 mi on it went to the drag races that nite no problems yet
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gg
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2003
15:23:14
| RE: Dakota in general
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gm sucks
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CThomp
*GenIII*
5/23/2003
15:24:27
| RE: Dakota in general
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It's strange how some people have absolutely terrible luck with one car and others don't have the same luck. Had my truck since Feb '00. Its a '00 4.7L CC 2wd. I'm at 44K and knock on wood it has been in the shop only once to have the rotors replaced. They were still safe and functional. Just irritating. So I got some decent aftermarket rotors and solved the problem.
To you bitemedodge: Maybe it's time you go over the dealerships head. Time to start making phone calls to someone a little more powerful with your complaints. Also tell them of the poor quality dealership you purchased your truck from.
Hope you kept your receipts.
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mb
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2003
15:44:40
|  RE: Dakota in general
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Oh man,
Sorry "biteme" that is a bad deal there.
I was just talking to a guy who owns a Dodge dealership in MS. He told me that Chrysler is a real push-over when it come to their 1.800 customer service number. He went on to say that he has personally seen customers with 90K mile Neons get a new head gasket on their engines just because they skillfully barked at the 1.800# customer service rep.
If you have the skills, then make them pay the bills joker.
Sorry about that, but you just need to know how to treat the guy (or gal) across the counter, on the phone, or on the net.
My 1999 Grand Cherokee needed rotors at 11K miles, and then at 20K, and then at 32K. I sweet talked the service lady each time. Worked fine for me.
People skills.
See ya in your Colorado. I understand "people" still work at those Chevy dealerships too though, hope you dont have any trouble with it that makes you need to deal w/ them.
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NYG Neon
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2003
19:51:15
| RE: Dakota in general
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All Neons up to mid 98, when the MLS head gasket went into the production engines, are covered by a secret warranty because the return rate for warranty repair was up around 91%. That means nearly every Neon built for 4 years had a head gasket failure.
Chrysler introduced the secret warranty befor the FTC ruled that the gasket had a design flaw and only under the threat of class action.
I had mine done at40,000 miles. Nearly everyone I know has had their headgasket replaced.
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Ezra
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2003
03:24:24
| RE: Dakota in general
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"Reflash PCM to fix idle stumble (warranty"
I'm having a problem with my idle too. What exactily happened?
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