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l and d lodge
Dodge Dakota
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1/11/2004
23:43:48
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 Subject: new truck
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i'm buying a 2004 dakota quad cab 5 SPEED in march. should i get a 3.7 v6 or 4.7 v8 and what axle ratio, 3.21, 3.55 or 3.92. any suggestions?
thanks in advance
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joe_himself
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2004
01:53:07
| RE: new truck
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4.7l v8 and atleast 3.55 but 3.92 are a great set of gears as well,
youll be glad you selected the 4.7, :)
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2004
02:26:22
| RE: new truck
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IT depends on what you want out of your truck. Personally, I came out of a 4-banger Ranger stickshift. After 5 years with the tiniest engine, most basic everything, I decided I would never accept the smallest engine offered in a truck again. I just got tired of having to wind it out in 3rd or 4th at 60 just to not get run over by traffic trying to merge. I wanted effortless, quick acceleration and good towing capacity. So when I started shopping for Dakotas the V6 was never an option for me.
I drove one, and it's acceleration was 'adequate', but after settling for way less than adequate for a number of years, I wanted to go as far to the opposite excess as possible. IF the 360 were still offered in the Dak Id probly have one of them. I don't know what the 3.7's like but I know the 3.9 was just barely adequate, nothing more. I dont suspect in a truck the size of a Quad that the V6 isnt gonna offer much better mph than the 4.7 all else being equal. In all likelihood if you buy one for the mpg you'll end up b!tching on here about how you're not getting much more mileage than a V8 but you don't have half the acceleration.
So basically what you're looking at is a couple mpg, which isn't that big of a deal so you can leave that out of consideration, and the difference in the initial purchase price. If the difference in the purchase price is more than you can afford, leave the V8 out. If not, get the 4.7. IT is a VERY fun engine. It's the difference between your truck getting you from point A to point B without drama and getting you there with lots of grins and giggles.
The other day I was trying to merge to the left lane in my 04 4x4 Quad Cab and a late model altima gunned it up to about 80 to try to block me out. All it took was a quick stab of the gas and the situation switched from him gaining fast in my left side view mirror to him becoming a tiny speck on the horizon. In a lesser truck ID have probably been forced to come to a complete stop on the on ramp. To me, that kind of performance is worth 10-12 extra bucks per tank as compared to my Ranger, or 1-3 less mpg as compared to a Dakota V6. You have to decide if it's worth it for you. For some people power and acceleration isn't such a big deal as other aspects of a vehicle.
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99DAK
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2004
02:42:10
| RE: new truck
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Wouldn't even consider the V6 for a QC. 3.55 gears for better highway mpg unless you tow or haul loads alot, get 3.92
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RaZoR1
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2004
17:12:17
| RE: new truck
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the v8 for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ricardcapecod
Dodge Dakota
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1/12/2004
23:25:57
| RE: new truck
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Yes, many sugestions. First of all, get the 4.7. It gives you the same or BETTER mpg as the anemic v6. If the 3.92 lsd is too reduced for you, try some around 3.72 if available. Try to test drive both. It makes for a completelly diferent impression about power availability. Wichever number you choose, make sure it is limited slip. This makes an even bigger difference. The other very important item, is the extended warranty, (7/75000 or 7/100000) miles, if you`re staying with the truck for more than 3 years or 36000 miles. You`ll hate yourself if you skeep this. The other very nyce option, is the computer. It is a great tool to help understand the relation "FOOT MOVEMENT/GAS CONSUMPTION" if you care about it. Now, everything else is more like personal or monetarial, but, those above are essencials. Good luck.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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1/13/2004
02:09:09
| RE: new truck
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You think about it, where do a lot of V6 buyers end up? On here either complaining about how they thought this would have gotten better fuel economy, or else talking about how the V6 was fine 'back then', but now they're ready to buy a whole new truck just to get those two extra cylinders. IF you think you might have any regrets with the smaller engine, don't do it. Find more cash to get what you want now so you wont have to take the depriciation hit to trade to get it later.
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V6er
Dodge Dakota
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1/13/2004
03:56:28
| RE: new truck
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Get the 4.7. That's from someone with a hideously underpowered gas guzzling V6.
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v8 owner
Dodge Dakota
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1/13/2004
08:44:01
| RE: new truck
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v8, no question. If you do a lot of hill climbing you will actually use LESS gas, cause you wont need to down shift as much to get the torque. oh 3.92's are fun!!!!!!
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tvan
GenI
1/13/2004
11:50:34
| RE: new truck
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Considering the weight of the Quad Cab, you are not going to see any significant gas milage savings with the V6. Also, the 4.7 upgrade is less than $600, which is a very good deal. I'll bet the resale value (and the ability to actually sell the truck) is better with the V8, and would easily recoup the difference in price. You won't regret it.
tvan - Lynchburg VA
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John H
Dodge Dakota
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1/13/2004
13:32:36
| RE: new truck
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4.7 Review http://www.allpar.com/mopar/47.html
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