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21:59:24 - 05/07/2024
General Dakota Board
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Doug
Dodge Dakota
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10/06/2008
12:23:40
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 Subject: Why a Dakota
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Hi,
I plan to buy a mid sized truck in the spring. I really like to idea of a 4 door pickup and know that there are a few available. Dakota, Frontier, Colorado, etc.
My wife currently drives a Journey and I have a Jeep. Also, we previously owned a Durango, so, I'm good with Chrysler :)
Can Dakota owners give me some feedback on why you bought your Dakota? What other trucks did you look at? What were the deciding factors?
Thanks,
Doug
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Bubba
Dodge Dakota
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10/06/2008
18:49:03
| RE: Why a Dakota
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I bought mine because I didn't know better.
Should have gone with the 4.0L Tacoma. Better resale value, better gas mileage, better looks.
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Kowalski
GenIII
10/07/2008
18:34:45
| RE: Why a Dakota
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Deciding factor for me was the only mid size truck available with a v8. Had two of the little 4 banger Toyotas before, for over 200,000 miles - no comparison to the Dakota. I'm sure the 4.0 v6 is an improvement over what I had, but still a less substantial truck by a good bit.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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dakota49
Gen I
10/07/2008
20:07:41
| RE: Why a Dakota
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I bought mine at a salvage yard, I liked the looks, and it was priced right. Had it towed home I pulled the engine, rebuilt it,I spent Too much money, but I have been driving it for nearly 6 years now and I haven't had any problems with it. (other than problems caused by someone besides me working on it) I'll never let anyone else work on my truck again.
Mine is an 88, 3.9 4X4 5speed. I get 18-19 mpg around town, 20plus on highway.
Its useful, dependable, and I enjoy it.
While most wouldn't want one like mine, I do like it very much.
Good Luck
Dakota49
dakota49
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Intensedak39
*GenIII*
10/07/2008
22:18:23
| RE: Why a Dakota
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i've had three dakotas and one durango
loved every one of them.
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Lee
Dodge Dakota
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10/08/2008
16:32:49
| RE: Why a Dakota
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My first truck was a '93 Toyota 4X4 3.0L V6. I loved that truck, although it was underpowered. When I learned about the V6 head gasket fiasco, I swore off Toyota. Well, that, and the $900 repair bill the stupid thing required at 60,000 miles. EVERY seal was leaking, ditto the water pump, problems with the transmission, failed manual locking hub, etc. etc..
Next up was a '97 Ford Ranger 4X4 4.0L V6. The truck was a lot more refined than the Toyota, and the engine seemed more powerful and smoother. Only problem was the Check Engine Light would come on every few months, requiring lots of money to make it go out.
The Check Engine Light came on while coming home from the river one time in July of 2000. It put me in a really bad mood, so I went to the Dodge dealer the next day to look at Dakotas. A friend had a '97 Dak, and I really liked it. I test drove a new 2WD Dak with the 4.7L V8. The salesman asked me if I would like to try one with a V6 and I told him not to bother. I liked the way the Dak drove and handled, and the V8 made the other trucks seem like little Tonka Toys. Gas wasn't too expensive back then, so I figured the V8 would be worth it. (It still is.) I HAD to have the Dakota, so I bought it. My friend with the '97 Dak drove mine later on and promptly traded his old one in on a new 2001! He said the newer ones drove a lot better than the older ones, so he HAD to have one!
It has now been eight years and 93,000 miles, and it's still going strong. Just passed the latest smog test with flying colors. The Dak has been far more reliable than the other two trucks, and I have also learned how to work on my own vehicles. That last one is really the key. I have always done my own maintenance, but learning how to use the scan tool and do my own repairs has been the most helpful thing. No matter what you drive, work on it yourself. You are the mechanic-in-charge.
Lee
P.S. I have no idea how the new Toyotas are. I would have to assume they are a lot better than the old ones. I have no plans to buy a new truck in the near future, but it would be prudent to drive as many different ones as possible, then make an educated decision.
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Epyon
Dodge Dakota
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10/08/2008
16:54:32
| RE: Why a Dakota
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As with a few poeple i picked up my dakota due to the fact it was cheap.
1997 RC 4X4 5speed V6
I soon learned the thing was a never ending money pit gas pig. For a manual v6 the thing should have gotten better then 21-23MPG highway. And since it had low miles on it i figured nothing could go wrong. Over the last two years ive nearly replaced or rebuilt everyhing on the truck.
Just as of last week i traded it in on a full size chevy diesel and am much happier with better power MPG and build quailty
Over all i due not think the build quailty was there in the dakotas Altho they are still a very nice looking truck and go anywhere offroad
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modain
GenIII
10/08/2008
18:25:55
|  RE: Why a Dakota
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"Can Dakota owners give me some feedback on why you bought your Dakota?"
My QC has been fantastic ever since I drove it off the dealer's lot with 124 miles on the clock.
"What other trucks did you look at?"
I didn't look at any other trucks because I wanted a Dakota. I wanted the great looks it had. I had driven my buddy's 2000 R/T many times and loved the truck.
"What were the deciding factors?"
V8 with a 5 speed stick, 3.92 axle ratio.
Four real sized doors.
What's your left foot doing?
==============
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, R/T rear swaybar, no chrome, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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10/09/2008
09:05:15
| RE: Why a Dakota
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Other people listed good reasons for a dakota, I'll take the opposite approach.
Why not a Dakota
lack of aftermarket parts and accessories. Sure there are some available but not nearly as many as other brands. Specifically lift kits and tuners (4.7L anyway).
Quad cab dakotas have short beds. Other brands now (within the last couple of years) offer full 6' bed with their quad cabs.
The 4x4 and 4x2 have the same ride height on the newer models.
I'm driving my 2nd dakota now. my first was a 95 CC 4x4 3.9L V6 auto and my current is 02 QC 4x4 4.7L V8 auto.
don't let anyone tell you dakota's are not reliable. My 95 went almost 180k miles before I traded it in and no major engine/transmission work needed to be done. my current 02 has 92k and has had no major engine or transmission work.
I drive my truck harder than most and it performs flawlessly! I do a lot of off-road driving on gravel/rocks/dirt/mud/stream crossings.
There are many pros and a few cons to a dakota (more so depending on year (suspension setup) and engine (3.7/4.7 vs 5.2/5.9)
You need to decide why you want a truck and what features/options/accessories you can live without.
some things to look at
room in quad cab (adults?)
room in bed (hauling)
power (towing)
- Dan M
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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10/10/2008
12:22:54
| RE: Why a Dakota
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I traded in a full sized ram for my '01 dakota. I liked the full size truck - lots of room, 8' bed, good power, reasonable economy. And - very important to me - made in America. Mostly.
But, that giant truck didn't fit in my garage well, and that makes working on it a little difficult. It was heavy. And very difficult to park in the city.
I chose the Dakota because it had the same size gas engine as a full sized ram, but with 1/2 a ton less vehicle weight. It's very comfortable, easy to drive, and very easy to park. Tows my trailer just fine. Definatly the best snow vehicle I'v ever driven.
Were I lloking for something now, it would not be a dakota. The new one is very nice, and has a lot of great features. But you can only get the 4.7 engine, which isn't as good as a 5.9 for heavy work.
I considered a new Ram with a Hemi. But when you do the math, you find it has less pulling pwoer than my dakota. The torque:weight ratio isn't as good. So I just keep fixing what I have.
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Hammerdak
Dodge Dakota
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10/11/2008
20:51:26
| RE: Why a Dakota
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I have a 2001 Quadcab 4x4 with the 4.7L V8.
I'm over 6 feet tall and wanted a 4-door that was not unfair to
my growing kids in the backseat-legroom department.They are
getting tall too.
I also need to tow a 2800 lb boat( not huge) 6-10 times a
summer.
The Nissan had crap for a backseat angle and legroom.( and I
loved my old Kingcab before the kids came so it's not a brand
loyalty thing here).
I drove a friends 5 cylinder Colorado in 2006 and though it was
cheap feeling and a much poorer riding truck than the Dakota.
Toyota, well lets just say they don't make 'em like they used
to....so do some research.
The Dakota is powerful and it"s a "TRUCK" not a "kind-a-truck" .
You will feel that bravado behind the wheel every time you get in
,even if you can't get the 5.9L anymore.
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Problem Child
GenII
10/12/2008
01:49:57
| RE: Why a Dakota
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Message:
If looking at buying a new one, I would say why? spend the extra grand or so and buy a Ram. You won't gain anything from the Dakota, other than your Mrs can get it into the parking space.
I love my Dakota, but the new ones are just butt ugly, and overpriced. I love my Durango as well, but they are the same, they just got butt ugly.
They try and cram everything the Ram offers into a mid sized truck. To me, it just doesn't work. except under the hood. Keep it simple, affordable, and good looking.
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STS
Dodge Dakota
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10/27/2008
19:53:46
| RE: Why a Dakota
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Yes, buy a Dakota. Because it might just be a collection item buy next year.
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STS
Dodge Dakota
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10/27/2008
20:00:50
| RE: Why a Dakota
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Well on second thought, buy the Tacoma if you want a more powerfull V6 with a good 4x4 set up. The new Dakotas remind me of the Honda Ridgeline.
The GM Jr sized trucks look ok and according to TruckTrend magazine, there going to have a 5300 vortech V8.
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