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01:33:11 - 04/23/2024
V6 Dakotas
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Noah
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2002
16:49:15
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 Subject: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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Howdy!!!
My 93 Jeep is about to give up life after 162k miles. Not bad. I am looking at replacing it with a 2002 Dakota Club Cab w/ the 3.9L V6. (SXT Package)
I've looked around the net and most of the reviews which I have read have all been positive. Given the reliablity (and performance) of my Dodge Neon, I figure that Dodge would carry that same reliablity and performance over to the V6 Dakotas.
What's been your experience with the V6's?? How well do they tow stuff? Any mechanical problems, if so what?? I'm just looking for your opnions on the Dakota. My personal view is that it's a wonderfully looking (read as BOLD) truck, that has the same Dodge quality and reliablity as I've some to expect.
I thank you in advance for your thoughts!!
S'All,
Noah
www.noahsneon.com
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Chaximus
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2002
17:15:47
|  RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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I give the dakota a rating of 8 out of 10. It's not the toughest truck out there, but it does make up for that by its looks. It has a history of rotor, brakes, tranny, and some engine problems as u can see throughout the board here, but of course, those are common with most vehicles. If you lift it, u might get different performances. I have the 3.9 and it's not the largest powertrain out there, but it does get the job done. If i hadn't have lifted my dakota, i would only be complaining about the rotors. But so far, i got tranny, rotors, brakes, and steering problems....hey knobby, u aren't alone out there ;)
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MightyDakSXT
GenIII
10/31/2002
18:25:58
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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I've got over 9,000 miles on my Dakota SXT so far and I have no complaints. I don't tow, so I can't really answer that question. If I didn't buy the Dakota, I was going to buy a Toyota Tacoma PreRunner.
2002 RC SXT, 3.9 Liter V6, 5-spd, 3.55 rear, Extang Tonneau, Autolite 3923 Plugs, Borg Warner Cap & Rotor, Quick D Intake, Modified V8 TB, Gibson Exhaust, Robert Shaw 180° T-stat, Custom Grille, JBA 9mm Wires, Clear Corners, Window Tint, Weatherflectors
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Dakotaman2002
GenIII
10/31/2002
21:19:56
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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One down fall that have with the V6
is that its a DOG on the highway...needs more passing power but thats what mods are for :o)
Other than that I got 10,000mi on my Club Cab Sport and I LOVE IT.
Good Luck with it...
DakotaMan2002
Home Brew Air intake,Relocated IAT
S-Bolt mod
Home Brew Grill Insert,Bug Guard
Window Visiors,DoorEdge Guards,Tail Light guards
Blaupunkt Austin Head Unit
Kenwood 3-ways {front},Infinity Reference{Rear}
Profile 300watt mono amp, (2) 10
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mpil1
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2002
21:38:15
|  RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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I have a 2002 SXT CC w/ 5-spd. Love it! It does whatever I've needed it to do so far. It doesn't come with many options, but thats why I got it....low monthly payments and I can do all my own stuff to it. Does well off road and in 4x4. The heaviest I've hauled in the bed so far has been three smoke eaters (the size of small home furnaces). I don't tow (yet :) ) so I can't answer that question for ya yet. Not to mention, its a damned nice looking vehicle. Hey MightyDakSXT, how does that Gibson exhaust sound on a 6'er???
Mpil1
'02 Flame Red SXT CC, 3.9L, 5-spd, 4x4, various mods and add ons....Many to come!!!
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mpil1
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2002
21:42:43
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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A manual transmission indeed makes passing on the highway easier 
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DakSport92
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2002
22:04:10
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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purchased my 92 sport reg cab 3.9 v6 4wd 5spd used about 2 years ago and have been quite pleased with its power , performance , durability , and reliability.I drive like i would anything else , no wheeling or dragging, only mod is tweeked torsion bars.Mechanix-wise only problem has been a brakeline rot out (ten years of salty new england winters will do that).the timing chain has been noisey , but hasnt been a problem and is as youll find out , an annoyance esily fixed.the 4wd does great in the snow with a couple cinder blocks in the bed.the motor is very torquey for a v6 and feels more powerful than many small v8's.
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Sasquatch
Dodge Dakota
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11/01/2002
09:48:43
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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mpil1,
You got that right, I have the 3.9 with the 5 spd and I have no trouble passing. I don't even have any mod.'s yet... Can't wait to see what it'll do after mod.'s :)
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Todd W
GenIII
11/01/2002
10:27:06
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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I bought my truck a little over 2 years ago (August 2000), it's just a simple Regular Cab 3.9L 5-speed, nothing fancy. I -definatly- recommend the 5-speed in the V6, since it does make towing and passing easier. Reliability wise I've had no issues so far and I'm just about to roll 30,000 miles.
Towing? It does OK. Forget fifth gear if your doing something heavy though (the trailer I towed needed trailer brakes. Even with a full bed it still tried to push the truck around), but you can put a surprising amount of stuff in the back of Dakotas and still be fine. I think mine holds the current world record for number of hay bails (24) in the back. :0)
"I think I hit my excitement threshold about ten minutes ago..."
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MightyDakSXT
GenIII
11/01/2002
11:42:54
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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Mpil1 -- When I got the Gibson, I didn't like it because it seemed a little louder than I wanted. After having it for a while, I grew to like it. At idle you can't really tell that it's a V6. I've had people ask me if I have the 4.7, 5.2 or 5.9 in it. (I removed all my decals) I wish I could hear what it sounds like at highway speeds though. Around 70mph there is a drone inside the cab that is a little annoying. Overall, I like the Gibson system. I'd like to try the MBRP dual exhaust, but I'm going to wait until my Gibson rusts itself to death.
2002 RC SXT, 3.9 Liter V6, 5-spd, 3.55 rear, Extang Tonneau, Autolite 3923 Plugs, Borg Warner Cap & Rotor, Quick D Intake, Modified V8 TB, Gibson Exhaust, Robert Shaw 180° T-stat, Custom Grille, JBA 9mm Wires, Clear Corners, Window Tint, Weatherflectors
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dan
Dodge Dakota
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11/01/2002
12:28:41
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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I have a 2002 SXT CC 3.9 5-spd and so far no complaints. I don't tow anything but have hauled a ton in it. I can say it handles full loads of wood, compost, you name it, and I still drive up and down the NYS thruway at 75 mph easily. The only thing that I don't like is if you are driving at highway speeds in 5th gear and you encounter an incline, it seems to stagnate. I've learned to simply downshift into 4th when this happens to get back into the powerband and then it's no problem managing the hills. As far as passing power, it's no problem with a stick. Just downshift and/or keep the RPMs over 2000 and it will pull with no problems. I love my SXT. Great no frills truck. Got my CD and A/C. Works for me. Get the manual trans though.
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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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11/01/2002
13:21:55
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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I've got a 2002 RC V6 automatic. Around town, it's got decent acceleration, but the shifts come way too soon for my tastes. Downshifts are a 100% certainty any time that you step on the gas pedal to accelerate or go up an incline. Turning the OD off helps this a little. If you're not cost conscious, as I was, and can afford the 4.7 V8, GET IT. I wish that I had. I can only imagine that towing would bring the truck into the same acceleration league as a turtle with a broken leg.
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forexfour
GenIII
11/01/2002
13:34:11
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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My 2000 V6 has been good to me. Thanks to this board the problems I have had I fixed. I did a few mods and I have no complaints about the power or accelation.
I haul a full load of wood once a year about 220 miles with some pretty steep grades to over come. I have no problems.
I will buy another in a few years, Maybe '04, but I will probably go with the larger engine next time since I will be towing more.
Like anything it will either work or not.
FXF
Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!!Forexfour's home page.
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Eggman
Dodge Dakota
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11/02/2002
14:54:00
| RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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Hello,I purchased my dakota in sept. 99. I was a salesman at a local dodge dealer at the time and got it for $230.00 a mo.I love this truck and have had a blast experimenting with different combos to get more umph out of it.The truck rides like a sports car especially after adding a rear anti-sway bar. The flowmaster exhaust,160 degree thermostat,trick flow phenolic tb spacer and edelbrock pro-flo air cleaner have been the best combo to date.
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DogDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2002
02:52:32
|  RE: Your Thoughts on The Dakota
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I have probably the worst combination truck for the 3.9 --- 4x4 Quad-cab Auto, '01. not something I would really reccomend if your into power and speed, but with a few mods (xlerator exhaust, Intense intake, 180deg stat) it does much better then stock. I took a couple long trips this summer towing a small tent trailer, prox 1400 lbs, and honestly it drove, handled and accerated almost as if it didn't have it, although gas mileage was noticably lower. Took it through some pretty good mountain country, central Oregon and Crater lake. Did well. At highway speed in OD it has little power, and needs to downshift for almost everything. Got an incredible deal on the truck otherwise I would have gotten the v8, but overall I am happy.
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