Dakota's
 

Anybody here have any personal experience with 2nd generation Dodge Dakota's.
IM in the market for a 6 cylynder I like the 4x4's but not crazy about the gas guzziling part so I'd like to stay w/ the 4x2 version.The Quad Cab (4 door)is nice but how much room dose it offer vs the Club Cab(2door w/ suicide door's)?

Pro's & Con's,I wanna know what you guy's think.

Thanks in advance

I found the quad cab to have far more room, we could actualy fit a family of five comfortably in it, so that would be my buy.

5/0 how ya doing man. I have a 2003 Dakota quad cab with the small V8. It handles the sand great, rides nice on the long hall to the shore, but not too good on the gas. If the gas thing is an issue, I would suggest looking at something smaller. Take a hard look at what Toyota provides.

The quad is nice for the fam, lots of room in the back for the kids.
When I'm out fishing, I flip the back seats up and fill the space with all the gear. The bed has a cap on it, which makes for a nice dry place to get some nap time in.

Rich

I would'nt buy one, even with the dealer maintenence alot of oil sludge buildup causing blown motors, and Dodge not covering them.



http://www.complain-complain.com/lis...table=chrysler

Hi Rich thank's for chiming in:D
The gas is kinda of an issue,I'd like to get as much MPG than horse's.This truck will be my Daily driver & I'll put on @ least 350 miles per week,in the off season & I can only imagain how many I'll put on when fishing season starts:eek:

The thing is we are about to up grade our camper to a Tow-behind,along the line's of a 20'-27' & my LIL truck just anit got the Mustard to pull somthing like that.I really do want a 4x4 like you but $$ alway's has a way of messing things up for me.
I have heard that the Dakota's have alot to offer in a 6cyl.I don't mind getting a manual trany for better MPG vs auto.I like the look of the Quad Cab they look really sweet.


Thank's

Bob

Thank's for the link Specialist this is what IM looking for,I'd hate to spend my cash & find out later,OH man you shouldn't of bought one of those!!!
Dhoooo!:smash:
I like the look of the Dodge Dakota's & we own a Dodge Mini Van and so far it has a great track record.
I love Chevy's but they cost more,I'M kinda stuck in the middle.
I guess really need feed back on what's a good domestic 6cyl.truck.

thanks in advance

Bob

Bob,
As of a few month's ago before my brother changed from a wrench monkey to a hole digger, the Dodge trucks were still having a lot o problems with their transmissions going real quick and not being covered. Might be better off to stay away from them, especailly with towing gonna be a use for it.
Perhaps others have a little more input on how they are now, but I haven't heard much improvement.

Sounds like you are really gonna have to figure out if you're gonna use it to tow much to make the decision between full size vs. small/ gas economy.

And why not just get a SUV? Plenty of room for the family that way, unless you're gonna really need a pick-up bed.

My GMC is a full size, 2-wd with a V6. Gets about 20 or so miles to a gallon drivin like a bat outta hell, which I think isn't too bad for a full size with over 200K miles. Probably pick up a Full Size Chevy or GMC with the extended cab for fair money.

Strong believer in the right tool for the job.

Good luck with the search.

That Dodge V6 is not much better on gas than the V8 version. Only gets about 1-2 mpg better. May as well get the V8. I've been down the Dodge road (1500 Ram 4X4 with 5.9L). Never again. Too many probs with Dodge. Get a Toyota. Best mpg for small/midsize pickups in class. I'd say most dependable too, but that's my subjective opinion. I have an '04 Toyota Tacoma Xtra Cab 4X4 with auto and getting 20 mpg (was only gettin 10-12 mpg with the Ram) driving into So. Boston to work daily. I'm happy with my decision so far.
btw, the new Tacoma's ('05) are larger similar to the midsize of the Dakota's.

Good domestic 6 cylinder engines are going the way of the do-do. The Dakota uses the same 3.7 V-6 that Jeep uses in the Liberty, and, starting this year, the Grand Cherokee. It's nowhere near as good an engine as the old in-line 6. It won't save you that much in mpg over the 4.7 V-8.

Fuel Economy (city / hwy): Rear-Wheel Drive


3.7L 210 hp V6 4.7L 230 hp V8

4-Speed Automatic Overdrive 16 / 22 mpg N/A
5-Speed Automatic Overdrive N/A 15 / 21 mpg
6-Speed Manual Overdrive 16 / 22 mpg 15 / 21 mpg

The 6 saves you one mpg and probably won't hold up as well as the 8.

Look into the Chevy Colorado. A guy I know has one it is an inkine 5 cylinder. Milage of a for with hp closer to a 6, and supposedly good towing ap. They are sharp looking too.



http://www.chevrolet.com/colorado/

I posted this in a similar thread awhile back. I've been looking at mid size trucks for about a year (I over analyze big purchases). I narrowed it down to Dodge Dakota Quad & Toyota Tacoma Double.

Sounds like you have similar concerns/needs - 4x4, big enough for family, towing, decent gas mileage. I ended up dealing with McGee in Hanover, MA. They run both a Dodge & Toyota dealership right next to each other. I finally settled on the Toyota at their and my brother in law's recommendation (he runs both dealerships also down south). IMO, the 2005 Toyota is a much better truck out of the gate and down the road for resale value/quality/service.

Yes I remeber now,about your thread that is you got that nice Blue one.the PIC you posted looked nice!
What made you decide w/ the Taco & not go for the Dakota?
I really like the new look of the 3rd. generation Dakota's but just not in the budget.
A close Buddy of mine has a 03 4x4 Taco extra cab and he love's it no problems @ all.


Specialist thanks for all of the leg work:kewl:
I too like the Chevy Colorado's I now have an S-10 with 150,000 & @ 9yr.s of age It has been very good to me,not to mention the gas mileage is 24-27 MPG,but the time has come to cut the cord & get somthing for the Family,and of course I get a newer truck:D
The Colorado's have the similar technology as dodge,with the on demand power or somthing like that.
When you need power,towing or just speeding the engine kicks in all cylinders and as you plain out it drops back in four or five cylinders for better fuel eco.

Also the Colorado are sweet as well & they are coming out w/ the Extreem pkg this Spring :drool:but has a towing capacity of 4000# with family,gear & tow-behind I think I'll be Whaling on the whole drive train.
Thanks again for the info guy's.

Simply put.......the most overpriced truck on the market.My 91 I now own gets better mileage than the 99 I once owned.

YOTA.

I don't know anybody who has a Dakota and will buy another one. Three guys I know have them and can't wait to get rid of them.