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Nick
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2004
21:50:33
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 Subject: Just Saying Goodbye
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Traded my Dakota in for an 05 Tacoma with the TRD Off-Road Package today. This board has been alot of help to me while I've owned the Dakota, and I just wanted to say goodbye and good luck to everyone with their trucks!
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DAkotaSport
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2004
22:32:06
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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WHY?
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Nick
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2004
22:56:05
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Front end that won't stay in alignment.
Steering wheel that squeaks and rubs--replaced intermediate shaft three times--nothing worked.
Shimmy at 40mph and up--no one could figure out what's wrong.
Water leaking down to the floorboards after it rains.
Brakes that rub and grind.
And the list goes on.
I just got tired of dealing with it. By the way, it was on 04--I just bought it in March and it seemed like all I did with it was take time off from work so I could bring it in for service and sit in the dealer's waiting room for hours. I loved the truck, but it just wasn't worth all the trouble.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
01:40:33
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Yup on my 04 I got an intermittent steering wheel vibration when cruising and accelarating at 65-70, wheels that refuse to hold a balance, steering wheel click, rapidly deteriorating ride, and am on a second set of front rotors that seem to love to act like they're just barely on the verge of becoming warped and then stop vibrating every time I get tempted to go to the dealer. Oh well, Im not willing to loose money trading it in now so I'll be fighting the gremlins with higher quality aftermarket parts until the bitter end. I love the truck, worship the 4.7, and I don't think there's much out there that can touch the styling. It's just that the little nagging things accumulate and combine to make it really irritating sometimes. For many Dakota owners their feelings about their trucks seem to be a perpetual battle between love for the styling, interior packaging, and motor and a disliking for the cheap trouble-prone front end. Don't understand why anybody would ask why a truck owner would walk away from this.
Oh well, my dealer will probably find himself faced with a VERY long laundry list at 35,990 miles.
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Major Woods
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
07:22:19
|  RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Nick
I was also going to post your exact words.
I own a 2002QC 4x4 4.7 manual trans. It has treated me well and I have learned a few things from this site, thanks.
After many test drives in both the 05 Dakota and 05 Tacoma it was an easy choice to purchase the Toyota (TRD Sport #2). I will be picking it up today after work.
Dodge must stop treating the Dakota as the ugly step child of the company lineup and fix the looks of the 05 truck and add the magmun engine. This would have led me to seriously consider a return purchase of their product.
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Nick
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
09:48:06
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Major Woods:
Good Luck with your Tacoma! I don't miss the V-8 at all. The V-6 in the Tacoma has more HP and does 0-60 in 7 seconds. But it's the quality that matters most--even the little things. Take the glove compartment door. In the Dakota, it was a cheap thin piece of ABS plastic that sounded so hollow when you closed it, but in the Tacoma, it's a nice soft touch material that's more solid and substantial. I didn't test drive the 05 Dakota so I can't compare, but I know the Tacoma blew away the 04 Dakota in terms of interior and ride quality. What I disliked the most about the Dakota, aside from all the problems, was that it hopped and bounced all over bumps and expansion joints--hit a bump while you're going around a curve and look out! No matter how bumpy the road gets, the Tacoma stays in control.
I was going to hold on to the Dakota for another year or so, but when I discovered the water leaking onto the floorboard a few weeks ago, that was the last straw. I bit the bullet and traded it in.
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Dex
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
11:04:28
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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The more I read the posts about Dakotas the more I believe having problems or not is a matter of luck.
I have 38K on my 2000 QC 4X4 and haven't had one problem.
If I were looking to buy I would look at the Tacoma.
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.
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
13:57:48
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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I see a TRD on the road and all I see is TuRD...
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another mark
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
14:00:49
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Wow I'm shocked by all your problems. I would have done the
same thing. What the hell is wrong with DC?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
14:24:13
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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nick, sorry to hear about all the probs you've had with your dak. hey, i don't blame you. you gotta be happy with whatever drive. i hope that toyo gives you better service. i love my '00 QC and have virtually no probs, except for the careless schoolbus driver that turned left in front of me yesterday. i just hope they don't total mine. i want it back in one piece!
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Que
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
14:37:06
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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I was ready to post the same as Nick. I traded my 01 Dakota for an 05 Tacoma. Dodge just had too many problems for me. We'll see how it goes with the Tacoma but I really am impressed after having it for 3 weeks now.
I have a complete set of 01 service manuals and a modified v6 tb for sale. Highest offer gets it. I'll check back in a couple of days.
I really did like this site and so many of you unknowingly helped me. Thanks to you all and I wish you all the best.
Que
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
15:25:53
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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The 'Taco', is a smaller, lighter truck.
My 01 QC, 2wd, 4.7 manual, etc. has little if any problems, still on the same rotors, brakes, ball joints, etc.-68,ooo miles.
Sorry you had so much probs, I don't blame you for trading it in, I hope you're happier.
Thats about all I want to say
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Mikey_MO
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
17:18:08
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Too bad you had such problems. I have an '01 RT, 80,000 miles. Getting ready to replace the front rotors & pads. Other than a shift solenoid that flaked out, have had no problems. Good luck with the Toyota!!!
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what??????
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
18:39:37
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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0-60 in 7 seconds
No way,,,, no way in h e double toothpicks.
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Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2004
21:04:36
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Just wait until you have to buy one little part for that TOYOTA.
80% of the parts for a TOYOTA are "dealer only" items compared
to about 10% for the Dakota.
Just telllin' the truth
Dr. D
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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12/09/2004
07:11:58
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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I had a few problems in my '95 CC 3.9 4x4 that a dealer and several other places could not pin down. I was finally told I needed a new motor. Turns out I don't, I finally found a quality mechanic (one who doesn't rely on computer diagnositics). $700 later (147k miles) and it's running just like it came right off the assembly line. The gas milage is back up to ~18 city and up to 25 on highway (with tonneau). It doesn't shake, is more powerful and the A/C blows colder than it ever has.
I saw the new toyota's at the bassmaster classic in charlotte this year and I still am not a toyota fan.
Good luck with it though!
- Dan M
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jb
Dodge Dakota
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12/09/2004
13:19:32
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Texas Todd, the 05 tacoma is every bit as big as the Dakota is, actually its slightly wider and taller, and a little shorter in wheelbase. for 05 they redesigned it andits much bigger then the old one.
I hate to say it but im also looking at one right now, im going to go test drive it after work and if i like it i might just buy it. I drove a guys new one at work and its pretty nice, its every bit as big inside at my 02 qc, just nicer.
I like my dakota a lot but the crappy front end, constantly warping brakes and funny shifting automatic tranny are really getting to me. Plus after all the overheating problems i had last year i dont trust it to tow anymore. I was really hoping my dak would take me over the 70k i have on it.
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Nick
Dodge Dakota
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12/09/2004
15:47:29
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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After a few days with the Tacoma, I have to say that it blows the Dakota away. Driving is fun again! Seriously, it's like driving a sports car. I have a curvy bumpy winding country road I travel to go to work, and in the Dakota I had to slow down for every curve or else I would have ended up in the ditch. I always felt sorry for the cars stuck behind me. This morning I drove it at 50 mph, never slowed down through the curves, and the Tacoma felt tight and solid and never bounced or hopped once.
As for the 0-60 in less than 7 seconds--it's true. Toyota claims it's a little less than 7, but a review I read clocked it at 7.2. When designing the Tacoma, Toyota benchmarked it against the Nissan Z for handling and performance.
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Nack
Dodge Dakota
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12/09/2004
16:35:14
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Ok then, Buh bye.
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BlackQCSport
Dodge Dakota
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12/09/2004
16:42:30
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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The only toyota truck that does 0-60 in 7 secons is the new 06 totota V6 S-Runner or is that what your talking about.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2004
12:56:31
| RE: Just Saying Goodbye
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Just now we have DC admitting they installed a faulty suspension component that could cause a wheel to fall off and then publicly stating they're not going to replace it because the wheel probably won't fall off on the highway. Plus, it should be the customer's responsibility to hear it make a noise and diagnose it correctly. Or else DC techs who have proven themselves incompetent and unable to diagnose most other problems should be catching it during routine maintenance. So the basics are "We installed cheap piece of crap ball joints, but they're on there now, so we want to shift responsibility to Dealer techs and customers to catch them and replace them on a case by case basis before the wheel falls off rather than issuing a blanket safety recall that might cost more money." Just thought I'd post this as a reminder for anybody confused as to why one would dump a Dodge for a Toyota. I bet if this recall was being demanded of Toyota everybody would already be rolling on new ball joints.
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