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Mike4380
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2005
22:43:01
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 Subject: Recommend a Dakota?
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Hi all. My name is Mike (as you probably guessed :p ), and I'm trying to do a little research before I buy another vehicle. I'm currently leasing an '03 Chevy S10 ZR2 (which I did NOT research), and I'm less than thrilled with it. It's under-powered, gets nonexistant gas mileage, rides like a tank, is too small, and has the absolute crappiest interior I have ever seen. The whole cab rattles when you run over a penny, I kid you not...
Anyway, I really don't know if I want a full-size truck; I certainly don't need one. And I like the looks of the pre-'05 Dakotas, so I was thinking of looking for a used one when my lease expires next year. My question is, overall, would it be a good choice? I'd probably look for an '01-'03 V8 with decent miles. I've searched around a little and see that your trucks have their own problems, just as any vehicle does. But does anyone think that it would or wouldn't be a wise move?
Thanks in advance!!
Mike
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scott1981
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2005
23:05:36
|  RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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I have an 04. This truck rides like a car and have a very tight interior. I have the v-6 so I cant say anything about the get up and go. I will say the v-8 is a smart move though. dont expect that great of gas milage, but for a v-8 it isnt too bad either. Daks seem to be very hit or miss on reliability. some people have every problem in the world and others like me have nothing. I hope you get one of the good ones
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choochoo
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2005
23:06:36
| RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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From my own experience there are Dodges, then all the other crap on the road. I would recommend the new Ram as best, and the Gen III Dakota (ending 2004 ) second. I would not recommend buying the first year or two of any model or make, from hard experience, including the 2005 Dak. Let them get the bugs out first.
The 2004 Dakota 4X4 QC I have now is good.
4.7 5spd auto 3.55 axles P245/70R16s @ 40 psi
At 60 - 65 mph I get 20 mpg US on regular gas
Cab height Leer cap K&N air filter
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Webtiger
GenIII
7/30/2005
02:42:51
| RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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Mike;
I've got the same Quad setup, with V8, as Choochoo minus the Lear cap and K&N filter.
It's my 2nd Dak and it's a great truck. It'll be 1 yr old Aug. 8th and I expect it'll turn 22,000 miles then.
Oil changes and the 12,000 Schedule B service is all I've done to it. I'm averaging 17 mpg in mixed commuter traffic.
I LOVE this truck!
If you can find an '04 setup to suit your needs you should buy it.
Ken Grierson
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tlc361
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2005
22:20:51
|  RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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Hi Mike, welcome to the Dakota world.
I spent 3 years researching vehicles before choosing the 2001 Dakota QuadCab 4X4 with the 4.7L V8 engine Autotrans, Towing package...etc. etc.....
Do the research, it pays off. I was in the service during the Chrysler bail out in the '80s and swore I would never buy a Chrysler product.
I found the Dakota fit my needs and requirements. Outside of the balljoint problem (mine never broke, I watched them closely and had them replaced when questionable symtoms appeared). I have never been sorry for buying this truck.
I like you, knew I didn't need a full sized truck, after all I've been places in my Dakota a Ram would never fit.
I needed a truck that would fit comfortly two over six foot tall guys (my stepson and son inlaw are both over 6 foot tall) and could hold two baby carseats (I have two grandchildren under two years old) the Dakota fit that requirement.
This truck looks good on the street and performs offroad in areas I would never have taken my old Chevy S10 4X4.
I'm passing 94,000 miles and will trust this truck to get me there and bring me home every time (providing I don't do something stupid, other then a long post).
Make sure the truck you choose meets your needs, then if you have money to burn, make sure you get what you want.
Wants and needs are two different but competing worlds.
Hope my 47 cents (definately more then 2 cent worth) of information helps.
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Copterfixer
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2005
23:59:07
| RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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All i have to say about this is that depending on where you live. I live in savannah ga. And i had my mind set on a midsized club cab truck and i do perfer to buy american so that left me with either the dakota or the colorado*even tho the dakota isnt even american anymore. and the colorado is way to new as one poster put up there they still got bugs to work out. I was considering the tundra or tacoma but with toyota you are paying for the name.
Nissan has some nice trucks to but again paying for the name.
So needless to say i settled for the dakota and was dead set on finding a low mileage late model club cab. Well it took me about 5 months to find what i wanted. Only problem i have with it is i hate Red cars. :P
its that dodge red but if thats my only gripe about a used car i cant really complain.
But anyway good luck in your searching.
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E.Hofer
Dodge Dakota
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7/31/2005
12:37:10
| RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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I bought my Dakota in Oct of 04, an 01 with 106000miles. Its a midsized extended cab, I loved the fact that it had a bench seat in the back, its not the most comfortable but it can seat three in the back if need be. The interior in my opinion is awesome, it got stolen and rolled 3 months after I bought it and even after being fixed there is not 1 rattle in the interior, that was very impressive in my books. I did change the ball joints at 110xxx, they were still factory, that is not bad at all for Balljoints I don't care who says what. The 4.7 has got alot of getup and go for a small displacement V8, the fuel economy is not the greatest, GM V8's are better but I did not buy my truck for fuel econmy, it would be nice but not exactly top priorty. I average 14 around town over a weeks time and bout 19 Highway, thats with 4x4 AWD though so there again not bad. The biggest reason I bought it is the price was right, I did want a Dakota, don't get me wrong, GM and Ford just didn't compare as far a midsize was concerned and a fullsize was not in my price range. IMO the Dakota is a hot looking truck, at least 07-04, and thats worth something to. All in all if I was to do it over again I would buy another one, I know alot of people have problems with them but I think alot of times the problems might be self inflicted no offence meant to anyone. Just my $0.02 worth on my truck.
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Gary F
Dodge Dakota
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7/31/2005
19:55:12
| RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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Copterfixer:
Dakota isn't even American anymore? What do you mean by that? Mine is made in Warren, MI. Not sure where yours is. Says so right on the drivers door post.
As for the recommendation, I have a '01 and have had a few minor probs, nothing major. I have nearly 50,000 miles on it with the 4.7L engine and 5 spd. trans. Lots of fun, still tight and rattle free. I'd get another one and am looking at a '05 right now. Love the size, easy to park and fit in the same places as most cars. I've towed several trailers, one that was around 5,500 lbs. Tows terrific and lots of folks were suprised when I passed them on the highway going uphill around 75 mph. Good luck!
Gary F
'01 Sport, 4.7L, 5 spd, 3.92
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Well
Dodge Dakota
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7/31/2005
20:44:33
| RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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I guess that technically, since DC is German, that makes Dodge foreign owned. Yes the Dakota is built in Dodge City but the Tacoma is built in Cali and the Titan is built in Georgia or Tennessee (I think).
Anyway, it's a fools argument because who knows who owns the most shares in DC? Could be a Swedish guy. Who most the most shares in GM? Ford? Who cares?
Back to the original question. My 01 SLT 2WD is the second Dakota I have owned. My first, a 97 SLT 4x4 was nothing but a PITA. I can't bring myself to buy a GM product of any kind and Ford is just crap in my estimation so that left a really expensive American built Japanese truck or the less expensive, nicer looking, great riding, more than enough, Americn built (German?) truck put out by Dodge.
My Dakota really is an excellent little truck that does what I want it to do and it's paid for.
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Adin
Dodge Dakota
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8/16/2005
17:43:03
| RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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I'm still riding in an '88 Sport. 195000 miles, nothing done to the engine. Decent gas mileage still. Put this thing literally through hell and back (from Minneapolis, MN to Montana and back twice, from Minneapolis, MN to Grand Marais, MN twice in a summer (not to mention the six other times of driven there), all around driving. Hell, I deliver pizza in this thing. Still rides like a dream.)
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HELLO?
Dodge Dakota
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8/16/2005
18:26:55
| RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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Check the door panels.
The majority of Dodge trucks are being made in Saltillo, Mexico.
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mombi_213
Dodge Dakota
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8/16/2005
18:28:51
| RE: Recommend a Dakota?
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i have a 05 quad cab dodge dakota i just recieved a report from macanic that there has been a recall on axles the crap i have had since i bought it if you want to know more let me know
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