quality of dakotas?

[YFZ450Ridr]

after my final year of highschool this year i will probablly start saving for a new truck because thats about the time ill have my yfz and s10 payed off. once in college ill most likely buy one. the trucks i am looking to buy would be a tacmoa or dakota, midsized trucks.

how are dakotas say after 100,000 miles? do the trannies need to be rebuilt or anything like that? what all starts to go out on these trucks? my dads got a 99 dodge ram that just turned 100 grand in miles and it seems to be doing just fine. are these trucks long lasting?

i know tacomas are pretty well bullet proof from what i hear. i know guys who have put 200,000 miles on them with little to no issues. again, what are things to look out for at around 100,000 miles on these trucks?

[Sjorge450R]

i have a 87 3.9 4wd dakota and i love it. Its only a single cab but it works for me. It has 165000 on it. tranny is good, and like most older cars, it does burn some oil, but nothing too bad. Prob about a Quart total between oil changes. Speaking of oil change, i gotta go get the stuff to do it. lol

[YFZ450Ridr]

ya thats about how my s10, but with 120,000 miles it doesnt burn any oil, leak a drop and it runs perfect! i was mainly looking at the newer generation dakotas and tacomas, with the round body style. around the year 2000 or so and around 70,000 miles.

[Sjorge450R]

Originally posted by YFZ450Ridr
ya thats about how my s10, but with 120,000 miles it doesnt burn any oil, leak a drop and it runs perfect! i was mainly looking at the newer generation dakotas and tacomas, with the round body style. around the year 2000 or so and around 70,000 miles.


the new daks are just as well built. I perosonly like the 3rd generation ones, not this new ones. They are too big now.

[YFZ450Ridr]

thats good to know. the only thing thats left is what size engine would you guys reccomend in either truck? i was thinking a big v6 or a small v8. leaning more twards the big v6 because i dont ever pull anything besides my quad or haul stuff for my dad. plus with gas prices high a v6 sounds a little more forgiving at the pump!

also, 4000 posts!! woohoo! im not sure if im supposed to post half naked chicks or somthing when you get this high or what haha

[Scott-300ex]

I got an 87 2.2 and its got like 170,000 almost and its still runnin good.

My buddy has a Ram 1500 like wut you want with over 200,000 and its still runnin good.

So just when your out of debt then you gotta go buy somethin else huh? LoL. I think Dodge builds good trucks.

[400exrider99]

i have a 98 dakota just rolled over 100,000 runs great. i would find a 5.2 4x4. i had a 3.9l that got 17mpg and my 5.9L :D gets 14-15mpg even when i get on the throttle. i hear that the dodge trannies go out but i have had 3 dakotas and never had a problem with any of the trannies. love my truck. just keep up with maintenance any it will out last you.

[300exOH]

I also have a 98 dakota 4x4 with the 5.2L v8 and it has 145,000 and going strong. I haven't had any trans problems and it still shifts better than other trucks I've driven. I highly recommend the v8. The 3.9 v6 is a great engine too but it really doesn't get any better mileage than the v8...unless you have a heavy right foot.:devil: I'd say I'm averaging around 15mpg or so and I'm not easy on it. On long trips it does much better.

The only major work I've had to do has been new brake lines, rotors, etc... The rest has all been routine repairs.

[CRich[814]]

my buddy's dad has the '97-'02? body style dakota. it had some type of tranni problem but they got that fixed. it runs real good though. if you compare the v6 and the v8 gas mileage, you might as well get the v8.

[YFZ450Ridr]

thats all really good info thanks guys. does anybody know the gas mileage of dakotas versus a tacoma? gas mileage will also play a big role in which truck i get, thanks fellers:macho

[07250ex]

this will be off topic but it i were to buy a mid size truck i would get a colorodo but have you guys seen how the f150's are looking these days with the chrome billit grill(not honey comb style) those cool headlights as well, those trucks look sweet in white

[mineralgrey01gt]

i had a 97 (first year for the gen 3) and it did give me some problems. At 75,000 it blew a freeze plug. I have no clue how it did that, but it did. Also, a solenoid on my transmission (automatic) gave me some serious problems. When it would get hot (which was everytime you drove the truck) it would stick in 3rd and not come out of 3rd until you either turned the truck off or let it cool down. I sold it for $3500 like that to a guy that claims he could fix it. It also had the 5.2 in it. Fun little truck but it gave me a bad taste in my mouth about getting another one.

[300exOH]

Originally posted by 07250ex
this will be off topic but it i were to buy a mid size truck i would get a colorodo but have you guys seen how the f150's are looking these days with the chrome billit grill(not honey comb style) those cool headlights as well, those trucks look sweet in white

I wouldn't praise the colorado too much if I were you... I owned two of them before I bought the dakota. I ended up filing lemon law on the pos for major tire wear issues. The first colorado was showing signs of the same tire wear issue when I traded it for the second one.:ermm: There are a number of other problems with them as well. The dakota is 10x more solid than that tin can colorado...even with 145K miles.:macho

[LTR450_#67]

I always thought the R/T Dakota's were pretty sharp myself....still wouldn't mind one.

Aaron

[user101]

I have a 93 dakota with the 5.2, a posi rear end and 2 1/2in dual exhaust with magnaflow mufflers.:devil: I drive the hell out of this truck. It has 133,000 miles on it and know real problems other i had to give it the ol' tune up the other day. I paid 1,500 for it when it had 125,000 back in Janurary. I did have to put a the rear-end in it. The previous owner had put one from a 6 cyl. dakota and it did not hold up long at all.

My friend has a 93 dakota w/ the 5.2 headers, single 3in. exhaust w/ a 2 chamber flowmaster, bigger throttle body, headers and 100 shot of nitrous. his runs high 13's in the 1/4 with mickey thompson slicks.

both of our use about a qt. of oil between changes.

These are very fun trucks

[user101]

i also average 17.5 mpg when i keep my foot out of it. i have gotten 22mpg on long trips on the highway

[Scott-300ex]

Oh and my buddy has a dakota 93 I think 4 cyl and it can do 2nd gear scratches pretty easy, LoL.

And his dad has a 2001 or so and its got over 215,000 on it and still runs good.

You'll prolly find a Dakota cheaper than a Yota.

And for gas milage and stuff go to a dealer I know there are many many many car dealers out there in South County James