Dodge Dakota's

[Fleshwound]

are they any good?
what do you guys no about them?
I am looking to buy a truck and I have seen a few for good prices, so I am just wondering...thanks

[jaywoodsrider]

i think they are a good truck, i wanna get an extended cab with a small v8

[Fleshwound]

yes that is what i am looking at also....
i have heard that they guzzel gas like hell and that they have a lot of little problems going wrong with them all the time....
is this true??

[RED121572]

I bought a new 98. It had the V6, extended cab and 4x4. It was a good truck. I drove it for 60,000 miles before getting rid of it. I got rid of it, cause it was a bit under powered and the gas mileage was REALLY bad. i was only getting 17 on the highway.:eek:

[AlaskaSpeed]

I have a 98' Dakota 4x4 xcab sport and in the 5 years I have owned it I have had no problems with it whatsoever. The only thing I notice after 43,000 miles now is that the auto transmission likes to flair under heavy accelleration. I thought I had read some time back about complaints with the auto trans in these trucks....mine has the 5.2 L V8 as well and is all the motor you would need for zipping around town or towing. Rear tires don't last like they should and I probably get about 14 mpg in town..........JIM

[Fleshwound]

well i will be buying used, prolly a 98 or 99...
so other than bad gas mileage they are a good truck?
by the way nice quad alaska...

[AlaskaSpeed]

Originally posted by Fleshwound
well i will be buying used, prolly a 98 or 99...
so other than bad gas mileage they are a good truck?
by the way nice quad alaska...

Thanks. Yes, the truck bed is large for a compact and even my near 50" wide quad will roll up and in. The gas mileage sucks, but my wife's 93 Eddie Bauer Explorer with the 4.0 L 6 cyl doesn't do that much better for fuel economy; so I just accept that if you want the power of a V8 you are going to have to sacrifice gas mileage. JIM

[Guy400]

Chrysler is notorious for producing lower gas mileage than the competition. My father's full-size Silverado Z71 4x4 with the 5.3 V8 gets a hair over 17mpg in the city and a tad above 21 on the highway.

But, Dodge has a winner with the Dakota IMO. It's a compact truck but is a bigger package than the S-10 or Ranger and it offers a V8. If I had to choose a compact truck right now it would be an extended cab Dakota 4x4 V8.

[killed300ex]

My freind has a 1992 dodge dakota xcab with the 318 nice little truck plenty of power but to change the oil in a pain in the butt. You have to take a plastic quard off in the fender to get to the oil filter. But other than that he hasnt had any problems with it
killed

[MOFO]

Originally posted by Guy400
Chrysler is notorious for producing lower gas mileage than the competition. My father's full-size Silverado Z71 4x4 with the 5.3 V8 gets a hair over 17mpg in the city and a tad above 21 on the highway.

But, Dodge has a winner with the Dakota IMO. It's a compact truck but is a bigger package than the S-10 or Ranger and it offers a V8. If I had to choose a compact truck right now it would be an extended cab Dakota 4x4 V8.


My Z71 with the 5.3 see's around 17-18 highway and around 15 city... I drive with a heavy foot. :eek2:

[user101]

my dad bought his 93' V6 Dakota new. the only problem he had with it was transmissions. he went through six of em. other than that it has been a ood truck. this is now my truck. it still runs strong today.

here is the pic of the odometer

[Guy400]

Originally posted by VWVR6
My Z71 with the 5.3 see's around 17-18 highway and around 15 city... I drive with a heavy foot. :eek2: My father's a little lighter with the gas pedal. Never spins a tire and 67 in a 65 is "speeding" :o

[remlapr]

DO NOT buy one with the 5.2L V8 in it! They are basically the same truck as the Durango that I have. I have a '99 with this motor in it and the tranny is a POS. They switched to a little smaller V8 in '01 I think and it is suppose to have a much better tranny with it. This info was told to me by Leo and he know his shnit apparently when it comes to Dodges!

[remlapr]

Originally posted by Guy400
If I had to choose a compact truck right now it would be an extended cab Dakota 4x4 V8.


I would buy a Tacoma! The Tacoma has a good size bed also for it's size, probably not quite as roomy on the inside as the Dakota though, but I gurantee it will hold up better that the Dodge!

[Rip_Tear]

Well anyone with a standard transmission have any problems, because I have never heard of one, besides clutch replacement isnt as bad as a new tranny :D The the fuel thing same thing goes, the standard tranny gets better fuel economy.

SO get a standard :D..... (I love my sig :p check it :D)

[cam400ex]

i have a 2000 dakota ex-tended cab slt plus. it has the 4.7 magnum with an automatic tranny and it is a 2-wheel drive i get about 18 in the city and around 25 on the high way if i stay under 80;) i bought this year it has 75,ooo miles on it the warranty anly showed it in the shop for weather stipping for the doors... they are known for a-arm noise... love mine

[400exBro]

really good trucks, strong built and will last a long time, unlike those fords....:D , talk to a lot of people and they have had no problems with them at all...

j/k all you ford guys, i am getting a f-150 sport soon... or f-250 super duty, desil... god i love the torque they produce on those things... they hual major... o and get a exhuat system, makes it sound better...

[WhippedEX]

Got a 2000 Dakota Quad cab, 4.7, auto, not a lick of problems. Lots of power and roomy. Only 13,000 miles, so can't really attest to the longevity yet.

[Leo]

Pretty tough to beat a Dakota IMHO.. Whole different class size / capability wise than the Tacoma (I like Toyota's don't get me wrong). My Dakota has taken more abuse than any of the full size trucks I've owned.

Mine current Dakota is a 02 / 4.7 / 4wd / 5-spd..

Gas mileage varies considerably depending on how I drive.. If I'm in a mood and overly aggressive I can drop it down into the 13 range around town. Driving normally it's close to 18 town / 24 highway. More than enough power for anything you want to do (signifigantly snappier than the 5.2)..

My previous Dakota was a 98 / 3.9 / 4wd / 5-spd..

It was actually a bit tougher on gas than my new 4.7 V8. The 3.9 has always been a gas hog. The 5.2 V8 will get better mileage than the 3.9 V6, especially if you have the larger tires / 4wd.

The auto's that they used to use with the 5.2/3.9 are less than reliable.. But they have come a long way if you have an older Dakota with tranny troubles, don't screw around having it rebuilt. Cough up the $1000 for the mopar reman with all the updated parts, and you'll never have any more trouble.

Anybody that's on their 6th tranny in any make / model of vehicle needs to find a new shop that can fix the thing.

The new auto they use with the 4.7 is a sweetheart, I like it so my my next Dakota will have an auto tranny. If anything it's overbuilt, and they have proven to be bulletproof in the Dakota/Durango/Grand Cherokee/ and full size trucks.

Leo

[JOEX]

Leo,

What would you recommend for hauling a 20'-24' toy hauler type trailer? Is there a practical 2wd set up?
I'm looking used, possibly diesel. Keeping $$ to a minimum, I don't need the luxuries:p

Joe