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Dodge Dakota - Regular Cab
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Comments
I went over to Tate Dodge (Glen Burnie, MD) on 7/12 to look at, test drive, and possibly purchase a 2002 Dodge Dakota.
I knew it was really late in the 2002 season (actually 2003 were set to arrive in about 1 month), so my choices would be a little limited. I had a relatively short list of what the truck had to have - 4X2 base or sport regular cab, V6 engine, bench seat, and manual transmission. It could be ANY color but white.
Tate only had one 4X2 manual in stock, an SLT. I asked the saleman to search the region for the truck I was looking for. . .there was 1 sport for nearly $19K and 5 base models. . .four of which were white, the fifth being silver.
The silver base Dakota was $15800, with V6, rear sliding window, vinyl bench seat, manual, and anti-spin differential.
I told the salesman that I wanted to drive the SLT in the showroom (the only 4X2 and manual on the lot) before making a decision. The response was, "I'm not taking it out of the showroom." At that point, I stood up to leave and said, "Well, I wouldn't consider buying without a test drive." I started to turn, only to hear, "Let's get the keys!" After about 10 minutes and jockeying cars out of the way to get the SLT out, we were off.
Test drive was great, very pleased with the power, the feel of the manual transmission, ride, etc. Much better overall feel than my 91 Nissan 4X4, and better than the 2002 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 and Nissan Desert Runner I test drove earlier.
Next, the manager evaluated my trade-in - a 1991 Nissan 4X4 pick-up with 246,000 miles on it and no air conditioning, which makes it pretty tough to sell in Maryland. I got $800. About what I figured using Edmunds and Kelly Blue Book.
There was absolutely no haggling on the price. I was in kind of in a bind, considering there were only 6 trucks in the region available, 4 of which were white, and one too expensive. Tate knew there was only 1 truck that met my criteria and I could buy it from them or try to get the same deal at any other Dodge dealer in the area. I tried to get a free bedliner and install, but that was a no go too. Tate was in the position of telling me to "take it or leave it." It wasn't sitting on there lost accumulating interest so they weren't hard pressed to make a deal. Nevertheless, I was pleased with what I got. I payed MSRP, but got $2000 cash back from Dodge. After tax, title, tags, trade in, $500 down, cash back promo, I financed just over $13600. Tate tried to beat my credit union's finance rate for 60 months (5.24%), but they were off by nearly 1%.
I searched the Internet afterwards to try to find out which dealer had the truck I just purchased. Turns out it was in Frederick, MD, about 80 miles away. The "no haggle price" was just $116 less than what I payed at Tate.
I won't be picking the truck up until 7/16, but hopefully I will have at least 60 months of pleasant driving experiences.
Jason
Mailman
Bookitty
It has been really difficult to get used to the manual transmission/clutch. It is much different in feel and operation than my 1991 Nissan was. The Nissan was much more sensitive to an operator's inability to shift. The Dodge is very forgiving. Also, I tended to shift according to engine noise with the Nissan. This is pretty difficult to do with the Dodge. If the AC or radio are on, I can't hear the engine at all. I suppose this is a good thing, though. By the time I have a couple 1000 miles on the truck, I am sure I will be "at home."
Ride quality is really nice. . .also takes some getting used to after 250K in my jolting Nissan, but I am really going to like it, especialy since I commute 100 miles every day.
AC is nice. Never had AC before and in Maryland summers, it is a very nice feature. I am still at the stage where I have it cranked up all the way so I am shivering. . .just because I can!
The is a light on the dash (an up arrow) that lights whenever the computer thinks I should be shifting for best performance. Its annoying. I don't know if it wants me shifting up or down or what. I ignore it.
Biggest gripe is the base tires/rims. The rims are plain ugly and look more like spare tire rims. The tires are too small for the truck to give it a good appearance in my opinion. Since I bought so late in 2002's season, I had no choice but to take what I could get. I have ordered 16X8 Dodge rims (from someone replacing them on their Dakota Sport). I will probably be putting P255/65R16's on the truck, which will give it the appearance of the Sport model.
Also, I am getting a high pitched whistle that seems to start when I am speeding up. When I hit the gas it starts. When I back off the gas, it goes away. Its most noticeable in gears 1-3, may be there in 4-5 gears, I am just not hearing it over engine/road noise or radio. Anyone else have this? What is it?
After 1 tank of gas, I am getting 20.28 mpg, with about 70% highway driving. - Jason
Haven't heard from the other R/C owners lately. Let me hear how you are doing. It is getting lonely with only the Quad and Club Cab members posting.
Mailman
Thanks for providing the alternate (Mopar?) number for ATF+4.
Question:where did you find the ATF+4? The only place I know around here to get it is the Dodge dealer.
By the way, I inquired and was told that my dealership no longer stock ATF+3 since the +4 has replaced it. Somewhere I saw a something that said the ATF+4 is a synthetic fluid.
My 545RFE shifts very, very smoothly. It's the nicest, most reactive, smoothest shifting transmission I've EVER driven.
Regards,
Dusty
Jim
Bill
The club cab doesn't seem like it's that much bigger than a regular. I agree that the Dakota has gotten as big as the older Rams and there seems to be a lack of mid-size trucks. Not everybody needs / wants a "monster" truck.
Quehanna is about 2.5 hrs from here near one of the hunting camps I go to. A lot of weird stuff happened in that neck of the woods before, during, and after WWII with nuclear materials, company-controlled towns, prison camps, coal mining, lumbering, etc. Good place to get lost.
I was thinking that you had to have a cap to secure your belongs.
I just purchased a used '99 Dakota, RC, 5spd Manual, 4x4. It doesn't have a single cup holder in the entire cab.
I would like to have something on the floor, but there's not much room around the sticks for the transmission and 4WD.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Regards,
Dusty
Thanks
scott
Regards,
Dusty
Thanks
G
I got 2 used wheels from a scrapyard and had Hakkapallita studded snow tires mounted to them. That way, I could bolt on my snow tires for the 5 winter months here in Vermont.
I also built a 2X4 "frame" that sat between the wheelwells in the bed. Into that I had a couple 50lb bags of sand.... Alternately, one could use a couple 5-gallon pails filled with sand. The weight MUST be over the rear axle or the handling gets very weird. The sand provides weight and can be used for traction when I got stuck. (not if I got stuck)
QUESTION FOR YOU: Does your Dak have the "trac-loc" rear end?
Question: does anyone know if DC is going to offer the "original" regular cab ever again? If not I'm thinking of keeping this '99 forever, and just replace the engine when needed. My other option I'm thinking of is a 1500 Ram (they do make that in a regular cab). But they don't make it with the 5.7L engine (w/std). Has anyone heard if DC has plans for a Dakota regular cab OR a Ram 1500 regular cab with the large engine and standard transmission?
Regarding driving in the snow: I have always said that a 2WD comes with the territory. It goes without saying that additional weight MUST be added over the rear axle. You should know that going in OR else get a 4WD. I bought my 2WD strictly for cost reasons. For the 4 months of winter driving, I live with the added weight.
It's nice to be back to this forum.
As far as the 1500/Hemi/Std is concerned, I haven't heard anything, but I would guess that DC didn't want to spend the money on the development cost. Seems, though, that it would be a popular combination.
Dodge has made the conscious decision to drop the Dakota conventional cab model and as far as I can tell has no immediate plans to reintroduce it. The new Dakota line has been set up to assemble both Club and Quad cabs. The current assembly line could not accomodate a third version without a complete relayout of the manufacturing plant. Since Club and Quad versions far outnumbered the conventional cab in recent years I can understand Dodge dropping it from their offering.
The 5.7 Hemi IS available on all trim levels of the RAM 1500 conventional cab. I know of a number of them.
For '06 the RT will be reintroduced in the Dakota. It will have a new, 260 horsepower High Output version of the solid and extremely reliable 4.7 motor (260 HP @ 5200 RPM; 310 lb.-ft. torque @ 3,500 RPM), special interior, special exterior graphics and trim, hood scoop and instrumentation. This engine will also be available in the SLT and Laramie models.
Best regards,
Dusty
You threw me on that one! I was Positive that the 5.7L was NOT available on the RC 1500 Ram with standard transmission. I thought it was available ONLY in the Mega, Laramie and SRT10 models and ONLY with automatic. I thought the 5.7L was not offered with a standard transmission. In any event, IF they made a RC Ram or Dakota with a 5.7L and a 6 spd (I'd even take a 5 spd), I'd buy it in a heartbeat. And I know two of my friends would too.
Maybe DC will come around to this model. I'm wishing that they would. Anyway, thank you all for you responses. At least I now know DC's thinking.
Yes, it is good to be back.
Bob
You are correct, a manual transmission is not available with the 5.7 engine.
Insider info indicates, by the way, that there's a six speed automatic in the works for the Hemi.
Bests,
Dusty
Please tell me that, that's a typo. Did you mean six speed "manual" when you typed "six speed automatic"? Just wanted to clear it up. Because if they are putting one together (Hemi and a 6 spd std), then I'm already in line with my number in hand. It would fulfill my dream truck fantasy.
Bob
I know Dodge was working on a new design six-speed manual that would be made by New Venture and later shared with General Motors light duty pick ups. But then I seem to recall they cancelled that, in part because GM was de-committing from future use. I thought Chrysler then decided to purchase a manual six-speed from Getrag directly. That was earlier in 2005. Haven't heard anything since.
Bests,
Dusty
Thanks, even though it wasn't what I wanted to hear. You are a wealth of knowledge.
Bob
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