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tom d
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
19:08:46

Subject: who likes their truck?
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I had a 95 dakota 3.9l and it was good tome for 100k miles. So I bought another one, a 02 with 20k on it a 4.7 4x4. I look at this board and I see nothing but posts with people saying this is wrong and that is wrong. I say to myself WHAT HAVE I DONE! Do I HAVE NOTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN ENJOYING THIS TRUCK? I need to hear from happy owners if there are any out there who like their truck. Please respond.



TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
19:27:25

RE: who likes their truck?
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I'm one happy owner!

01, 4.7, 2wd, QC, SLT, Trlr tow, tire and handln,
5spd MANUAL,etc. etc. This truck hauls ass, reserve poser galore, etc.

I have had good luck however, and still on my orig. brakes, Ball joints, etc. @68,ooomiles.




03Kota
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
19:27:35

RE: who likes their truck?
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i like my truck. mines a 2003 graphite metallic SXT regular cab with the 3.9 automatic. the only problem it's given me so far is the infamous passenger side leak. getting that taken care of this week. other than that i love it. real good trucks.



scott
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
19:37:30

RE: who likes their truck?
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i love my truck! i offroad with it, use it for work and as my daily driver. It looks great and gets good milage. It is still new but has given me no problems other than a surging with the 3.7/auto tranny combo. but thats not anything that really interferes with me enjoying the truck. Over all i wouldnt trade this truck for anything in its class, i hope to get many reliable years from it.



JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
20:04:02

RE: who likes their truck?
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I own a 1999 Dakota Club Cab 5.2L V-8 Auto with just over 97000 miles. Bought it used in 2001 with 38000 miles on it. I have not seen another vehicle on the road that I would rather own...except a Quad Cab Dakota.



DSW
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
20:14:47

RE: who likes their truck?
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I had 141K on my 00 CC before it committed suicide on the interstate. Helluva tough truck that died because of a seperated tire and an unforgiving cement barricade. Loved the truck and hated to see it go, but,,, I am not crying too much as I replaced it with an 03 QC ;)





Hammerdak
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
20:25:56

RE: who likes their truck?
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Mines a 2001 4.7L 4x4 QC red Dakota.
I've replaced warped rotors with premium parts(at 10,000),replaced shocks(at 15,000) with Monroe Reflex, and tossed the Goodforayear RTS tires (at 16,000) with Bridgestone Deulers.
All 3 things because I hated them, not because they wore out.

New upper ball joints yesterday( recall) and swaybar bushings a month ago.

The bushings were the first "repair" I've had to do.

The truck performs beautifully in all circumstances and conditions.

I love it and trust it.



BigblueQC
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12/28/2004
20:42:47

RE: who likes their truck?
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Liked it since the day I picked it up and it has been essentially trouble free; 120,000 miles later.

2002 QC 4x4 Sport Plus, 4.7L, auto, Patriot Blue, Tire & Handling group,
Heavy Duty Service group, Leer cap w/out windows, Mopar Step bars and roof rack, Rhino liner in bed and on step bars, Pace Edwards Power Tailgate lock
3.55 rear, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, all possible fluids are AMSOIL

ewraven
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
20:45:06

RE: who likes their truck?
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One thing to keep in mind for all vehicles is that there are always lemons, no matter what make or model it is. IMO, it just happens that you're more likely to see more problem posts on message boards because those are the people who'll be more vocal.

I've had my 99 CC Dakota 5.2L, 5 speed, 4x4 for two months now and it is a charm to drive. Once I do some mods for better MPG, I'll start taking it on extended trips.



Hate it
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
20:48:31

RE: who likes their truck?
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I hate mine. The only reason I bought it was so there would be one less Dakota available for you guys who love them. Har har!




BigEd
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
21:31:57

RE: who likes their truck?
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tom d,

I was just like you. I just found this site just before Christmas. After doing a bit of reading, I felt the same way you did. If I found the site before I had bought my truck there is no way I would have gone and eventually bought two of them.

The first is a 2002 Quad Cab 4x4, 4.7L, Auto. It now has 53K on it and I have to buy tires. Original brakes. Our dealer, Beaman Dodge, treats us right. Tracy is the service manager and he takes good care of us.

I then went back and bought a 2003 SXT 2wd std cab. It is a commuter truck with 25K and does a great job. It is a 3.9V6 with a 5 speed. I only wish I had got an auto.

When I married my wife she came with a 1987 std cab 4x4, V6, auto. Great little truck. It's been abused and misused but keeps chugging along.

I love my Dakotas. That's why I decided to check out and see what others do to their trucks. Like another said, all makes have problems. Buy from a dealer that has a great reputation and a service department who cares. I hope to learn more from this board as time goes on.

Ed



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
21:55:32

RE: who likes their truck?
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'00 QC Sport, 3.9 5spd. i love my truck bought it 2 yrs ago w/ 19,000. now have 44,XXX. all i've had to do is change tires, front shocks and a tune up. runs like brand new.



Maggadog
Dodge Dakota
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12/28/2004
23:09:28

RE: who likes their truck?
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I'm on my third Dakota. Started with a standard cab, and
as my girls grew so did the truck. I now have an '04
quad cab. Between the three trucks, I have put over
125, 000 miles on them. No problems.



Kaderdak
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12/28/2004
23:45:56

RE: who likes their truck?
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Got a '97 4x4 318 with 120,000 miles. I just bought it last year, and after having owned 3 previous vehicles, all cars, that barely totaled the cid of my 318 it's a joy to drive. Gas mileage sucks, but I expected that when I bought it and I don't complain about it. I've previously driven an '87 cavalier when I was 15, '90 corisca when I was 17, and a '95 corsica when I was 19 (all hand-me-downs from my parents.) I finally got to buy my own vehicle when I was 21 and couldn't be happier with my decision. Daks are the best looking trucks on the road, hands down!



DakotaSport
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
00:12:38

RE: who likes their truck?
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I am 17 years old and I have had 2 vehicles in my life. A 91 Dakota Club Cab LE with the 3.9 V6. I got it from my brother, had a 125k and when i got rid of it 139k. I drove 14k miles in about a year and a half. I miss that thing. In October I bought a 00 Dakota Sport CC 4x4 with a 4.7 I love this truck to death. I have only owned dakotas and thats probably i'll ever own, hopefully the gen 5 dakota comes out right around the time my 00 dakota craps out.



doh
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
07:17:32

RE: who likes their truck?
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that thread head is really a stupid question don't ya think? would anyone in their right mind buy anything they did not like? think about it tom d, do you buy pizza if you don't like it? do you buy ice cream if you don't like it.do you buy a house you do not like the way it looks, or if it is falling down??? what a stupid question!!



Justi
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
08:13:41

RE: who likes their truck?
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Doh is either a moron or brand new to this site. If you read this site more than say 10-15 seconds you'll see a lot of complaint posts. If you read enough of em you almost start to wonder if everyone who ever purchased a Dakota regrets it! I don't blame him for asking those that actually LIKE their truck to sound off. I have a feeling the "likes" far outweigh the "dislikes" but as stated above, they just don't post as much. Let's be honest, those that are angry are far more likely to post a complaint than a content person is to post a "I'm so smart, I bought a nice truck" thread.

As for me? Love my '03 4x4 QC w/4.7L auto. 26k miles and not a problem yet. (knock on wood!)



Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
08:28:30

RE: who likes their truck?
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Even with my oddball issues I've been having lately, I still love my truck. I have a '95 CC 4x4 3.9 auto with 147k miles. I've used it plenty of times offroading (though nothing extreme). It's been through several snow storms (17" & 15") and is a great truck. The 4x4 systems works excellent, I prefer my manual shifter to the push button. It does good at towing - I have a class III hitch.

We (my wife and I) also have '95 mustang 3.8 auto and 01 grand am I4 auto. I prefer driving my truck to the rest. It rides just as good as the 01 grand am and much better than the '95 mustang.

- Dan M



solbes
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
09:32:31

RE: who likes their truck?
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The Dakota is a great truck. A full size won't fit in my short garage. I've got an '02 4x4 QC 4.7 that's done everything I've asked of it. It's great in the MN winters and hauls my boat with ease. I tow a 5000 lb camper up to our lake. Given I'm about 85% of tow rating, it still handles pretty well.

My only compliants are ball joints (to be fixed next week) and milage. Milage is my fault since it has the worst setup for MPG except for 5.9. I'd buy another one someday if the new model had the taller ride height for 4x4.



mclass55
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
09:48:53

RE: who likes their truck?
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I love my 2001 QC 4x4, leather,leather steering wheel radio controls,towing package, 4.7,infinety sound,
55,000 miles never had a problem and ball joints are just fine



BeetleBob
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
10:20:03

RE: who likes their truck?
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I bought my '00 2WD QC SLT in April of 2000 because Dodge was the only maker of a good looking, affordable 4 door truck that would fit in my driveway. I loved the way it looked and how it drove. I looked at the Nissan, but the price was too high and it had no power.
3 years and 50,000 miles later, I was stung by a poorly designed rear differential that I now know is prone to sudden catastrophic failure and the ball joints that are likely to be the same.
These are not minor issues; these are major suspension and drivetrain components that Dodge decided to go cheap on resulting in serious safety issues.
I would have still been OK with this truck had DC's Customer Service people been accomodating about the problems, but those people must have gone to the Dick Cheney School of Human Relations. They told me; in so many words; that it's not their problem -- go away (f___ off).
It's still a good looking truck, but now it has a stigma of poor quality and, as a result, it's value is virtually zip even with the known problems addressed.
It's still a very good looking truck, no doubt about that -- I prefer it over the redesigned '05s which are dopey looking.
I'll be driving it until it croaks.



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