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DakBear
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
15:32:29
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 Subject: '05 vs '97 ?
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Considering a lease on an '05 SLT - my '97 V8 4x4 SLT has 156K+, and I'm seriously considering a long road trip in springtime. It's be nice to have fresher wheels for it.
I get the sense here that no one's real fond of the '05's. I do moderate (~2000 lbs) towing, moderate payloads (~800-1000 lbs) easy to moderate offroad stuff. What's the buzz on the '05's - I trust the opinions I read here, except for get-a-life pyramid schemers.
I'm on a 318 now - would the V6 break my heart?
Thx all.
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Scott
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
17:38:40
| RE: '05 vs '97 ?
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i have the new 3.7 in my 04 and it really is a nice engine, though as others have posted you really dont get any better mpg from it. i can easily light up my tires and i have plenty of get up and go even with a load in the bed. im getting between 15-16 pretty consistently, and i drive just a tad on the fast side. if i had to do it all over again the only thing i would chnage would be get the v-8. Also if your looking for the auto with the v-6 combo test drive one and feel for a surging between about 40-55 mph. that is the only problem i am having with mine and dodge doesnt have a fix for it yet.
overall i have started to like the 05 models. at first i thought they were ugly, but they look much better in person IMO. The only thing i dont like is 1) the 2wd and 4wd are on the same frame so the 2wd are taller than years past (good for them) and the 4wd are lower then years past (bad for me). also on the club cab i hate the rear seat headrest. other then that i like alot of what dodge gas done with it, and was told by my local dealer they are selling very well.
overall if mine was totaled i would buy an 05, but i would make sure to get the v-8 just due to the fact i wont really be saving any gas, i will have more power and more towing and i also wont have that annoying surging my v-6 has now.
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
18:12:52
| RE: '05 vs '97 ?
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FYI, the ride height being equal is an intentional engineering change for the '05 Dakotas.
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scott1981
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
19:13:05
| RE: '05 vs '97 ?
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thanks jason, i knew that but i guess i didnt make that clear in my post. A positive is that now suspension lifts should work on 2wd and 4wd models so companys who might make them have a larger customer base so aftermarket should be quick to jump on parts.
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ptschett
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2004
20:08:12
| RE: '05 vs '97 ?
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I kind of like the single suspension design idea, but that field of engineering ("value engineering" -- improving the ratio of function to cost) is my job, so I may be biased. :) When my truck comes (05 4x4 V8 clubcab) I'll have to measure my Dad's '95 CC 4x4 and a friend of mine's 02 QC 4x4 and compare.
One interesting thing is that 4.7/auto/4x4 trucks are rated 1 mpg better highway than 3.7/auto/4x4s (15/19 V6, 15/20 V8!) Seems backwards eh?
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