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Lara
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2005
12:34:20
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 Subject: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Hello everyone. I am new to this forum and so far have enjoyed reading everyone's comments about their Dakota trucks.
Due to lifestyle changes, I am now in the market for a truck. I've driven alot of the different makes and models over the past 3 months, and have fallen in love with the Dakota. The Rangers and S-10s are too small and the full-size pickups on the market are just too, too big for me. The Dakota is appealing because it's got plenty of horsepower, but it's footprint is small enough to maneuver in and out of parking lots and such.
The trouble I'm having is finding a Dodge Dakota quad cab in the North Alabama area. I only occasionally run across one for sale, but it's usually priced higher than the kelly blue book value.
If anyone can help steer me in the right direction in finding the vehicle I want, please let me know. Basically, here is what I'm looking for...
2001 or newer Dakota quad cab, less than 75k miles, automatic, 4.7 liter (preferred, but will consider a 3.9), CD player, with camper shell, and spayed in bedliner, for around $10-$12k. Am I being unrealistic?
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daveshotdako
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2005
13:05:06
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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i highly doubt that you will find one like that for 10 to 12. i got a great deal on one in northeast georgia but i payed like 4 less than kbb price for it. it was a 2000 dak quad cab 3.9 v6 2wd. i payed 10,500 for it and it had 60,000 miles on it. i could not let that deal get by because the kbb on the truck was $16,500. i recently got the bed line-x'ed for $388. i love the amount of room i have inside the truck. i hate to burst your bubble but that was the only truck that i found with less than 120,000 miles on it for less than $13,000. good luck with your search and hopefully soon you will become a proud dakota owner like the rest of us.
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Lara
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2005
13:18:47
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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I guess I should have qualified the kbb price. I'm going by the kbb private party value, not retail that you would expect to pay at a dealership.
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tobii3
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2005
14:29:29
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Lara -
Don't know if it will help any, but I use these websites when I'm looking for "fixer-uppers"
www.cars.com
www.autoextra.com
and the one that helps the most,
www.autobaron.com
The last one will show you the average sales prices versus what the KBB or NADA lists show.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2005
18:26:52
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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For the last 4-5 years, the Dakota has been one of the hottest selling trucks on the US market. Dodge sells all they can make. Mostly, it's for all the reasons you stated.
With that in mind, the chance of you finding a real bargain at a dealership are pretty slim.
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tobii3
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2005
19:01:44
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Okay, let's see if this helps -
I just did an open search -
'01 Silver Dak QC 76K miles 4.7L V8 - $9,995
'01 Blue Dak QC 41K miles 3.9L V6 - $11,486
'01 Garnet Dak SLT QC 62K miles 4.7L V8 - $10,999
'01 Gold Dak SLT QC 78K miles 4.7L V8 - $10,799
That was just using AutoBaron.
Damn guys, at least make an effort to help someone out instead of "bragging" about the truck!
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2005
19:10:57
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Forget about KBB and NADA, thier figures are skewed. Go to edmunds.com and use their TMV calculator, True Market Value. With some research and looking around I think you will be able to find the truck you like for your price. Last December I purchased a 03 QC 4.7 with 30K miles and all the bells and whistles except 4wd for $14,500, $16,000 OTD. At the same time another dealer had the exact same truck, but it was an 01 with 45K miles,,, they wanted $15,750 and they wouldn't budge off $14,750. Different dealerships, different cities, different pricing.
One experience that I thought was pretty funny,,, I walked into the dealership that had the 01 QC with 45K miles, took the truck for a test drive and started negotiating the price with the salesman. I had the trucks edmunds.com TMV printout which I was hiding in my file folder along with several other autotrader truck printouts. I would study the page and come back with an offer below what they wanted for the truck, but close to the TMV. It was driving the salesman crazy trying to figure out what I was looking at, he asked "so whay you have there" I replied "secret documents". Like they would let me look at their paperwork for what they would take for the vehicle. After a while of being stonewalled at $14,750 I let him see the TMV printout, didn't counter offer or anything just let him see the printout that said the truck was worth $12,XXX. He took it and came back saying they couldn't come close to this price and I thanked him for his time. They knew what I would pay and I knew they wouldn't budge, time to walk. I thought it was pretty funny turning the tables on the dealership and them wondering what the heck I was doing.
I used autotrader.com, cars.com and local newspapers online classifieds to find trucks in my area. It took about 2 weeks of searching to find the truck I liked, though I had to drive 1 1/2 hours to go look at it since it was out of town. BTW, the truck I bought was a couple hundred less than edmunds.com's TMV.
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Lara
Dodge Dakota
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8/09/2005
20:50:09
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Thanks for all the responses. I have just found no consistency with pricing from dealership to dealership. I'll find a truck at one place for $11,000 and then another one, same year, similar mileage and specs, but is usually around $15,000. I am familiar with Edmunds TMV. I found TMV to be very close to KBB and use them both, but I don't rely on NADA because those are retail prices. Also, trying to stay away from the big dealerships because they tend to charge thousands more.
I've been searching everywhere. Autotrader.com, carsdirect.com, autoextra.com, autoclassifieds.com, and local papers, you get the picture. When I find something that fits what I'm looking for, it's usually already sold.
I'm not giving up, just frustrated. As tobii3 indicated, I now know I'm not being unrealistic. I've just got to bide my time I guess and prepare to drive out of state to get the price I'm willing to pay apparently. After all, if it will get me from point A to point B, that's all that really matters to me.
I'll keep looking. And thanks again for all your input.
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Mopower
Dodge Dakota
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8/10/2005
16:21:25
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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The reason for the price inconcistency probably has more to do with how much the dealer has in the truck. If the dealer gave a lot on trade for the truck then he is going to have to get more out of it. Sometimes the dealer will get in deep on a trade in order to sell a higher end or expensive vehicle. Thus they end up having too much in the trade-in.
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Dude???
Dodge Dakota
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8/10/2005
19:03:50
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Mopower -
sit down before you hurt yourself.
NO dealer puts himself in that situation.
They roll the difference into the financing as most people don't buy with straight cash.
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EMTSquad51
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2005
15:15:03
|  RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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I would have to agree partly with Mopower on this. I just purchased a '00 quad cab, loaded, 63,000 miles 4x4, 4.7... Now they wanted $14,000 for the truck, once I told them I wasn't trading anything in, they came down on the price of the truck. After I talked them down about 1700, I then told them I had decided to trade in my 1997 Toyota Taco, no options, 4x4 r/c w/98,000 miles on it, plus an R-Title (which means a rebuilt wreck) which normally knocks off about 30% of the sale value. They gave me $3800 for the Toyota, which was almost a full 1k over kbb value. The salesman told me they would never get that out of it. So, I drove off the lot in my new Dak w/ financing right around $9k. Not a bad deal in my opinion.
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mopower
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2005
16:04:14
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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"Dude???"...please back away from your pc before you look even more foolish. Have your parents take you down to a dealer and find out with them how it all works. I used to work at a dealer.
BTW, I get my own financing via a credit union and never use the dealers financing with inflated intrest rates. That or I pay cash.
I bet the dealers smile when you leave...lol.
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martinphantom
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2005
22:43:45
|  RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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I bought a 2000 qc 4x4 with 75 k with a 4.7, spray in liner ,cd-----everything but a shell-it does have a crossover toolbox though-for $12,500 about 18 months ago. With fuel prices going sky high and dakotas being so so on gas(I get 14-15) I'm bettin you can find an individual selling one to get out from under it-----keep looking.
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2005
23:04:04
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Since Quad Cabs are the heaviest Dakotas (4400+ LBS.) and therefore get the worst gas mileage, there should be several showing up on lots soon the way gas prices are going. www.dodge.com and carmax.com are a couple of more inventory search options.
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ecdak
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2005
23:09:08
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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I agree with martin. I would totally stick with a private party sell. it will take you longer to find what you want but you will end up with a better deal. I saw a durango on the side of the road with I think 60k on it for 11,995.00. May have been a 2000. Never sat in it but it looked clean. I bought a kota for well i won't go there but it was alot more. Warranties are transferrable to i beleive. and if you beleive that 101 point check list or certified used vehicle garbage go to a lot. You seem a lot smarter than that. Good luck. Yeah the kota I wanted had a snug top on it. very sharp looking truck. and anticipate bad mpg.
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ecdak
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2005
23:11:12
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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My door panel says 6000 #s plus on the gvw
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Lara
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2005
02:36:41
| RE: Thanks Everyone
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I will continue to look. I have no doubt I can find one at my price, it will just take me alot longer. I'm staying clear of the big boy dealerships...can't justify paying an extra $3-$4 g's to pay their light bill for (what I believe to be) a false sense of security/trust. Even though there are no guaranties, I will still try to buy the best thing I can afford and perform the due diligence screenings...run the Carfax history, have it checked out by my father-in-law, as well as my mechanic, etc.
Btw, how does one go about running a check on the service history of a vehicle if you have the vin? Is that something my mechanic can run? Also, how inclusive would those records be?
As all vehicles need scheduled routine maintenance and occasionally something breaks, what major repair work can I expect to encounter (say from the 65k-130k mile range)? I plan on keeping my next vehicle 5-7 years, and typically only drive 8-12k miles/year since I work out of my home. (You gotta understand I've been in a virtually trouble-free Honda Accord the last 11 years, so don't mean to possibly offend anyone with my comment.)
I've been reading alot on the Edmunds forum lately to better educate myself about carbuying and such, but have yet to adequately research the potential problems, that may arise with these models.
Thanks in advance for any additional information you may be able to provide.
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jjj
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2005
09:59:34
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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If you want 4X4 look up north, there are several in your range around here - PA, OH, etc.
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tobii3
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2005
14:21:53
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Lara,
Unless the vehicle was serviced "religiously" at a dealer or ONE auto shop, it's hard to track the service history.
CarFax will report any major accidents or flood damage or other problems (as you are aware of).
If you find a GOOD private seller, they will have no arguments with you getting a "private" mechanic check of the vehicle. Often times, they will pay for the inspection (if they have nothing to hide).
Also, you were looking for a 2WD, correct?
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Lara
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2005
15:13:26
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Hi Tobii3,
Thank you for the information regarding tracking service history. It makes sense.
And yes, I'm thinking 2WD is the way to go for me. Don't need a 4x4 because I don't anticipate any off road driving or tough terrain. And it will be one less thing to worry about.
I've had some good success with a small independent dealership in the past. They typically carry 40-50 vehicles at any given time, have been in business for over 20 years, and have built a solid reputation over the years. My husband bought a 2002 Bonneville from them last year at a very reasonable price. Nice car, low mileage, and the owner and employees provided exceptional service to us. We've had absolutely no problems with the vechicle so far and have already put over 20k miles on it.
In addition, the same dealership was very helpful in the beginning stages of my truck search when I didn't know exactly what I wanted. They had several different truck makes and models and suggested I test drive everything I might be interested in to help determine what I liked. Since then, I have driven 4 different Dakotas' and several other makes and models, and now know that I prefer to have a Dakota.
The dealership does not currently have a Dakota in stock, but I thought it might be worth considering going back and seeing if they could help me locate one that met my price range and specifications. If they had what I wanted, I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again. We've been really happy with them based on prior experience, plus all their vehicles come with a 3-month, 3,000 mile warranty.
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tobii3
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2005
16:19:48
| RE: Want A Dakota Quad Cab
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Glad to be able to help.
Judging by your history and experience with that dealership, I would encourage you to ask them about locating a Dakota.
If they have established such a solid reputation over 20 years as an INDEPENDENT dealer, I honestly believe they would go out of their way to keep your business!!!
What's the worst that could happen??
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