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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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9/12/2007
13:48:48
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 Subject: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20743583/site/newsweek/
Dakota ales are off 35% (maybe cost? looks? poor fuel economy? Lack of after market parts?)
Interesting article. Almost all of the jeep lineup was listed.
- Dan
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1hotkadota
Dodge Dakota
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9/12/2007
18:20:04
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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WHOA! That really sucks. I must say that I'm not losing any sleep over the demise of the Dakota. Ever since they came out with the 05 model, and left out the Hemi, I knew something was wrong. Plus its ugly as hell, even the colorado is better looking than the newer Daks.
Hasta La Vista Baby!
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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9/12/2007
21:54:22
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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Where I live I see far more Dakotas then rams, Chevy might be next then ford. Toyota is right up at the top. the Toyota dealer dropped Nison a year ago and nobody picked it up. As the world turns huh
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Blakdak
Dodge Dakota
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9/13/2007
10:36:54
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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I admit the small to mid size truck market can be a tough sell. And I don't doubt the Dakota might be on that list. The whole thing infuriates me because the Gen III's were so good.
I still love my '02 QC. It fits snugly in my 20' deep garage, has 4 doors for hauling kids, a V8 for towing boat/camper, but unfortunately gets abysmal mileage. If it doesn't have some kind of fuel economy advantage in the $3-5/gallon gas era, why keep it? The newer model will no longer fit in my garage (4" longer), has similar mileage/costs to a Ram, and is quite frankly ugly in comparison.
If there are no plans to put in a fuel efficient diesel, get back to cleaner & smoother lines, and downsize to differtiate from the Ram, I see death as imminent. It's sad to see that the very truck which changed the small truck market in the mid 90's will be the first one to go.
If the Dakota dies, I may go outside the brand to buy the first full size truck with a reliable diesel and figure out whether I will expand my garage or park the damn thing on the driveway.
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Shoe
GenIII
9/13/2007
11:35:29
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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I think of it this way. At least it is still going, where is the S10 and Sonoma? Who gives a sh!t about the Canyon and Colorado. The Ranger will always be around, well unless Ford goes under.
Finally... a V8. '01 Dodge Dakota RC, 4.7, 5-speed, 3.92 LSD. = R/T Killer.
well at least a stock one
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Bill K
Dodge Dakota
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9/13/2007
14:54:59
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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cause it's Fücking Ugly!
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master bates
Dodge Dakota
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9/13/2007
16:32:31
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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yo bill still spend yer spare time jerkin off bullfrogs!? ahahahhehehehohohahahehoho!
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Bill K
Dodge Dakota
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9/13/2007
19:34:20
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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have you seen the new 2008 model?
______________ it's Fücking Ugly!
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Shoe
GenIII
9/14/2007
00:09:08
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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I sure would like to have that 300 horse 4.7 in my truck. :(
Finally... a V8. '01 Dodge Dakota RC, 4.7, 5-speed, 3.92 LSD. = R/T Killer.
well at least a stock one
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GRETCH
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2007
07:03:12
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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I like the 08's a lot. Too bad a club cab SLT 4WD goes for 29-30,000.00. I guess a better 4.7 and factory remote start should bump the price, but I wouldn't think that high.
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Blakdak
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2007
09:34:29
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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Who said they are 29-30k? That might be sticker, but...
My '02 Dakota listed for 29+ on sticker, but I paid a little over 23k with little to no haggling with dealer.
Get one and let us know what you think. I'd love to hear how the new 4.7 runs. I'd also like to see one in person because pictures and the real thing are often different.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2007
09:39:25
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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The more I think about this, the more it's not actual price or fuel economy that's the problem.
The dakota costs in the same neighborhood as other midsize trucks. And all trucks get poor fuel economy (as compared to cars).
The dakota, even with V8, gets comparable gas milage to other midsize trucks (not much less anyway). 2008 Dakota V6 14/18 and 2008 chevy colorado inline 5 15/20. 2008 Ranger V6 14/19 or 14/17 depending on size of V6. The 2007 V8 is 14/19.
What I think is that the dakota costs close to the ram, the ram has more power and same fuel economy. So why buy a dakota when you can buy a ram? Full size, more power, same fuel economy and slightly more cost.
The ram is the flagship vehicle of dodge.
Plus, you get a ton of after market accessories for ram, ranger, colorado. With the dakota you get very little after market accessories.
just some random thoughts on this.
I have not had a need for a full size, I actually like the ride, looks, power, room, etc for my 02 QC 4x4 4.7L V8.
I'm considering an 08 because of more power for the same fuel economy (estimated since they haven't release official 08 V8 fuel numbers) and the lifetime powertrain warranty.
the downside is cost. Do I want a payment? I'm sure it will have the same limitation of accessories.
- Dan M
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mccamp
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2007
10:36:37
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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I agree with most of your comments
The US is a country where people compare vehicles with their neighbors and want to feel like they got the biggest and best they could afford. When a Ram is bigger, looks better, has more power, etc. etc. and is $1500more, and both vehicles are pushing $30K, then what is that amount of money spread out over a payment plan? $15 a month? I agree, unless you have limited parking or cant get in a fullsize, then there is no reason anyone would rather not have a new ram, imo. I wont make car payments because I like my money to make money, but if I did, I would get a new ram over a new dak.
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Super bee
GenI
9/14/2007
13:33:21
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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after my dakota i bumped up to a ram 1500, a 2001 quad cab with a 5.9
great truck, got about 13-14 mpg, so that wasnt fantastic, but i served me well, i got it becuase it was the last year of the old body style
i siad id never own a full size 4 door and a 1500 was enough truck for me
now i own a 2003 ram 3500 diesel
i absolutely LOVE IT
4 doors is handy as hell, it gets about 18 mpg and the engine will outlast the rest of the truck
and i can never worry about not having enough truck to do something, the only step up is a dualy quad cab long box
and i REALLY dont see myself needing that
1990 sport RC SB, 1995 318drivetrain, 3.92 gears (came with truck) Powertrax "traction system", 95 dash/steering wheel, hearthrob exhaust, headers, cutout after y-pipe, necessary electric fan add-a-leafs, 30x9.5 mud tires, cranked T-bars, AR 39 15x8 rims, grill guard, roll bars
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2007
16:43:55
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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Can I put a hemi in a Sonoma?
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choochoo
Dodge Dakota
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9/17/2007
23:02:41
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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Poor hemi.
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Kowalski
GenIII
9/18/2007
16:04:41
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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Blakdak - I thought mopar was the first brand with a reliable diesel in a full size ? Maybe you meant outside the model, rather than outside the brand ?
I don't think it's helped sales that the mid size Dak now weighs as much as full sizes truck used to.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Blakdak
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2007
16:42:14
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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Kowalski,
Guess I meant 1/2 ton, not full size. A 2500 or 3500 4x4 Ram with Cummins is reliable for sure, but way overkill for me. The solid front axle, immense ride height, and 40k price are too much for me. I will consider the 1/2 ton Ram when it gets the new Cummins V8, but I will also look at Toyota and Chevy if they are in the 1/2 ton diesel game by then.
I think we all agree that the Dakota just got too big and has too much cross over with the big boys. If they downsized for the next model change and put in the Cummins V6 or even a 4, we'd have higway MPG in upper 20's and still be able to tow.
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Lee
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2007
16:54:58
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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I agree for sure that the mid-sized trucks just got too big, and the disappearance of compact trucks leaves a large void in the selection of available vehicles.
My first truck was a '93 Toyota 4X4 Xtra Cab. I quickly found out that it was too long for many of the trails I wanted to explore. I scraped the bushes very often, and occasionally had to do quite a bit of maneuvering where a smaller vehicle would have squeezed on through. The new Dakotas, Tacomas, etc. are so big it is hard to justify buying one, especially when a full sized truck is not that much more expensive.
I will eventually want to buy a new vehicle to replace my aging Dakota. I would like to go back to having a 4X4 so I can take desert trips during the winter (my buggy is great for spring through fall, but winter is TOO COLD!). I do NOT like SUVs! I looked at the Jeep Wrangler, but they are also near $30k for a nice one. Any ideas?
Lee
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2007
22:03:13
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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I always thought a compact regular cab made a good entry-level truck. They were lightweight enough that they ran decent with a 170 HP V-6, and sold new around $15-17K.
The "lightweight" Dakota now is a 4250 LB Club Cab.
I've got my "keeper", a '01 4.7 manual RC that gets 20 mpg overall, and is a ball to drive.
I saw a 2008 for the first time today. The front end is sort-of a modernized version of a GenII, but makes the Dak look more massive. Still better than the previous nose.
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Flippy
Dodge Dakota
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9/20/2007
06:09:55
| RE: Dakota may be axed from Chrysler lineup
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good ridance damn fugly truck anyway
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