| From | Message |
Neil
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
13:37:01
|
 Subject: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
Dodge has pulled the plug on the next generation of the popular Dakota mid-sized pick-up. Codenamed NB, the next Dakota was slated to debut in model year 2004 or 2005. It was to be based on the all new platform that Dodge was developing for both the next Dakota and Durango (and possibly for a Grand Cherokee variant)
|
SuperBee
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
14:07:28
|  RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
and you just now heard this?
have you been in a coma?
|
Todd W
GenIII
5/03/2002
14:08:20
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
Somewhat old news my friend, but thanks for relaying it anyway. Rumour has it that it was cancled because the Durango chassis was getting -real- close to the size of the RAM chassis. It remains to be seen if this is the death bell for the Dakota, but I doubt it is. They sell a number of the buggers, and it's really the only truck in it's size range with a selection of V8 engines. The current chassis works pretty darned well, I think, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't just do some cosmetic changes to the bodywork, redesign the engine compartment, and continue to refine what they already have.
I'd like to see some better brakes, you know? :0) Other than that, I have to say they've got the handling and suspension pretty much set up correctly. I love my 2x4 RC's turning radius!
'00 RC Sport, Forest Green, 3.9L, 5-speed 3.55, Airaid Intake with relocated IAT, Autolite 3923s, Ported Throttle Body, Borg & Warner Cap/Rotor, Accel Coil, JBA 9mm Wires, JET Stage II
'Do not trifle with me--I am a master of Chop-Off-Obnoxious-People's-Heads-Do!'
|
Bill
GenIII
5/03/2002
14:19:27
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I tend to agree with Todd. Our trucks have to be way too profitable for DC to get rid of. Like he said, there really is nothing that even comes close to the Dakota in its class. I have no idea what the financials look like on the truck, but I would have to think it was holding its own the way you see them all over the place. I wouldn't mind them keeping what they have now and just refining it. I am very happy with the 2001 Dakota I have now!
Bill
Bill's Truck Page
ARE Tonneau Cover
Wet Okole Seat Covers
Homebrew Intake and Other Mods Coming Soon!!
|
Neil
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
14:38:32
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I do know this is kinda old but I was hoping to keep people aware and not to let it go..we need to contact DC and let them bone heads know how we feel ...I currently own a 98 intrepid es and what they plan to do w/ those in the future really bothers me..I hope these are just rumors and these two great vehicles dakota/intrepid will live on..I'm a Dodge man all the way and I get pretty upset in the direction the company is going ..I would hate to have to defect to GM or Ford in the near future if things continue like this ..thanks for you time
|
Bill
GenIII
5/03/2002
14:42:57
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I agree with you Neil. The only problem is, these companies (and I am not saying this is bad, it is just the way it is) look to their financials and if the vehicle isn't paying off, then they drop it. The businesses are all about the bottom line, not what people necessarily want. I agree that we should contact them, but if they have the financials to back up the decision, there may not be much we can do. I am a Finance/Economics major in college and I know exactly where these businesses are coming from, it is just capitalism at its finest!
Bill
Bill's Truck Page
ARE Tonneau Cover
Wet Okole Seat Covers
Homebrew Intake and Other Mods Coming Soon!!
|
Dan Gruber
GenIII
5/03/2002
14:56:08
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I could see them doing a minor downsizing of the Dak to make sure it's not competing for Ram sales. But not a total cancellation. That just hands the compact-midsize truck market totally to Chevy and Ford.
Start Right! Use Autolite!
Dan
2000 CC SLT 4.7 4X4 Auto 3.55 LSD
3 inch Performance Accesories lift & 32 inch BFG MT KM's
|
Neil
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
15:01:50
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I do hope we are wrong..../ everything I've read about the Dakota points to it being the best truck of its class..So if they do disco it it tells me they (1) just do not care..or(2) maybe they have even a better product in store . (the second being less likely)..Like I said I hope I'm wrong if not the new Chevrolet Colorado looks pretty good......
|
don n
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
15:32:39
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
i would hate to see the demise of the dak,that would be a big mistake and as far as the other cars the stratus is prolly the best mid sized veh in its class for repairs and performance i own a grand am but if i buy another car it would be stratus unless they downgrade the car from it present status.
|
Neil
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
15:47:41
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
like I said before I own a 98 intrepid and for any car in its class hands down it is the best for quality ,options and style I beleive the stratus is a good choice if you do not want a full size car like the Intrepid, because it very similar to the intrepid in styling..I've been looking to get a truck or suv..now my two choices are the Dakota quad cab because I have 2 small children and the room is just great ..plus I need a 4x4 for the New England winters ..and my other choice would be the Durango now I have not driven either one ..can any of you guys suggest which would be the best choice thanks...???
|
Todd W
GenIII
5/03/2002
16:20:20
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
Dakota's good if it's just going to be you, your two kids, and maybe someone else. Best bet if you actually plan on needing a truck bed (however shortened it is). However, if you don't see yourself needing the truck bed, look at the Durango. You can fit more people in it, and I believe the rear seats either come out or can be folded near-flat for more cargo area. They look like nice vehicals.
'00 RC Sport, Forest Green, 3.9L, 5-speed 3.55, Airaid Intake with relocated IAT, Autolite 3923s, Ported Throttle Body, Borg & Warner Cap/Rotor, Accel Coil, JBA 9mm Wires, JET Stage II
'Do not trifle with me--I am a master of Chop-Off-Obnoxious-People's-Heads-Do!'
|
Bluethunder
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
16:31:30
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I wouldnt mind seeing a stop of the Dakota. Who cares, I have one...It will just make me like mine more. I hate when I buy a car or truck, then the next year they redesign it then I feel like I have the "old model" Just happened last year when I bought a chevy Blazer for the family, then a few months later the trail blazer comes out...pissed me off!
|
BlueBalls
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
17:10:40
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
Well Bluethunder, that will teach you to do some research huh.
|
Chris W
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
17:59:25
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
if they stop making the Dakota then i will just put engines in the one I have.
I can get a crate motor from Dodge installed with 3-36 for about 4grand.
I'll NEVER drive a Chevy, dont like Ford.
If I absolutely HAD to choose another it wouldbe a quad cab Toyota 4x4. too bad their so damn expensive.
|
Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
18:44:06
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I still stand by that this article only talked about cancelling the redesign, not the Dakota. I say it's a great move. The redesign would have been as big as a 93-2001 ram and that is what they pulled the plug on. I bet they are right now working on an alternate redesign to keep the size about the same as the current model. This also makes it a possibility the current design in a few years (2004-2005) might get the 5.7 hemi, where before that would have never happened before the redesign. The planed redesign was not only big and heavy but somewhat ulgy compared to the smooth lines on the current Dakota.
|
Fubar512
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
20:06:26
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
Don't be surprised if they kill the Dakota.
Mopar has done it before. They cancelled the old "E" bodies (Challenger and 'Cuda), because the sales of pony cars took a slump in '73 and '74. Ford and AMC got out of the pony cars in '74, also, leaving the field to GM.
Four years later, GM couldn't keep up with the demand for Z-28s and Trans AMs, and Mopar was stuck holding it's you-know-what in it's hands.
Let's just hope they don't repeat their past mistakes.
|
R_U_FST2
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
20:54:14
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I actually work for DCX, and I can tell you that I have not heard one word about the cancellation of Dakota ... and believe me when I tell you that I would know about it if it was planned.
|
JP
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
21:54:45
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I have started 2 strings on this subject myself. Neither was positive. I also hope I am in error. The upsizing of the Durango and the increasing role of Mitsubisi cause me to have serious concerns. I want Hersbird to be right but intuition tells me there is bad news coming for Dak fans.
JP '01 CC SLT+ 4.7 AWD LSD
|
NEIL
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/04/2002
00:07:04
|  RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
WELL THANKS EVERYONE ILL HAVE TO TEST DRIVE BOTH..THE HARD PART IS GOING TO BE GETTING THE WIFE TO BUY EITHER ONE,SHE WANTS A NEON...
|
Jonathan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/04/2002
00:17:17
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
Hey fellas, wussup. I was recently at the Atlanta International auto show last weekend. Well, needless to say I had the time of my life there.....it was incredible. I talked to the reps at the Dodge section, I didnt get any "new" information out of them. They said the "rumor" is that the current body style for the Dak and Durango will stay the same till 2004 or 2005, maybe 2006 for complete transition with every new model design available. They refered to the M80 as being a platform for that new design starting in somewhere around the time of 2004/2005. All I can say is that thing was pretty much distastefull, and I got pictures from every angle. I think I will just keep my current dak, I love it!!
|
Alan P
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/04/2002
01:50:50
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
Todd W,I see you list an Accel coil,do you have just the coil or the whole set-up? How do you like it,did it make a big difference? Did you install it before or after the jet chip.
Alan P
98 V6 auto CC w/mods
|
Todd W
GenIII
5/04/2002
02:24:55
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I installed the coil just before the Jet Chip, which went in yesterday. Yes, I just have the coil. I installed it, the wires, and the cap/rotor about the same time. I don't know if the coil helped, but after installation throttle response and idle were improved somewhat.
'00 RC Sport, Forest Green, 3.9L, 5-speed 3.55, Airaid Intake with relocated IAT, Autolite 3923s, Ported Throttle Body, Borg & Warner Cap/Rotor, Accel Coil, JBA 9mm Wires, JET Stage II
'Do not trifle with me--I am a master of Chop-Off-Obnoxious-People's-Heads-Do!'
|
Bill
GenIII
5/04/2002
06:22:38
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
Neil,
Don't get the Neon, you've gotta get a Dakota! They are in two different leagues. You can't go wrong buying a Dakota, I promise!
Bill
Bill's Truck Page
ARE Tonneau Cover
Wet Okole Seat Covers
Homebrew Intake and Other Mods Coming Soon!!
|
Graphite
*GenIII*
5/04/2002
06:34:51
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I bet that anyone who is responsible for product decisions gets a thrill out of reading these threads. They can feel secure in the knowledge that their decisions are still secret. maybe a little rumor let out here and there to keep things interesting.
GO WINGS!!!
Joe
2002 club cab 4.7 v8 stock 4x4 Graphite /silver
2002 quad cab 4x2 v6 stock Atlantic blue/silver
2002 evenflo travel system
1999 John Deere LX 255
|
Bill
GenIII
5/04/2002
07:21:27
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
I just talked to a neighbor who works at DC and he said he hasn't heard anything about dropping the Dakota. Whether he is telling the truth or not is another story! I agree with Graphite, they probably have a good laugh in the office reading these posts!
Bill
Bill's Truck Page
ARE Tonneau Cover
Wet Okole Seat Covers
Homebrew Intake and Other Mods Coming Soon!!
|
Halo3
GenIII
5/04/2002
10:01:34
| RE: End of the dodge dakota
IP: Logged
Message:
Okay, here's my take...
When the Durango came out, they built it on a Dakota frame to keep production costs down. Now with the Durango being re-designed, the resulting frame would put the Dakota too close in size to the Ram. So, DC has put the kibosh on the Dakota re-design. I hate to say it, but that's just plain old good thinking on DC's part. Why build more competition for your own vehicle line?!?
I think DC will continue producing the Dakota & come out with the new Durango style. It's just that they won't share a frame like they have for the past 5 years.
Semper Fi,
Halo3
'00 Lt. Driftwood 4x4 SLT DQC w/5.9L
http://home.attbi.com/~quadcab
|
| | P 1 Next Page>> |
