Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Pickups Dodge Dakota Dodge Dakota Owners-Archived Discussions Dodge Dakota - General Topic 
840 messages, Last post on Oct 18, 2006 at 8:07 PM
You are in the Dodge Dakota Owners-Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is kcram
|
Replying to: dustyk (Aug 25, 2005 4:36 pm) |
|
|
My son is home on leave from the U.S. Army (1st Armored Div.) and as a gift I rented him a 2005 Dakota Quad Cab (4.7, auto, 4x4) from Enterprise. I was able to get some seat time in this truck and my overall impression is very, very good. The first thing I noticed was the exceptionally quiet cabin. This is by far the quietest truck I've been in to date, including the Tundra and the much overhyped F150. Compared to my '03 Dak with the 4.7, there is hardy any engine and drivetrain noise. There was a complete absence of wind noise and only a slight hum from the tires. The new 4.7 Magnum engine receives a carbon fiber composition valve cover that virtually eliminates noise from the valve train. The 4.7 seemed a little slower off the line compared to my 4x2 Club Cab, but this truck also outweighed mine by about 900 pounds. My son says he's getting about 17 MPG in around town driving, which surprises me. The seats are softer than my '03 and quite comfortable. The driving position seems a tad lower than the previous generation. Handling was excellent and with a noticeably lighter steering effort than my '03. The brakes seemed lighter and more positive. Although I liked the white-faced instrumentation, it still disturbs me that Dodge left out the oil pressure and voltmeter gauges. The interior is nicely done, but seemed a little too Germanic and understated despite the wood-toned center escutheon surrounding the radio and climate controls. I did not like the more slender center console, but I can see that this is what allowed for the nicer (ie: wider) seats. I was very impressed that this truck was still perfectly screwed together at 21,000 miles, with absolutely zero interior assembly defects, squeaks, buzzes or rattles. The platform seems extremely stiff and the cabin gives the feeling of being encassed in a solid block of steel. It is difficult for me to compare the ride of this Quad Cab to the previous generation since I have only ever driven one of the earlier design. However, the ride of this 2005 Quad 4x4 was judged to be identical to my 2003 Club Cab at 53K. I think that means the ride might have been improved in the Quad, but I'll let other owners of the last generation to weigh in on this. I have always found the new generation of the Dakota to be contemporally handsome and good looking except for the front end. I'm finding that the frontal appearance isn't offending my eyes quite as much as it first did, and since I was able to spend some time behind the wheel looking outward I can say that there is so much to like about the new Dak that I could forgive the jutty appearance of the front end. In truth, the only new truck design that I find has a more appealing front end design is the new F150. the Tundra, Titan, and Silverado are even uglier to my aging eye. Bests, Dusty
|
|
|
Replying to: dustyk (Dec 26, 2005 3:42 pm) Just took a closer look at my niece's 05'Tundra and wouldn't trade my DAK for two of the Tundra's |
|
|
Replying to: bobfish (Nov 06, 2004 4:46 pm) |
|
|
|
|
This may sound crazy but here goes. I have a 91 dakota 4X4 3.9 liter. I blew the motor at 178,000. I have a 84 360CI motor with 58,000 miles on it. Will this thing bolt up to the tranny? I was told by several people it will. I know I have motor mount mod's but that is nothing. The weight issue doesn't bother me either. Or should I just do a complete swap of engine and tranny. Oh on that note will my 231 NP transfer bolt up to the tranny? I know a lot of you are thinking just buy another Dakota, but I love this truck. I have owned every brand made. Everyone say's my gas mileage will be really bad. I was getting 8.89 miles to the gallon with it. I do a lot of idling running a hydraulic pump so gas is no issue. Just need the specs if it will work. Thanks for any info-it will be appreciated. Thanks, Chris |
|
|
Hello, Going to look at a '94 club cab 4x4 w/ slt package today. It's got auto, a/c and power everything. It's a private sale and the price seems right for the mileage (144k). What should I be on the lookout for. This will be used as a 3rd vehicle with part-time commuting duties (20 mile each way). TIA, Peeter
|
|
|
Replying to: peetert (May 10, 2006 5:02 am) At that age and mileage, if they haven't been replaced recently you could be looking at replacing the belts,hoses etc as well as possibly universal joints, carrier bearing etc. Also could be overdue for tranny flush and filter. Guess what I am trying to say is to make sure proper maint. has been done or it could nickel and dime you to death.....
|
|
|
Replying to: jneal (May 10, 2006 3:21 pm) Look for more questions as I find time to tinker with it. Peeter |
|
| I am strongly considering getting a bedrug for my 2005 Dakota Club Cab. But after reading the installation instructions, I was wondering what people are doing about the tie-downs in the bed floor. The general instructions from Wise are to cut a small slit or remove the anchor and reinstall over the rug. That will work for the ones by the tailgate, but am I going to loss access to the ones in the floor? Are people cutting hole in the bedrug and putting the rubber stopper in the bedrug??? | |
 As you may have noticed, we are reorganizing the Forums to allow better focus and easier searching when you have a particular problem or comment about any given vehicle. Many of the large generic discussions (like this one) will be closed to new posts, and we ask that you continue in the more focused discussions that you can find at the Group page for the vehicle, linked below. This discussion will not be deleted, so you can still search for information in it. We recognize this is going to take some getting used to (for the hosts too!), so please bear with us. If you have any questions, you can always email the host of any discussion - the link is at the top of each page to the host who oversees that discussion. If you don't see a discussion in the group appropriate to your question or comment, start a new one, or send me an email, and I'll point you in the right direction! Thanks! kcram - Pickups Host Dodge Dakota Group |
|
You are here:
Forums
Pickups Dodge Dakota Dodge Dakota Owners-Archived Discussions Dodge Dakota - General Topic
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Dodge Dakota
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
