Today marks the end of Dakota production

[bull]

After 25 years of production they're officially ending the Dakota today. I've always been a big Dakota fan. Even though they can't handle too many big jobs I've always found them to be a very handy and city-friendly truck for hauling my Charger parts, furniture, yard debris and tons of other odds and ends around. I guess the Japanese have cornered the mid-sized truck market because the Ranger has already been axed and the Colorado's days are numbered too.

RIP Dakota 1986-2011

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/08/report-dodge-dakota-production-set-to-end-this-month.html

[jaak]

I had a '97 with a 318, 5 speed. Loved that truck.

Jason

[Budnicks]

After 25 years of production they're officially ending the Dakota today. I've always been a big Dakota fan. Even though they can't handle too many big jobs I've always found them to be a very handy and city-friendly truck for hauling my Charger parts, furniture, yard debris and tons of other odds and ends around. I guess the Japanese have cornered the mid-sized truck market because the Ranger has already been axed and the Colorado's days are numbered too.

RIP Dakota 1986-2011

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/08/report-dodge-dakota-production-set-to-end-this-month.html

That's really too bad, It seems what ever I like is eliminated eventually, Plymouth now my Dakota brand... I have a 99 Dakota SLT 4x4 auto 5.2ltr with a bunch of bolt-ons something like 300hp & big tires, I think it's a great truck, never had any real issues, perfect size to handle the mountain roads were I live, easy to park, goes any were, especially compared to the Dorf f-350 Superstroke 4x4 Dually I also have, it's a freaken beast to drive in comparison, they both have there uses though...

[TruckDriver]

Mine is a 1993 with the 318, and it has 254,000+ on it, and runs like a top yet! After 2004? they got ugly to me though.

[bull]

After 2004? they got ugly to me though.

I agree, although the last few model years weren't quite as bad.

[Mike DC]

                             
No big loss IMHO.  I like Daks when they are in good shape but the build quality wasn't good.  

I got rid of my '95 Dakota with barely 115,000 miles on it.  It was coming apart as badly as any 115,000-mile vehicle I've ever owned.  

[bull]

                             
No big loss IMHO.  I like Daks when they are in good shape but the build quality wasn't good.  

I got rid of my '95 Dakota with barely 115,000 miles on it.  It was coming apart as badly as any 115,000-mile vehicle I've ever owned.  

So you like them when they are in good shape but not when they're not?

Come to think of it, the same goes for me too! I like everything I like and nothing I don't like.

[RallyeMike]

But everybody tells me that American vehicles are so great compared to the foreign crap. How can this be!   

Sorry to hear of this.

[bull]

But everybody tells me that American vehicles are so great compared to the foreign crap. How can this be!    

Well, he did say it was coming apart as badly as any 115k car he's ever owned so I guess that also means it was as good as anything he's ever owned.

[Mike DC]

So you like them when they are in good shape but not when they're not?

Come to think of it, the same goes for me too! I like everything I like and nothing I don't like.

I wouldn't like having a Toyota Prius even if it was brand new.  



I stand by what I said.  I'd like another truck like my '95 Dakota if it was built with decent quality.  

Long term quality is just another feature.  Just like red paint or a diesel engine.  The way to do it is no mystery, you just have to spend more money on the tolerances of all the individual parts to make it happen.  Mopar did not build the truck with the feature that I wanted so I won't buy another truck like that.  

The competence & abilities of the truck's American engineers & assembly line workers are not the issue.  I have no doubt they would have delivered a 250,000-mile truck if the top brass at Mopar had paid them to deliver that instead of something cheaper.

[b5blue]

  There is many Dak's on the road, running strong all over down here, even two rag tops close by. Great trucks, I know a guy who bought 2 new, sold the first to a friend and there both sill going strong. I really don't know of any "Quality issues" with them? 
  I'd have picked one up for a beater in a heartbeat if I found one for sale but people keep them till there's nothing left. The 89 Cherokee I bought seems to be fine shape with over 120K miles and I'm being told will go another 130K without much hassle. My 90 New Yorker went over 220K with minor repairs and no engine or transmission overhauls. I could have repaired the suspension parts that were worn and kept going with it. My ex beat the crap out of her Voyager minivan for years and it never quit ether.
  I really don't put much stock in vague remarks could you be more specific? Did some part not fit or function properly? I'm not challenging your statement just wondering what you found wrong exactly? 

[Cooter]

Finally, never liked the Dodge small truck. Kinda like the 4WD S10 and S15 trucks...Didn't care for the front end/suspension. Wheel track width in front too wide. I wonder what Mercedes/Fiat will replace it with now....

[bull]

So you like them when they are in good shape but not when they're not?

Come to think of it, the same goes for me too! I like everything I like and nothing I don't like.

I wouldn't like having a Toyota Prius even if it was brand new.  

I stand by what I said.  I'd like another truck like my '95 Dakota if it was built with decent quality.  

Long term quality is just another feature.  Just like red paint or a diesel engine.  The way to do it is no mystery, you just have to spend more money on the tolerances of all the individual parts to make it happen.  Mopar did not build the truck with the feature that I wanted so I won't buy another truck like that.  

The competence & abilities of the truck's American engineers & assembly line workers are not the issue.  I have no doubt they would have delivered a 250,000-mile truck if the top brass at Mopar had paid them to deliver that instead of something cheaper.

Or, maybe you just need to take better care of your stuff. Just saying. If you can't get anything to last more than 115k it might not be a quality issue alone. I mean Truck Driver got 256k out if his Dakota and mine is running strong at 156k. I know of and have heard of dozens of Dakotas going well over the 150k mark.

Finally, never liked the Dodge small truck. Kinda like the 4WD S10 and S15 trucks...Didn't care for the front end/suspension. Wheel track width in front too wide. I wonder what Mercedes/Fiat will replace it with now....

You don't have to tell us. It's well-known that guys with little weeners don't like little trucks.

[Cooter]

Finally, never liked the Dodge small truck. Kinda like the 4WD S10 and S15 trucks...Didn't care for the front end/suspension. Wheel track width in front too wide. I wonder what Mercedes/Fiat will replace it with now....

You don't have to tell us. It's well-known that guys with little weeners don't like little trucks.

Now Bull, you know your "Smallpenitosis" has nothing to do with small trucks...

[ACUDANUT]

 My uncle Had a 2001 Dapuka. He was lucky to get 100K miles out of it...It was in the shop more, than on the road.
FWIW, my 2001 Blazer has 260K miles on it and is still running strong.  Who says American Cars/Trucks ain't worth a dang ?

[nh_mopar_fan]

My 2000 4x4 Sport has been a great truck. I think I'm around 72K on it now. Stole, uh....bought it for $6K back in 2004 with 30K on it.

[Mike DC]

Or, maybe you just need to take better care of your stuff. Just saying. shruggy If you can't get anything to last more than 115k it might not be a quality issue alone. I mean Truck Driver got 256k out if his Dakota and mine is running strong at 156k. I know of and have heard of dozens of Dakotas going well over the 150k mark.

No, that's precisely the issue.  I get 2-3 times the mileage out of nearly EVERY other vehicle I own, American or foreign.  

I even got good results out of another vehicle from mid-1990s Chrysler, a '96 Jeep Cherokee.  (And this one makes my bad Dakota all the more perplexing to me; the two vehicles even shared a few parts.)  I beat the living shit out of that Jeep, used it like a disposable work truck for the last 100,000 miles of its life, and it still lasted for almost 300,000 miles with little more than regular maintenance work.  It was just a better-made item than the Dakota in general IMHO.

[A383Wing]

I'm happy with my 94 Sport...been a good truck..picked it up for $120 because the owner did not want to put a fuel pump or timing chain in it

[GordonGriggs]

  I think they priced themselves out of the market. I bought my first dakota new in 1990 for $7995. I bought another new one in 2001 for $13500. I was looking at buying another new one in 2009 when the cash for clunker's deal was going on but I thought they were overpriced.

[BrianShaughnessy]

Or, maybe you just need to take better care of your stuff. Just saying. shruggy If you can't get anything to last more than 115k it might not be a quality issue alone. I mean Truck Driver got 256k out if his Dakota and mine is running strong at 156k. I know of and have heard of dozens of Dakotas going well over the 150k mark.

No, that's precisely the issue.  I get 2-3 times the mileage out of nearly EVERY other vehicle I own, American or foreign.  

I even got good results out of another vehicle from mid-1990s Chrysler, a '96 Jeep Cherokee.  (And this one makes my bad Dakota all the more perplexing to me; the two vehicles even shared a few parts.)  I beat the living shit out of that Jeep, used it like a disposable work truck for the last 100,000 miles of its life, and it still lasted for almost 300,000 miles with little more than regular maintenance work.  It was just a better-made item than the Dakota in general IMHO.

Same kinda thread on moparts...  I'll say the same kinda thing.    Jeep should have kept making the MJ Comanche past 92.    Same basic Cherokee drivetrain.

Other than that....   I think one guy here at work still has a newish Dak.    It's FUG.

[gtx6970]

my dad has an 88 Dak with darn enar 300K on it , Trans and engine have never been touched, although it does hesitate going into gear when it's really cold out ( so do i come to think of it ) and the timing chain rattles something fierce.
But overall it's been a great vehicle that keeps on ticking

I did some work on a late 80's 4WD  Dak with a 3.9 auto, truck was owned by a pilpeline co and had over 800K on it. still original engine and trans . Truck spent most of it's life traveling the hiway system going from pipeline to pipleline all over the USA and Canada .
Top half of the steering wheel was worn down to the steel inner rim. Last I heard it was semi-retired with just under 1mil miles.

[moparsons]

My dad has an 87 dak he bought brand new with 340,000 miles on it....original motor and tranny-no rebuilds. also has a 91 with 180,000 on it. Both have been really good trucks.  also----we use them as trucks--campers, fire wood, hunting, you name it.

[Mike DC]

My Dakota's drivetrain was not the problem.  It pulled hard and only ever needed a few basics replaced. 


The problem was the rest of the truck.  Power windows & locks quitting.  Column shifter missing Park.  Intermittent wiring problems all over the place.  The fuel gauge had quit working by 90,000 miles.  The driver seat springs sagged uncomfortably and unevenly (I'm well under 200 lbs).  The paint was totally unpresentable from 30 feet by the time it was 10 years old (in the midwest).  Etc.   

[bull]

I did some work on a late 80's 4WD  Dak with a 3.9 auto, truck was owned by a pilpeline co and had over 800K on it. still original engine and trans . Truck spent most of it's life traveling the hiway system going from pipeline to pipleline all over the USA and Canada .
Top half of the steering wheel was worn down to the steel inner rim. Last I heard it was semi-retired with just under 1mil miles.

Wow!

BTW, my youngest daughter just said, "maybe they'll come back one day really ugly like the Charger did."

[TruckDriver]

I did some work on a late 80's 4WD  Dak with a 3.9 auto, truck was owned by a pilpeline co and had over 800K on it. still original engine and trans . Truck spent most of it's life traveling the hiway system going from pipeline to pipleline all over the USA and Canada .
Top half of the steering wheel was worn down to the steel inner rim. Last I heard it was semi-retired with just under 1mil miles.

Wow!

BTW, my youngest daughter just said, "maybe they'll come back one day really ugly like the Charger did."

The Durango did