yes or no

Found a great deal on a 2002 4x4 quad cab dodge dakota slt v8 magnum.
120xxx miles. lifted on 33's.

anyone had experiences with these trucks? Whats ther reliability ratings?
A lot of mechanical problems.

dont know if im going to.. just considering trading my 05 4cyl tacoma prerunner base with 98000 miles in on a dakota..

just want to hear opinions?

dont want no big dispute

...it could lower my monthly payments thats why im considering

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/ctd/1709951018.html

im getting it 1800 less than the asking price..

 

Not going to say it is junk, but it certainly is not as reliable as your Taco, and your truck will hold its resale value better than the Dakota. For my money I would keep the Tacoma.

That being said, I have two friends that own the Dakota's and use them as work trucks. The seem to do OK, nothing to write home about though.

 

NO

 

too many miles for a dodge. Maybe if it had 30k

 

no. you may have lower payments, but im sure the cost of ownership of the taco is less in the long run. not to mention gas and resale value...

 

MY GFs dad has that truck and he's starting to have problems with the computer and transmission. The engine will shut off on the freeway! Then turn back on, but its so unpredictable. Just beware of it.

 

Our V6 is better than the Dakota's V8.

Just something to think about. Also you'd be trading in a beautiful Indigo Ink for one of of ugliest trucks on the market...

 

My dad used to work a Dodge dealership..
That was one of my biggest reasons of NOT going with a Dodge.. They always have problems.. I wouldn't get it.. Especially a used one... but thats me..
I never liked the Dakotas anyways though..

 

I owned a 2001 Dodge Dakota. I can tell you anything you need. Plus you can go to Dakota-Durango.com their is a lot of info there. The V8 you speak of is the 4.7 which is what I had. I had the throttle body spacer and stage one jet perfomace pack with flowmaster 40 duals. Had a leveling kit as well with 32' tires. I had no major problems with my truck when I dumped at 130 k. Typical issues are steering rack's tend to go, and some ball joints now and then. But engine/tranny wise, you can get a easy 200 k. The 4.7 was designed by mercedes benz, for Dodge back in the day.

I can tell you this, you will only Avg 12 mpg with that truck. I only got 15 on HWY nursing the pedal. They do run, but they are horrible on gas. Thats why I got the Toyota.

When I traded mine, for the TACO it was about the same condition as the black one you showed, they gave me 5 grand on the trade. The rsale value in not there. You should only pay about 8 or 9 k for that truck.

 

i drove one for work. bone stock. that truck got the worst fuel mileage of any in our fleet. it was 4x4, and i got an average of 13mpg. it drove decent. it didnt feel super powerful, like i imagined a V8 should.

i say keep the toyota..pay it off, drive it till either you or the truck, cries "uncle". oh, save a few hundred every month for the next rig.

 

I will agree to stay with the Toyota. The engine is the same as that in the Grand Cherokee, which I have had for many years. Being on the Jeep Forum and listening to others there, they never complained of motor issues and lots of them have 200k+ on their trucks. Mine has 256k, however mine is the 4.0 inline six. Fucking bullet proof that motor.

 

No.

 

So pretty much a NO GO, I have had no problems with my tacoma!
And thanks for all feedback, big help in making my decision.

It just seems with owners of those trucks 50% say no problems and the other 50% say nothing but problems.

 

Had an 01 Dakota R/T and was getting 13mpg average on a very very very good day. I bought it used with over 30,000 and needed new ball joints an tie rods, I had it a year and go sick of paying for gas for it. Something never felt right with the suspenison/rack and pinion, lost the t-stat at about 40k. Me personally would say a negative, but its up to you

 

NO

 

No.

 

I know it's not the same, but I drove a Durango before finally getting my Tacoma. I cannot bash the truck, it pulled the family boat and did exactly what it needed to do. BUT, it did get terrible gas mileage with the 5.2L. Although it is not a 'full size' truck, it sure feels like it with all of the weight = going through brakes, bearings, gas more rapidly! So many problems with brakes sticking and not wanting to work properly from the enormousness work they had to do.
Plus, I have not heard of many Magnum V8's lasting more than 180k miles without major work. Tacoma's are known to last more than 200k with simple maintenance.

Like everyone else, I suggest keeping the Tacoma. Much better investment for gas mileage, reliability, and life existence.

 

no!

 

I've had really bad luck with the few Chrysler products I've owned so I'd have to say no. However, I know people who really like them, so who knows? With that many miles, I would look it over really good before I bought it.