The forgotten dakota

I see the tacoma compared to the GM twins and the frontier all the time. Fair enough, they share a category and cater to similar crowds. However, I still plenty of dodge dakotas on the road. They're a midsize truck too, so why don't they get cross-shopped with tacomas in any of the reviews and comprisons I've seen online? I'm not a dakota fan or even a Chrysler fan myself, but can't help but see a disconnect here that doesn't make a ton of sense to me. Can anyone elaborate on why?

 

didn't they discontinue it after 2011?

 

Even so, it seems like nobody even compares them to 2nd gen tacos on these forums. It's all "frontier, GM twins, ranger, taco"... very little mention of dakotas. With the number of guys that have botched about wanting a v8 in their taco, it seems weird there's so little mention of another midsize truck on the market that actually came with that option!

 

not talked about as they were discontinued 6 years ago, and they were shit would be my guess

 

They were horrible trucks. They got even uglier when lifted. The reliability doesn't even come close to the Tacoma. The ONLY thing they ever did right was dropping the 5.9 in the R/T, but even that didn't make up for all of the other shortcomings. You can't find one out here without massively faded paint.

 

Good friend of mine had one that went over 200k with only regular maintenance.

Then it died, and he bought another but the most recent body style. He loved it, too.

Never owned one, never driven one, but shit or not they weren't all bad.

 

My friend got one as his first car, it was a regular cab (I think 4x4), dark grey, black wheels, 33s. It's a clean looking truck, unfortunately he never got to drive it because a girl put sand in his gas tank. That's the only one I've ever seen up close.

 

This was a great truck until it caught fire because he used it to rake dry hay... Over 160K.

 

Uh damn dude sorry for your loss. lol

 

Fixed.

 

This is the case with a friend of mine's dakota and he uses it to shuttle some horrid fsrs EVERY weekend. I've seen some absolute shit Chryslers, but his dakota just won't die. Maybe his was made on a Tuesday.

 

I have this hankering to drive a standard dakota with a 5.9 in it. That, or a supercharged x-runner. That'd be pretty ridiculous too.

 

Another friend had a 2005 that was a fleet truck until 99k... He drove it to 179K before totaling it because of a Deer.

 

The Chevy Xtreme are pretty fun too! The GMC Syclone would be interesting too.

 

What's fun about the Xtreme?

Thought they were all 4 banger trucks.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iILmeORbV4

2.2L or 4.3L
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f17/how-to-know-if-you-have-a-real-xtreme-480592/

 

I work with a guy who has a Dakota he purchased new. 170k miles and it's still running. He's been through 2 transmissions and THOUSANDS in engine repairs to get there. They're not ALL bad, just most. I'd imagine that's why they don't have the reputation and aren't produced any longer. Low sales?

 

My F-I-L had a Dakota regular cab 4x4 with the 5.9 V8. I thought it was a decent looking truck, and good grief would it move. I can't tell you about reliability because the guy swaps vehicles every 2 years.

 

I owned a 99' Dakota prior to my current Tacoma. I put 150k miles on it before it died, it does not compare to my Tacoma but I liked the truck. I loved that body style until Dodge changed it in 05 or 06 and made it UGLY. If I'm not mistaken I think it was the first Mid-size truck.

 

I beg to differ, and i have a color that was notorious for clear coat cancer intense blue.
Had my RT since 2005 still have it. If it was take care of with regular waxes washes and not in desert sun paint will stick. my roof like many other trucks for 17 years old is the only thing showing age. Mine has every bolt on engine wise and was at one point KB supercharged. No transmission issues. Again if bands are adjusted the 46re will last.

Would i buy one today hell no. My dream one would be a low mileage 96 with a 408 and tko 600 swap. Just like my dakota was to be before i parted it and mostly returned to stock.

I have had 3 and will always have one.

mine
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...dDUAhUCbSYKHY1mDfQQMwgvKAgwCA&iact=mrc&uact=8