I bought my 96 two years ago, from a family friend. I don't think I got a particularly good or bad deal, it was high mileage and $3 grand. But it's got 4wd, V8, Club cab (which means shorter bed,) and electric options like locks and windows & cruise that work well. A/C that works well. It's a lot bigger than my old Toyota, a lot more comfy, and loafs down the road if I keep the speed down. Best of all, it's rust free and solid and was in enough fender benders that it's got decent, not perfect paint. Factory tow package, too.

I had it's big brother, an 89 standard cab, dually Ram with the Cummins engine. After that piece of junk, I never thought I'd own another Chrysler product. But the Dak kinda suits me. Enough room inside, small enough outside most of the time, and it's not glamor it's working.

Gets crappy mileage, but then most pickups do.

 

Because you just can't kill them. My "92 has served three generations of my family really well (my dad bought it new, I inherited it when he passed, and my daughter drove it for 2 years until she got her new Ram.) She's old, and tired, but I'm currently collecting the pieces I need to redo most of her. The only thing that don't work is the cruise control. At almost 200,000 miles, how can you doubt it? and no, she don't smoke or spit oil.

 

My father gave me my '91. I thought it was an ugly body style, but I wanted a smaller more economical truck, and if isn't a Dodge, I don't want it. So I parked the Power Ram and fell in love with my Dakota.Power from a proven 318, dependable as all hell, comfy but works like a truck, etc. I liked it so much I wanted another one in 4x4. So I bought a '92. Same truck but 4x4. I am keeping both of the Dakotas and am going to sell the Power Ram. I have nothing bad to say about them. Well, except the paint.I love the first gen Dakotas.

 

More practial reasons are,

Easy to maneuver in small places. Get into small places [Off road and /or to hide]

The power and capacities of a standard size 1/2 ton truck, but easier to load and unload.

Easier to work under the hood, to wash /wax.

Has lots of room in the cab.

 

unless u got a short bed regular cab tiny thing, dang my Xtended cab had the turning radius of a bus, i tried parking @ Christmas time in parking lots with my old lifted 92 and damn barelly fit in most places, and ended up parking on islands and crubs 99% of the time LOL but again durig rush hour this was me : people round here seen my truck coming they moved, and i miss that my jeep tj i just get cut off but it maneuvers like a seadoo :O

 

Because they were available as factory convertibles.
But if any "normal" person looked at the ongoing bill for restoring mine, they'd say i wasn't rational... so my input is somewhat biased. LOL