I'm 16 and have saved enough money to buy a truck. My dad had a 92 dakota years back and it was very reliable. He had the v6 with a 5spd. Had 180k before he sold it. Anyway, I am looking to buy my first car and someone at my dad's work has a 98 Dakota. It has the 3.9 v6, 5 speed, extended cab and only 67,000 miles. It needs ball joints though. The guy is pretty firm at $2500 My dad said its not the greatest condition cosmetically (pretty scratched up), but the low miles are drawing me in. For 2500 it doesn't seem like a bad deal to me. I have looked up review on the web and there are alot of bad ones. Are the trucks bad or are the happy people just being quiet? I have seen alot of bad ball joints, cat converters, trannys (although they don't worry me as the one im looking at has a 5speed), and brakes. So i have some questions for you.


How is the truck in general? High operation cost? Bad Reliability?

What should i expect in mpg from this engine/tranny combo?

How hard are the ball joints to put in? How much will they run me?

Should I worry about the bad reviews?

Lastly, given the details, what are your thought? Buy it?

 

Got my 02 Dakota as my first car. I'm really happy with it, she's got about 134k on the clock and still going strong. And mine's an auto, the one you're looking at should last even longer if properly cared for. As far as gas mileage, I'm getting around 13 (mine's a 3.9, rwd), but it's winter and I've got 31 inch tires. And a heavy right foot lol. But yeah, I wouldn't worry about the bad reviews, just make sure you look over the vehicle in detail before you buy it. If I could do it over, I'd probably get the 4.7, or even the 5.2, because there isn't much of a difference in gas mileage. $2,500 seems like a pretty good price, but in the end it's up to you. Overall, I'd say these trucks are VERY reliable.

 

they are good trucks and im 16 and my 2000 is my first vehicle its a good truck reliability is there and like dirtbiker said gas mileage is about 13 but i also have 30 inch tires and a somewhat heavy foot.

 

Im 17, got a 99 5.2, 4x4 147k, Auto and get 12mpg with a really heavy right foot. Running 29's with low pressure sure doesnt help the mpg but when you live where i do its necessary or the sand and mud driveway covered in snow will swallow your tires whole.

 

So far my dakota has been on and off the cliff.

I got mine in November 2010 with only 40,000 kms (not miles) for only 4500. I admit I got a steel on it but it needed 2 upper ball joints for the safety - $500. Had to buy new tires - HAD TO they wouldn't make it through the winter, $1000 A month later my waterpump died and had to replace that. Cost me $500 because I had a shop do it and didn't want to do it myself in the winter. It has a misfire from hell which I can't seem to find out what's the problem.

Overall, gas mileage sucks, but hey - you're buying a truck. You've got the 5 speed so you'll see a little better than me.

Dodge suspension components suck period. Expect to be changing ball joints and tie rods quicker than other trucks out there. They are not horrible like you wont be replacing them every 2 oil changes, but a lot sooner than other vehicles.

I'm a body work guy - I used to drive a 2004 pontiac grand prix GT2 and that body was absolutely mint when I sold it. Had 230,000 kms when I did and had a bad tranny, but boy did I ever do a good job with the body. Scratches aren't hard to get out. Buff, polish. Or if they are bad wetsand, wetsand some more, keep going, buff, claybar, polish, wax, seal. DONE!

Good luck if you decide to purchase this vehicle

 

01 3.9 rwd. Mines been on the wrecker 3 or 4 times (and completely off the ground under it's own power multiple times that) and still runs, if that tells you anything. Yes the balll joints and suspension parts in general will become maintenance items, but if you put the good aftermarket greasables on, shouldn't be such a problem. I've had my trans out 3 times, you're set with the 3.9/5 speed combination. Just don't tow in 5th gear. I have 31's on mine with 4.10 gears, getting around 14.5-15 mpg or so with a heavy foot and lots of stop and go. My highest mileage (I track all receipts for trending) was 27 from DFW to college station, my average is 14-16 if I can keep my foot out of it, my worst has been 9 mpg when I made 20 passes in one night at the drag strip. I also have an SCT tuner, HID fogs + regular fogs, and will hopefully get my 1.7 harlands put on this week.

I've had to replace the PCM, that's about the only thing other than transmission that's left me stranded on the side of the road.

I've had it on the right side tires autocrossing, completely off the ground several times over jumps (stuck the landing all but once, but got it straightened out quick enough it didn't roll), I've taken out a stop sign, 100 feet of barb wire fence, gone off the road and had it teeter-tottering on the trailer hitch.....Just just say my truck has been well used, has battle scars, and still has life in it.

Fair warning: if you buy it, you WILL get bit by the modding bug, and it WILL hurt the pocketbook.