I'm looking at buying a '97-2000 Dakota extend cab. I've heard bad things about the mileage. When I was on one of the used car websites I found one with a 4 cyl. I never knew they put 4 cyl in the Dakota, can anyone give me any info? I'm not going to tow anything and I'll rarely have anything in the bed heavier than 150 lbs. The 4 banger might not be too bad, I really don't car too much about power, I just want good mileage and reliability.
Thanks,
Matt

 

it should get good milage


1 of my dads friends had 1 and got like 25+ mpgs with the thing[&:]

 

They did come with the four banger. It's the same engine they used throughout the 80's and 90's. I've been kicking around the idea of getting one and turbocharging it using parts from old turbo cars.

 

I searched auto trader and
2.5L four banger in an 2wd x cab dak gets 21mpg Hwy / 16mpg city --120hp
3.9L V-6 in an 2wd x cab gets 18 mpg hwy / 15 mpg city --175hp
my 5.2L v-8 4x4 x cab (actual, calculated by me) 19 hwy / 14 city AVG fill up 16 mpg --220hp

I don't know much about 4 banger dakotas, but I do know that the dakota is a moderately heavy truck, and the v-6 is a pretty good match up, good power and good mileage. I rode in a few v-6 dakotas and they run good, even with a load in the bed, but up hill with a load they do seem to dog out abit.

but since you wont be haulling much it should not be too bad, but i bet it will often dog out when you are going up hills, or if you ever fill the bed up.

 

i think my QC weighs 4800 lbs, but it's bigger and heavier. I've driven a 1st gen with the 4-banger and a stick before and it was decent enough if you don't care about power. I believe that the 2.5L is the old 'iron duke' that Jeep has been running since the war or thereabouts. Old tech, good low speed torque, cheap, fairly reliable.

 

I have a 2.5 dakota and ill tell ya, its not powerful at all. Its a great truck, and i love it, but its sluggish until third gear. The previous owner didnt keep up with it too well and others may run faster but i couldnt tell ya its the only one ive drove. Other than that i have no complaints. I can get well over 400 miles to a tank!

 

And mopartodd, What turbos could be used for a kota 2.5? ive heard the old le baron's will match up and perhaps the turbo caravans. Id like to look into it but i cant find anyone who has made it work.

 

i own a 3.9 V6 dakota, and i get something around 200 to 250 miles to a tank, of course im not a lightfoot, and i do like to drive it hard. i think that the six is a little sluggish, so im not sure how well a 2.5 four will do in the same truck. but if your just looking for fuel efficiancy, i would say go for it, but get a manuel so youll be able to control the truck better, as well as make it up hill when you have your lunchbox and buddy in the truck. lol.

 

I will say one thing, when i first bought this truck (2.5 reg cab) I towed a buddy's car trailer with it, obviously with no car on it, and it pulled the heavy trailer right along, I towed the same trailer with my grand cherokee 4.0 and it was horrible. The kota definitely out pulled the jeep but I dont know if thats sayng much. The truck seems slow to me but the only other four cylinder i have own was a turbo saab so perhaps its not as bad as i believe it to be. I mean i have heard tons of complaints about the 6 cylinder kota being sluggish as well.

 

i own a 4cyl dakota with a 5 speed nv1500, all facory except for a custom intake. ive hit speeds up to 130mph, and have towed 2000 pound car trailers. the 2.5L is a very durable motor, God knows ive been hard on mine, and with my intake i get 26+ mpg if i keep my foot off of it. overall i like mine over the v6 and v8 models. ive only noticed a power lack when i hit 4th gear and drop from 5000 to 3000 rpm, and it can take some abuse.recommend this over other trucks.