My 1998 Dakota Base 2.5L truck is a trusted friend and has had very few problems very comfortable inside and to drive most people think it’s only about 4 to 5 years old when I say its 12 years old their eyes pop out yes original paint, still mostly stock everything just a new exhaust system and clutch these last three years oh and my water pump finally crapped out last year I need new ball joints this year I’m not an off roader just city driving but we are talking heavy traffic in Southern California Orange County traffic is just crazy to drive in stop and Go mania it was getting to me with a stick not automatic but a move to Arizona the traffic is much easier on my stick and clutch foot now.
Yes I’m keeping my Dakota as long as I can

 

i love how im gonna be the one to change things up, but i got to drive my buddies 3rd gen cummins today and all i can say is omg it was a beauty! going back to my truck and not hearing a turbo whistle or boost building up just wasn't fun.

 

There has been times where my truck gave me problems and I almost gave up on her only to think about how much I really do like it the next day. It's had some problems but some of which weren't Dodge's fault. Whoever installed the aftermarket keyless entry/remote start f'ed up.

A lot of people get into my truck and say "wow it's really clean in here". To me it's just normal but so many people don't take care of their truck and it's full of crap. I can't imagine not taking care of something I just paid thousands of dollars for.

 

I'm right up with you guys, I've had my dakota for 13 years now and she just hit the 232,000 mark on the mileage. The only thing major I've done with her is the rear end swap. But even then it was a days worth of work and she's ready to be driven again. Day in and day out all my friends say my truck is a piece, but I just smile and ignore them because all that matter's is that she runs 100% and drive's like a dream. I know her time is coming but until then I'll keep cruisin.

 

As much as I hate my 4.7L modding-wise...it's still a good engine for what it is and I will always love my truck. I haven't had her for over a week and probably still won't for another week. I had a rental car and I gotta tell ya...I hated driving that car...made me miss the truck so much. I don't like being low to the ground...I like seeing a half mile worth in front of me...I hate not being able to see past the tail light of the person in front of me. I know a few people who say Dakotas aren't that good. In some sense, they aren't...trannies do suck. Other than that they really don't know how a good ride it is. For a year 2000, it's damn good. My brother likes to give me grief about my truck saying how it's not worth doing anything with it, which I find kind of annoying. He was just like me and he had a 1997 V6 back in his day.

Kinda like a first love, ya know?

 

Over the years I have meet quite a few Dakota owners all still like their Dakotas and say they have had few problems with them they tend to keep them clean also.

They may not be the most refined of trucks they have their flaws but you like the truck so much you tend to ignore those flaws

My 1998 Dakota is a winner and still gives me much pleasure driving.

 

I got home last night from a road trip up to Atlanta and then to South Carolina. I went up that way to pick up my daughter and I hauled a queen size futon, queen size mattress and a small refrigerator. I went with her to get her moved in to her dorm room at Clemson. Trip was 1,034.8 miles total and I averaged 19.4 MPG. MPG might have been better but on the way home I took about an 85 mile detour on US Highway 441 down through a few small towns in Georgia. I did that so I would not have to drive back through the Atlanta traffic coming back home.

My truck ran great the whole time, I had no trouble at all. It held good oil pressure with no fluctuation on the gauge, had no problems and did not run hot in the 95+ degree heat and my transmission is very quiet and smooth as butter since I changed the Synchromesh out a few days before I left. My AC was freezing cold, I had to turn the temp **** up and run the fan on the second highest speed to keep from being too cold in the truck. The BFG Long Trails I had put on back in February were very quiet and smooth running. This was the first long highway trip I have taken since I bought those tires.

This was one more time that my Dakota got me there and back again.

Jimmy