Welp...I've made a decision to depart from my truck. Now that I'll be moving on with my career in the near future...commuting will be more necessary, and my truck's mpg just won't cut it for me anymore. It was pretty hard for me to let go considering I had my truck for almost 7 years. To commemorate my precious, I've done quite a few things. For starters, I held a "Dakota Day" with fellow R/T owning friends. Basically...it was a day of clean Dakotas...cigars...alcohol...and remembrance. I've also made an image gallery for you all to see: http://drakaric.mydevryportfolio.com/cars/.

Anyway...I bought a brand new 2012 Mazda3 i Touring with the Skyactiv engine and 6 speed automatic transmission last night. It gets an EPA rating of 40MPG on the highway. I was doing some normal city driving last night and actually got 34.2 average MPG. I was ******* it today a lot in the city and still pulled about 30MPG. I absolutely LOVE the handling. It takes turns like I've never experienced before. Its just a sweet deal.

It was very hard to leave my truck driving off the dealer lot, I must say. It sucks...because it still runs great. I just can't handle the gas situation anymore. =\ On the bright side...I've done some stock restoration and have some parts ready for sale...let me know if there's any interest, I guess.

-1000W 10" Kenwood Subwoofer (It separated at the moment...I built a custom box for correct volume to fit in a cut up club cab bench box).
-1000W Kenwood Class D Mono Amplifier
-500W Kenwood 4 output Amplifier
-Bulldog Keyless Entry/Remote Starter Unit
-31" x 10.5" Dunlop Grantrek SJ6 snow tires on a stock 15" x 7" rim.
-6.5' Tonneau Bed Cover
-Superchips Flashpaq 3815 Tuner
-Brand new garage stored (2 years) passenger side fender painted with PR4.
-Spare tire from my brother's old 1997 Dakota...I have no idea if the tire is good still, but it's on the stock rim, so I can get the tire pulled if necessary.

I can also add wires for a little extra for the amplifiers. They are used, and are sized to fit from the headunit, battery, and speakers all the way to the club cab box.

I think....that's about it. All I can think of that I have left. Would like these out of the garage, but no rush. I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, so if you live near me and want the snow tires...would very much rather them be picked up.

 

With gas prices jumping up as fast as I have seen it sucks but I don’t want to start payments again the lack of payments more than makes up for the high price of gas. I would be bored with a new car nice but not needed in my life my Dakota has so much memories letting it go would be like losing a close friend or a family member. Some of the most trying family times were in my Dakota driving my Mom to all the doctor visits and hospitals then driving her places as her Alzheimer’s progressed very trying times for me. I had some heavy conversations with my Mom in my Dakota that will stay with me for life.

 

Sorry to hear that. It sucks and I was sorta in the same situation thats why I bought my ram, 11mpg wasnt cutting it anymore. I would love to get some stuff off you but shipping wouldnt be worth it. I do have a question about the remote starter. What model trucks would it fit. Looking for a remote starter in my truck. If it would be too much of a pita then ill just have to pass on it tho

 

The model on the unit is 1100RS, and its like a universal aftermarket model. Not sure on the specifics on how it will hook up on your truck...as long as it's an automatic, it should be fine. To get the remote starter to work, you just have to tap into the accessory wires (Heat+A/C), the starter wire, the constants, and a brake wire (It turns off the unit signal upon depression of the brake pedal). I can't seem to find the instruction manual that came with, but you can find them for free online as well as the wire diagrams. As for the keyless entry part, you might have to use relays in which I have still, but it isn't necessary for the remote start to be functional. You don't have to worry about the wire harnesses, because I actually have new ones... The original 1100RS unit I had broke years ago, so I didn't use the wires that came with the new one.

 

How much are you asking for the Superchip tuner? And I'm assuming you uninstalled it from your Dak so it is usable on other vehicles.

 

I thought you truck was a manual...guess not. Wont work on my truck then since its a manual. Thanks anyway.

 

I've reverted all of the stock settings from the tuner. I still have yet to unlock the vin because I didn't want to dump the cash for the unlock until there was the possibility of it getting sold....just in case. I'd say $175 shipped sound sufficient.

 

oh wow, good luck. always sad to sell the dakota.

 

I guess that all depends if even with Fuel cost and car note; if your saving 200-300 a month then sure.. but if your breaking even at the same monthly cost or even just a hundred savings.. to me it's of value to keep the paid for vehicle. Guess it all depends. Good luck.

 

Getting a new job that will require 50+ miles a day for 5 days. With my truck, that's pretty much at least 1 fill-up a week, which could be 4 - 5 fill-ups a month. That will mean I'd be spending somewhere near $300. Car payments are a minimum $234 a month for me. With the mileage I've been doing, I'd be doing 2 - 3 fill-ups a month on a smaller tank, which would be near $140 or so a month. Got 3 year warranty and so I won't be dealing with nickel and diming since its a newer vehicle. The truck is only getting older, so it just had to go before any issues uprise.