Now here is another one to even throw you off more. Our 5.7 hemi gets about the same mileage as the 4.7 but has a lot more power. As far as length the dakota quad cab vs the ram quad cab is only a foot longer and 8 inches wider. Once you get a little time behind the wheel its much easier to handle. I can parallel park our ram quad cab just fine and that was back when I had my dakota.. As far as room I can never go back to a dakota as my everyday truck. Not near enough space.

 

I'm pretty good with the QC's size. I have plenty of leg room and I'm 6ft. Even rear passenger room is decent for a midsize truck. For what it is, though... Dodge should have sought better mileage for their smaller truck. That's probably the main reason people bought them, size being a very close second.

 

I personally think all auto company’s tossed the mid-sized trucks under the bus they make too much money with the big trucks.

If you know what I mean companies like to kill products in favor of bigger profit products even though they may be popular they find a way to make them un popular with poor packages lackluster performance poor color choices I think they decided the big trucks make more money so they pushed the mid-sized truck in the toilet.

To me all autos are way over priced for what is needed they pile on a ton of safety crap and other stuff to get the high price they want you to buy. The Basic package is so weak and feeble they know no one will buy it but the next package up is a big jump in price and they know most will go for it as the Basic package just sucks.

 

That and everyone wants their car or truck to be like a Limo with all the luxuries of a limo no one wants a Truck to ride like a Truck now or get low gas mileage.

If you want gas mileage get a car not a truck

 

Its a scam pretty much to get more money.. My mom has an 04 grand cherokee(last year for that style) Back when they came out in 99 you could literately order any option with the base Laredo package. Could opt for leather,sun roof,v8. Pretty much anything the limited had. Now with the brand new ones. In order to get leather,sun roof or v8 you HAVE to upgrade to the limited package. Which a jump in packages is like 8k alone and still doesnt come with a v8 or sun roof. v8 and sun roof options are like another 4k...

Reason why ill never own anything new.. Granted my truck isnt loaded but its paid for and runs great.. I plan to run it right into the ground and even then the engine will prob still run but wont have a body left lol

 

I agree way over priced monsters I will never buy another new auto when you need to spend around $30 to $45K for a new auto that's crazy.

 

And thats just for gas.. If you want a diesel truck with all the comforts of home. Your looking at 60-65k

 

Another problem with these way overpriced cars is auto insurance has gone sky high along with medical coverage per person going sky high. I was getting away with basic coverage for an old auto of $35 a month it has gone up 2X in the last 3 years.

 

Sheeeet! That IS a home.

 

The 5.7 cost more, it has CYLINDER DEACTIVATION, and it comes standard with the 5spd multi-matic. All of those features cost more money up front and hence why the 5.7 ram cost about $10,000 to $15,000 more than the 4.7L Dakota.

With that said, I had a 2002 Dak RC with the 4.7 and 5spd and it got 21mpg on the hwy with 3.23 gears. It was a great truck that I traded in on a 2000 Dakota R/T CC. I still have the R/T today. With only 75,000 miles on the clock it barely manages an AVERAGE 13mpg! On the highway I can squeak out a miserable 15mpg as long as I keep it under 70mph. At 55mph it will get 17mpg as long as there are no stop signs, no hills, no head wind, no red lights, and no cars to pass. In 12 years of ownership that has happened ONE TIME!

That's what a 4200 pound truck with an obsolete 5.9L dog motor and 3.92 gears get for gas mileage so I don't complain.