cant find a dakota r/t anywhere but came across a dakota with the 5.2 with a 5 speed, which the r/t only came automatics. could easy just do the rear end and switch over my motor parts to the 5.2 from my 5.9 and make a fun DD for summer ? http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/2250994118.html

also have nio idea how to drive a stick, i just know it would be fun to control the v8 mangum so i would have too bring someone to drive it while i would watch haha !

 

Mileage is good, but the two downfalls I see are 2wd, and regular cab. Thats for me at least.

 

Looks like alot of fun....and stick is easy after a week or so you will be having a blast smoking tires

 

Its personal preference. Sounds like a ripping fun truck to me!

I ordered my 2nd gen with a 360. I wanted a manual trans but you couldn't get one with a 360 (in a half ton). So I went with the auto. If I had it to do over again, I would have went with the 318/manual.

To the rear wheels, I believe the 318/manual has more power than the 360/auto. The 360 doesn't have much more power than the 318 to start with, and a lot of it is lost through the auto tranny.

 

hell ya that would be fun

 

i agree. standards are easy once you get going. i remember the first times i drove my dads standard. i stalled it a couple of times when i would attempt to take off and i eventually just started chirping the tires a bit so that i would not stall it when taking off but going through the gears was easy.

 

Most newer rigs are pretty easy to learn on. Unless you are completely clueless on how to drive one, you almost cant stall out. My foot once slipped off the clutch pedal of my wifes 2007 Mazda 6 (which in essence completely dumped the clutch) and I wasn't even giving it any gas... it never even stalled.

I always laugh when I hear "new comers" taking off at a stop sign and the car is hovering at about 3 grand and they have barely starting to let the clutch out yet. Screw the throttle, just slowly let the clutch out... it will take off.

 

i was the same way, but i learned in a mazda 323, it was a lil rice burner and it only took me a hour cause my dad had me go onto the highway haha, i wish i would have found a manual cause they are fun to drive when you learn how, you just got to try and try again. i would suggest tryin to find some country roads to practice on cause there will be a lot less traffic and a lot of open road

 

Looks like it could be a fun truck to drive. Price seems a bit high, if you looked around a while you might find one for $500 to $1000 less. But if it is in good shape and what you are looking for than it could be a fair deal with the new parts.

In my opinion, a manual transmission is way more fun to drive than an automatic...an automatic is better for cruising. Also, everyone should know learn how to work a clutch, especially if they want to drive a fun car, bike, quad, tractor, etc.

 

i had a 98 with the 5.2 and a 5spd it was a blast did basic bolt ons to it that i have on my ram and sprayed a 125 shot and a set of m/t e/t streets it was a super quick truck surprised tons of z28s and gts and even one vett out the hole