The Ram being cheaper than some of the Dakota packages and the increase in size are what did it in. The Tacoma is junk, one of the guys I knew in high school got one and it's been nothing but problems.

 

maybe Mercedes will make a truck for ya....

 

Engine choice would be a huge factor because if they offered a 6.1 it would have killed the rumble bee and srt10 ram sales. 425hp club cab 2wd 6speed come on what else would you want. I know blown would drool over one if they made it. Hahahaha

 

I think anybody would drool over that. Imagine the power to weight ratio.

 

I remember seeing nothing but negative reviews of 2005 + Dakotas everywhere I looked. Things such as it's got a v8, but slower than a v6 with worse fuel economy and terrible suspension. That had to be a factor, and now the badge is tainted.

 

Most everyone was too enthralled with the Ram's, I know I was then. The Ram is what killed the Dakota. Thats what made their money so thats where they put their money. They should have at least pushed fleet Daks, but rangers and s-10's dominated that market.

 

I know some people would buy a truck based on things like having a big engine etc, but the market for a Dakota is not based on enthusiasts but rather people who need a truck for light work duty or outdoor activities. I would say a healthy 95% of Dakota owners don't know or care what the power output of their truck is.

I am a very passionate auto enthusiast, I have swapped engines, turbocharged cars, lifted trucks and raced sports cars. To say the sales numbers would be higher if the Dakota would have been given high performance love instead of the Ram SRT is short-sighted. Even if ALL the SRT sales were transferred to the Dakota it would barely make a dent in the sales graph. For every 1 SRT or Power Wagon sold there are thousands of normal Rams on the road. Too few people think of trucks and cars as toys.

And the Tacoma is a much better truck. I hate to admit it, but of the 10 that are owned by my family/friends I can say each one of them is better at being a mid-sized truck than my Dakota. I can even fit my motorcycle into the bed of a 4-door Taco and close the tailgate which is something my much larger Dakota can't do. The ride is smoother over washboard, the 4wd system is more refined, the seats have lumbar support and the doors seal properly (mine don't, been fighting with the dealer for 2 years about it).

 

I sure hate being in that 5% then. I just saw V8 on the window sticker when I went to look at mine and my eyes lit up. I didnt look at aftermarket support though until I signed the contract and the bottom of the check. FML.

 

thats actually the reason I bought mine instead of the bread and butter tacos I looked at. I couldnt get half the truck in a toyota for what i paid for my Dakota.... well, sure am glad to be a part of the 5% who DO care! for me and what I use my Dakota for, it is perfect!

 

Yeah, when I was looking for a truck all I wanted was a V8 and 4x4. I looked at a 2003 regular cab Ram and a 2003 extended cab Chevy. The Ram was overpriced, the Chevy was rusting on one of the bed quarter panels, and the Dakota was a "smaller" truck and it had the same V8 as the Ram, and 4 doors. Then I found out, a Dakota weights only 300 pounds less than a quad cab Ram with a 4.7l. These are not light trucks.