Hey I have been looking around for a while now and really enjoy this site.
I have been browseing for Dakotas at my local dealers here in southern California and just ran into one I am about to buy(possibly)
it is a 2006 Dodge Dakota SLT Quad Cab 2wd
it has the 4.7 V8 with a manual tansmission
leather seats
hard tanneau
with 16,000 miles
For $17,995 before taxes and licenseing

it looks like its in excellent condition but is it a good deal
Im quite young(17) and this would be the first car that actually is mine
the other car i have (dad's) is a 2006 Pontiac GTO which really picks up and goes when you want it too.
Does the V8 w/ stick have alot of power? i mean for a midsize truck?
I was also going to put in gibson dual side exhaust, a K&N intake and Gibson headers and possibly have a dealer install an anti spin differential

thanks guys I hope I can join the Dakota Community soon

O one more thing
This is a 2wd truck but any one have any experience w/ these going off road(this is why i want the anti spin)
Nothing too extreme I just would liek to be able to go out to the Mojave and go on some of the dirt trails

Thanks again

Zach

I am looking

 

Welcome to the forum. You might want to PM Jimbo. He's got a 2WD and goes offroading often. He'd be the man to chat with.

 

I have a similar truck. Mine's a 2006 Club Cab SLT V-8 manual tranny 2wd. Mine's got a decent amount of power, stock. I'm sure the mods would just help that. I'm looking to do similar mods (exhaust, intake) but don't currently have a job, so I need one of those before I go and mod anything.

Personally, I haven't done any offroading unless you count snow/ice as offroading. It does pretty well in the snow/ice with 200 lbs. of sand bags in the bed giving some weight to the drive wheels.

It's just a really good truck. I use mine for a good bit of towing and hauling of sound/lighting gear and it does fantastic with that. My only complaint is that the back end sags a whole lot when it's heavily loaded...I'm probably going to get some air bags before I do anything else once I get the job.

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your purchase!

 

Awsome
I just set up an appointment to go test drive it and write a check(hopefully) on sunday.

 

I would make sure you get the limited slip rear. I have a 4x4 and my off road trips are on dirt roads and unless the road is washed out or theres 6 inches of snow I don't even put it in 4 wheel drive. The anti spin rear (as Dodge calls it) is well worth it.

 

i'd get a 4wd if you can. deffinatly worth the money, i love my quad cab!. goes everywhere i want. that doesn't seem like a bad deal i paid 21,000 for mine it had 20k mi on it, but it has every option, and 4wd. i think it was an alright deal. godd luck buyin a Dak.

 

Ya i can't seem to find many manual Dakotas with the V8. This is the first one i found around here w/ a big engine and manual. My friend has a silverado and he says thanks to the limited slip he never has to put it in 4x4....except occasionally in extreme circumstances.
Any one have expirence haveing a dealer install one of these?

 

I use my 4x4 alot while hunting and what not. I'm not sure about the cost and who to install a LSD, the V8 manuals are harder to find! but you cant lift them no kits fit them. but if i got one i would get LSD and lower it and make a street truck. good luck.

 

thats exactly why im getting it. i wanna be able to haul *** but hit the back dessert roads too.