If they do put a diesel in the dakota I wonder what the cost would be? I know on the ram a diesel is like 3500 dollars more.

 

i mean really dude if you look at it now the price of the dakotas didn't really change even with the higher horsepower motors. And seriously why wouldn't these be considered 4th Gen dakotas? but anyway off the point the Dakotas honestly would probably stay around the same price they are....you know honestly they know making the dakota a 40,000 dollar truck they know they would not be selling as many of them and they would loose the market on the best mid-size truck. But yeah thats how i see it

 

When the announcement of the diesel Dakota came out, the company was Daimler Chrysler. Daimler has the resources to build it but Chrysler is now owned by Cerberus and their business is splitting companies up, selling the profitable pieces and selling the assets of the other pieces. It's morte likely that in a few years there will be Jeeps, Rams and a few cars models left. Dakota has never been a big seller so it's likely that it will be discontinued.
I've always liked Dakotas and my '05 is my 4th one. I'd really like a diesel Dak but I'd be surprised if we will ever see one.

 

Dakotas are Mitsubishi with the Dodge emblem; that's one reason they are so good. Mitsubishi makes a solid engine, even if the suspension is not so good.

I lived in Japan over 23 years and owned these diesels, all 4 cylinder:

1. 1981 Isuzu 4 door sedan diesel
2. 1979 Toyota 8 passenger van diesel
4. 1988 Mazda 8 passenger van diesel turbo
5. 1985 Toyota 8 passenger van diesel turbo
6. 1999 Toyota 8 passenger van diesel turbo

The turbo really makes a difference in these diesels, but the early ones didn't last long. Turbos are improved now, and I had no problems with the newer ones. On the Mazda turbo diesel, turbo went out, but I ignored it and still drove it anyway. You could do that with those, and many people never got the turbo repaired, just lived with a loss of power.

Yes, it would be very easy for Dodge (Mitsubishi) to put a diesel in the Dakota, but they only make 4 cylinder diesels for now. I've seen 3 cylinder diesels in very small cars in Japan - America is just not used to diesels in small vehicles yet. I also drove a Toyota Tacoma diesel, seemed to have enough power for me, but probably not for most Americans.

 

You're a little mixed up on the Dakota Dodge/Mitsu relationship. Dodge built it, Mitsubishi rebadged it from Dodge. Some of the cars have been rebadged from Mitsu in the past but never the trucks.

 

Sorry if I am wrong about who builds the Dakotas. At any rate, my '93 V6 3.9 L. Dakota has been a great one for sure; very minor trouble with that one. And it is built by Dodge, except for a few parts such as alternator, etc.

One thing's for certain: if they do come out with a Dakota diesel, I will be there!!

 

The Dodge Ram 50 was a rebadged version of the Mitsu Mighty Max. I learned how to drive manual tranny's in a Ram 50...

 

Dang I didn't even know that existed! [sm=youreright.gif]

MacDak, hope I didn't come across as peeved or anything

 

I'm afraid you may be pretty close to whats probaly going to happen-Look what happened to Mack trucks-these buyout companies are not the least bit sentimental-But however Rick we can always hope-Free erg

 

I just want to keep this thread open I may get a little off subject here , but please bear with me-I have a bunch of ideas for Dodge on the Daks but cant find a place to send em.Anyway I used to bug Nissan a fair amount {squeaky wheel gets the grease} but I have noticed you guys are a sharp lot.I'm modifying my 06 a bit and would like to have some ideas on what to do with the exhaust bang for the buck wise-and not make him too loud-Free erg