They didn't want to get a gas guzzler? Do you mean your parents bought you a darn 3rd gen Dakota and you hate it?

I guess I remember what it was like to be an ungrateful teenager, but damn I never got stuff handed to me like that.

If I am wrong correct me, it has happened before. If not you should quit complaining about the truck, go pick up your favorite woman, drive to a secluded area and enjoy them both.

 

as long as it's a quad cab, aint nothin gonna work in the x-cab, well maybe something.
i get 11 in the city and it's actually congested hwy 5 days a week, 10 miles takes my 25-45 min. in the morning. a truck is a truck, go get a colorado and save that gas money for the repair bill.

 

My parents "gave me" as in...allowed me to drive...a '91 Plymouth Voyager with no back seats and a 95 HP engine.

I would have shat my pants if they bought me a Dodge truck.

You're not going to win against physics. The Dakota is a strong truck under the goofy bodywork (maybe except for balljoints).

And I'll say it for the 100th time...the easiest way to get mileage is to change your driving style.

If you are getting 14 MPG in a 18 MPG rated Dakota, then you are probably going to get 13 MPG in a 17 MPG rated Hemi Ram.

 

I'm not buying into "driving style". I'm 48 and NEVER hot dog. I've got a 3.7 V6 in my 08, and I have to drive 50mph to even see 12.2 mpg. For the most part it's 11.0 to 11.7 mpg at 55 - 65 mph. My 2005 4.7 Dak got 16 - 19 mpg consistantly, and I had a 2005 Hemi Durango at the same time that got me 19-21 mpg. I live in the same town, same job, drive the same roads in the same seasons I always have. My conclusion is my 08 is a DOG!!!! The mileage was not much better in stock form (wheels & tires & no leveling kit) at 13.4 - 14.5 mpg. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go with with a full size Ram. Better mileage and at least I can tow or haul something.

 

Another MPG thread...unbelievable

As they say, your mileage may vary. We can only speak from our own personal experience. I know that everything else staying the same, I can vary my average MPG from mid teens to low twenties depending on how aggressively I drive. But I also drive what is arguably the most fuel efficient variant of the 3rd gen Dakota.

 

I admit, my driving style is horrible but a lot of fun I'm a huge fan of mid size trucks, my only gripe is the availability of after market parts. I can handle the mpg is the $ of performance parts that aggravates me.

 

My parents allowed me to drive a 90's dodge colt. red with flower print seat covers and found out it was running on three cylinders for six months when i did my first tune up. (thanks to my step dad not popping the #4 plug wire on all the way before they gave it to me).

 

My first was a parental hand-me-down. Maroon 4-door Olds Delta 88. It came with a 350 Diesel....but after the injector pump blew, it got a Buick 307. It was titled a diesel which meant no emmisions test...and no cats. It looked bad *** as I installed rear air shocks and big fat Good-Year Eagle STs. It would smoke that one tire all day long. Thanks for inducing this memory

 

To all those griping about the lack of a diesel Dakota or Ranger or half ton truck...

Refer to the above post about the Buick 350 diesel! GM thought they could get away with fueling a gasser block with the heavy oil...and set up a bad reputation for light diesels that lasted decades.

My folks used to drive quirky, cool cars. My mom drove a baby blue colt, and then a sh*t brown Caprice Classic. My dad used to drive a huge Chevy Cheyenne with a push-button starter...it was too ugly to be stolen

Then there were the dark years...a '91 Voyager...'97 Tercel....'99 Windstar...'03 Grand Caravan...

Now that all the kids are out of the house...pops is finally talking about buying a truck again! I think borowing my Dakota has reminded him of the good ol' days.