I knew it would finally come to a point to explain my purchase. I have owned a bunch of vehicles over the years. I had my Asian crop, my German crop, and a round with Ford and GM products. Maybe I’m older than some of you and I broke out of the loyalty thing on and off. My father was a devout Chrysler guy and we always had a Chrysler, Dodge or Plymouth. My first car was a hand me down 62 New Yorker with a 413 Golden Lion Crossfire dual four barrels. It would cruse to the Jersey shore at 120 for forty-five minutes. Cops where cool back in the late sixties on the back roads. I bought a 68 hemi Charger in 69 and that was a monster. I also had a 72 340 Duster and even a Caravan and my 95 Dakota SLT. However, my best cars for reliability where a Camry, Celica, SR5 Pickup and a Mits. Gallant GT. The BMW Z4 was fun to drive but way over price for what it was. The 95 Dak was so bad that Chrysler sent factory people in four times. Replaced nine AC condenser coils and the dealer busted the dash four times doing the work. Three Mopar batteries. One radiator, the welds gave out and leaked. Eleven sets of front rotors. Two trans. modules. One drive shaft. Two radios CD failures. Believe me the list went on. The only good thing was the 5.2 318 engine. I decided after years of staying clear of CC products I would give the New CC a chance. Call it nostalgia, but it was time to get back into a pickup again. I would have bought a Ram if they didn’t do away of the club cab. I’m just not into full four doors and hot tub size box.
The full ram with the larger box is just too long. My brother in law has had two Tundra’s and can’t complain a bit. He would buy more. For a mere twenty-five hundred more I could have had a totally loaded Tundra with amenities that aren’t even available on a Dak no mater what. But stupid me took the bait in March on the zero interest promo and no payments for six months at invoice. Therefore, I got a fully loaded Dak, which isn’t as loaded as Tundra, Tacoma, Frontier or Titian. The fact is Chrysler took away many amenities that use to be standard on SLT that you can’t even have on a Laramie package today even if ask please and through money at it. That’s where the shortchanged comes in. I could get over the shortchanged stuff if the dam thing would just be reliable and be fun to drive. But as you read in previous entries from me it quickly has gone to a POS. I take a lot of pride in my rides. I treat my vehicles well. But when it goes the other way and I’m wasting time at the dealer, well that’s when I get P. Lets see I have had the Dak since May and the right A Pillar had a water leak. (Seems to be a roof seem problem on many Daks) Transmission module failure. (Jumped into 2nd. at 70 mph and had to limp to the dealer on my way to work) Rattle from the engine in the mornings for about the first minute or so after starting. (sound like a want-a-be diesel.) Lack of power and hi, RPMs with braking up with no punch when kick down gear or passing gear is used.
In addition, of course, what we all hear from the reputed service departments. Let’s all say it together: “THE CODES DON’T SHOW A PROBLEM” So there yah ya go, my foray into the 06 DAK.
PS. I love the way it looks. It is in my opinion the best looking pickup design. I get lots of comments in its stock form. I would love to start mods on it but I’m very skeptical and don’t want to spend any more money until it’s either right or its gone. Thanks for the ear.

 

Gee I just bought a 06 DAK. Makes me think why did I??-----Seriously I like my truck, it's got 500 miles on it with no klunk or problems yet. It is a stock ST model with only auto trans extra and cruise control. I got it for 17,500. I felt this was a good price for a 4x4 with 3 miles on it. Kurt seems to have a lot of issues/problems with his DAK, I hope I don't get any. I was looking at the RAM but it's was too big for my uses. Sometimes I think people buy BIG things, Big Trucks, SUV's etc to make them feel better, maybe something missing in their life and they are trying to feel better about it. My DAK is a perfect size for me know and the wife can drive it wth no problems. Beside its has a 3 year warranty so any issues should be taken care of.

Stash