HO performance
Record Breaker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,211
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From: Lebanon, PA
RE: HO performance
I traded an 05 GMC Canyon that seemed to have everything going wrong with it after 43,000 miles. It needed a new head to repair a factory defect and, being out of warranty, GMC wouldn't cover that big of a repair. That problem was in addition to several minor problems, mostly electronic faults, that needed repairing. In trying to find a replacement, I test drove all of the trucks mentioned--the Tacoma, the Frontier and the Dakota. I'm not a fan of anything Ford, nor did I want to mess with GM again, so I settled on those three. I liked the Frontier, until I saw the price. The Taco seemed big and underpowered in my opinion, and the Dakota seemed just right, and significantly cheaper than the other two. I've been very satisfied with the performance of the standard V8, but, keep in mind, my Canyon barely had enough power to climb a hill towards the end there, let alone haul anything, so my comparison is a little different. I'm anticipating running my Dak through it's first tow in the next few weeks (perhaps followed rather quickly by it's second tow) and I'm anxious to see how it does.
Professional
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
RE: HO performance
ORIGINAL: DakotaStone
Toyota's truck is the Tacoma for the "mid-size". As far as I'm concerned, Dakota is really in a class of it's own. It's bigger than the foreign jobbies (Ridgeline, Frontier, Tacoma) and much more powerful. It also includes a V-8, where the others don't.
Toyota's truck is the Tacoma for the "mid-size". As far as I'm concerned, Dakota is really in a class of it's own. It's bigger than the foreign jobbies (Ridgeline, Frontier, Tacoma) and much more powerful. It also includes a V-8, where the others don't.
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=FLSR7kf2BL9RBvKLb4Ltk 7y6m1dnp23yTsz5fvQvndxsSnm6633j!-632901185?basestyleid=100756780&styleid=100578159& styleid=100655362&styleid=100633144&maxvehicles=5& refid=&op=3&tab=specs
You can also substitute the Dakota's V8 in for the V6 when talking about power.
Dakota V8 = 230 hp/290 tq
Tacoma v6 = 236 hp/266 tq
Ridgeline v6 = 247 hp/245 tq
Frontier v6 = 261 hp/281 tq
Much more powerful (even with the v8).... doesn't look like it.
Bigger than the foriegn jobbies...Not according to the specs.
Again, don't take this the wrong way. I didn't buy my Dakota because I thought it was better than the "foriegn jobbies", I bought it because I thought is was a lb/lb better bargain than the "foriegn jobbies"
I wish more people would understand that a truck doesn't have to be the biggest or the best or the most powerful for you to be happy with your purchase.
Champion
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,521
Likes: 1
From: Spokane, WA
RE: HO performance
ORIGINAL: Flyhalf
Don't take this as a personal attack DakotaStone, but this forum would be a lot better if people didn't post unresearched crap like this all the time. As far as I'm concerned, you are wrong on your assupmtions. Click the link below to compare the specs on the truck you mentioned...
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=FLSR7kf2BL9RBvKLb4Ltk 7y6m1dnp23yTsz5fvQvndxsSnm6633j!-632901185?basestyleid=100756780&styleid=100578159& styleid=100655362&styleid=100633144&maxvehicles=5& refid=&op=3&tab=specs
You can also substitute the Dakota's V8 in for the V6 when talking about power.
Dakota V8 = 230 hp/290 tq
Tacoma v6 = 236 hp/266 tq
Ridgeline v6 = 247 hp/245 tq
Frontier v6 = 261 hp/281 tq
Much more powerful (even with the v8).... doesn't look like it.
Bigger than the foriegn jobbies...Not according to the specs.
Again, don't take this the wrong way. I didn't buy my Dakota because I thought it was better than the "foriegn jobbies", I bought it because I thought is was a lb/lb better bargain than the "foriegn jobbies"
I wish more people would understand that a truck doesn't have to be the biggest or the best or the most powerful for you to be happy with your purchase.
ORIGINAL: DakotaStone
Toyota's truck is the Tacoma for the "mid-size". As far as I'm concerned, Dakota is really in a class of it's own. It's bigger than the foreign jobbies (Ridgeline, Frontier, Tacoma) and much more powerful. It also includes a V-8, where the others don't.
Toyota's truck is the Tacoma for the "mid-size". As far as I'm concerned, Dakota is really in a class of it's own. It's bigger than the foreign jobbies (Ridgeline, Frontier, Tacoma) and much more powerful. It also includes a V-8, where the others don't.
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison;jsessionid=FLSR7kf2BL9RBvKLb4Ltk 7y6m1dnp23yTsz5fvQvndxsSnm6633j!-632901185?basestyleid=100756780&styleid=100578159& styleid=100655362&styleid=100633144&maxvehicles=5& refid=&op=3&tab=specs
You can also substitute the Dakota's V8 in for the V6 when talking about power.
Dakota V8 = 230 hp/290 tq
Tacoma v6 = 236 hp/266 tq
Ridgeline v6 = 247 hp/245 tq
Frontier v6 = 261 hp/281 tq
Much more powerful (even with the v8).... doesn't look like it.
Bigger than the foriegn jobbies...Not according to the specs.
Again, don't take this the wrong way. I didn't buy my Dakota because I thought it was better than the "foriegn jobbies", I bought it because I thought is was a lb/lb better bargain than the "foriegn jobbies"
I wish more people would understand that a truck doesn't have to be the biggest or the best or the most powerful for you to be happy with your purchase.
Also, if you look at your link, the Dakota's rating for MPGs is higher than the V6, so the power they have isn't doing them very much.
Professional
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
RE: HO performance
Look dude, not trying to get into a pissing match here. You said the other trucks were bigger and the Dakota had much more power. I attached a link that proves otherwise. Nothing more, nothing less.
If you would have said the V6's get about the same mileage (a Dakota V8 get's worse) as the other trucks, I wouldn't have said anything.
If you would have said the Dakota is bigger in the front than a Ram 1500, I wouldn't have said anything.
If you would have said the V8 Dakota could tow more than the other trucks, I wouldn't have said anything.
See my point?
If you would have said the V6's get about the same mileage (a Dakota V8 get's worse) as the other trucks, I wouldn't have said anything.
If you would have said the Dakota is bigger in the front than a Ram 1500, I wouldn't have said anything.
If you would have said the V8 Dakota could tow more than the other trucks, I wouldn't have said anything.
See my point?
Record Breaker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 2
From: Omaha NE
RE: HO performance
oh snap... dakotastone recovers nicely aaaand flyhalf wraps it up with a comprpomising 'to the point' final comment.
looks like another day to live for the dodge dakota..havta admit i got mixed emotions in the middle
looks like another day to live for the dodge dakota..havta admit i got mixed emotions in the middle
Professional
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
RE: HO performance
ORIGINAL: trucky
oh snap... dakotastone recovers nicely aaaand flyhalf wraps it up with a comprpomising 'to the point' final comment.
looks like another day to live for the dodge dakota..havta admit i got mixed emotions in the middle
oh snap... dakotastone recovers nicely aaaand flyhalf wraps it up with a comprpomising 'to the point' final comment.
looks like another day to live for the dodge dakota..havta admit i got mixed emotions in the middle
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
RE: HO performance
Just thought i would chime in on this one. I used to sell dodges and also nissans. I am not real good with the toyota so i will leave that one alone!! I can tell you first hand that the nissan is bigger and faster. But useable room inside the dakota wins hands down. Engine wise, the v6's have no power till you hit about 25 mph in the nissan then it takes off real nice. The v8 in the dakota is soooo much smoother and has a much broader torque curve. When it comes to pulling a trailer, there is no comparison. The v8 dakota is a much better choice. I do believe the new frontier is a bit better as an off road vehicle and does seem a little more trucklike but when it was all said and done i went back to the dodge dealer and got me a dakota laramie!! It is sooo much more comfortable and you can't beat those steering wheel controls behind the steering wheel 
p.s and as far as fuel economy goes the v8 doesn't give up anything on the v6 nissan frontier. I would dare to say probably does a bit better. My buddies 05 frontier se 4x4 crew averages about 14 in town and never more than 18 highway. I could do that all day long with my foot deep into it!!!
p.s and as far as fuel economy goes the v8 doesn't give up anything on the v6 nissan frontier. I would dare to say probably does a bit better. My buddies 05 frontier se 4x4 crew averages about 14 in town and never more than 18 highway. I could do that all day long with my foot deep into it!!!