I work at a Dodge Dealer.....We can't give the damn Dakota's away, I like them though. I think we've sold 4 or 5 since they've been out. Same w/the Magnum's....they're just sitting too.

 

See where the Magnum are a hot item in my area, more so then the 300 Series, it is hard to keep them on the lots here!

redriderbob

 

it really sucks that they cant sell the new daks, i think they should just give it a very early(like next model year) facelift in the front and then they would do fine, because aside from the front end, the overall design is really close to the 97-04 bodies, its just sharper edges.

 

You guys are missing the weakest link, it is hardly all to do with design, or interior or engines…. It has to do with rims. That’s right, wheels, aside from the 17s Option for SLT+s and Laramie’s, the Dakota wheels are the most horrible looking wheels in truck/suv history, they should all be 17s at least, and there should be a 20� wheel option. Truck and car buyers are often grabbed by levels of vehicles that are at the highest point, not everyone can afford such levels. I.E. 300C, Magnum-RT and SRT-10 Ram but many will go from the same vehicle but setting with a V6 Car, or just Hemi Ram……. There is no jazz appeal or higher model appealing in advertisements, and the dealers are not trying hard either! (I know I work for one) Yea it looks different, but those are little things… There needs to be more pizzazz to raise people eyebrows.

I sold my first 05 Dakota on Jan 25th…. I don’t think it should have taken me that long.


If people think the Minivan Like, light duty truck known as the "Titan" can sell at all, this Dakota sure as hell can do better.

 

Yah, another way to make it fuglier. 20's are ugly as hell on any tire smaller than 48" tall. [:'(]

 

I had and enjoyed one of the Generation I and Gen. II Dakotas. This new one, like the Durango, has predictable results for the showrooms. As soon as I saw them, I had that "sinking feeling." The Durango concept was SO much nicer.... I appreciate everything RedRiderBob is doing for us here but his bias has clouded his vision if he really thinks these vehicles look good. I believe anything with Dodge on it would look good to many of you. I also am biased. I hired in at Chrysler over 40 years ago and when the Germans bought out Chrysler (NOT a merger!), I was one of many that lost his job. Even so, some of the new DCX products are appealing. The SRT-8 Magnum and the SRT-10 Ram would be fun, but for now I am sticking with vehicles made in this country by Americans out of almost all American parts for and sold by an American company. These vehicles really do still exist. Face it.......Chrysler is GONE!!! ..as is the Dakota's style. For those of you still depending upon sales of the Dodges, I understand all too well your situation and hope you get to retire before losing your jobs. Now, please tell me the new Ram is NOT going to look like the Dakota. I may be fantasizing but possibly see an SRT-10 in my future if I can get over the German thing long enough, but being American, I feel responsible to help this wonderful country more than our European economic competitors.

 

I'm not a fan of these cheezy glued-on chrome faces on the 17" Dak wheels or what all the Ram 1500 wheels have but the cast 17". It only looks good till you look real close. I took the 16"-ers. By the way, check this out: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050201/detu020_1.html -- shows Dak sales up from last year's. It's interesting what the car numbers are -- maybe people are ditching "gas-hog" trucks?

 

Pt, those sales figures are just for Jan. The Dakota has been out for several months now. That is the first month I've seen the dakotas up. For Nov. and Dec. they were considerable down.

Danko, I hate to tell you but every SRT-10 is built in Mexico reg or quad cab. And yes they are going to ugly it up for 06.

Joe

 

jgralka and Danko, let me first say that you guys are probably my favorite members on here to talk to. I love reading your guys comments. Unlike most members on this site, who use it to talk about off-topic things and relationship and whatever, you two always seem to be like me and use the site for diehard Chrysler information. I thank you for that.

Alright, as for Danko's comment about how I love anything w/ a Dodge badge, that is false. For how much I have credited the new 2004+ Dodge Durango, I am very upset w/ it. Certain models really appeal to me, like the Limited and loaded up SLT models. Certain Durango models in certain colors also appeal to me, some colors, such as Mineral Gray and Bright Silver Metallic, to me don't look good on the new Durango. I absolutely hate the new ST and Adventurer models, w/ the cheap looking gray bumpers. And the lack of gauges and "wheel covers" on ST and SLT models make me sick. If I am paying $28,000 for a vehicle I want some real wheels! But some of the Durango really catches my eye. Like the sharp interior that graces its much disliked skin.

I agree w/ you a 100% when you said the 2003 Dodge Durango HEMI RT Concept (which was about 85% production ready at the time), looks better than the production model. First off, the afterburner tail-lamps on the concept, were so slick, where the production Liberty-knock-offs, look akward.











As for the new 2005 Dodge Dakota models. Some things I like, some I hate. The interior just makes me want to find a Chrysler Group interior designer and beat the bejesus out of them. The rear seat headrest, are the worst thing I have seen in a vehicle from Chrysler for many many years. Looks like they stole the rear seats from an early 90's Volvo! For how much I like this truck, there are things I hate about it too. Where when I see the previous generation Dakota in 1996. I thought it looked better than the Ram lineup did. This truck, makes me second guess about some of Chrysler Group's Dodge Truck/Jeep Design Team members.

I have been a Mopar lovers since I was 7 years of age. All I live and breathe is Chrysler. I can understand why you say I am biased, but I am really not. Some of you may recall my comments about the 2004+ Pontiac GTO over the new 2006 Dodge Charger R/T! I love this company more than anything, but there are some things I dislike about it!

Thank you for you replies, I really had a great time reading them and replying back to them.

redriderbob

 

Thnx RedRider. I also was a Chrysler fan, when there WAS a Chrysler. My father worked for them. My brother, neighbors and buddies too and as soon as I turned 18 I was there and bought a lot of 383's and 440's but there is no more Chrysler. DaimlerKryzlur does not count. I am sorry to read the SRT is Mexican-made but the Mexicans never laid me off. I truly enjoyed many visits to the Toluca plant. Great people and food down there. I also have trouble with the SRT-8 Magnum being Canadian with a Mexican engine made for and sold by a German company. My Lingenfelter 383 and LT4 Firehawks and one LT4 30th anniversary Camaro SS were made in Quebec and that has bothered me for a long time. My Kansas City trucks are lookin' better every day.