I've had two Dakotas; a four banger (years ago) that go great mileage, and now a eight I intend to tow a fairly heavy camping trailer with. I don't know of any other truck over the years that could be set up both ways - including the Toyota and Nissan.

 

I don't get why Dodge would give up on the Dakota when it could be something amazing. They need to do something that no other pickup truck has done and introduce the first pickup that gets 40mpg along with a new tough sporty look. I don't get why Dodge would let Toyota run the show with there up sized Tacoma which is one truck I will never buy since I only buy US trucks. And you'll never see a Tacoma out work a Dakota since people only buy them for show and no work.


Long live the Dakota!

 

I'm starting to wonder where Dodge is going with the Dakota replacement. Am thinking they are going to a Honda Ridgeline'esque vehicle as some have indicated. This thought came last night as I was hit with yet another JDPower survey. This time they threw out a lot of questions regarding the Ridgeline and why I chose the Dakota instead of the Ridgeline. I was honest...

The Ridgeline;

Ugly
Too expensive
Wanted traditional, reliable, easy to service, solid axle rear wheel drive longitudal setup
No V8
Was worried about their transmission reliability and towing ability of a high strung V6.


Dear Dodge. Do NOT make a Ridgeline competitor. I am not interested.

 

Yes i agree the a Ridgeline type of vehicle (I won't even call it a truck)would be a BIG looser trying to sell it to americans with a dodge anme on it.
A Dodge or Ram FWD pickup = Big Stupid idea

 

Now there ya go when will these folks learn,ya America has always been all about the biggest and the fastest, how about ultra high mileage. love my o2/4wheel dak but mileage sucks.. duh 4cyl 4wheel w/or with turbo. "Subaru BRAT" ya small bed so what,maybe 4-door or diesel???
OK now i that i got that off my chest.
Arnie from MI

 

Sales numbers, Price. If I remeber reading correctly, when the Dakota was first introduced, they sold 224,000+ that year. In 2010 they sold i believe it was around 20,000. For the price we pay for a brand new fully loaded dakota, you could easily get a bigger, stronger as well equipped ram for the same price.

Dont get me wrong, my first two trucks were dakotas, both the 06 and 08 models, loved my 08. But under diamler there was no potential, and diamler killed it so bad in 05-07, that it would take a miracle for it to comeback. Mix that with the ram express thats now available and your talking a bad combination for sales. You will tank the ram sales because the dakota becomes the popluar "small" truck, or you sell a handful of each.

In the end, its all about the numbers.

 

There is the problem. Many of us bought the Dakota because we didn't want bigger. If anything I'd like them to bring it back to 2nd gen size or even a little bit less. I used to love being able to load stuff into the bed of my 2000 or 2003 Dakotas with the top bed rails barely being above my waist.

Ever try putting something in the back on an F-150 or Ram? The bed height is damn near up to your chin.

 

I totally agree. Over the last few models the truck has gotten too big. The original was the just the right size for me.

Perfect for me would be to bring back the Rampage but we will never see that.

 

screw the whole sporty thing, i work for dodge and im a cehvy guy to heart, i see nothing but problems with the 4.7's in a ram, dear dodge- make another midsize truck with a v8 option and a srt8 option, and please, dont make the srt8 a single cab with a4.7, sutff a hemi in that bitch. and i might buy another one.

 

I am the opposite I miss the single cab. I also would have like to see a STR8 Dakota.