Oh dear... My dad's moved to one of the dark sides!!

[Mtrhd0024]

My dad bought one of these today: (sorry no actual pics)

Its a 1995 Dodge Dakota Extended Cab with the 3.9 V6, and its got an automatic so my mom can drive it. Its only 2wd. We really needed another pickup to haul our motorbikes around in, his brother showed him this and he sprung for it. It actually seats 6 believe it or not!!! (you'd wanna be about 4' and 85 lbs but it will seat em!)

I was hoping he'd go for another ranger!

His reasoning was that "You could only get a 2.9 in a ranger, this has a 3.9" and i was like "DAD, nooo, you can get a 4.0!!" and at that he goes "oh..." but it was too late. Oh well. From what I can tell its a reasonably solid truck, and oughta do what he needs it for pretty well. Its not a daily driver, and we've already got 4 other 4x4s in the family so 2wd doesn't matter.

Anyway, someone cue the "Dodgina"

 

[Ozwynn]

I had 1 of those. mine was an 89 standard cab 3.9L/5spd/4wd. I got 15 mpg gallon with it but it would out run a 4.0L ranger and a 4.0L comanche

 

[Hahnsb2]

He made a good choice Should have got the 5.2 though

 

[Mtrhd0024]

I had 1 of those. mine was an 89 standard cab 3.9L/5spd/4wd. I got 15 mpg gallon with it but it would out run a 4.0L ranger and a 4.0L comanche

Hmm so this means I've now got a good target to beat when I go 4.0 or 5.0 in my Bronco!

He made a good choice Should have got the 5.2 though

yeaa i was a bit disappointed to hear it wasn't a V8 but oh well...

I think the main reason he refused to go for a 4.0 ranger is because he was worried he'd go out to it one day and it would have a 2.9 in it, and somehow there'd also magically be a 4.0 in my Bronco II

From what I've managed to read though it seems like there are minimal things that regularly go wrong with these things. Unlike the last Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge product he bought in 1990. Can you say 4 tranny's in 60k miles!

Anyway, I hope we have good luck with it! I'll be sure to get pictures when he gets it stuck, and he calls me to come tow it out with my Bronco II! Probably unlikely considering the other 4x4's he's got but oh well!

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Dakota's are nice trucks so long as gas mileage isn't an issue to the owner. I've owned/driven 3 and they all got V8 grade gas mileage and none of them had more than 6 cylinders.

That and I just don't like the sloppy driving feeling all dodges seem to come with. But other than that the dakotas are pretty solid trucks.

 

[GreatWhite]

I dont consider Dodge the dark side, considering if I were to get a truck of another company other than Ford it would be a Dodge. Not to mention they make trucks w/ Cummins

 

[Mtrhd0024]

I dont consider Dodge the dark side, considering if I were to get a truck of another company other than Ford it would be a Dodge. Not to mention they make trucks w/ Cummins

Haha, I meant it more as in he's moved on from the Ford Ranger he used to love so much. He always said it was a great truck and thats all he really needed truck wise, etc etc. I'm not really bothered to be honest, at the end of the day every car and truck from every brand has its strengths and weaknesses. Arguing over "one car is better than another" is kinda pointless imo.

 

[Danger FX4 Ranger]

He made a good choice Should have got the 5.2 though

I buddy of mine had a 98' Dakota with the 5.2. I'm NOT a big fan of Chrysler products, but that truck was fun to drive. It had plenty of get up, and the backseat was almost useable..... much better than the jump seats the Rangers come with.