Dodge Dakota / MB Engine? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Lostyankee · #1 08-08-2007, 01:47 PM

Does anyone have any experience with the 2001 Dodge Dakota SLD?
The owner says it's a fuel hog. 70K miles, $7K, great shape.
Thank you.

Hatterasguy · #2 08-08-2007, 04:06 PM

My friend has a 2001 Dodge Ram with about 80k miles on it.

20k miles on a new engine, and 10k on a new transmission. The AC is broke, again, third time, its starting to rust, the interior is ok at best.... Oh and the tailgate doesn't always close, you have to really slam it to get it to latch shut. Even though I greased everything.

Its never been in an accident...

Lets see my dads 1994 F150, 110k miles:

Original engine, original trans, AC never touched, no rust, interior in similer shape to the Dodge's, but its got more time on it. Tailgate shuts!

Dodge, no towing, light work. Ford medium towing and carries some pretty good loads in the bed.

Great trucks those Dodge's....

The newer Fords suck, if you want anything newer I'd go with a Toyota or Chevy.

ImBroke · #3 08-08-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

The newer Fords suck,

From experience?? Loved mine, hauled all kinds of crap, from Wisconsin to Virginia, to New York, etc.. Heated seats, very nice. Oh, and need I mention the 5 star crash ratings? That pushed me over the edge to buy the new body style, crash pics of the old style (like my 99), and the new one (my 04).

Just curious to find out why you think they suck.

Hatterasguy · #4 08-08-2007, 04:52 PM

My uncle has a 2005, its really cheap feeling. I have no idea how reliable it will be. He will get rid of it in a year.

Fast forward to 2007, I don't like the interiors. The overhad bin is cheap, as is the dash and door panals. Chevy and GMC currantly have the best trucks on the market, IMHO. This might change in 2008 because Chevy screwed themselves good with the redesign's.

Ford stoped making a truck that I liked when they went with the more round body, in what 1997?

Ford doesn't make a bad truck I just don't like there currant offerings. But the new big Toyota and GM's suck as well.

dunl · #5 08-08-2007, 06:22 PM

Comparing a 2001 Dodge to a 1994 Ford isn't exactly a fair comparison.

My dad's 1990 Dodge is still running, all original except for replacing a driver's door (lives on the east coast of Canada, Prince Edward Island, where you're pretty much always near the spray). 371,000 km I think on a gas engine.

Older ones are fine, especially the diesel's.

deerefanatic · #6 08-08-2007, 06:57 PM

I would die for a 98 1-ton 4x4 dodge with an ISB Cummins in it!

I saw one of those that was modded at a truck pull...... Nothing short of amazing!!

Lostyankee · #7 08-11-2007, 02:29 PM

Sorry for the delay in reply.
Truck in question is a factory installed MB 3L Dakota SLD. I have not been able to find any info online about this option. Waiting for the VIN to do a search.
The only 3L MB Dakotas I've seen online were shade tree wonders.
I work with owner's brother who is a diehard buy USA (is that even possible today) and he has convinced the owner to move up to a big block oil burner.
I never liked the feel of the Dakotas or for that matter most 'modern' turcks that were designed for the ladies. I'm old enough to remember the mid 60's Chev 3/4 tons with small block V8. Since then the only truck I've driven that acted like a truck was a 85 3/4 Ford oil burner. This is rather strange as I've owned several small pickups but none of them road like a boat.
Back to my needs: Light hauling, mostly highway miles with little load, southern WI climate. I currently have a tired 79 300SD. May convert to bio.

Knightrider966 · #8 08-11-2007, 02:35 PM

I have a 1994 Dodge Ram 4x4 with a Cummins diesel in it and have had no problems for about 160,000 miles now, but I can't say about the gasser! The only thing I don't like is the dash is cheap plastic and the cup holders are useless for any cup more than half full. I did have an epitome about fixing the dash though! I removed it and mixed up about a pint of fiberglass resin with a little Gorrilla hair. Putting Gorrilla hair in the weakest places dry and pouring the liquid resin on top of it and filling up all the recesses in the dash worked wonders!

JimmyL · #9 08-11-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Ford stoped making a truck that I liked when they went with the more round body, in what 1997?

How many of these have you owned Hattie? I bought my '97 F-150 brand new, have over 200,000 miles, and it has pretty much been the best truck/vehicle I've ever owned from a reliability standpoint. I've replaced the alternator twice and the radiator, and that is all that has ever broke.
My coworker has a '98 F-150 with almost 270K, and he had a heater core go out, and a tranny failure in year one, but he towed a large boat with the trailer brakes stuck on!

Many of us have had Fords these last 10+ years at work, and not a single person has had much in the way of issues.
That is a better sampling that what one person might have said.
Having said all that, the brakes universally suck I must say........ But can't beat that 34 degree vent temp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ImBroke · #10 08-12-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

really cheap feeling.

Kind of have to agree with you there, the leather was rather cheap. The overhead bin thingy is a joke. I should have gotten the moonroof instead.

I have no idea how reliable it will be. He will get rid of it in a year.
Can't say anything about reliability if he's going to get rid of it so soon.

Ford stoped making a truck that I liked when they went with the more round body, in what 1997?
Yes, it was 97. 98 they had the three doors (why not 4?)

But the new big Toyota and GM's suck as well.
if you want anything newer I'd go with a Toyota or Chevy

If I take these two quotes, I get confused. Not hard to do, mind you, but still. If you'd go with a Toyota, or Chevy, and you think the big ones suck, then you must like the Tacoma and Canyon. Haven't looked at them myself, because I haul things with my truck. I'm not going to haul a car on a trailer with one of those little trucks.

Gotta disagree with your truck philosophies.

greasybenz · #11 08-12-2007, 06:45 PM

Those GM's suck when it comes to pulling something like a car on a trailer. My uncles 02 GMC truck(2500 if im not mistaken) struggles pulling his boat up the hill at anderson lake. While my mom's ford f250 diesel truck pulls our boat (same sea ray 185 sport they have) up the hill without a fuss. Doesnt even feel like anything is back there. And i didnt have a problem pulling 4 benz's on a trailer either....fuel economy was about the same in the ford. The GMC drops in mpg's terribly when pulling the boat.

The GMC started developing an oil leak after hauling that boat around...i think the motors stressed

Hatterasguy · #12 08-12-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBroke

Gotta disagree with your truck philosophies.

Nah I'd never buy a truck period, not my style. Both of my uncles buy new trucks for work every 1-2 years. They use them as write off's. So his 2005 Ford is actualy the oldest truck he has had in awhile. I'm sure it won't be around much longer.

The new big Toyota's suck, the interior is uber cheap and they are very expensive. The new GM 2500's suck, the previous generation is rather nice. I don't know what GM was thinking with the front end or the center console, uck. I think you can still buy the previous generation, its called the classic.

My friend has a 2005 Chevy 2500 with the big V8 (forget the model). I love that truck its Chevy got it spot on. It tow's his 5k pound boat and its like nothing. He has a sweet aftermarket exhuast, Bullydog tuning, and intake. Now he is thinking about doing headers.

What gets me is how crazy expensive new trucks are. A loaded Toyota (the big one) is damn near as makes no difference to $50k out the door. WTF its a truck, I'd rather buy a Mercedes for that money. I don't carry or tow anything that an S class couldn't handle. An S class has a large trunk, I can get it with AWD, and I can tow something around 1k pounds. Good enough.

#13 08-12-2007, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Nah I'd never buy a truck period...

I agree, I can't imagine why I would want to tie up any cash in a truck. If something needs to be hauled, it's always going to cheaper to pay to have it done. If you need a truck (or a write-off) for business purposes, fine. IMHO, they are just tools, for most folks it's like owning a post hole digger you only need to use twice per year.

dauber · #14 08-12-2007, 07:36 PM

Lost- If you find out more let us know. I was not aware a diesel was ever put in the Dakota. isnt the 3.0 the gas 6 engine for the dakotas? If you end up not buying let me know that combo sounds perfect for me.

I have a 2001 Ram 5.9 that I purchased new. I only have 50k on it but not a problem yet. I use it to pull my boat but it does suck gas just like all the truck V8's. This is the first Dodge truck I purchased. I have owned three Chevys. They all have seemed the same to me, well built few problems. I actually get a kick out of people who only like ford or dodge or chevy for this or that reason. It reminds me of the school yard days-Dodge is junk because I use to know this guys or my ford did this.....whatever. Most modern trucks are built pretty good. I actually drove a full size Nissan and that seemed like a pretty cool ride.

Stevo · #15 08-12-2007, 08:42 PM

I bought my 94 Ram/Cummins with under 100K on it, from a friend and fellow volunteer fire fighter. He put all the goodies on it, 4' exhaust, air bags (springs), exhaust brake, wood dash, 5 spd manual, changed the oil religiously at 3K. Its a nice truck, but when you slide behind the wheel and look around its not a MERCEDES