Why do you want a small pickup? I have a 2000 Sonoma/S10 and will never make that mistake again.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I've always wondered - how well do the Dodge Dakota's hold up ? seems like a middle step between the small trucks and the full size ones, crew cabs are available, V8's are available....have they stood the test of time ?

-John

__________________
2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

Hardbody nissan with the all mighty Ka24e that are a dime a dozen because all the 240 guys giving them away for swaps easy to work on not many mechanical problems trans are strong auto or manual.


you can get a decent one for $2k at most

They can be rust buckets

__________________
2003 GX470
1998 E300 3.0TD
2002 Dodge 2500 4x4 cummins
1998 Dodge 3500 5 speed Cummins

SIL has a late 90's S10 with 4.3 V6 and auto. Short bed standard cab. Runs good and I have used it to haul an engine and got 20mpg out of it (I do drive sedately). Couple of little electric gremlins but they do seem reliable. Maybe find one of them cheap.

Dakotas are hardy trucks. can be found with a V8. They are thirsty though, except for the first gen base model with the K car engine. Had one of those as a shop truck, and it got close to 30 on the highway and over 20 in town.

__________________
Сделать Америку великой Снова
"I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left." Margaret Thatcher

Friend of mine just picked up a Dakota with a 5 speed, 150k on it. It looks almost brand new and drives perfect. Obviously maintenance is key with that, but for 3 grand it's a great truck. I would second a ranger as well. I remember we had one as a delivery truck at my first job and when I left the place it had 345k and still going strong. The auto trans were sometimes weak but a shift kit improves it quite a bit. The 4.0 rangers are also solid, though regular oil changes are absolutely vital to the timing components (ask me how I know).


Sent from an abacus

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Other failure points:
The 7.5" rear factory spiders are made of gummy worms
The factory door light switches never work properly, any year.
The DPFE/EGR sensor fails from heat exposure-this can be cured with longer/rearranged lines

__________________
$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

The 4R100 was weak, but the 5R110 is actually pretty stout.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I really just need something to throw wood, pallets, slightly bulky items that wont fit in my MINI(which is anything over a gallon of milk) and get to and from school. I could get a 1500 and I can tow a small car which would be useful but I'm on the fence about that. I'm considering a 1500 or F150 but I need to think that one out.

Make the Mini into a pickup.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I have a 1992 Dakota extended cab short bed 2wd LE 3.9L, first year for the magnum. If you get a v6 or v8 get a 92+. I think the different between 91 and 92 is nearly 60hp.


Mine is 142k, original motor, original trans. Two owner truck, my grandfather and me.

I see 21-22mpg highway. 15-17 city. Really not horrible. Useful as hell, easier to use around town than the F250 (crew cab, 4x4, 8' box) and it was my first car, probably won't ever part with it.

I don't know that others have been as successful with Dakotas as I have been with mine, but mine has been a great truck. Use it to haul motors, mulch, all kinds of stuff.

__________________
68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

9th gen F150s or F250s can be nice as well

__________________
Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

The first car I bought new was a 2002 Ranger Edge and it was a great truck. My brother is still driving it and it has somewhere north of 300k on it. Original engine and transmission but it's on its 3rd or 4th clutch. The slave on these is inside the bell housing so the transmission needs to come out and the slave will start to leak every 60k or so.

I had a '96 F250 with a 351. It was a solid truck, if I did it all over again and went gas in a 9th gen I wouldn't get anything but a 4.9.

I went diesel after that for 3/4 ton+ trucks and haven't looked back. But that's an entirely different convo and probably way too much more than what thedon needsz

__________________
68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

An old Chebby with the 6.2 would make a nice truck if you can find a decent one.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.