Temptation - sports truck

"DasWauto" (DasWauto) 07/20/2020 at 19:43 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping without E90M3

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If this thing had a manual transmission I’d have probably bought it already. Still kinda tempted, despite the fact I’m actively shopping to replace the WRX with a new truck right now.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 19:53

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Yeah I like that. 

dogisbadob > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 19:53

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cool color

the real problem is the rust on it :(

Do you like the Subaru Baja? :p

onlytwowheels > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 20:09

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I owned a 2001 Dakota R/T . That 5.9L is mighty thirsty, even for someone like myself who drives like a little old lady. I averaged 11.7 mpg over the 2 years I had it. My employer’s son had a 2000 Dakota R/T and was averaging 11.9 mpg. It didn’t like 87 octane, so I used 91 to eliminate the pinging. My memory says that the PCM had to be reflashed twice due to emis sion recalls. The intake gasket had been installed incorrectly, which caused some oil consumption and pinging........ I also remem ber the rear of the truck would hop a bit on freeway expansion joints during corners.

I liked the truck very much, but I couldn’t justify $130 per week in fuel......

19JRC99 > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 20:09

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The first gen Dakotas could also be had with the 5.2 and 5 speed, and they’re a couple hundred pounds lighter.

Mine was a V6. I miss it. 

OhCrikeyTheRozzers > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 20:11

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Holy crap—forgot these existed until just now. Wanted one of these so bad in high school; like most things I wanted in high school it probably would have ended very  badly.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 20:16

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Sport trucks are cool. You can make them plenty fast PLUS when they need to be, they can be super utilitarian and functional. 

Nibby > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 20:31

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DasWauto > dogisbadob 07/20/2020 at 20:41

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For around here, this thing is mint. :P

I haven’t seen this gen Dakota with so little rust on it in probably 10 years.

I do like the Baja. If they still made it I’d buy one  (in XT trim).

Gone > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 20:42

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That one has the common front fender rust. The R/Ts are fun. The 5.9 is pretty meh stock, but sounds good. Can be built up, much like the non-R/T 5.2 - basic bolt-ons, HCI, to strokers.   Can swap in a T-56 as well ... Downside is all the cool aftermarket stuff you have to hunt for or fab yourself as it’s no longer produced (DT Tri-y’s, chassis bracing, Hotchkis springs/suspension kit,   etc). The 4.7 gets a lot of hate (some deserved), but is pretty capable. However there is no real aftermarket. All the later 302hp par ts can be transf erred with some work however. Or swapped to a 5.7/6.1/6.4 and much easier than a 5.2/5.9 truck. Or just LSx it and be done with it.

Unless you’re willing to hunt down or fab parts, they can be a pain to set up for auto-x/open track. Good drag racing platform though , esp the Gen1 w/the 5.2 stick or auto.

My 93 5.2/auto was fun, as was my 98 5.2/NV3500, and my ‘01 4.7/auto I just drove . ..

DasWauto > OhCrikeyTheRozzers 07/20/2020 at 20:44

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Likewise, and likewise. I can pretty much guarantee I’d have ended up in a ditch, or worse. Hell, my parents’ Ranger of similar vintage spent enough time sliding as it was; d idn’t need a V8 for that. :)

DasWauto > onlytwowheels 07/20/2020 at 20:45

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Oof, I thought I managed bad fuel economy in my WRX, that nearly  on doubles it. The want is reduced, slightly. 

QCGoose > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 20:46

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These were always such grea t-looking trucks IMO. The proportions were sp ot-on, not just from an aesthetic standpoint, but also for u sability as well.

With a stick, they're also pretty fun to drive and the torque made them feel like rocketsleds.

DasWauto > QCGoose 07/20/2020 at 20:49

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Agreed on both counts. The height of the belt line on these is spot on as you say. Modern trucks are so tall and slab sided, especially the current midsizers where it’s exacerbated by their narrower bodies.

I must admit, in the early 2000s, before I could  drive and just after we moved to Canada I loved mini trucks. I think my dream car then was either one of the above R/Ts or an S10 Extreme. I still like them. 

DasWauto > Gone 07/20/2020 at 21:00

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This one is actually pretty minimally rusted for one of these. As mentioned in another comment, I haven’t seen one with so little rust for probably a decade.

I wouldn’t be looking to do any real performance driving with it ( I have the 128i for autocross). I’d just rip on it on our gravel roads and throw bikes or kayaks in the bed. I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy it. 

onlytwowheels > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 21:02

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I liked the truck, really.

Hated the mpg.........

Truth is, the 4.7L Dakota is actually quicker . I remem ber reading a magazine comparison test done at the drag strip. I believe the 4.7 won 4 out of 5 runs.

Salesman at the dealership tried to lean me in that direction, buy I insisted I wanted the biggest engine.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 21:02

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I had an 02 4.7+5 speed for 13 years and have a 03 5.9 R/T now. Both fun in different ways.

dogisbadob > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 21:19

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oh, you’re actually buying *new* oops

I thought you just meant new to mean a replacement, since you were looking at this not-new truck

Thisismydisplayname > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 21:46

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I love my ‘99. Just rebuilt the trans after 177k miles of pretty constant beating on it and towing. It’s been a great truck for me. I plan to keep it for a long time. Only rust on mine is the rear bumper... which I’m going to ditch for a roll pan anyway. There is a guy selling a pristine example here by me. It’s been repainted and the frame has been dressed up and it looks clean.

Thisismydisplayname > onlytwowheels 07/20/2020 at 21:51

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Lol fuel economy....  that’s funny.  Mine runs premium due to the performance PCM, and yeah it’s just barely getting into the teens for mpg.  But it hauls and it hauls stuff too.  Mine is lowered so it’s great for loading and unloading.  I wouldn’t trade it for many things...  maybe an SRT-10 ram.  But that’s about it. 

Thisismydisplayname > onlytwowheels 07/20/2020 at 21:54

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Yeah the 4.7 is decent. The 5.9 can be woken up a bit, but it’s not cheap.  I have headers and the pcm on mine that helps a lot.  But nobody makes performance parts for these anymore.  I’ve seen guys drop the 392 in there, and that’s what I’d like to do someday.  But that’s not happening anytime soon.  

DasWauto > dogisbadob 07/20/2020 at 22:11

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Yeah, this is just fun spitballing. 

shop-teacher > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 22:19

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Very nice!

3 Jeeps and a Mazda wants a Fiata > DasWauto 07/20/2020 at 23:41

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97. 5.2 CC Gen III owner here, youll have to pry this truck from my cold dead hands. I owned a 98 R/T RC when I was in my early 20's and loved it except for the expensive tires and its inability to pass gas stations after barely 270 miles. Sounded incredible though.