Thoughts on a mid size pickup?

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67Dart273

67Dart273

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Some of you know "some woman" ended my nice Ranger, And State Fu##### Farm finished me off.

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ANY way I'm soon going to be in a position to buy a newer and hopefully low miles truck. I have not decided on budget, I sure as hell don't see spending 20G on something with 150K on it!!!!!

MUST have at least extended cab, maybe even more door

Not terribly in love with the newer Dodge (Dakota) 3.7/ 4.7 engines , maybe you can convince me otherwise

Thinking of Tacoma?

Maybe even a newer Ranger?

Some people like the Nissans I'm not a fan unless some of you can "insist" LOL

This will NOT be the heavy hauler. This will essentially be my "passenger car" I don't carry many passengers anymore LOL

I will either buy a newer/ better 3/4T to replace the "White Whale" or fix it up for heavy hauling /towing and keep it.
 
I absolutely loved my 04 Ranger. It was a nice little truck.
 
No Nissans, CVT’s go bad quickly.
The wife’s Rouge in on number 3.

Import? Toyota
Domestic? Any of the big 3 will do.
 
When I bought my S10, the V6 and 4 banger MPG was 1mpg difference.
 
I have had Rangers and like 'em. i see Ford is bringing the Ranger back to the USA after a short hiatus. Personally, if I were to replace my '96 Dakota, I would look at the new four-door Ranger first. Expect to pay no less than $26,000 to $30,000 (four-wheel drive is $4000 extra).

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I like my Dakota's. I have 2 96's, one 2wd and one 4 wheeler. They're hard to find in good shape though. Both 3.9 v6 trucks. One has 160,000 and one with 125,000. I just put timing chain and gears in one. A 6 hour job. (an I'm slow)
 
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I can't fine a new 2018 Dodge Dakota for sale (they were discontinued after model year 2011) only fotos and specs. Are they even in the showrooms yet? On the Dakota "Wiki page" there is a note that for 2019 there is supposed to be a new Jeep pick-up.
 
I loved my 1999 GMC SLE 1500 4X4 put 360.000 miles on it and it ran great then the frame broke in half, I fixed it but It was in bad shape.
I got a 2000 1500 Silverado 4X4 now and 140.000 miles and it's starting to rust out. I hate Ohio's salt brine they spray on the roads, is worst than just salt.
 
I swear by Dakotas.

5.2 has much better power and only slightly worse MPG than 3.9

...plus you'll very quickly realize it's almost like working on your Dart.

All the LA based Magnums can live well past 175,000 miles.

I'd stay away from the "x.7" motors esp the 4.7.

Crew cab 97-2002 have issues with window winder cable guides breaking a LOT.

Worst issue IMO is heater core above rad fill which causes failure of core which requires removal of dash to replace.
 
I had a 92 Dak,5.2 Magnum/ 4x4/A518/3.91s/extended cab/ slightly shorter box. Man I sure miss that truck. I slid it into a guardrail on black-ice, man that is a funny feeling when you see it coming in slo-mo. Bent the frame and the insurance company took it, so sad. She was coming up to 400,000miles.
 
I've liked my rangers. Dakotas are junk. Chevy, worse.

Get a diesel and be done. Better mileage and more room.
 
I had a 1998 Dakota 4x4 extended cab with the 5.2 liter. It was perfect as far as I'm concerned and very reliable for 100,000 miles. I'd still be driving it but moved to Wisconsin from Northern California and the salt ripped it apart. After the third brake line failure I traded it in on a new truck. If I could find one with a solid body I'd drop in a 408 with fuel injection and never look back. I'd undercoat the living crap out of it first and drop some cash for nice seats and interior spruce up and be money ahead of anything newer. I was never a fan of the newer body styles with the sharp lines. The 2000s Ford Rangers were nice trucks and you probably won't beat the reliability of a Toyota.
 
Wife has a Tocoma, 4 door, nice truck, holds it value, runs like a striped *** ape. (Scares her).
I had a 95 4 cyl. ranger few years ago.
Had 360,000 mi when I sold it and barely ran, but still got 25 mpg!
 
I'm not a fan of rangers I had a 01 it was terrible on gas had no power and always had something wrong. Never nothing major just little stuff that nickle and dime you to death. I love my 01 dodge it's been a great truck I have had nothing major done to it just basic repairs. It's got 254k and counting. If I was gonna buy a new or newer truck it would have to be a newer Chevrolet or GMC they are nice they ride good, pull good,go good, get good mpg, and have all kind of power if you get the 5.3 or 6.0. Not a fan of the 4.7 I will never buy another Ford unless it's a pre 78 ever again iv had two a ranger and a mountaineer (explorer) they both have give me endless problems. The mountaineer I still have it's my wife's and the tranny is giving us a fit. Again.
 
a number of years ago there was a guy delivering office supplies in a pretty nice Toyota T-100.I was looking for a newer truck so asked him if it was for sale.Said yes,it has 700,000 on it and he is going to sell it at 750,000km.
I had my first Toyota 4x4 in '83 and am on my 4th now.I loved the 4 cyl,pulled many people out of the ditch,usually could go where the domestics couldn't and never put a wrench on one.
I have a v6 in my current one.We'll see how it stands up.
 
I'll be watching as well. My 99 Dakota 5.2 still runs well but the body is starting to get pretty bad. I'd get a newer one, but likewise I know nothing about the newer 3.7's or 4.7's. Had an 89 Ranger years ago and it wouldn't rule it out either.
 
If I had to do midsize, Id do Tacoma. Everyone Ive ever met who has one loves em.
I got this monster instead....

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My first truck was a 2001 Dakota crew cab short bed with the 5.9, it was a great truck, only had to sell it back then due to changing careers and the job I had at the time wasn't making the payments. Course I love my newer 14 Ram 3500 but you want mid size.
 
Kllrbee said:
If I had to do midsize, Id do Tacoma. Everyone Ive ever met who has one loves em.
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Ditto on that so I decide that a close up inspection of one was a good idea.

IMO, it is a Dakota copy cat slightly shrunk down.
 
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