Hey all,
I've been considering getting a new dak (currently have a 97 V6), and I might
have to do it sooner than originally planned due to reasons beyond my control.
Anyways... I test drove a 5.9L 4x4 QC this evening, and while I wipe the drool
off my face, I want to toss a couple questions out there and see what you all
have to say. I apologize if I am rehashing things that have already been
overdiscussed in here, but I haven't had the time to stay current with every
post...
(1) For you 4x4 owners out there - do any of you wish you had opted for the 4x2
instead? If so - why? I am concerned about a couple things - namely, the
added effort for maintenance such as fluid changes, clutch replacement, oil
pan gasket, CV boots & joints (I assume the 4x4 dak has these?), stuff like that.
How much extra maintenance work is necessary with 4x4? And does this affect the
procedure for replacing front brake discs?
My other concern is whether or not I can even justify having 4 wheel drive. Any
time it rains out, all I do is sit and spin in my current dak (2 wheel), and
for the entire winter I haul around close to 500lbs of sand. This becomes a very
tedious thing to deal with. I won't be doing any hardcore offroading, but I will
be driving in people's wet soggy backyards (got stuck once...) occasionally and
also towing a 14' boat. I know that whenever I have to do something extra (like
dealing with sandbags all winter... or getting stuck in a FLAT yard!!!) because I
have 2 wheel drive, I end up cussing myself for not getting 4x4 when I bought my 97.
Any input?
(2) Is the 5sp that comes with the 4.7 a decent unit? The tranny in my V6 shifts
beautifully; the shifter and gate feels good and solid. However, I test drove
a Ram with the manual tranny (can't remember which engine, it was a V8 though) and
I was extremely dissappointed with the way the tranny felt. The shifter felt real
cheap and rough, like I was going to break something just putting it in gear. I
am just wondering how the dakota's 4.7L manual tranny compares (and if it's a
different unit or not). Unfortunately, my local dealer doesn't have a 4.7L 5sp on
his lot, so I couldn't test drive one. Are the 4.7L manual owners satisfied?
(3) If I end up disliking the 4.7L manual tranny, then I'm looking at either a 5.9L
auto or a 4.7L auto. Which is recommended? (based primarily on transmissions...)
I've heard a variety of stories about chrysler automatic transmissions, ranging
anywhere from good and trouble-free, to horrible and beyond.
Thanks in advance for any input you can provide, and I apologize for the long post.
(...and for potentially rehashing any recent discussions!)
-kevin d
97 cc V6 5sp
homebrew k&n, 3923's, superconductor 8.5mm, 180tstat
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