In article <4159A0C9.5010806@aol.com>, SilverEightynine@aol.com (Terrible Tom)
writes:
>
>
> I'll never buy one.
>
> How's that for a start to a road test review?
>
> I took a 2005 Dodge Dakota Club Cab, 4x4, 4.7V8, auto, SLT trim... in
> Mineral Grey Metallic (bastards changed it - the color is different
> slightly, from that of the Graphite Metallic. Looked lighter to me.)
>
> Number ONE BIG BIG complaint. The roofline is sloped down far more than
> a Gen III - I was hitting my hat and head on the door frame above my
> head. That really pissed me off.
>
> Next, I do not like where they placed the 4x4 control knob. It is low
> under the dash behind the cup holders. Also the aux power outlet and
> passenger side air bag switch are also recessed behind there. Not easy
> access at all.
>
> Complaint number three... I crawled under the truck in the show room and
> saw up close what they did under the Dak. The new front suspension has
> a very flimsy looking thin crossmember that stretches between the rear
> control arm mounting points. That thing is the lowest part of the
> undercarriage. It would be the first thing to get ripped up with even
> mild offroading.
>
> I don't like the instruments very much. I don't like the tach
> positioned on the right - and the lack of additional instrumentation was
> annoying. I like to see that I have oil pressure and good voltage. I
> don't like an idiot light coming on telling me "something" isn't right.
>
> Next up on my list of gripes was what Bernd was saying about the auto
> tranny shifter. What the HELL were they thinking? They changed the
> movement of the lever to make it rotate backwards as well as move down.
> I do NOT like that at all. It also hit my knee in the low range
> position. Very poor design change.
>
> While I do not like the layout and set up of the interior controls, they
> did have a very good fit and finish quality to them. They did not look
> or feel cheap. Nothing rattled and it looked well made - - just badly
> thought out.
>
> Previous exterior design complaints still stand. Doors carved too much,
> front end too low, grill dished into the bumper too much - ass end is
> A++ wonderful. Kudos to the new V8 Magnum engine badge on the tail
> gate. Me like that!
>
> Cosmetically I like it but I don't love it.. they could have done much
> better. Park a Gen III next to a Gen IV - and I really like the looks of
> the Gen III better. Same thing happened to me with the Ram. After some
> time you get used to seeing a certain model on the road and it no longer
> excites you the way it did when you first saw it. That lull of a
> feeling happened with me and the Gen III Daks and the 94-01 Rams. Then
> the new O2 Rams came out - and I look at them compared to my 01 Ram -
> and I love the older design - compared to the newer design. That's the
> same feeling I had when I look at the remaining Gen IIIs next to the new
> Gen IV's. I find myself appreciating the older designs more now.
>
> Performance - - the truck seemed slower than I expected with a 4.7L
> behind it. I was treated to the now familiar high revving sound of the
> 4.7L - which from past BBQ's has now been burned into my long term
> memory. ---- "It feels like we're at a boat race!"
>
> Wasn't able to get the tires to chirp from a stand still -
> disappointing. Cornering and handling is MUCH improved. Truck can
> corner very very well. Brakes grab nice and stopping distance is good
> for a truck of its girth. Very quiet at highway speeds up to 85 mph
> <evil grin>.
>
> Sound system sounded damned good - better than the set up in my Ram.
> Kudos to the rear suicide doors on the club cab - that was a good move.
>
> One other gripe is that the fuel economy rating for the 3.7L is the same
> - slightly worse - than the 4.7. (when in a 4x4 with an auto) Granted -
> the 3.7 has a 4 speed auto - while the 4.7 has the new 5 speed auto - so
> that might make a difference. However to have a V6 at 15 city, 19
> highway - and the V8 at 15 city 20 highway - is disgusting. That's NOT
> saying "The V8 gets the same great MPG as our V6!" That's saying "The
> V6 gets the same crappy mileage at the V8" - however we all know how
> inaccurate the EPA figures can be - so its all to be taken with a lump
> of salt.
>
> I had the usual encounter with the sales guy - he didn't know much about
> the truck really. I griped about the knob control for the transfercase
> - he said he would go inside and check to see if they offered a shift
> lever option - I shook my head and said nope - this is all they offer.
> I get off on the fact that I can go into a dealership and show up these
> guys. I was lecturing him on the design changes between the old torsion
> bar 4x4 set up and the new coil over set up... he just stood there and
> listened. I honestly think he knew nothing about them. He also never
> even heard of the Power Wagon Ram - said they had not received any info
> about it yet.
>
> I mentioned that I belong to a Dodge truck club and most of my
> "colleagues" call the new Durango the "Durvango" (he laughed at that) -
> and most probably won't like the new Dakota. He got defensive and
> started saying well there are small groups like that who won't be
> pleased by change - and that they have to make a vehicle that will
> appeal to the majority vs. the minority. I nodded and said I understood
> - but that the loyalists like myself and my associates - are still going
> to be upset. I don't think he gets it heh.
>
> My final take on the new truck is that I am disappointed in general. It
> is a very nice truck and I'm sure it will sell well. But I won't buy
> one. I'd take one if someone gave it to me - but if I was to make a new
> truck purchase, it would hands down be a Ram Power Wagon. With any luck
> - Dodge will refreshen the look and feel of this new Gen IV Dak in the
> next few years - and maybe then I'll like it more.
>
> --
> Terrible Tom -- AIM & Yahoo Name: SilverEightynine
> http://members.aol.com/silvereightynine/
>
Nice review, Tom. I can keep my review quite a bit shorter than yours.... it's
ugly. The front end looks kind of like the wrong parts were all tacked on.
Doors look pinched, bed looks great. Did I mention it's ugly?
Brett Forehand
'94 Dakota Sport CC 5.2 Auto
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Oct 01 2004 - 11:38:59 EDT