Rader wrote:
>
> > Their particular test vehicle is a 2WD CC V8 Auto(3.55) and they claim
> > 0-60 in 8.63 with 1/4 mile 82.4 mph@ 16.67. (weight 3931). One of the
> > trucks it's compared against is the Toyota Tacoma SR-5 with a quote of
> > 0-60 in 7.7sec
>
> I could believe this. The Tacoma was new in '95 when I bought the
> Dakota, and I checked it out as well. One of the reasons I _didn't_
> buy the Tacoma is because it's top-of-the-line brand-new-bugs-not-
> worked-out-yet OHC V6 had a torque curve pretty much straight out of
> the 300ZX. Low-rpm torque was shitty. 190 HP is nice, but not at
> 5500 rpm.
>
> Why on Earth would somebody want a sports car engine in a truck?
> I need to tow stuff and haul the occasional 1500#+ load as well as
> prove my manhood on the freeway onramps. Give me a torquey V8
> any day.
>
> And when I saw the pricetag on the Tacoma (that Toyota quality
> mythos again?), I went straight back to the Dodge dealer. The
> Tacoma simply did not provide the same bang for the buck that the
> Dakota did.
>
> Ron
Exactly... In '95 I looked at both (my wife had a '92 Tercel
and the darn thing needs no maint, we have a Corolla now (same thing)
the Dakota (my 1st choice), and at the Tacoma... Nice truck, Toyota
reliability... BUT for a 4x2, loaded, with a 150hp 4 cyl. it ran
about $21500... And they weren't dealing at the time (April)... I got
my Dakota, 4x2, SLT loaded, V8 for exactly $19000 out the door
(all taxes and license crap included)... Part of the problem was the
tariffs put on imports from Japan, but none of the Corolla's or
Tercel's were any higher than the year before in pricing... Hmm...
A friend of mine bought the T100 that same year, 6 months after I
got my Dakota... He got the standard cab, long bed, 5 speed..
No power windows/door locks, no AC, vinyl interior...and the
black steel rims (no hub caps either!)... He paid $14500...And
the truck has the same 150hp 4 cyl. that I looked at in the Tacoma!
Today he averages about 21 mpg city/hwy, and isn't exactly
'happy' with what he bought. He has had a few mech. problems, and
a serious stalling at the light syndrome right now... All from a
truck that's got about 60,000 miles on it... He will be riding
in my truck pulling our friend's boat tonight... Every time
he rides with me he says the same thing "I know, I know..." We
raze him everytime..
Sam '95 SLT
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