I agree about the 5spd on the Dak. It's not quite as smooth as the stick I had in my old Jeep. Every now and then, I find myself blowing a shift because it wants to go back into 2nd instead of 4th. Only needed three gears to smoke the Cheby though...
Pat Buthmann
-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Casey [SMTP:acasey@mail.io.com]
Sent: Friday, May 30, 1997 3:02 AM
To: dakota@ait.fredonia.edu
Subject: Re: dakota 5 speed vs. auto
> I found the opposite to be true. I used to have a 5 spd, and actually
> wanted another one when I upgraded to my club cab, but the '97s had just
> come out and I was getting a deal on a '96 (which had an auto). Towing with
> the auto is much easier, especially backing the boat into my driveway. My
> street is pretty narrow, so I have to do a lot of jockeying (especially
> with the extra wheelbase) to back the boat in. The clutch didn't like that
> chore very much. My boat is #2700, and I haven't run into the problem you
> have. Do you set the e-brake first, and then put it in park?
I agree that the auto is easier when backing in
tight quarters because you don't have to use 2
feet. But my problem is the boat weighs in at
4000 lbs, the trailor is almost 1000 lbs. When I
launch the boat at the coast, unless you put the
truck in the salt water which I don't, the boat
is still weighing heavy on the trailer. So you
basically have to drag the boat off the trailer
with the motor. I have never had an emergency
brake that would not slip and get against the
transmission under these conditions. The brake
holds fine on the ramp with the boat static but
not when I drag it off.
>
> I'd have to say my main gripe against the auto is the mileage hit (the 5.2
> & 5spd got better mileage than my newer 3.9 & auto). Sometimes I miss the
> stick, but eating in traffic is a whole lot easier now. I can also get my
> non-stick driving friends to park the truck for me after launching my boat.
>
>Karl
this is definitely a plus for auto's. I do miss
being able to eat on the way to work without
making a mess. And my wife can't drive my
standard worth a damn, but that's CC's fault, I
have had several 4 and 5 spds and the dak is
probably the most difficult to get used to. It
took a lot of practice to drag race this thing
consistently.
>
>
Alan...
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