Sounds similar to me. When I decided that my Jeep YJ had nearly run the course of its life, I figured it was time for another pickup. But in the city, a full-size is rather inconvenient (especially with Club-Cab), so compact it was. The Chevy S-10 SUCKS (no power, and I figure they were built for women to drive), no offence to any Chevy owners, but it's true. They also have the worst sounding exhaust of any truck (4 banger, V6, whatever the engine) I have ever heard. Anyhow, it became a choice between the Dakota (damn good looking truck too) and the Ford/Mazda Ranger/B4000 Pickup. After driving both, sitting in both, and pricing out both, the Dakota just gave you more truck for the same money. Especially when you add up the extras you need to make the Ford/Mazda similarly comfortable to the Dodge. The Ranger NEEDS tilt steering to get into, you have to get the bucket seats to get the centre console etc. With the Dakota, jump right in and everything was just in the perfect place. And with the 40/20/40 split bench, you get the centre console built into the middle seat. And with a 5.2L V8 (230 HP) compared to a 160 HP V6 in the Ranger, more power, and the price of the two trucks was nearly (less than $500) identical. Frankly, I don't know why more people don't drive the Dakota. Big difference in performance too.
Just my $0.02, many times over...
Pat Buthmann
-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Hyde [SMTP:philh@insync.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 1997 9:10 PM
To: dakota@ait.fredonia.edu
Subject: Why I chose the V8
Dwight Campbell wrote:
><big snip>
> Why do you guys like the 318? Has there been problems with the V6?
> At this point, I can still change my order.
Well, I believe in being honest, so here goes....
I was going to buy a Ford Ranger with the 4.0 V6. I've been primarily
a Ford person for the past 5 years, having owned a 1992 Escort GT (great
Mazda 16V engine) and most recently a 1994 Taurus SHO (very very
excellent
Yamaha 24V V6 - if I could have traded it sans motor I would have in
a hearbeat!). So I looked into buying a Ranger this time around because
I need a truck.
The problem (and solution) is that the V8 powered Dakota summoned
me and sold me. To make a long story short: power, power, and
more power. I got the towing package and everything so I can
tow around my 1967 Charger that I'm restoring. The Ford V6
(and the Dodge 3.9 as well) couldn't beat the magnum V8 in
towing prowess.
Again, to make a long story short, I just like the extra power
of the V8. Not only in towing situations (which don't occur
every day) but in traffic as well when you need that extra
acceleration. The V8 has alot of potential too.
Just think....you could get the 5.9L ;-)
-- Phil Hyde - Houston, TX. work - ephy@ngccorp.com (M-F 8-5) play - philh@insync.net www - http://www.insync.net/~philh
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