>
> see if someone can come up with a list of reasons why Dakota is his better
> purchase than a Ford Ranger? Again, he is not into performance,just
> reliability.
> In my search for a new truck I am thinking about the Dodge Dakota, since
> the price difference between it and a Ford
> Do you have any opinion on the reliability of the Dodge 3.9 liter V6 versus
> the Ford3.0 liter V6.
> gphamel@pdq.net
> THIS is an EASY question to answer especially from someone who has worked in an
> independent garage for 30 years. The main mechanical advantage to the Dodge V6
> and V8 engines is (at least right now) they are based on a time proven design
> which has seen many units running well past the 200k mile mark. I hate to bring
> up another make but the 5.2L and the 3.9L engines which share many common parts
> are as reliable and time tested as the small block Chevy and have been arround
> as long. I did NOT say the Chevy is as good but I am talking about proven
> design. On the other hand the Ford V6 engines are fairly new design and are NOT
> based on any time proven design that can even come close to a Chevy much less a
> Dodge! I've seen many 2.6, 2.8 3.0 and 4.0 Ford V6 engines that started out as
> imports have lots of mechanical failures especially CRACKED HEADS. That is a
> common problem with the Ford V6 and is not cheap to fix when it happens. I
> personally have not seen many Ford V6s in Rangers make it to 100k, much less
> 200k miles. I see Dodge V8 and V6 trucks in my shop with over 150k on them and
> they don't even smoke yet. I have personally owned a F150 4.9 I6 that didn't
> make it to 50k without needing main bearings and I also had a S10 that blew 3
> 4.3 V6s in less than 60k miles. So my conclusion is the only American made
> truck that lasts. I do not want a rice burner at my house either.
Jim Miller Waco Texas Renschler Bros Auto Service since 1974.(
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