For a quick and easy answer from the Peterson's 4WD Magazine Test report:
"The downfall of the Dakota (5.2L 4X4) is the automatic transmission. It
doesn't know what gear to use and constantly shifts whenever it want to. We
had to shift it manually to get any performance offroad."
That about sums it up....
Bernd D. Ratsch
Pflugerville, TX
'97 Dakota SLT/CC (V6)
bernd@texas.net
http://lonestar.texas.net/~bernd/Dakota.htm
ICQ#: 39320084
Get a stick, even if you don't like going fast. The shifter is kinda long,
but the auto jsut ruin the fun... this last weekend I drove my same Dakota
(well 3 years newer) with stick, it is about 20 times as much fun... The
auto is highly functional, some bitch about it, but if you change fluid
regularly(60K mi) it will work w/o a problem. I just wish my truck had a
stick. You should to. (I have a 1993 Dakota w//318 and auto, friend had
1996 Dakota w/318 a 5spd) anyway, get the stick, you'll save money too
(auto
cost $$$) Thats jsut my humble opinion... NVMYDakota@aol.com
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