Has anybody switched from a Dodge Dakota to a Taco?

I find Toyotas gearing vamps up some good power, I have the 2015 and before the lift and tires the truck would sit me back in the seat when I stomped the gas. New gears on the way should do the same... again. Plus you get to drive a Taco. Take one for a test drive, I think itll have more power than you think.

 

Nice.

With Hotchkis tvs they are a different animal. I wish we had races like that here,

 

LOL yea..But it did that from day one and never got worse..also when shifting from 45-55 it would clunk..

 

Had a 2000 Dakota Club Cab before the 2010 Tacoma. Loved the 4.7L V8. I loved the truck and gave it to my son and he is still driving it. The Taco is must more sophisticated that the Dakota and I liked it better. The Dakota was better on the highway, maybe because it was lower and heavier than the Tacoma. The Tacoma always seemed a little jittery on the highway and more sensitive to wind and trucks. Maybe the 2016 is better, but I doubt it since its the same cab, frame, and suspension.

 

I wouldn't have a dodge shoved up my ass if I had room for 12 of em'

 

The heater core and the frggin water pump went out on JAN. 2nd of this year at the same time on my 2003 Dakota!

 

My old boss had a 2001 Dodge 2500, and it decided to leave us stranded in the middle of the ghetto in February, while it poured freezing rain, an hour from home when the water pump and power steering pump went out at the same time. Good times.
It also had the heater core issue, and the whole entire dash had cracked up and fallen apart. There was literally no dash up top. That thing went through front end parts and brakes right and left. Broke a bed mount on it hauling shingles. Transmission went out on it at 102k. But despite everything, that Dodge could pull a dump truck that was stuck up to the hogshead in mud. I will give it that- it was a beast.

 

You are comparing apples with oranges when you state that the Tacoma is taller. Of course it is taller it has 4 wheel drive and that Dakota is a two wheel drive

 

I'm diggin the new avatar

 

@viking 15
All 2016 Tacoma have 9.4 ground clearance, 4x2 as well as 4x4. It's in the brochure. Also exterior height is the same across the board.

 

I was in your exact situation. I had a 2003 Dodge Dakota quad cab. I actually had the 5.9L.

Mine was rotting away from the road salt in PA/NY.

I bought it from my Dad in 2012. He had bought it new and took great care of, however it was a constant maintenance issues for me.

I put 2 front wheel hubs, all new sway bar bushings (front and back), 2 front drive shafts, front brakes and rotors, rear diff pinion seal, front to back brake line and rear flex hose, blower resistor heater, had to get abs module redone, belt tensioner, belt, and thermostat housing gasket......plus some redneck body repair to pass inspection all in the 2.5 years I had it. It was consuming 2-3 qts of oil every 5000 miles. Was going to need lots more body work on doors and bed, and all new brake lines for front. I just got tired of the constant fixes....I couldn't trust it anymore.

The biggest issues with the Taco coming from the Dakota are less rear seat room for kids in car seats and the obvious.....way less power.

I feel like Toyota put an engine that is powerful feeling only when rev'd up high and the matched it up with a tranny that constantly wants to be in the highest gear possible.

I miss the low end torque the Dakota had.

I love the looks, conveniences, reliability (in theory, yet to be prove), interior layout, and overall size. Just honestly wish I would have got the manual.

I also like getting 350 miles vs 230 miles per almost the same tank of gas. But lots of other newer truck match or beat that.

I'm also really into all the neat mods for the Taco. Seems like way more than the frontier. Much more fun moding the Taco than fixing the Dakota.


Check the frontiers too. My Dad as a 13 Frontier and that truck feels very powerful, shifts perfectly.....is much less money and he regularly gets 20+ mpg with a 4 door 4x4.


In summary love the Taco except for the drive train, which is a pretty big exception....not sure if it will be my 10 yr+ truck or if I will a few years and get manual.

 

Trans are clunky. Auto 46re I have somehow been lucky, knock on wood. The 45rfe in 4.7s were supposedly better.

Although a tremec tko600 can slove trans clunkiness issues and shave some weight.



My next dakota will be 04 reg cab manual running a hemi on dakota wiring.

 

I seriously doubt that 4x4 and 4x2 have the same ground clearance. Anyone with half of a brain looking at both trucks side by side can tell that.

 

I traded in a loaded 2002 Dakota Sport Quad cab with the 4.7L. The only things I miss are the power, leather driver seat and the Infinity Stereo. Horsepower and torque are really close with a Tacoma 4.0 V6. I didn't really notice much difference towing a 19' bass boat. The Dakota was one thirsty truck though. I was getting 13-15mpg when I WASN'T towing! The quality, fit & finish, and reliability though is night and day. I had more visits to the dealer with the Dodge in one month than I have had in six years with the Yota. It's not even close.......and my Tacoma has only depreciated ~$7K since I bought it!

 

Speaking of water pump problems... our Dakota decided that today was a good day for it's water pump to go.

 

I had a 2002 Dakota QuadCab for 2+ years until it got T-boned on an icy road, at which point I opted for a 05 Tacoma over the newer version Dakota. Still have the 05 Tacoma and like it of course, but I loved my Dakota. Impressions when I changed over: Tacoma ride more refined, but Dakota had better acceleration and better gas mileage which seemed strange because 8-cyl vs 6-cyl. I really liked the Dakota's back seat better than the Tacoma's--you could change configuration in two seconds with one hand with the Dakota, which was nice if the other hand was filled with a guitar amp, dog leash, or whatever. Not so with the Tacoma. I don't know whether the Dakota would have had the longevity of the Tacoma--after 11 years I have no qualms at all about driving the Tacoma halfway across the country if I have to.

 

I worked at a dodge deale

I worked at a dodge dealership for a few years. Can't fully remember but was pretty sure the Dakotas had the same or very close ground clearance between 2wd and 4wd. My father in law has a Dakota with the V8 and those trucks sit very low. My old First gen Tacoma sat higher than his truck. They sit low like a lot of the older 4x4 trucks. I seen my first 3rd gen taco about a month ago and it looked huge, like it had a lift kit (maybe it did) was dark outside and I was carrying food out, but that thing say nearly as tall front end wise as my 13 f150.

 

Thank you Lawfarin. I even called my local toyota dealer, and he told me that yes, the 2016 Tacomas all have the same ground clearance, no matter 4wd or 2wd. So I guess according to viking15, my dealer also has less than half a brain.

 

Well, it's a true fact, that only about half the dealers really do have half a brain. And about 85% of sales associates have no brain. I should know. I work at a auto group. Lol.

Anyways most trucks 2wd and 4wd are the same size now a days. I live in the snow belt so almost everyone has 4wd trucks around here. Always hated the look of the small 2wd trucks even the older full sized ones

 

Well while I have had very good luck with Ole faithful here for the last 18 years it's time for a change. Front end always seems to have some type of issue, gas mileage is about 11 on a good day(runs good only on premium $$), but does still have good power although only rated @ 230hp and looks good. No rust,most all original parts. I will miss it, but looking forward to becoming a new Taco -man! I am not to concerned about the go factor, more about off road capabilities and newer modern interior. I am very impressed with new Tacomas. It's been a tough decision but the way I see it, it's now or never before feds raise interest rates.