2001 Dodge Dekota 4x4 Sport?

[MRKRacing125]

Well, my parents are going to be buying me a graduation present, and the car that we have now is about shot so they are going to be getting it for me early. Anyways, is the Dekota a good truck? I test drove it today and I loved it! They have hooks in the back for my tie downs for my bike so I am pumped about that. Another thing, on the 4x4 is it allways in 4 wheel drived? or can you take it in an out of 4x4? This verison of the truck is the one that sits really high and has the higher suspension with big wheels. Thats all I know:)

 

[Buzz Bomb]

Get aToyota Tundra, a Ford, or a Chevy. My neighbor's Dakota breaks down all the time. It's already on its secondtransmission after 70k miles.:think

 

[tileman]

A few yrs back me and my wife had Toytoa trucks hers was a sr5 mine was just there std truck. The were by far the best yet just to small now with 2 kids and my work has taken off she now has a 00 3500 dodge ram turbo diesel quad great truck will tow just about anything I hook to it.
I my self just got a new 02 GMC cargo van I had one befor 98 and it was good also never a brake down or anything in 76,000 miles I put on it.

Good luck with your new truck.

 

[MRKRacing125]

can you swith bettween the 4x4 and 4x2 wheeled drive?

 

[MRKRacing125]

?

 

[rwcwoh]

There is a lever to the right of the gas pedel, pull it back for 4x4 and push foward for 2x4. I have a '99 Dakota Sport and have been pleased with it for 45,000 miles with the only probems of warped rotors and so so gas milage.
That darn V8 begs to be spanked and there gos your milage! ;)

 

[SPD]

I've had several dakota 2 wheel drive trucks and never had a problem with them.
Rich you drive like my grandma:p

 

[yzeater]

I just came in here to start this thread...I also took a test drive, and we really liked it. Nice ride. The really good part is that it's smaller than a full size truck (F150, Tundra), but bigger than the small ones (Tacoma, Ranger). Did you test drive the SLT with the slightly extended bed?

 

[Silver Bullet]

I have an '01 Dakota Quad Cab 4x4. I have had it for about 8 months now. I have to say I love it. I switched from an F150. It is the perfect size for me. Just had a kid so the full sized back seat was a must. I can fit 2 bikes out back with the tailgate down. The 4.7 V8 kicks ass. I have had no problems with it (knock wood) and at this point can highly recommend it. As far as the 4 wheel drive goes, it was an option to get either full time 4x4 or standard 4x4. The full time 4x4 is all wheel drive all the time and can be locked into 4 wheel drive. The standard is 2 wheel drive until you switch to 4 wheel drive. Hope this help. Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[Italprincess]

DONT GO CHEVY!! Or maybe I just have the worst luck in the world, but I have a 2000 Chevy S10 (Xtreme) and i am having the worst time with it/...... I have had the AC compressor replaced 3 times.. and I just turned 30,000 miles!! I have had wierd sounds from the engine.. the tran is tempermental, the ball joints constantly clunk.. i pretty much need em lubed between oil changes, sux in the snow, I even had the black trim around the windsheild melt, and when the wipers went on it was dragged all over the glass. My boyfriend is looking to get a dakota.. and even the service guy at the dealership I go to said they are way worth looking into........ I have a friend with a dakota sport, all hooked up and its pretty sweet, only hauls his quad .. other than that its only to look pretty, but they are deffinately good trucks, plus chevy .. now that i am realizing it.. is pretty overpriced.. but tat is my opinion.. So from someone who once was a Chevy girl.. Go Dodge!!

 

[BSWIFT]

The only down side to the Dakota that I have heard is fuel milage. The EPA estimates are not on the mark at all. A mechanic at a local Dodge dealership told me not to buy the Magnum series. He said you pay about $2500 for the emblems and a $750 chip. Just get the regular engine and add the chip.
As for the 4x4, I have owned many. Get the part time 4x4 unless you are on slippery surfaces constantly. You will like the 4x4 low range when the going gets really rough. JMO

 

[yarbonwick]

I've had my Dakota Quad Cab since September of 2000. I love it. It even rubbed off on a couple of people at work. This is a new Dodge, I've heard of the older Dakota (non R/T) with various problems with various configurations. The new 4.7 and mulit-speed Auto is a work of art. And contrary to popular belief, my gas mileage is reasonable for the way I drive. Just don't believe the low fuel light, there's plenty left. And the overhead computer M-t-E is off big time too.

 

[justgeo84]

We have had our '01 Dakota Ext. cab for about 10 months now and we love it. We had quite a few dealership problems but no truck problems. We jumped up from a '93 6 cylinder to the 4.7L and absolutly will not go back. The truck pulls our 6'X10' enclosed trailer with no problems, I don't think the truck even knows it's back there. The gas mileage could stand to be a bit better but the power offsets that problem.
And we also have the All Wheel Drive system on the truck. The truck will start driving the front wheels if it feels the back ones spinning. Or you can lock it into 4 wheel high or low by turning the little dial.

Best of luck to you!
Justin