I would like to take this opportunity to brag about my new 2007 Dodge Dakota truck and the price I paid for it. I bought it for $17,200 which is $10,750 BELOW the MSRP and it has a lifetime powertrain warranty!
This is in the US of course where everything, except health care, costs about half as much as it does in the UK.
Here's a review and pictures:
www.automotive.com/2007/12/dodge/dakota/reviews/in...l
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 30/01/2008 at 10:11
|
The Price you paid probably says much about the state of the US economy; not a snipe at you but the sooner the US starts to put diesel in them the better for your economy and residual value of such a vehicle.
The worry thing is that the "statement" that a Pick up truck is could easily be confined to history quite soon if the price of steel continues to rise.
|
|
It does not matter whether it uses diesel or petrol its an insult to peple suffering poverty in the world.I cannot think of one nice thing to say about it its horrible no wonder the japs have taken over most of the US automotive industry.If it where mine I would be hiding it round a corner not bragging about it.
|
|
|
|
|
I'm not really sure what a "lifetime" warranty is - who defines lifetime? Does it means that while it works it's guaranteed, and once it stops working it's not ;-)
Edited by Peter S on 30/01/2008 at 07:41
|
Now I like it. Run it on ethanol. Jobs a good 'un...
Wheels probably need to be slightly bigger, but thats about the only complaint. And look at the pic of that engine!
I'll get my coat now....
And re Peter S - Lifetime Warranty - see below. Key points are First registered owner ONLY!
"The Lifetime Powertrain Warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair covered powertrain components; engine, transmission and drive system. The new powertrain warranty is limited to the first registered owner or retail lessee. Customers should contact dealers for details on vehicle selection.
"This new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty is a statement of confidence to our customers to the reliability of their powertrain. It?s peace-of-mind reassurance for as long as they own the vehicle," said Steven Landry, Executive Vice President ? North America, Sales and Marketing, Service and Parts, Chrysler Group.
To continue warranty coverage, the owner must have a powertrain inspection performed by an authorized Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealer once every 5 years. This inspection will be performed at no charge. The inspection must be made within 60 days of each 5-year anniversary of the warranty start date of the vehicle.
Landry added, "The new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty underscores our focus on quality and customer satisfaction. It demonstrates our commitment to customers and the confidence we have in our ability to produce quality, reliable and durable vehicles. That?s why we put 'lifetime' on it."
|
Obviously the art of aerodynamics died long ago (probably been recycled as firelighters by now).
I know the Yanks like to disappear out into the wilderness now and then (I don't really want to think about what they get up to out there...), but surely they can come up with something that looks a little bit more stylish.
|
|
|
|
"Dodge Dakota looks massive and menacing, with a long snout devoted to crush space. "
Yee Haa... good old self centred gas guzzling USA. Thats the West.
In the East, China aims to follow suit, smoke and gas belching from their industrial revolution.
The UK, `global warming`ego swollen to gargantuan proportions, factually, sits like a pea between two drums, `saving the world` with `low carbon emissions`.
Like a zero emission fairy amongst a herd of dairy cows, worried Willie from Wimbledon turns his thermostat down to reduce his carbon footprint and cycles slowly to work to avoid emitting too much heat into the atmosphere....
A joke outside his own country, at least his neck is not radiating heat in the infra red band. Enough carbon compensation for him to buy a nice little Panda perhaps?
Regards ;)
(Humour, nothing personal;)
|
|
I'd love one if I lived in a big country, especially at that price. Enjoy it while you can, OP.
|
If I could afford it, I'd get two and park one outside Greenpeace and the other outside Friends of the Earth. Just so I could annoy them like they annoy me with their great global warming swindle.
(And I think the massive corruption in Africa has got more to do with poverty than a Dodge pick-up)
(Green..the new word for tax)
Edited by midlifecrisis on 30/01/2008 at 09:43
|
As Chrylser are on the verge of bankruptcy (due to making carp like this), the Lifetime Warranty may be only for Chrysler's lifetime...which could be 6-12 months.
|
|
|
It seems that the US car industry is determined to consign itself to history. Two years ago I had a rental Chrysler MPV in New England. Shoddy build and poor performance from its big V6 engine. European and Japanese automotive technology is just a whole lot better. No wonder Daimler gave up on Chrysler and sold it off last year and no wonder the Japanese are all set to overtake the Americans in their own back yard.
|
I think the clue is in the posters handle.
|
Tempting to follow your example, midlifecrisis.
But a friend might spot them and believe I liked them - then wonder what the heck my brain had turned into.
|
Ok it isn't going to win an economy or design award. But the standard engine is only a 3.6 V6 (with a 6 spd manual) - c'mon give the guy a break!
We don't exactly lambast every person that admits to owning a (petrol) Range Rover, X5, Q7, ML*.....etc. on here do we?
* Most of those have similar or larger "standard" petrol engine(s).
|
And let's not hold our breath waiting for a lifetime powertrain warranty in the UK, eh?
|
I quite like it.
The EPA figures for the V8 are apparently 14 MPG City and 18 Highway. Oh to live somewhere where affording such fuel economy would even be half realistic.
I bear our American cousins no ill-feeling at all, but it irritates me that my own government not only tries to make me feel guilty and taxes me punitively for driving my 46 mpg car to work, but that they continue to imply that not doing so would make an impact on climate change. America is full of cars doing teens to the gallon, frankly how can it?
Not to disrespect your car choice, OP. It's our problem, not yours.
Cheers
DP
|
|
I love these giant Tonka toys and if I lived in Nebraska I might even have one. It's just a civilian truck really. If you wanted a RR Phantom or a Ferrari that's what you would get, circumstances permitting.
|
I quite like it. The EPA figures for the V8 are apparently 14 MPG City and 18 Highway. Oh to live somewhere where affording such fuel economy would even be half realistic.
Americans are turning to smaller and more economical cars (i.e. Japanese and European). The price of petrol in the US has risen quite steeply and a lot of Americans are actually not THAT well off. They often have greater distances to cover than we do and so the rising cost of petrol and fuel economy is becoming a major issue.
|
the rising cost of petrol and fuel economy is becoming a major issue
Having just paid £63 to fill up my humble Mondeo with diesel, I find even their current average price of $2.98 a gallon quite difficult to sympathise with, even accounting for the smaller US gallon.
With current exchange rates, the running costs of a 14 mpg V8 behemoth in the US are not dissimlar to those incurred by a 45 mpg diesel over here.
As I said, the problem is over here, not over there.
Cheers
DP
|
I bear our American cousins no ill-feeling at all but it irritates me that my own government not only tries to make me feel guilty and taxes me punitively for driving my 46 mpg car to work but that they continue to imply that not doing so would make an impact on climate change. America is full of cars doing teens to the gallon frankly how can it?
>>
Let's not forget that the US gallon is only 6 pints compared with the UK's 8, so 14mpg really equates to about 20mpg in UK money - still pretty poor though!
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 31/01/2008 at 09:42
|
|
|
|
|
Too small, should have got a Dodge Ram instead (!)
|
Now you're talking Shaz. An 8 litre truck V8 with massive multiple carb and high compression heads and heavy duty shocks, fit for the border drug trade... ooh yeah!
Haven't seen the film, but read 'No Country for Old Men' by Cormac Macarthy, a great writer by the way but this is not a demanding text. There's a tuned 'Ramcharger' in it belonging to very bad people whose engine can be heard idling unevenly as it cruises sinisterly about.
|
|
Well, good for you OP! I hope you enjoy your purchase. But why, would you want to come all the way 'across' the Atlantic to tell us about a vehicle not available here (AFAIK), that would not be a particularly practicable proposition here, that has few merits as a vehicle (apart from builders' truck utility/size, which to some is important & impressive) & is vastly expensive to fuel. The tone that comes across & impression made is much like that of a stranger walking into a pub & immediately boasting in a loud voice about his or her possessions and/or exploits. You might just order a drink & get to know the 'locals' first?
|
Woodbines - don't be a spoil sport. Poor lad has got the vehicle of his dreams at a price that really pleases him and he is SHOUTING it from the rooftops ..... all over the world!! (cos they are not unique/impressive in the US of A) AND he even knows the UK exists. ;~)
Dogfriend, have fun with your new wheels.
|
|
|
|
|
I misspelled Cormac McCarthy's name. Sorry.
|
The Dodge Ram may make some kind of sense in USA with cheaper fuel.
Over here I (UK) at work we had some building construction done, and landcaping / new carpark etc. Some of the (I presume construction engineers) contractors were driving a Dodge Ram here. Two ere parked regularly in the car park (newish models), with a third (slightly older) model on occasion.
|
Rerad the review - what a giggle. "Five-star safety ratings in both front and side impact testing by the federal government (NHTSA)." (In other words, if pedestrian hits Dakota - Dakota wins.) And again: "responds quickly on mountain roads and tracks nice and straight on the highway". (Erm, so what's it like driving it in town ??)
Finally: "If you want a pickup that's big and brawny, but not as big as a full-size, the Dodge Dakota is the biggest and the brawniest." (I would have been thrashed to within an inch of my life if I'd written such drivel at school....) DATED OAK DOG is a suitable anagram.
|
|
|
|
|
|
As the originator of this thread perhaps I should have explained more.
First I'm a Scottish expat living happily in California. I'm always happy to stick my countrymen about the fact that they pay twice as much for things on half the salary (but work one-quarter as hard).
Second, this truck is used to haul my family and a 2 ton sailboat safely about on weekends and as work truck during the week. I have a Hondo Civic for town driving.
Third, America's a big country, California alone is EIGHT times larger than England. As we expaits say, in America 100 years is a long time, in Britain 100 miles is a long ways. You wouldn't want to drive from LA to Yosemite in a micro
|
wouldnt want to do it in that builders skip either
|
|
|
First I'm a Scottish expat living happily in California. I'm always happy to stick my countrymen about the fact that they pay twice as much for things on half the salary (but work one-quarter as hard).
Well, my observations of the tone of the original post were well founded. How the heck do you know how hard other people work? The sunny California lifestyle may not last so much longer happy ex-pat! The deep & declining groove in the American economy shows little sign of responding to the really hard workers in China & India. The cheap oil is rapidly running out, productivity levels in America are (& have been for a while) below many, if not most comparable economies - that lifestyle has been funded by American govt. debt paid for by the Asian & Chinese govts & investors buying up American industry & US govt. bonds.
Not quite as sunny methinks.
Edited by woodbines on 03/02/2008 at 02:21
|
|
|
|
