New Rival: RAM DAKOTA midsize pickup revealed

[Lando]

Chrysler Dodge had a chance in the 90’s as they were successful and making good inroads in quality. Top brass got greedy and sold out an American institution for personal gain. Mercedes not known for quality electronics and it got worse from there.

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[Ray T]

My buddy was a mechanic, had his own garage, I can remember being there in the 90’s and the snap on truck would stop in and tell us about their top mechanics couldn’t figure out the electrical problems

 

[theDLR]

looks more like a clone of:

 

[Lando]

I’ve had a Dodge Ram 1500 Sport since ‘01. 250k miles and counting. It’s my work truck, love hammering it around town and to job sites. I look poor, nobody fcks with me, Porches get the fck out of my way, easy driving. It’s a dog on gas, and every time I climb into my Trailhunter I don’t feel like I deserve a truck this nice.

Some Dodge’s can last, not every unit is dogshit. I got lucky and have the OE 5.9L and OE tranny 24 yrs in...

I hear you, that was pre Mercedes design and tech. Before head management sold out.

I too miss driving my ‘98 K1500 Silverado with a bush bar on it. Other traffic treated me with respect, no cut offs, they all signaled etc. lol. Funny how other driver’s skills improve with an old pick up in the mix - like they understand the vibe that truck is giving off: don’t f with me I don’t give a f! lol

 

[trailhunger]

looks more like a clone of:

That new Dakota grill tho…Who’s the first to make a truck facia verbatim of a whale shark. Tundra doesn’t count

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

Not to pick on FCA, or whoever owns them now, but lets call it for what it is... More Chrysler group garbage. With that said, I owned a 2019 Ram Rebel and was very happy with it for a few years. Just that their track record isn't all that great.

 

[Lando]

My favourite Dakota is the 98-99 quad cab 4x4 with the ever reliable 5.2 litre engine in it. Rare find as in 2000 they went to the 4.7 motor which is junk.
These trucks are very rare to find with low miles and in good condition but I’d own today.

 

[BTAO]

Dodge/RAM has never known how to stay focused. Their stuff has always left me with head scratches. It's clear everyone with a sport bar is going for the Hilux look. And I mean everyone globally, not just for sale in the USA, with their offerings. Not all options look like cheap pos, the ARB on mine's grown on me, even though it's just for looks.

Back to the Dakota.... The brand's an animal, the model's a place, the trim's... fantasy themed? Pick a theme! The styling is very Hiluxy in general, just like the low power diesel. The tale of why efficient diesels for the Hilux and beyond have faded to myth, we'll never get it.

TBH, I don't hate the look, probably because it's more like the competition than it's own siblings. A hundred grand for a TRX? Please. I swear every designer that worked on every dodge were locked in their own rooms and couldn't see what they designed looked like to what was next to it. Everything looks like a cluster of design islands.

 

[Administrator]

Report: Dealers Impressed By Sneak Peek of 2028 Ram Dakota’s “Aggressive Styling” at 2026 NADA Show

 

[Administrator]

Video Interview: Dealer Describes 2028 Ram Dakota Reveal – “Toyota [Tacoma] Better Be Careful”

 

[JayTech]

L opinion but thats okay

I'd take a turbo diesel, specifically the 1GD-FTV, over the T24A-FTS any day.

T24A is a good engine, but turbo gasser tuned to be a diesel is just the worst of both worlds. Making big low end torque out of a gas engine means you're constantly rolling the dice on catastrophic failure, and you lose the MPG benefit of diesel.

But hey, bigger horsepower number is COOL right?

I would have optioned the SR with a lower output variant of the T24A if I could. Even the 228hp model makes 265ft lb torque WHEEL. Which means crank it's closer to 290 ft lb crank.

We're talking like 240hp crank, which comes out to 100hp per liter. That's a lot for a truck that needs to go 200,000 miles without an engine rebuild to be deemed reliable.

https://www.tacoma4g.com/forum/threads/tuning-the-sr’s-detuned-engine.4371/#post-195213

The higher output models are closer to 125hp per liter (assuming 300hp crank). On an OPEN DECK 4 banger that will see 10,000 mile oil changes and harsh conditions.

Fords 2.3 in the Focus RS is also open deck, and basically all of those are off the road because they blow their head gaskets cause the open deck block can't hang with all the torque.

The T24A has a forged crank, and forged connecting rods to handle the added stress of high low end torque. There is no reason this engine should have reliability issues as long as you keep up with your maintenance. But I would also take a diesel any day. Still wish the diesel engine in the Hilux was available in the Tacoma.

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