Dakota Rides Again?

[stringbreaker]

https://fordauthority.com/2025/01/stellantis-puts-ford-ranger-rival-back-on-the-menu/
Could be a tough sell, it's a crowded segment. Tacoma has had the momentum for years and Ranger has proven that when you discontinue the #1 selling midsize truck for 7 model years, it is a steep uphill climb back into the market. Now there is also the unibody trucks: Maverick, Ridgeline and Santa Cruz, so a Stellantis entry in this segment could be the wallflower, too.

I might buy one if it's not an under powered unibody. Plus it would have to look similar to what is shown in this link and not like that ugly as sin last model they built

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[underwhelmed]

I knew I had a pic of my old Dakota somewhere. Right before I traded it in on a new 2008 GMC 1500.

 

[RedDakooter05]

Found some pics of mine;

 

[LB'sTremor]

2" level with 20" Ram wheels yeah I like silver

 

[bobobama]

Another 4 door pickup! We need more SCAB's. I sure don't and will never need a 4 door pickup truck. I guess technically my SCAB is 4 doors but still count me out.

With suicide doors at that!

I'm on my third Ford SCAB: 2004 F-150 Heritage (great truck w/4.6L triton motor), 2019 F-150 (too big/bulky, not my style) and now my 2021 Ranger (XL, w/STX and FX2 packages, they threw the alphabet at it. I love it!) SCAB's just look better proportioned to me, SCREWS look more like an SUV with a small bed attached. I even got stopped once in the parking lot by a passer-by who commented on the exact same thing.

To each his own I guess. Sales figures tell me I'm in the minority on this, but I'm sure SCAB owners would agree with me.

 

[Lexie]

Anybody remember this Dodge Lil red wagon with the vertical stacks?

 

[Texasota]

Ford broke my heart when they stated that the Ranger PHEV will not be coming to North America. So, I'll be taking a look at the PHEV version of this new midsize from RAM. It makes me feel awful (like cheating) to even be contemplating that since I really am loyal to Ford. I don't know if I could live with myself if I bought one. But, it's okay to look, right?

 

[AzScorpion]

Ford broke my heart when they stated that the Ranger PHEV will not be coming to North America. So, I'll be taking a look at the PHEV version of this new midsize from RAM. It makes me feel awful (like cheating) to even be contemplating that since I really am loyal to Ford. I don't know if I could live with myself if I bought one. But, it's okay to look, right?

It's perfectly ok to look and even buy one.

But, I'm gonna laugh my @ss off when you find out it has a factory damper. ?

 

[5thranger]

It's perfectly ok to look and even buy one.

But, I'm gonna laugh my @ss off when you find out it has a factory damper. ?

They are using a ford transmission.?

 

[stringbreaker]

Anybody remember this Dodge Lil red wagon with the vertical stacks?

I served my tool and die apprenticeship in a job shop in Ohio. We reworked the stamping dies for the bed and tailgate to accept the wood panels. Also the gas cap opening was changed from the left side of the bed to the right side. Don't know why. We subcontracted that job from second tier supplier in Wooster Ohio named Gerstenslager (sp)

 

[shovelhd]

Alright folks, I’m one tall Dos Equis Amber deep at an El Toro Mexican (TexMex) restaurant and I’ve had enough of your weak dreams.

join me on a journey into my dreams.

Stellantis management are visited by the ghosts of Dodge Brothers past and informed that if they f*ck this up, their next ten generations will be cursed. Out of fear and superstition they decide to release a Dakota TRX equipped with a 5.7L HEMI of yore. It sells out.

seeing the success and always one to chase trends and steal customer data, Bloody Mary Barra orders the Colorado and Canyon be equipped with 5.3L V8 hybrid electric engines that commit 3 identity theft crimes per mile, and the lifters fail at 6,000 miles. Warranty coverage is denied because the truck is equipped with AI that smartly blames the owner for the failures. The truck sells out because there are suckers everywhere. Mary Barra is forced to resign with her golden parachute, because justice is fleeting.

In a panic, Toyota sees the success and tries to release a TRD Tune for the Taco Pro, but charges owners $7000 for the pleasure. It doesn’t work and is a sales failure. To adapt and overcome, Toyota realizes they can’t placate the masses with cheap tricks and employs the services of the 2UR-GSE 5.0L V8, previously of Lexus and Yamaha design, to thrill the world. It sells out, and the Taco dominates its own Tundra brethren. Turns out a tuning fork was all they needed.

Honda, having just acquired Nissan, refuses to be outdone and launches a Honda Frontier Pro-HPD equipped with the 5.6L V8 of legend. It comes in one color: Titans Revenge. Women everywhere are impregnated at the sight of it. It sells out.

Subaru, feeling immense pressure for having lost its rally racing soul announces the revival of the Baja. While unexciting and safe as always, Subaru shocks everyone with the Baja STi equipped with a twin turbo boxer 6. The Baja is perfect in every way except for banjo bolts, and faulty turbos. Owners call it character. It doesn’t sell out but is instead a niche classic that dominates at the WRC.

But they are all of them deceived. For another truck is forged. Deep within the depths of Detroit, Jim Farley orders the design of a midsize truck into which he pours his cruelty, malice, and will to dominate all trucks. The Ford Ranger GT350. Summoned from the depths Farley calls for dark magic and the voodoo engine answers the call. On board breathes the life force that is Ford’s 5.2L V8 killtrocity. The stock truck wins the Baja 500. World peace is established out of respect. Every ranger5g active user is gifted one out of respect. The truck sells poorly because dealer $200,000 mark ups. Ford does nothing about it.

No way you've got one Dos Equis Amber on board. More like two or three double IPA's.

 

[shovelhd]

Found some pics of mine;

I love the matching red "inspection tape".

I have never owned a Mopar product. My Dad had a Plymouth Satellite wagon with the 383 and column shift. We used to sleep in the back on long trips.

 

[GhostStrykre]

No way you've got one Dos Equis Amber on board. More like two or three double IPA's.

I like to dream big lol. Also it was two tall Dos Equis ambers by the end of that.

Following the off topic subject - if you’re ever near Cincinnati, OH you can try and find the Double IPA or Triple IPA from West Side Brewery. The cans just have bold lettering saying DIPA and TIPA. Also their West Coast IPA is excellent. Anywhere remotely close to Dayton, OH and you can snag a Boat Show IPA from Yellow Springs Brewery (a town made famous by Dave Chappelle). Just a share for the beer lovers out there.

Back on topic: im rooting for stellantis/RAM to do this right. More competition = more better for all of us.

 

[RedDakooter05]

I love the matching red "inspection tape".

I have never owned a Mopar product. My Dad had a Plymouth Satellite wagon with the 383 and column shift. We used to sleep in the back on long trips.

Haha thanks. I was broke and the trucks body was shot. The flares were purchased to cover the rotted fenders

 

[shovelhd]

I like to dream big lol. Also it was two tall Dos Equis ambers by the end of that.

Following the off topic subject - if you’re ever near Cincinnati, OH you can try and find the Double IPA or Triple IPA from West Side Brewery. The cans just have bold lettering saying DIPA and TIPA. Also their West Coast IPA is excellent. Anywhere remotely close to Dayton, OH and you can snag a Boat Show IPA from Yellow Springs Brewery (a town made famous by Dave Chappelle). Just a share for the beer lovers out there.

Back on topic: im rooting for stellantis/RAM to do this right. More competition = more better for all of us.

Notes taken. If you are ever in New England, I've got plenty of recommendations for you.

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