kaisen:
I looked into getting a Dodge Dakota, but after test driving it, I saw it didn't really fit me well - interior space was cramped, and it had a very truck-like ride.

The Ford has a much nicer ride, has a more comfortable interior, and Mrs. Z-man likes it the most in terms of styling of all trucks in that segment (4-door short pickup bed trucks). I too, find the styling to be more appealing than it's competition. (Honda Pilot, Chevy Avalanche, Dodge Dakota...etc)

Plus I got a very good deal along with a 5-year loan from Ford financed at 1.9%.

-Z-man.

Maybe Z-man knew of people like me who had 8 problems with their Dakota in the first three years and could not afford to be out of a vehicle for weeks at a time while waiting for the Dodge dealership to get to his new car for warranty work. Or maybe he doesn't like driving and PAYING for clapped out Neons with cigaret burns in the seats while his NEW car is in line for the 50 service bays that the Dodge dealer keeps full all the time for "warranty" work. ;)

(yes, I am still bitter and will NEVER buy a big three built car again! Sorry for the rant, but I can't help myself when this subject comes up) :)

PS Z-man, nice looking truck, I hope you got a good one. I am sure you will be happy you picked the V8.

You mean Purple..don't you...by anyother name its STILL PURPLE...A Purple Tr...uck...

Back in the day they used to call it Maroon, then Burgundy and some Merlot., now Dark Cherry....but its still all Purple to me.

I suppose U coulda bought a BROWN truck...now that would have been even worse...

Well Chrysler ain't in the BIG 3 anymore...So you'd be buying another Dodge.

:D Aint gonna happen! My '99 Tacoma has about 80k on it now and it has been 100% trouble free. Kind of funny, right after I traded my '98 Dakota in on it (the Toyota was used 10k miles), I stopped in at a Toyota dealership to see about ordering some accesories and the service bays were EMPTY! I was pleasantly shocked after dealing with the broken new car filled service department at Dodge for the previous 3 years!

I wonder how the 07 Tundra owners with snapped camshafts feel. Or the 07 Camry V6 owners with bad transmissions. Or the 07 Camry 4cyl owners with throttle problems. Or all the Toyota owners with sludge concerns (that Toyota originally denied).

Do you presume that the million-plus Toyota owners that have been issued recalls in the last three years are driving spiffy new Lexus loaner cars while their Sequoias are in the shop for new ball joints? Or cigarette burned Corollas?

When my Audi was in the shop for SEVERAL days I got to drive a basic Toyota Camry CE from Enterprise. Do you think I was happy? I'd much rather have the twin turbo 6speed all-wheel drive I paid for than the four cylinder wheezer with warped rotors I got.

When my BMW 750 was in the shop, I got a new-ish 325i with leather but no heated seats (in the middle of winter no less). Had to wait a long time for the parts to come from Germany. Nice shop, nice people. Still had to wait.

My point? Cars break. You are not alone. Domestic or foreign. No automaker is perfect.

Z-man's Ford will suit him fine

(Sorry for the rant, but I can't help myself when this subject comes up)

Yeah. They build multi-million dollar facilities and employee well-trained well-paid technicians because they know Toyotas never break. Great business case.

And, Tim, you are ranting about a Dodge that was new TEN years ago. Times change.

BTW, I had a 97 Toyota Tacoma Ext Cab 4x4 LX that I just sold this winter with well over 200K miles. Don't tell me they don't break. They do. Mine did. But they are a great truck, and better than the Rangers/S10s/Dakotas/Frontiers of the same era.

Worst case is that Toyota's service bays will be ALMOST as busy as the Dodge dealership, but it will be temporary. Did you have to PAY for your Toyota "loaner", like I did for that aforementioned POS Neon?

Surely you are not here to claim that Dodge has a better track record in reliability/build quality than Toyota are you? All the rest of my cars are German and the BMW has been the best, but you can have the last laugh as I also have an Audi and someday the twin turbo's will take a crap and I will be in a world of hurt.
:D


I do like my '41 Ford 9N tractor, it just keeps on a ticken. Z-man's truck will probably work out fine, but I am as stubborn as they come....NEVER again for me (my occasional walks thru and dealings with UAW plants are reason enough).

OK, I am done. Nice truck Z-man...congrats.

So, whatcha sayin' tabs? That I gots me a Purple girlie-man truck?!? I suppose I'm in touch with my feminine side. :eek:

Got my brake controller installed today & this weekend will be a dry run with the trailer - towing to a local autocross. In a couple of weeks, I'll be trekking to Mid Ohio...

-Z-man.

What days will you be at Mid Ohio "girlie-man" truck driver? What event is it? I might also be in Mansfield for a day or two in mid June.

Tim,
I'll be there June 9-11 (Sat-Mon) with NNJR-PCA. If you're there, look me up! (Red 944S2 #142, Red run group).

-Z

What time will you be there till on the 11th (Monday)? I will probably be in town the 11th and 12th collecting parts at the Cushman National Meet at the fairgrounds in Mansfield. If I do go, I will probably stay at a family friend's place just north of Mid Ohio's track. Is the track solely being rented by NNJR-PCA or is it a big event? Is there a gate fee? I wouldn't mind stopping by for a bit if it is a low key event.

Tim,
It's pretty much a low-key event, and there's no gate fee.

I plan on leaving the track on Monday around noon, so I can get most of the 8-10 hour drive in before nightfall.

If you can make it to the track before noon, just let them know at the gate that you're a guest of Zoltan, and it shouldn't be a problem.

-Z

Tim...i suggest he picks you up...it will go like this...
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Might see you there. I love Mid Ohio. The grassy hills and wooded areas make it a nice place to visit. I have never officially "tracked" any of my cars there, but I got to do a few parade laps there in my SC during a vintage race weekend a couple years ago. I envy you guys who do these events on a regular basis. I wish I could find the time and energy to do it.

There's a kid inside us...


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1180551679.jpg

Can you get him to spit it back out?