Suddenly, without warning, Fearless Fred exclaimed (8/30/2008 2:39 PM):

I have a 2001 Dodge Dakota SLT 4x4 with the Magnum V8 - and yes it's a
4.7 liter.  Right now, in mixed city/highway, I'm getting ~18mpg, which
is pretty good - in the past I've gotten 14-16mpg mixed, and the best
I've gotten on the highway I think was 21mpg.

I love my truck!  It still looks in good shape, despite the abuse of
being shipped from here to a really wet, cool country and from there to
a really hot, dry country.

There are a couple of recalls for this make/model/year, but nothing
horrific. I'd suggest doing your homework and see if they've been
completed.  Yea, they're still recalls and thus "free", but still you
lose your truck while things are being fixed.  Lessee, I think it was
ball joints, the child seat holders on the back, and something electrical.

Lessee.  I had a very slightly warped manifold, front rotors that failed
inspection for rust degradation, tie bar ends that also failed (I'm not
convinced they were bad, though), and a leaking pinion seal.  Replaced
something in the steering column - can't remember what offhand.  Oh, and
the infamous blower motor resistor - been through two of them.  That's
about all I remember that needed to be fixed over the last 8 years (most
within the last 3/5), that I wouldn't call normal wear-and-tear.
Considering what the truck has been through, I'd say that's not too bad,
especially because I think some of the "inspection failures" were
suspicious.  Some places do take advantage of us supposedly rich
Americans :(  It has never left me stranded on the side of the road yet
(knock wood).

If you search this ng on my name, you'll find more details.  I've been
here pretty much since I bought the truck.

jmc

I'd check the glove box plate, or even better, if it's sold through a dealer or
you know someone in a dealership,ask them to get the "build list" for you..
That will tell you what engine, gearing, accessories, etc. that it left the
factory with..

Might be apples & oranges because ours isn't a sport or a 4x4, but...

We have an 01 dak, built in 2000... 4.7/auto/2wd/3:55 gears..
Slt, CC, 16" factory wheels, etc..

We've had a few problems with it, but mostly caused by the 1st year of it's life
when it was owned by Enterprise Rental.. All covered under warranty, and we're
VERY happy with the truck..

It's comfortable, less expensive to drive than our 99 Ram, has good
power/acceleration and has been a quiet, comfortable truck..

We don't drive economically, and get maybe 10 mpg in town and 17 or so on
freeway trips..
I know we could do much better if we drove it easier, but then why have a V8 in
a mid-sized truck?
Gotta have fun, too..

From our experience, I'd recommend a truck like ours any time...
OTOH, I know nothing about the difference with the sport package or how reliable
the 4x4 is..  YMWV

mac

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