[rumble bee]

With the Colorado/Canyon soon to get the Vortec 5300, should Dodge get back to its roots by putting the big V8 back in the Dakota to compete head to head with GM. The current 4.7 will not compete at all as it is. My question to you, is it worth it to Dodge to push the issue and release a HEMI-powered Dakota and risk slow sales and a niche market that may or may not always be there?

NOTE: I am no fan of the Dakota as it is too big and it guzzles gas. I am not a real big fan of small trucks but stategicly, I am simply interested in what everybodies take is on this issue

 

[FenwickHockey65]

Maybe in very limited quantities. I don't know what to make of these V8-powered midsize trucks in today's market.

 

[rumble bee]

What about a Tacoma with the 5.7 iForse? The Tacoma dominates the market. They jumped on the full sized bandwagon with the new Tundra, do you all see it joining GM in this segment with a V8 Tacoma?

 

[FenwickHockey65]

This is what GM needs in this market right now.

Now make an extended cab model of that and I'll start writing the check.

 

[vsd]

Putting in V8 in a mid-size/small truck seems like the stupidest move to make right now. Maybe an I4 diesel thats slow but fuel efficient. How fuel efficient is the Sprinter? Could Chrysler source that engine from Mercedes to put in the Dakota?

 

[rumble bee]

Not a bad idea vsd, but the only problem with that is that Chrysler has broke their ties with Mercedes and is no longer owned by them, so it won't be as easy as when they were part of the company

 

[Stéphane Dumas]

I suggest to cut some weight and aerodynamics improvements in the Dakota, and bring back the 4-cyl for the base model-regular cab for light-duty engines. Add also the upcoming V6 diesel 4.2L then Cummins plans, for a 4-cyl diesel, maybe Chrysler should check an eye on VW, Nissan engines. (when Chrysler had once, the Marine division, they had a joint-venture with Nissan for offering a diesel in their boat products http://www.marineengine.com/discus/messages/12507/12507.shtml )

For the Hemi, I suggest to put it on some limited editions

 

[EldoFan]

Strategically, the Hemi would only look good as a top/limited model option. I don't know much about the Phoenix V6 project (or any other future engine development)......but if those next gen sixes perform just as well as Ford's EcoBoost lineup (and come in as many diff. displacements to suit diff. applications), then perhaps the Hemi could serve as a temporary stopgap measure?

What could you do with a Hemi powered Dakota that you couldn't do with a Hemi powered Ram 1500 anyways? You might save a couple grand at the outset, but fuel costs + actual utilitarian aspects (lower towing capacity, payload....etc) would offset that in a hurry.

 

[rumble bee]

Strategically, the Hemi would only look good as a top/limited model option. I don't know much about the Phoenix V6 project (or any other future engine development)......but if those next gen sixes perform just as well as Ford's EcoBoost lineup (and come in as many diff. displacements to suit diff. applications), then perhaps the Hemi could serve as a temporary stopgap measure?

What could you do with a Hemi powered Dakota that you couldn't do with a Hemi powered Ram 1500 anyways? You might save a couple grand at the outset, but fuel costs + actual utilitarian aspects (lower towing capacity, payload....etc) would offset that in a hurry.

Ah, but how many people actually use the Ram 1500 to its maximum capability and a Dakota to its maximum ability? And how many have a Ram 1500 that can tow 9k plus pounds if it needs to but then wind up towing about a dozen times a year and use it like a car the other 353 days? Honestly, probably most( non-fleet that is ) Wouldn't you agree? I don't know as the limited capability of the Dakota would be apparent in anything other then sheer bed size in most cases( smaller bed that can't carry as much in it )

In a nutshell, I wonder what percentage of Ram 1500 HEMI buyers would use the Dakota enough to notice the short comings that the Dakota HEMI would have verses the bigger Ram 1500. And for thousands off the upfront sticker price, they may have something that would sale

 

[ctaylorzl1]

:tired::tired::tired::tired::tired:......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[rumble bee]

Um...okay???

I am at a loss of words on this one, ctaylorzl1

Moving on...

 

[likearock00]

No- stupid move IMO. People prefer the furrin models because they are bullet-proof and FUEL ECONOMIC! To add another gas sucker into the market will do nothing to help the brand. Green is the hot product right now. Come out with a fuel efficient V-6 that out performs and has better fuel figures than the competition and they will sell more.