Is the Dakota dead?

24863 Views 154 Replies 56 Participants Last post by UN4GTBL, Jun 10, 2013

robertp5072

Discussion Starter · Feb 28, 2013

Or what?
Its been a couple of years now and nothing. The only small truck that seems to be holding true for USA is the Chev Colorado and a brand-new is right around the corner. Ford as of right now, is not bringing the updated Ranger to the USA.. I just think they are just scared of pulling the trigger on the Dakota because, the Ram is selling so, well.
I see nothing wrong with a 4/6 cynl truck getting 30 Mpg or more. I would imagine it being a #1 seller if designed right. RamPage? I dont know.. They should collaberate with Honda on the next Ridgeline so, they can save a little money and have 2-options. Any more thoughts on this? Its been awhile since I have heard any news on this and thought I would bring it back up. RP :cop:

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patfromigh

· #2 · Feb 28, 2013

I notice you're new here to these forums. Welcome to the boards.

Somewhere in these forums there are discussions about the small pickup that would answer your question, but I can't find it. Here is the short answer, "Not dead, but delayed." I'll repeat the link.
http://www.freep.com/article/20130214/BUSINESS01/302140169/Chrysler-s-smaller-trucks-are-delayed

Jerry Simcik

· #3 · Feb 28, 2013

Personally, I don't think the market is there right now. You can buy a Ram Express for less than $20K in most places - that's a half-ton, Hemi-powered, pickup with good looks and the most popular options. It's hard to make a successful small pickup that costs less and offers more. That is what always hurt the Dakota, especially later in life. It was far more capable than any other small pickup, so much so it was nearly a half-ton, and it was the most expensive small truck. For only a little more money, you could buy a half-ton that was nicer, bigger, and more capable.

Had it stayed smaller, yes, perhaps it would have been okay, but the market really dried up. We hardly sold any small trucks, but we sold half-tons every single day. (All the major manufacturers included.)

I think they'd bring it back if they thought they could make money on it. Hell, it's just like the halfton diesel. They've been asking people for almost 10 years now how much more they would pay to own a diesel-powered halfton, and the cost was always above the price the customers gave. We finally are getting the option, because it makes financial sense. When the small pickup can be done right for the right price, and the customers are ready and willing to buy, the Dakota will be back.

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cd36

· #4 · Feb 28, 2013

It is really to bad, I love my 1991 Dakota. Perfect size for me, I don't need a half ton, just need something for running to the dump, going hunting, (ice) fishing, etc. I had an S10 and it was just a bit to small. The Dakota is just right. They don't build trucks now like my '91 Dakota though unfortunately, so I'll be holding onto it for a while, hopefully it lasts (it's at 383,000km, just got a parts truck that has 480,000km on it, these were pretty stout trucks).

Then in later years the Dakota starting growing, and I think that's where the problems started. It started to approach half ton size. They don't build trucks now like my '91 Dakota though unfortunately, so I'll be holding onto it for a while, hopefully it lasts (it's at 383,000km)

valiant67

· #5 · Feb 28, 2013

None of the small pickups sell well. The Colorado/Canyon sells in low volume. So did the Ranger and Dakota before the plug was pulled on them. Even the Japanese small pickups sell slowly compared to the past.

Here's the last time the issue was brought up:
http://www.allpar.com/forums/topic/147858-dakota/

Dave Z

· #6 · Feb 28, 2013

Tacoma is the one to compete with and it will be very hard to compete with Toyota, just as it's hard for Toyota to compete in big pickups.

Mopar392

· #7 · Feb 28, 2013

There isn't enough market share to justify the mid-size truck yet.

Looking at this break-down:
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2013/02/who-sold-the-most-midsize-pickups-in-2012.html#more
The mid-size is less than 1/4th of the half-ton market, and the mid-size truck that is selling more than 100k unit is Tacoma

valiant67

· #8 · Feb 28, 2013

12 years ago the Ranger alone outsold the whole compact/midsize volume indicated at the link above. The market is gone.

Rymanrph

· #9 · Feb 28, 2013

I wonder how much of the market dried up because no one had a competitive product. Of course people are going to buy a newer nicer F-150 when the Ranger option was old ten years prior with hardly any updates. If Dodge had build the M80 instead of converting it to an SUV (Nitro), I wonder if it would have sold. I remember that auto show season when Chrysler showed the M80, Compass and Razor. I wanted one of each in a bad way. We got production versions of two, but they were too far from what was shown in concept form.

Dave Z

· #10 · Feb 28, 2013

Dakota is almost certainly coming ... eventually. It would be better to launch it later, when gas prices are going up, and it's seen as timely and gets lots of attention, than now, when it would flop.

Mopar392

· #11 · Feb 28, 2013

I'm certain that Ram will wait on Ford and GM to try the mid-size the market with new products, before Ram decides to launch Dakota-replacement.

CherokeeVision

· #12 · Feb 28, 2013

Mopar392 said:
I'm certain that Ram will wait on Ford and GM to try the mid-size the market with new products, before Ram decides to launch Dakota-replacement.

Always last to the party.

Chrysler did well back when it was first to the party. First mini van, first downsized SUV with four doors (XJ). Both of those products sold very well for a very long time.

jazz77

· #13 · Feb 28, 2013

2016, most likely produced in Mexico so that it can also be exported to South America and rebadged as a Fiat.

Joe_K

· #14 · Feb 28, 2013

CherokeeVision said:
Always last to the party.

Chrysler did well back when it was first to the party. First mini van, first downsized SUV with four doors (XJ). Both of those products sold very well for a very long time.

I wouldn't say that. Ram is the first to offer an 8-speed in a half ton truck, It will also be the first to offer a diesel in a modern half ton truck.

AutoTechnician

· #15 · Feb 28, 2013

valiant67 said:
12 years ago the Ranger alone outsold the whole compact/midsize volume indicated at the link above. The market is gone.

The Ranger died because Ford abandoned it. A 2009 Ranger had essentially the same interior as a 1994 Ranger - just look at picture of the dashboards. It was saddled with old outdated V6 engines and lame 5-speed automatics. The V6 Rangers towards the end were getting the same or worse economy as the new F-150 V6s - and cost nearly as much. The only reason the Ranger lasted so long was because it remained small, which was its only desirable aspect towards the end, that and 27 MPG from the 2.3L 4 cylinder wasn't terrible.

The Dakota died because the last generation got too big and had bizarre styling. The 3.7L V6 was hilarious slow and got the same fuel economy as the 4.7 V8. On top of that, the 4.7L V8 Dakota got the same fuel economy as a 5.7 V8 Ram. It was just a "why bother with the Dakota?" type of situation. Chrysler killed everything that had made the 3rd Gen Dakota desirable.

topgun

· #16 · Feb 28, 2013

Rymanrph said:
I wonder how much of the market dried up because no one had a competitive product. Of course people are going to buy a newer nicer F-150 when the Ranger option was old ten years prior with hardly any updates.

My thought exactly. I owned several Rangers before moving to a Durango in 99. Wanted to go back to a small truck in 05 but the Rangers were outdated, the Colorados butt ugly up front, and the Dakota also hit with the ugly stick. So I ended up with a full size Ram. Not much you can do when there is no decent product to buy.

SouthPawXJ

· #17 · Feb 28, 2013

CherokeeVision said:
Always last to the party.

Chrysler did well back when it was first to the party. First mini van, first downsized SUV with four doors (XJ). Both of those products sold very well for a very long time.

Not trying to be that guy, but Chrysler didn't produce the first downsized SUV with 4 doors. AMC did.

valiant67

· #18 · Feb 28, 2013

Again, even if the Ranger and the Dakota died due to poor product planning, how does that explain that the WHOLE smaller truck market is dead? Does that mean every one of the designs are poor? Or have preferences really sifted? Even full sized regular cab trucks have slipped from favor compared to the past.

Dave Z

· #19 · Feb 28, 2013

I'd argue it's a preference shift in the US. Tacoma is still supported and updated.

valiant67

· #20 · Feb 28, 2013

Tacoma is selling in the 140k annual range. Not that long ago it was in the 170k range so even its sales aren't what they were.

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