Dodge Dakota

Posted Mon Apr 21, 2008 in Automotive

We’ll go pick up a compact-truck tonight. We bought a 2005 Dodge Dakota 4×4 on Saturday. The paperwork is complete — all we need to do is go and get the truck after it’s serviced and cleaned up.

It was one of those opportunities that comes along only once-in-awhile. We wanted an all-wheel-drive vehicle. We get snow here and there are times when the cars aren’t so mobile (or, perhaps, are too mobile). We aren’t ready to replace either the 330i or the Z4. When we are ready, we’ll opt for the X-version of something. But we’re just not ready to trade.

I’ve been looking for a used truck with decent miles and a decent price. Such beasts are not regularly found around here. Everything I looked at had more than 100K on it and still they were asking a lot of money.

We were in Reno Saturday and I decided to pass by the BMW lot. When I trade the 330i, I really want a 335xi as a replacement. However, those vehicles are relatively new and no used ones are yet available. However, we found an 2006 X3 that had reasonable miles, but the price was pretty steep. I already knew I wasn’t trading Wife’s car (her freedom vehicle). To trade the 330i meant we’d still have only one vehicle capable of carrying more than two passengers.

So, I waffled. I thought an X3 would make a great vehicle. But, it didn’t solve my multiple-constraint problem.

The floor manager mentioned he’d just taken this Dakota in trade. It has only 16K on the clock, which is really low miles for a 2005. We haggled a little over price, but bought it. It isn’t that we need four vehicles; we don’t. But we need at least one all-wheel-drive vehicle and a pick-up is nice to have. We still have a lot of stuff in our garage to move out or to storage.

Young Son wanted a truck too. So, this will probably wind up being his vehicle. He’s now motivated to learn to drive. He’ll be motivated to get a job too (he already is, but they don’t hire until 18 around here). He’s growing up pretty quickly.

I’ll add an image when we get the vehicle home tonight.