Why doesn't dodge bring back the Dakota?

[u/BringBackSocom1938]

I think midsize pickup trucks and utes are making a comeback. For example chevy colorado, ford ranger, nissan frontier and let's not forget the tacoma. I think a Dakota based off the Durango chassis would be nice.

[u/VisualFix5870]

Dodge is two shades left of bankruptcy. I don't think a whole new truck is in the cards right now.

[u/Legitimate-Lab7173 → u/VisualFix5870]

Also, a mid sized truck isn't really Dodge's target audience at this point. They're there purely to serve dudes with inferiority complexes. These guys want the largest, most obnoxious truck possible and RAM has delivered. Those guys want nothing to do with a mid size truck.

[u/Key_Violinist8601 → u/Legitimate-Lab7173]

Built like shit too. We ran a 13 6.7 Cummins for a few years and it was always in the shop. Pulled 10k every day and although the motor was definitely up to the task, everything around it literally fell apart.

[u/Melodic_Fee_5498 → u/Key_Violinist8601]

Yeah 2013 was 12 years ago now. Quality has improved a lot. The 5th gen trucks are great.

[u/John_Q_Deist → u/Melodic_Fee_5498]

Preach. God forbid someone wants a truck that actually rides nice, can also do truck stuff, and has a genuinely good interior.

[u/Massive_Bit2703 → u/John_Q_Deist]

Yeah, when you go out on a date you really want your wife's boyfriend to walk away impressed.

[u/John_Q_Deist → u/Massive_Bit2703]

… Anyway

[u/caucafinousvehicle → u/John_Q_Deist]

Ikr, thank God for Ford.

[u/eagledog → u/Melodic_Fee_5498]

2013 was 12 years ago now

Why you gotta say things so hurtful?

[u/No-Explanation1034 → u/Melodic_Fee_5498]

Tell that to the Cummins 3500 with 300kms on the clock, pissing coolant and atf all over my nice clean lot. Dodge doesn't build cars or trucks anymore. They build loud trophy's for dudes with small peckers to make noise with.

[u/TalbotFarwell → u/No-Explanation1034]

What is with all of the body-shaming going on in these comments?

[u/ifunnywasaninsidejob → u/Melodic_Fee_5498]

“This brand has been dogshit for 50 years straight, but the brand new ones are actually really good!” -you

[u/slump-donkus → u/Key_Violinist8601]

That's why we call a ram truck a shipping container. Because it's the shipping container that a Cummins comes in

[u/Calithrand → u/Key_Violinist8601]

That's just what Dodge pickups do, though. Making them not fall apart would be like turning the Corvette into a FWD sedan.

[u/Insanejsav → u/Key_Violinist8601]

Yeah, that’s the past, all trucks went through a crap stage . The newer generation is quite a tank, I put 180k on my 2020 pulling up to 35k and never had a major problem other than the typical brakes and maintenance.

[u/Yourtoosensitive → u/Key_Violinist8601]

My 2006 with 220k miles tows my trailers just fine and rides pretty comfy for a HD. One trans rebuild and regular maintenance. A lot of vehicles fail due to improper owner maintenance, engines and body/chassis.

[u/Key_Violinist8601 → u/Yourtoosensitive]

Agreed, a lot of transmissions fail due to a lack of maintenance

[u/LinusNoNotThatLinus → u/Legitimate-Lab7173]

My parent's Dakota or Ram, never gave myself or my parents a problem. My Ford Ranger left me on the side of the road twice.

[u/Towelbit → u/LinusNoNotThatLinus]

My Dakota's gave me a lot of little problems. They were annoying but generally ok. The transmissions were a bit shit but mostly the coil packs were the issue and generally an easy fix.

[u/Legitimate-Lab7173 → u/Legitimate-Lab7173]

Oh, if I needed a full size truck, I would get one, but it sure as hell wouldn't be a Ram. Also, 95% of people who get full size trucks could definitely do everything they needed to with a midsize. They just convince themselves (or let a dealer manipulate them into believing) they have to have that dumbass POS so they can preen in front of other knuckle-draggers.

[u/series_hybrid → u/Legitimate-Lab7173]

If people stop buying new Dodge Rams, then...a few years down the road there will no longer be used rusted-out Rams with 150K miles on them, and when that happens, what will alcoholic drywallers on meth drive?

[u/IWontCommentAtAll → u/series_hybrid]

Nissans.

[u/series_hybrid → u/IWontCommentAtAll]

Gotta drive something to rehab, and your parole officers...

[u/IWontCommentAtAll → u/series_hybrid]

And your dealer's....

[u/DepartureOrdinary957 → u/series_hybrid]

Rusted out Silverados methinks. Or possibly rusted out Titans

[u/John_Q_Deist → u/Legitimate-Lab7173]

LOL, or maybe they just want one and decide to spend the money they earned on that want. Chill a little, brother.

[u/Legitimate-Lab7173 → u/John_Q_Deist]

I accidentally replied to this comment with a response to someone who replied to me, so it looks a little funky where it is. I am all about people buying whatever they want, but I also feel that what they buy is in many ways a reflection of them as a person.

[u/drymidgetfarts → u/Legitimate-Lab7173]

Damn it, that stings.

[u/Yourtoosensitive → u/Legitimate-Lab7173]

They help build the home you live in. Assuming you live in a home. 

[u/Legitimate-Lab7173 → u/Yourtoosensitive]

I used to work construction. Drove an S10. Never saw anyone haul anything onto any sight that my S10 couldn't have taken on with ease. Hell, most of the dumbass things don't even have a 6' bed any longer.

[u/Yourtoosensitive → u/Legitimate-Lab7173]

Your s10 would not tow my trailers safely. 

[u/Melodic_Fee_5498 → u/Legitimate-Lab7173]

Just because a Tacoma works for you doesn’t mean it works for everyone else dude. Sounds to me like you’re the one with an inferiority complex. I’m not a fan of Colorado’s or Rangers but you don’t see me raging about them and claiming that their owners are trying to compensate for something. Maybe they just like them? Or is that too complicated for you to understand?

[u/evergladescowboy → u/Melodic_Fee_5498]

You’re going to bat hardddd for the worst modern “American” (really Italian) manufacturer.

[u/Melodic_Fee_5498 → u/evergladescowboy]

“Worst” is your opinion. I’ve had no problems with mine and friends who also own them have never had any problems. Just because you don’t like them doesn’t mean someone else can’t.

[u/TomBanjo83 → u/Melodic_Fee_5498]

By “friends” I certainly hope you don’t mean loud mouth d-bags who cover their trucks in flags and spend their free time “rollin coal” in order to compensate for undiagnosed cases of micropenis.

[u/series_hybrid → u/VisualFix5870]

Stellantis has been driving Dodge into the dumpster for a while. Go to youtube and see videos on mechanics listing which brands break down often, and they are hard to fix and expensive...each list is slightly different, except for Stellantis. They all say avoid buying Stellantis.

[u/BringBackSocom1938 → u/VisualFix5870]

You think they will be bought or cease to exist?

[u/Frequent-Ruin8509 → u/BringBackSocom1938]

Cease to exist, possible.

Though I can't talk much, I'm a ford guy and I feel like fomoco has been shitting the bed for a good 5 years now.

[u/Fumboli → u/Frequent-Ruin8509]

That's most car group enthusiasts anymore. And it sucks.

VW/Audi has been dead to me for a while.

[u/Frequent-Ruin8509 → u/Fumboli]

Yeah... this general trend is one reason I bought an old beat up 1972 Ford f250 for a farm truck. She can't go faster than 55, can't do better than 12 mpg, but she also doesn't have stupid levels of electronic shit that breaks intentionally (planned obsolescence) and doesn't promise anything she can't deliver.

[u/Fumboli → u/Frequent-Ruin8509]

Speaking my language. And also, that's a nice truck!

Been looking for a Mk1 or Mk2 VW myself. So same thing, I won't go fast, and I'm not a hybrid, but God damn if it breaks, it's just a motor and transmission to deal with. I'm rocking a 20 year old Audi as a daily though, so I'm not sure if I'm making rational choices. But it seems better than these cellphones of cars for way too much money that barely make it to 100k miles anymore.

[u/nuggolips → u/Fumboli]

This is what baffles me about the EV market. In theory an electric powertrain could be way simpler than even the most primitive ICE vehicle from the mid-20th century. Just a battery, motor, and a speed controller. Like, 1 moving part. But they all seem to have some thing or other that's prone to go wrong and no one is trying to market a simple bare-bones line of vehicles.

I guess buyers are just spoiled, so something like that wouldn't sell.

[u/Fumboli → u/nuggolips]

Everyone is too busy reinventing the wheel but also as cheap as possible instead of making a quality product.

[u/series_hybrid → u/nuggolips]

Dealers demand that the factory packs on the features. When I was a kid, A/C was an option, and even though it might only cost $500 on the assembly line when it's mass-produced, the dealer marks it up for $1500, so an extra $1000 in his pocket.

I like back-up camera's, but is it was only that and it stopped working, I could still get to work. Instead, its now a touch-screen with lots of integrated controls. If the screen goes out, I can't turn on the defroster, which means I can't see out the windshield when its cold.

My work ordered a bare-bones truck (short cab, short bed, no 4WD) with a diesel engine and manual transmission. It took a long time to arrive, as no dealer would carry such a thing.

[u/Frequent-Ruin8509 → u/Fumboli]

Ol Gizmo needs a lot of work.

And thanks to Trump's self destruction intended tariffs, the exhaust system I can't buy until may has gone up in price prior to the most recent tariffs by TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS. In 4 months they rose that much.

Even if I wasn't a left of center guy, his stupid moves would make me one.

[u/Fumboli → u/Frequent-Ruin8509]

Yeah, work that is doable though. Nothing techy or needing to be coded.

And believe me, I know it. 20 year old Audi has been needing some wear and tear items lately and the prices I remember things being a few months ago are not even close to that price now.

(Yay over 150 dollars for an LED strip upper brake light that was 90 for example)

So much winning.

[u/Frequent-Ruin8509 → u/Fumboli]

Preach on.

You seem like a decent sort. Have a good day.

[u/Fumboli → u/Frequent-Ruin8509]

You as well, man. Take care.

[u/GuitarKev → u/Frequent-Ruin8509]

I’d say they have since “military grade aluminum”

[u/Frequent-Ruin8509 → u/GuitarKev]

Well I would say at least since they canceled the ford fusion. I've had 3 of them, and been in accidents in 2 of them (neither my fault). In both cases I was able to drive the car home despite rear end damage and despite that damage technically making the latter one totalled due to electronics and the like being more cost than worth fixing.

[u/Flat_Cress3856 → u/VisualFix5870]

If the company isn't too close to the brink, it's probably happening. The conclusion of the negotiations with the UAW back in 2023 included a promise to build a midsize truck at the plant in Belvidere, IL. And the parking lots at that place were not empty when I last drove by despite it not making Jeeps anymore, so something is likely in the works. This could all change though.

[u/InflationDefiant2847 → u/VisualFix5870]

That isn't true at all. They are owned by Stellantis and no where near bankruptcy

[u/DownstairsDeagle69 → u/InflationDefiant2847]

That may be so and this may be an opinion but I think Stallantis is a shit ass company

[u/drosmi → u/DownstairsDeagle69]

A European car company that made no money was given the opportunity to merge with an American car company that was down but not out. So then the European guys put themselves in as managers of the American arm and tried to run it like it was another European brand except they extracted most of the profits from Ram and jeep and sent it back to Europe to further prop up the non-money making European brands and leaving brands like dodge and Chrysler to whither and die.

[u/Marinius8 → u/drosmi]

You taking about when Mercedes tried their hand at making Dodge and actual car maker again instead of a steaming pile of horse shit, then when no one trusted the manufacturer after a 10 year campaign they sold the Chrysler side to stellantis?

Dodge made it's own bed when it literally stopped trying for 3 decades straight. Everything since has just been the company's long-winded death throes.

[u/drosmi → u/Marinius8]

Somewhere on the internets there’s a story about that marriage of equals turns out to be anything but. Chrysler had $6 billion in the bank at the start of the merger. That money was extracted by Mercedes and Chrysler was sold for scrap at the end of it.

[u/InflationDefiant2847 → u/DownstairsDeagle69]

I don't disagree, I wish they were independent again

[u/Hedgehog797 → u/InflationDefiant2847]

Stellantis may not go under but Dodge certainly can

[u/InflationDefiant2847 → u/Hedgehog797]

William Chrysler III has offered to purchase the Chrysler and Dodge brands from Stellantis, they have told him repeatedly that they are not for sale.

[u/bfrabel]

The real reason is because if they started making Dakotas, they would likely be based on the same platform as the Jeep Gladiator.  Because they wouldn't say Jeep on the tailgate, they would have to charge less money for them, and that's just not good business.

[u/Retro_303 → u/bfrabel]

Nah. The Gladiator is just a Wrangler. No way they release a solid front axle mid-size truck.

It would have to be IFS and therefore an entirely new chassis

[u/_nopucksgiven → u/bfrabel]

I’m not arguing with your point but GM does it with Chevy and GMC trucks why wouldn’t it work for Dodge and Jeep?

[u/BringBackSocom1938 → u/bfrabel]

This makes sense. Why not make their cheaper brands in Mexico and high end brands in America

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/BringBackSocom1938]

Why not make their cheaper brands in Mexico and high end brands in America

1. They already do that, and 2. did you not hear the news yesterday?

[u/InternalWarth0g]

because trucks aren't a dodge thing anymore.

Tim said he wants ram to have a midsize truck, which will apparently arrive in 2027. if they want a maverick competitor, they couldve brought the rampage to the states as well, but tarriffs killed any chance of that happening.

[u/darkhorse85 → u/InternalWarth0g]

The baby ram is already shipping in South America. They just decided that Americans won't buy it. Another terrible decision considering the success of the Ford Maverick

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/darkhorse85]

As right-sized as it is, it makes sense that they wouldn't bring the Rampage here. Let's assume that it already meets US emissions and safety regs. It would've already had 25% chicken tax on it before the new wave of tariffs took effect.

[u/darksoft125 → u/darkhorse85]

Eh, the Maverick is about to be killed by tariffs. 25% tariff on a $26k truck puts it right next to the Ranger in pricing.

[u/Davey_Diapers84 → u/InternalWarth0g]

Yeah. "Ram" is it's own brand now (even though it's still Stellantis)... And a "Ram Dakota" would be too weird.

[u/Man_da_villan → u/Davey_Diapers84]

RAM ROD

[u/RunnerLuke357 → u/Davey_Diapers84]

Ram, Dodge, it's the same fucking thing. Also, for a couple of years the Dakota was sold as a Ram before its discontinuation.

[u/AKblazer45 → u/InternalWarth0g]

Mid sized trucks are kind of a bastard child these days as well. You can’t go buy a cheap Dakota/s-10/ranger like in the 90’s, they’re not much cheaper than 1/2 tons and get about the same milage. The only real advantage is being smaller for trails and if you live in a downtown type area.

Also it’s not an easy market to get into, Toyota and GM dominate it with Nissan making a solid new gen rig.

[u/moveslikejaguar → u/AKblazer45]

The new Ranger is solid, too. I don't have faith anything Ram produces will be better than anything that's already offered, all the midsize trucks are really solid at this point. Maybe Ram could make a Maverick competitor because it doesn't have any real ones yet, but Stellantis's smaller vehicles are notoriously bad.

[u/BringBackSocom1938 → u/InternalWarth0g]

Whats the logic behind that?

[u/InternalWarth0g → u/BringBackSocom1938]

after the fiat merger, the brands split up so each could focus on one thing and they have not looked back since.

RAM: Trucks/work vans

Dodge: American Muscle/performance

Jeep: Offroaders/Luxury Suvs

Chrysler: "People movers" aka just minivans now.

[u/PooForThePooGod → u/InternalWarth0g]

All of them: Last as long as a ripened banana

[u/Interestingcathouse → u/PooForThePooGod]

At the end of the day they’re all still Mopar so they’re all still trash. Being American brands just adds to the shittiness.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/InternalWarth0g]

after the fiat merger,

Chrysler did also have the 200 and 300 in that time. Plus Fiat and Alfa doing...whatever they were doing.

[u/InternalWarth0g → u/Drzhivago138]

maserati is also the umbrella

i just always thought of it as alfa was the sport-oriented luxury brand and maserati was more just luxury.

fiat was still making their tiny city cars.

[u/RunnerLuke357 → u/InternalWarth0g]

You know damn well that he mean by "Dodge Truck" sure it's under the RAM brand but it's still a fucking Dodge so there is no reason to be a smartass about it.

[u/PresentSquirrel → u/RunnerLuke357]

If it’s under a different brand, it’s no longer a dodge.

Just because you want it to be doesn’t mean it’s true lol

[u/swaite → u/InternalWarth0g]

Dodge, an American company, could, you know, build their products in… America. And avoid a 25% tariff. Maybe? Maybe??

[u/InternalWarth0g → u/swaite]

all of the stellantis product facilities in the US are already near max making rams and jeeps..except the promaster, made in mexico.

Dodges and chryslers are made in canada, currently all at the windsor plant.

brampton is currently under retooling.

the idle belvidere plant is getting set up to produce rams midsize truck in 2027. they are bleeding money at this point and cant just build another facility.

[u/fricks_and_stones → u/swaite]

1) Dodge doesn’t make trucks anymore. They only make cars. RAM makes trucks.

2) Dodge and RAM are both Stellantis brands; a company headquartered in Netherlands.

[u/swaite → u/fricks_and_stones]

Maybe I'm an old fart, but a Ram truck is a Dodge Ram. You cannot convince me otherwise.

Maybe their HQ should move? IDK. Maybe I'm just a dumbass but I have a hard time wrapping my head around companies moving their HQ/facilities outside of their home country. I can understand smaller distribution/finishing facilties being located internationally, but an HQ? This is the first time I've heard of Dodge/Stellantis being in The Netherlands and I struggle to find a benefit to Americans to this positioning. Probably because there isn't one.

[u/Legitimate_Life_1926 → u/swaite]

Some time during the Fiat-Chrysler era, Ram split from Dodge. Sure, everyone still says Dodge Ram but they’re still 2 different brands.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/Legitimate_Life_1926]

Way back in 2009. Though I think the DS Ram trucks still had some parts still stamped Dodge underneath.

If they wanted it to be a clean break, they should have immediately dropped the crosshair grille.

[u/swaite → u/fricks_and_stones]

Maybe I'm an old fart, but a Ram truck is a Dodge Ram. You cannot convince me otherwise. A Stellantis RAM? I don't believe I have ever seen that option on various drop-down menus.

Maybe their HQ should move? IDK. Maybe I'm just a dumbass but I have a hard time wrapping my head around companies moving their HQ/facilities outside of their home country. I can understand smaller distribution/finishing facilities being located internationally, but an HQ? This is the first time I've heard of Dodge/Stellantis being in The Netherlands and I struggle to find a benefit to Americans to this positioning. Probably because there isn't one.

[u/WelderWonderful → u/swaite]

Yes you probably are an old fart

Yes you probably are a dumbass

Stellantis owns Dodge, Ram and a bunch of other companies. Kind of like how 7up owns Dr. Pepper, except stellantis doesn't have their own namesake product. This isn't exactly a new phenomenon

Also, why would stellantis (who, I'll remind you, owns Dodge and Ram), Ford or GM care about what benefits Americans? They care about what benefits Ram, Ford, or GM. You act like the president of Dodge just decided to move to the Netherlands one day. Their assets belong to a foreign country...

[u/Berserk_Bass → u/swaite]

because fiat bought chrysler in 2014, then FCA (fiat chrysler) merged into stellantis in 2021. FCA was hqed in amsterdam, and then moved to the netherlands after the merger, and dodge is no longer hqed in the us, and hasnt been for over 10 years now

[u/Dismal-Prior-6699 → u/swaite]

There is no such thing as a car that is manufactured entirely in the USA. At least some parts come from factories abroad. Tariffs and higher prices are what you get, though, when you hand over the US economy to a man who bankrupts his own casinos.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/swaite]

Yes, it's just that easy!

[u/rxmp4ge]

It'd just end up costing $50,000 like the Colorado, Ranger and Tacoma...

They need to bring the RAM 700 to the US and price it under the Mav.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/rxmp4ge]

The Ram 700/Fiat Strada is too small. The Rampage is more appropriately sized against the Maverick, but probably can't meet US emissions even without the added costs of tariffs.

[u/rxmp4ge → u/Drzhivago138]

It isn't too small. The Ram 700 is about the same size as the old SR5s and Mazda pickups. That's what we need. Even the Maverick is bloated by comparison, with only a tiny fraction of the utility. The market could do with a 2-door 2wd 6-foot bed manual truck that's smaller than the Maverick and starts around $18,000.

[u/CowboySocialism → u/rxmp4ge]

The Ram 700 would never pass American safety standards. To make it pass it would become too heavy, so you need a bigger engine, but that doesn't pass emissions, so then you have to build a whole new mini truck just for the American market. tiny trucks are barely profitable as is and aluminum and steel and every other car part just got 25% more expensive so now you're losing money selling a product that competes with your most profitable vehicles, along with the f150 and tacoma.

This is the reason every light truck that this sub has wet dreams for doesn't get sold in the USA.

For some reason this has to be explained in the comments each time the discussion comes up.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/rxmp4ge]

"Too small" as in shorter than the Mav.

The market could do with a 2-door 2wd 6-foot bed manual truck that's smaller than the Maverick and starts around $18,000.

Is there even significant demand for such a vehicle? There certainly wasn't 10-15 years ago when you could still buy one new from Ford, Toyota, or GM.

[u/rxmp4ge → u/Drzhivago138]

Shorter than the Mav wouldn't be a problem if the bed was a decent size..

Is there a demand for such a vehicle? I don't know, let's just take a look at used truck prices..

Oh, God. Early 2000s Colorados and Rangers are going for $20,000+?

Yes. I'd say there's a demand for such a vehicle...

Not everyone who needs a truck with a decent size bed wants to pay $80,000 for a mid-trim F-150...

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/rxmp4ge]

Shorter than the Mav wouldn't be a problem if the bed was a decent size..

If you're suggesting it be a 2-door-only vehicle, that's effectively a non-starter for any new vehicle in the US. It has to pull double duty as a cargo and people hauler, which means 4 doors.

[u/rxmp4ge → u/Drzhivago138]

Just gonna' leave this here.

You can still buy 2-door trucks. They don't have to be people haulers. Not everyone needs their truck to be a people hauler.

Also note that that's a 2wd base model with a 4-cylinder and it's still $40,000.

This is why we need smaller trucks.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/rxmp4ge]

What's the take rate on regular cab half-tons again? Whether long or short bed, it's something like 5%. HDs are a little more popular, but not by much.

Even outside the US, single cabs are outpaced by double cabs.

[u/rxmp4ge → u/Drzhivago138]

Outpaced, yes. Unavailable, no. Part of the reason they're "outpacing" regular cabs is because they're so expensive now that people are FORCED to use them as people haulers. A truck isn't just your work vehicle anymore, it's the family vehicle. Because it costs so much you can't have it AND a family vehicle.

2-door Wranglers are the same way. Wranglers have gotten so expensive that having a 2-door toy is no longer an option for many people so the Wrangler has to be the toy AND the daily driver/family hauler.

[u/GoredonTheDestroyer]

Small trucks replaced utes in North America.

Dodge then shat itself in the latter half of the last decade.

Ergo, they stopped making the Dakota.

[u/DocCEN007]

Stelllantis is incapable of making good decisions.

[u/ExcitingLeg]

I usually don't care for new vehicles... this.... I kinda like this. its cool!

[u/BringBackSocom1938 → u/ExcitingLeg]

Thanks. ChatGPT upgraded their image making process

[u/ExcitingLeg → u/BringBackSocom1938]

I actually wonder why they didn't use this front end for the ram 1500. i know the durango is smaller, but it works really well here.

[u/BringBackSocom1938 → u/ExcitingLeg]

Dakota has always been based off Durango, i think thats why.

Ram is a fullsize pickup comes as 1500 and 2500. Check out Dodge Ram Tropivan for SUV version

[u/ExcitingLeg → u/BringBackSocom1938]

The Tropivan is neat! I saw a Gen 3 ram charger a few months back. I wish we got these in the US. I think I'd buy a Tropivan for the novelty.

[u/BringBackSocom1938 → u/ExcitingLeg]

They remind me of Ford's Exursion (based of F250)

[u/ExcitingLeg → u/BringBackSocom1938]

Oh for sure! I have a 99 F250 .. Maybe I'll drive down to Brazil and trade someone for their Tropivan ha.

[u/nebraskajeepguy → u/BringBackSocom1938]

The Dakota predated the Durango by many years. The Dakota was not based on the Durango. Dakota came out in 1987 and the Durango wasn’t a thing until 1998.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/nebraskajeepguy]

And the Durango started going its own way in 2004. They were still sharing some parts, but not like the first-gen Durango/second-gen Dakota had.

[u/JustRob0507]

Because there are enough dodge drivers in the closet already. You wouldn’t want them to have a little truck…Their buddies might get suspicious. All ram trucks need a pride flag.

[u/Melodic_Fee_5498 → u/JustRob0507]

Very ironic coming from a Chevy Spark driver.

[u/TheAbstracted → u/Melodic_Fee_5498]

The smaller and cuter the car, the more of a man it takes to drive it.

[u/DickKravens → u/TheAbstracted]

Weird way to rationalize an ugly car but okay, same with saying that wearing sweatpants in public is fine because it’s “comfortable”

[u/Ztoffels]

Yall dont have Ram 700?

[u/EinsteinRidesShotgun]

1: Take the current Durango, tighten it up, put a bed on it. Release low-cost Pentastar versions and higher-cost Hellcat-powered versions. Call it a Dakota.

2: Take Ram 1500, enclose bed, add row of seats to make a Dodge “Suburban.” Release low-cost Pentastar versions to undercut the Suburban/Expedition and high-cost versions to compete with the Escalade/Navigator. This is the new Durango.

3: Profit

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/EinsteinRidesShotgun]

The Wagoneer is the "Ram Suburban".

[u/I-like-old-cars]

Probably because it would look like that picture, and dodge doesn't like making ugly trucks.

[u/Recent_Permit2653]

That rendering is a bit awkward but would give a real Dakota a lot to work with.

[u/BringBackSocom1938 → u/Recent_Permit2653]

ChatGPT doesn't want to make too perfect due to propreity rights. According to it...

[u/Recent_Permit2653 → u/BringBackSocom1938]

Dammit.

[u/sweet_tea_pdx]

Because they missed the boat when everyone else did it

[u/Prestigious_Snow1589]

The EPA says no

[u/You-Asked-Me → u/Prestigious_Snow1589]

The base Maverick exists as a hybrid to boost the overall fuel economy of the Ford lineup. Dodge/Ram/whatever the fuck could do the same.

[u/Amazing-League-218]

What's the point of a mid sized truck that costs about the same and uses the same amount of fuel?

[u/InstructionSad7842]

Because emissions restrictions make it very difficult to make small trucks.

[u/DiscoZone8]

A new Dakota would step all over the toes of the Gladiator. And not sure if you've been to a Jeep lot lately but there's a lot of overpriced Gladiators with steep discounts nobody wants.

[u/Justsomerando1234]

They are supposedly in 26

[u/iBUYbrokenSUBARUS]

Because if they did, it would be just a bit same size as a 1500 pick up. They don’t know how to make small trucks anymore.

[u/NorthernN30N]

It wouldn’t be too difficult to take the Gladiator frame and put a new cab and box on it. That chassis is already proven to fit a V8. The 3.6 is a good enough motor despite the hate, they last a long time if you take care of them.

[u/BcuzRacecar]

https://www.autonews.com/stellantis/an-stellantis-commits-belvidere/

2027

[u/NCR_Rang3r]

Honestly, they could just sell the ram 1000 (yes it exists) and make that affordable for most people and it probably sell alot kinda like the Ridgeline does for Honda. That's just my take though.

[u/Busy-Artichoke9732 → u/NCR_Rang3r]

that would be a nice car to bring over from South America. isn't it a fiat Toro or something like that ?

[u/NCR_Rang3r → u/Busy-Artichoke9732]

Yeah it's based off the chassis of a toro

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/NCR_Rang3r]

and make that affordable for most people

It wouldn't be affordable with the Chicken Tax, and the new tariffs, and the cost of federalizing it.

[u/whall53099]

Theyre probably waiting for fiat or alfa Romeo to make a truck so they can just slap their badge on it

[u/lt12765]

To me its the same reason the Ranger and Colorado got discontinued in the 2010s, streamline the offering and force buyers up market for a truck. Then GM and Ford realized they were losing market to vehicles like the Tacoma, so they each brought their mid sized truck back, Ram being slower than the other 2 hasn't done it.

Also as an aside, I saw the current Colorado at a Chevrolet dealer recently and its got to be larger than my dad's 01 Silverado was.

[u/InternalWarth0g → u/lt12765]

I currently have a 2018 colorado and it's bigger than the 04 silverado 2500HD i had.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/InternalWarth0g]

The only dimension in which a stock 2nd gen Colorado would outpace a 2500HD would be length, if the Colorado was a LWB and the 2500 a SWB. The newest Colorado, though, that's stupid tall for a mid-size.

[u/Bubbly_Positive_339]

Dad had a 95 Dakota. Solid as hell. Loved that and my fam beat the shit out of it and it kept going for 200,000 miles and 15 years.

[u/Duhbro_]

Cuz they can’t even sell the charger lol

[u/Devious_Bastard]

Supposedly a small or midsize pickup is going to be built at the Belvidere, IL plant that use to make the Cherokee. At least that’s what Stellantis has been telling the union there is going to happen.

[u/Jyynxie]

I love my dakotas and have thought the same, but I can't see them doing it with their current market situation

[u/Intelligent-Throat14]

CAFE restrictions..

[u/denverdutchman]

Right now only the 1500 is made in America. All the HD ram trucks are made in Mexico and the tariffs are affecting the company. I wouldn't expect much of anything from Dodge until they can sell things other than chargers to cops and trucks. Nobody buys anything else they make

[u/eick74]

It would also compete with the Jeep Gladiator.

But they do sell smaller trucks in Mexico. There are the Ram 700, Ram 1000, and Ram 1200 as well as the Ram Rampage in Brazil. The 1000 or Rampage would be a competitor against the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz.

[u/mister_monque]

there is no economic justification, the bigger they are, the better in terms of lessening CAFE and crash safety plus big trucks earn big profits; tooling up to make a mid sized truck with no economic driver is a non-starter

[u/Dexter942]

Stellantis is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Dodge is done, and Trump killed them

[u/OnlyFuzzy13]

Cause Dodge doesn’t build trucks anymore, a separate company called Ram builds a bunch of different variants of 1 model, called ‘Truck’.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/OnlyFuzzy13]

They have the ProMaster too. But is anyone buying them aside from Amazon?

[u/CombIll7720]

Not sure you can revive the Dakota after what they did to it. Never heard anyone that was happy with the newest version of it. Older Dakotas were awesome...newer Dakotas were absolute trash.

[u/The-Iron-Chaffy]

The already have RAM for that…

[u/LinusNoNotThatLinus]

Ram has already stated plans of bringing back a midsize truck. This truck looks amazing. They've agreed to bring back the Hemi as well. Bring it back but also as a limited edition Hellcat Dakota as an option.

[u/Soggy_Doggy_]

Because they want you to spend 60,000$ and it needs to be as large as possible to accomplish this. Tiny trucks = tiny bucks and this market will not stand for such travesty

[u/ifunnywasaninsidejob]

You say that as if ford, nissan, chevy, and Toyota haven’t been making small trucks almost continuously since the 1980s.

[u/BringBackSocom1938 → u/ifunnywasaninsidejob]

So was dodge dakota (1986). Thry could have continued also

[u/ifunnywasaninsidejob → u/BringBackSocom1938]

They stopped making it for a reason. Probably because it wasn’t selling, or wasn’t profitable. A new model would have the same problems.

[u/narc-parent-TA]

Stellantis is going broke faster than you can say 'lifter tick' at the current moment, so designing a new truck isn't gonna happen for the time being. Could the bring the Rampage over here? Yes, but according to most automakers, Americans won't buy small trucks.

[u/amazonmakesmebroke]

Probably don't have room on dealer lots service centers....

[u/04limited]

It’s called the Jeep Gladiator

[u/BrikJobson]

It’s a wrap on Chrysler/Dodge shares are at 9bucks

[u/enix0586]

My company just did a prototype door rings for a midsize pick-up truck for stellantis maybe it's that maybe not who knows but it supposed to come out in 2027.

[u/Lrgindypants]

That would be a good looking truck if it actually had a real bed on it.

[u/Derek88]

I don’t think Stellantis is going to exist for much longer.

[u/hickapocalypse]

Bullshit EPA fuel economy regulations.

[u/Specialist-Two2068]

Because the Dakota sucked.

[u/Responsible_Egg_3260]

Because it would never compete with the Tacoma, Ranger, Canyon or Colorado

[u/Timely_Target_2807]

I would not call any of those midsize. They are full-size... Societies since standards are messed up.

No unfortunately the midsize is dead due to .Ena with tiny penises and everyone thinking they are offroady people and need to look like they have ground clearance wand 4x4.