D7 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 8, 1999 Don't trust just anyone to insure your car, see me: Wayne McGill 2345 #21. Oakville 847-5671 By Malcolm Gunn SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER and out. But if brute strength isn't high on your agenda, you can select some milder forms of motivation, such as the base 2.5-litre four-cylinder that's good for 120 horsepower, or the optional 3.9-litre V6 that produces a respectable 175 ponies. Transmission choices consist of a five-speed manual, or four-speed automatic. The five-speed is mandatory with the four-cylinder, while the auto matic is required with the 5.9 V8. Besides engine/transmission options, you can pick from either regular length or short box, two-, or four-wheel drive and regular- or extended-cab bodystyles. Currently, the Dakota doesn't offer a rear doors on the extended cab, but Dodge is show ing a four-door 'crew cab' variant at auto shows around the country, suggesting one will be avail able for mass consumption soon. The Dakota has already inspired one spin-off, the wagon-styled Dodge Durango sport-utility vehicle. For a mid-sized truck, the Dakota is nearly as muscular as the big boys. Depending on which ver sion you choose, this Dodge offers a towing capac ity of up to 3,040 kilograms, with a maximum pay- load of 900 kg. As with most truck producers, the Dakota can be ordered stripped or equipped. Just about every fancy-pants luxury and convenience option you can think of can be added to this rig. The Dakota is proof positive that Dodge has made the right call with its successful alternative to the full-size workhorse. And the best part is that Dodge owns 100 per cent of the market, a number that's as tough to beat as the Dakota itself. You could say the Dakota is the undisputed leader among mid-sized cargo-toters. That's because it's the only member of this very exclusive club. Although the first Dakota hit the streets back in 1986, almost every other truck maker has stead fastly stuck to producing either Tonka Toy-sized models such as the Chevy S-10, Ford Ranger and Nissan Frontier, and/or full-size pickups primarily from the Big Three. The Toyota T100 was the only mid-size competitor, but that unit has now fallen by the wayside in favor of the new, and bigger 2000 Tundra. That's just fine with Dodge, which continues to chum out Dakotas by the . . . er, truckload to buy ers looking for both a little more and a little less. Now well into its second generation, the Dakota appears at first glance to be a replica of the big and burly Dodge Ram. Both share a similar front grille design, with the Dakota also aping the flared front- fender look of the full-size unit. The Dakota is also built with the same body-on-frame construction that's mandatory on all big trucks. But the similarities don't stop on the outside. The Dakota's optional engines -- the 5.2-litre 230 horsepower V8 or the more powerful 5.9-litre block that pushes out 250 horsepower -- are also available under the Ram's hood. The 5.9 is avail able on the sporty R/T 4x2 package that also includes 17-inch cast aluminum wheels, high back bucket seats and other special trim pieces inside 26T ALL NEW FAMILY VALUE PACKAGE. Now includes: power windows, power locks and mirrors, power rear window quarter vents, a ir conditioning, speed control, tilt steering, rear seat head rests, 3.0L V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, 7 passenger seating, easy out roller seats™, next generation dual a ir bags, roof rack, am /fm stereo, child-protection rear door locks, side-door impact beams, 3 year or 60,000 km warranty, fuel efficiency; city 1 2 .7 /1 00km (22mpg); Hwy. 8 .3 /1 00km (34mpg). Plus a complimentary tank o f fuel. Down rreignr Air lax Admin. 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