<IMG src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0">I love my 2002 fully loaded Dakota Quad cab.....except for the engine. Mileage is terrible (12.8), it is noisy with huge RPM's but not all that much get up and go. A K&amp;N airfilter and performance muffle helped a little, but I think the engine sucks. I have the "upscale" auto tranny that is AWD all the time, with 4 hi and low as the options.</P>


Is all this normal, or do I have a problem? Please let me have your opinion.</P>

Really, my mom's 01 4x2 Q/C 4.7 with 3.92 gears and 5 speed mani, airaid intake and magnaflow muffler, feels fast, well not super fast. I don't think a santa fe could keep up though. </P>


and she gets about 17 to 18 mpg</P>

<IMG src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0">I love my 2002 fully loaded Dakota Quad cab.....except for the engine. Mileage is terrible (12.8), it is noisy with huge RPM's but not all that much get up and go. A K&amp;N airfilter and performance muffle helped a little, but I think the engine sucks. I have the "upscale" auto tranny that is AWD all the time, with 4 hi and low as the options.</P>


Is all this normal, or do I have a problem? Please let me have your opinion.</P>


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If youve got the money, get a ram 1500 with the Hemi, not AWD.....4 wheel drive. And about your Dak. it shouldnt get so low milage at that year! Take it to a local mechanic, theres prolly something wrong with it...</P>

About the mileage again, you get real crappy mileage there has to be something wrong with your engine. I get 15-17 mpg in my 4.7 Ram Q/C depending on my driving and grade of gas. Like I said before my Mom gets 17 mpg in her Dak.

My dad's 02 ram has the 4.7 in it, and its great. Its not the best engine but it does have nice base power, nothing that a couple of upgrades wouldn't fix. It should work real well in a dakota. About the gas mileage, my dad only has to fill up once a week so as far as gas mileage its not a gas guzzler.