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&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.

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

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.

and she gets about 17 to 18 mpg

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&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.

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

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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...