I have just turned 18 years old and I will tell you that I love my truck,
and am so happy to have it.I got my dakota as a reward for holding an A+
average all the way through high school,and graduating with honors.I was the
first graduate in 10 years from my school to recieve a medal of achievement
in agriculture,and I earned a special service award.I have never had one
drink of alcohol and never will,I have never had any type of tobacco and
never will,I have never had any type of drugs and never will.I made a
decision that all I needed in a vehicle to go back and forth to college in
was a compact,regular cab pickup.I got into dakotas when some of my friends
got some in high school.I soon became a dakota aficionado.When I graduated,
I told my dad what I was thinking I needed in a vehicle and he thought it
was a sensible choice.I was given a blank order sheet and my father said
"fill it out EXACTLY the way you want", so I did and I got the best of both
worlds-a compact,reg cab 2wd pickup(that gets excellent gas mileage-I'm
averaging 29mpg back and forth to school) and,something extremely stylish!
He also pays my full coverage insurance.I am so grateful and respectful of
what he has been done for me.I figure the absolute least I can do for my dad
is to be responsible.I have never brought home a ticket of any kind.There's
no way I would bring a ticket home to my dad because the insurance is bad
enough as it is because I drive what I want to.I couldn't ask him to pay for
the increase in insurance premiums just because I couldn't control myself.I
have had my truck to 70mph one time, to pass somebody in a crappy vehicle.I
usually drive between 50-55 mph on the highways, and I NEVER exceed the
speed limit! I have always been a very, very cautious driver.I always
observe the speed limit, and I take excellent care of my truck.I have not,
and will not make a modification to my truck that compromises the safety or
reliability of it.My truck has been over 2000 rpm's twice, and I'm sorry
that I did it now.I am not going to run my truck over 2300 rpm's again, if
at all possible.I have never raced the truck.My maintenance is
impeccable.Before I start it in the morning on days I drive it:check all
fluids and inspect undercarriage for leaks,Check all interior&exterior
lights for proper operation,Check tires for proper pressure,start the
truck,ALWAYS wait for engine to reach full operating temperature before
moved,turn on lights(always drive with lights on for safety).Every
week:truck is washed very thorughly by hand using only duragloss soap&and a
new artificial sponge,dried with an absorber artificial
chamois,undercarriage is washed,interior vacuumed,armor-all interior formula
applied,engine compartment cleaned(indluding bruching bugs out of a/c
condenser&radiator,all fluids rechecked,interior glass& mirrors cleaned.At
every 2500 miles the truck has the following:napa gold oil filter& valvoline
5w-30 oil changed,rearend serviced with valvoline synthetic lube,power
steering fluid changed with valvoline synthetic fluid,tires
rotated&balanced(lug nuts torqued to spec with a digital torque
wrench,&weights are on inside of rims),front end alignment,add valvoline syn
power fuel system treatment and cleaner,lube all hinges&pivot points with
white lithium grease,lube all rubber&weatherstrip with rubber
lube/weatherstrip lube,change spark plugs,change windsheild wiper
blades.(haven't got 10K miles yet, but when I do-)Every 10,000 miles:clean&
re-oil K&N filter,Transmission serviced with mopar specified lube,replace
serpentine belt,change pcv valve,replace brake pads& shoes(regrdless of
wear),flush& refill cooling system. I take pride in the fact that I am
fortunate enough to be 18 and have a brand new truck to drive.My truck is my
means of transportation,as well as my hobby.I rely on it as I travel 90
miles each way to school and back and I like it to be maintained so that I
have 0 problems caused by lack of preventive maintenance.I always carry my
entire set of craftsman tools with me in the truck and have stopped to help
so many people.I don't frown on other people for the way they traet their
vehicles, I just help them out a s much as I can.Ask some of the guys at the
houston meet this year if they think I care for my truck.Bernd, Richard
Pyburn, Mike Clark, Gene Rivers,Brian McDaniel? If anybody has any questions
or comments on this, please feel free to e-mail me privately.Thanks,
Will Coughlin willcoughlin@hotmail.com
'00 reg.cab,2wd,4.7L/hd5-spd/3.92sg(9.25")
forest green sport plus/mods:upper&lower speed grille,clear corner
lenses,empire billet 3rd brake light cover&antenna,APC white face
gauges,Magnum R/T windsheild banner,checkmate flush fiberglass
tonneau,carpeted bed,2-chamber flow w/dual 3" dumps,lowered 2" in rear,R/T
fender flares,chromed interior a/c vents,side windows tinted to 5%,back
glass to 2.5% with chrome ram head decal,pwr tailgate lock,K&N drop-in/ 1ST
place Dakota-truck at 11th annual Houston Mopar show and race/National DML
meet!!
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