Thoughts from the Curb

Jun 30, 2008 - 2008 Dodge Dakota: "Hey, Whatcha Doin' Saturday?"

Chrysler was gracious enough to allow me to drive away from their proving grounds Thursday in a 2008 Dodge Dakota. Not the hottest selection, but it was one of the few that didn't wear manufacturer plates, a necessity since I'd be crossing the border into my home and native land for the weekend.

A terential thunderstorm, 442 kilometres and a whole lot of jiggling later, I arrived in Toronto, or more specifically Mississauga, Ontario. I say jiggling because that's what the Dakota and its live-axle leaf spring rear suspension does to you over even the most minor road imperfection. Bump, jiggle. Bump, bump, jiggle jiggle jiggle. I no longer need my body fat indexed, because I now know where every ounce of it is. In related news, you'll find me in the gym tonight.

Anyway, as every pickup owner (outside of rural America) knows that people start coming out of the wood work when they find out you have a truck. "Oh you have a truck, I have this couch here that needs to be moved." Well, I can report that even people who don't actually own their pickup fall victim to this, as me and the Dakota were roped into moving Grandma this weekend. It certainly proved its worth, ferrying a pair of cabinets, a whole heap of plants and various other things one collects over 42 years in a house.

So it was useful, but that was only one weekend with a pickup. I can only imagine what would happen if I had it every weekend. "Hey I got this Barcalounger." "Hey, whatcha doin' Saturday." "Do you think that bed'll fit my Shetland Pony?" There's plenty of other reasons not to buy a truck, but this has got to be in the top 3.

-James Riswick

7:52 am | Categories: car reviews, driving adventures Permalink | Alert Administrator

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