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Dodge Dakota Deigns to Drink Differently Talk about making a fuel of yourself. The Dodge Dakota midsized pickup is a heavy duty beast that for 2008 is capable of driving right past the gas pump – and straight to the ethanol one. It's called Flex Fuel, a no charge bit of flexibility that'll let you burn E85 – assuming you can find it. If you can't, well Dodge says the Dakota gives better "conventional" gas mileage this year anyway, so I guess it's a win-win scenario. more.... Dodge's Avenger is a conventional mid-sized four door sedan that looks kind of like a smaller and a bit more subtle Charger (not a bad thing). It's quite attractive, visibly a Dodge (if that's important to you) and gives reasonable driving pleasure for its price. Whether it's as good as, or better, than its competition will surely be settled objectively by the marketplace. The base Avenger comes with a 2.4-liter four cylinder "World Engine" featuring dual variable valve timing and putting out 172 horses @ 6000 rpm and 165 lb. ft. of torque @ 4400 rpm. My R/T came with the 3.5 liter V6, which is much more satisfying and, well, hot. It cranks out 235/232 horses/torque and is coupled to a six speed automatic with a manual mode that, curiously, shifts side to side and, curiously, often shifts when it pleases, seemingly. more.... Dodge Nitro - Easy to Dodge This SUV The new for 2007 Nitro SUV is based on a stretched version of the Jeep Liberty and is being billed by the manufacturer as a vehicle that'll give you an "adrenaline rush" when you connect with it. "With its powerful stance, chiseled lines and unmistakable Dodge crosshair grille, it'll definitely get you noticed." Well, if getting noticed is all you want out of life, then maybe you'll love the Nitro, with its "baby Hummer-wannabe" looks and admittedly great-sounding exhaust note. But I found it one of the most annoying vehicles I've driven – not that I've come anywhere close to driving all the world's most annoying vehicles, I'm sure. more.... Dodge Caliber SXT – a Little Wagon That Can The Neon is dead and Dodge has come up with a car to replace it that's of a whole different caliber. Or a different character, anyway. The Dodge Caliber is a roomy and economical little wagon that appears to focus on "user friendliness", which is probably just what many people are looking for. more.... It's big and brawny, yet comfy and civilized. And though I think it lost something aesthetic in its super sizing from the original Durango, this current version is a heckuva SUV. Redesigned in 2004, the Durango now also offers DaimlerChrysler's Multi-Displacement feature in its big, 5.7 liter Hemi V8. This shuts down four of the engine's cylinders when you have no pressing need for the extra oomph of the V8, such as when you're cruising on the freeway. It's supposed to give you better gas mileage, and perhaps it does. more... It may not be the most fun minivan to drive, but when it comes to hauling your stuff and making your life easier, the Dodge Grand Caravan is a real winner. Dodge is credited with introducing the minivan more years ago than we of middle age would undoubtedly care to remember. They created the niche and, eventually, just about every marque worth its salt jumped into the market until now there are so many of the beasties around it can be tough to make a buying decision. more... Time was when Dodge’s Dakota was being marketed as almost a compact pickup truck. It was bigger than trucks like the Toyota Tacoma or Mazda B series, but not as big as the full sized trucks like the Dodge Ram, Ford F150 and the like. Then it must have reached puberty or something, because it experienced a growth spurt that, while it didn’t shoot out to the size of those full sized trucks mentioned above, at least saw it growing farther away from those still compact trucks. It also “matured” aesthetically so that it now sports the look of the big Ram pickups, with a macho nose that looks as if it could double as a battering Ram in a pinch and a boxy exterior that’s all truck. It looks like it’s been working out with weights and now sports chiseled pecs, biceps and hips. more...
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