The way to a truck fan’s heart is through the snow. Or the woods, wetlands, or, by the warm sand of the beaches. Four wheel drive is often the only way to accomplish these tasks, and few things frustrate a serious truck person more than being stuck.
the way to a truck fan’s check book , however, is somewhat different. Because light trucks in these times must pull duty as family cars, as family movers, and as loaners to the kids on date night. The pickup isn’t just a hay hauler anymore. The baby pickup is being purchased for around town use all the time. The 4WD is perhaps more important in an urban environment than in the bush, there are more moving targets to avoid on an icy freeway.
The 1987 Dodge Dakota was a blend of many of the attributes needed to succeed in small trucks. Its first unique characteristic was that it created from ground zero the mid-size truck segment. Full-size pickups loomed above in size, and the small imported trucks fell below it.
The Dakota successfully bridged the gap between truck and car much as the T-115 Caravan crossed over to station wagon buyers. Whether its unique status as the first mid-size pickup carried any weight with buyers or competitors, is open to conjecture. This was niche marketing at its finest hone.
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