2003 Dodge Dakota Base Extended Cab Pickup 2-door 3.9l on 2040-cars

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FCA plants skipping summer shutdown to keep up with demand

Hopefully, some FCA US factory employees don't have big plans for the usual summer shutdown, because the automaker is keeping several plants running this year. Demand is so high that the company wants to keep models rolling off the assembly lines. Four FCA US assembly plants, all the engine factories, and some locations that build transmissions are staying open throughout the summer, according to the Detroit Free Press. Usually, these sites would see a two-week shutdown for the company to retool and perform repairs. This year, factories are staying open for FCA to support its strong sales. The lines that remaining humming through the summer show an inclination toward the automaker's popular SUV's and crossovers. They include the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Michigan that builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango; Saltillo Van Assembly in Mexico that constructs the Ram ProMaster; Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio that produces the Cherokee and Wrangler; and Toluca Assembly in Mexico that makes the Dodge Journey and Fiat 500. Related Video: News Source: The Detroit Free PressImage Credit: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM FCA dodge journey fca us ram promaster Jefferson North Assembly Plant

Subaru Impreza WRX, Dodge Charger police car from 'Baby Driver' are for sale

Fans of " Baby Driver," now is your chance to own some seriously cool bits of movie memorabilia. Allpro Subaru is currently selling two of the cars from the film. The first is one of the red Subaru Impreza WRXs that were used for some of the film's signature stunts, which made the red rally sedan the de facto hero car of the movie. There were a number of stunt cars used to represent the hero car, including a modified WRX and an STI with a WRX wing. This particular one, a 2006 model, is a little more interesting, as it was the one that was converted to rear-drive to make it easier to complete stunts with it. According to the description, it also has a turbocharger from a 2004 STI to make more power, which fits what stunt driver Jeremy Fry told us. The description reveals other interesting tidbits. The car does have a clean title and has 158,000 miles on it. Obviously some of those miles were a bit rough, and the description notes that the stunt driving has led to some cosmetic defects. The AutoCheck vehicle history report reveals more. Apparently this Impreza WRX led a rough life before filming, as it had four mild to moderate crashes reported. It also appears that it will need the Takata airbag replaced. But on the plus side, this car is a unique piece of car and film history, and its rear-drive layout should make it interesting to drive. On top of that, it also has a leather interior that appears to be in good shape. View 5 Photos You'd better have a healthy bank account before trying to buy this WRX. As of writing, the bidding has reached $40,300. If that's too pricey, though, Allpro Subaru has yet another car from the movie. It's a 2011 Dodge Charger police car in Atlanta, Ga. police livery, complete with a V8. It's also pretty thoroughly wrecked, though the description says that it is drivable. Based on the bullet holes in the windshield, the Charger appears to be the one used in the (mild spoiler alert) final showdown between Baby and Buddy. But because this car is much less famous and in far worse shape, it's also much cheaper. Bidding has only reached $3,000 at the time of writing. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2006 Subaru Impreza used in Baby Driver News Source: eBay / Allpro Subaru via JalopnikImage Credit: eBay / Allpro Subaru TV/Movies Dodge Subaru Auctions Police/Emergency Performance Sedan impreza wrx baby driver

Ford, Chrysler and Mazda expand scope of Takata airbag recalls

The scope of the Takata airbag inflator recall is ballooning once again across the United States. Where Honda has elected to take its driver-side airbag campaign nationwide, Chrysler Group and Ford have now announced expanded regional actions to cover some passenger-side airbag inflators. Mazda is adding more regions, as well. For Chrysler Group, the campaign covers the inflators on 149,150 examples of the 2003-model-year Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups. The recall is limited to vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. The company will begin notifying affected customers on January 19. According to Chrysler's announcement of the action, the passenger side inflators in these trucks "are of a type that is not used in any of the other vehicles affected by Chrysler Group's regional field action." The automaker says that it's not aware of any actual failures or accidents in these pickups and even claims there are no "observed failures in laboratory testing of its airbag modules." The company is continuing to study the problem, though. Ford is taking a similar step by issuing a recall of inflators for 38,500 examples of the 2004-2005 Ranger and 2005-2006 Ford GT. The campaign only affects vehicles originally sold or ever registered in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Certain zip codes of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa are also covered. There's already precedent for passenger-side airbags to be covered under the Takata inflator recall. When many automakers announced campaigns in June, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota all included that side in some of their repairs. Subaru subsequently did, as well. In addition, Mazda is expanding the scope of its recall to add Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Saipan, Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to the affected areas. The company estimates that it has a total of 86,773 vehicles in need of repair. Mazda is also teaming with Toyota to begin independent testing of the Takata inflators. Scroll down to read all of the automakers' announcements of these newly expanded recalls. Statement: Air-Bag Inflators December 3, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich.