Aug
6
The Scoop On The Dodge Magnum RT
Filed Under General
The new Magnum is a great looking car that will get your neighbors talking as you rumble around the block. The unique styling of the Magnum will also attract gawkers in the form of 18-22 year old blokes pointing for their chums to “check that out”. And a few people will approach you as you are filling up the gas tank to ask, “Does it actually have a Hemi?”, with only an imprecise idea that it somehow makes the car better.
The Magnum is offered with many different engine sizes ( either a 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder ) with your choice of h.p. output of 190, 250, 340 and 425. The price of the automobile also corresponds with the engine size starting at $30,345 to the pricey STR-8 model for $37,320. A giant part of the mystique around this auto is the Hemi engine. The Hemi is short for hemispherical combustion chamber, which creates better fuel burning and allows bigger valves for better airflow. Basically, it produces more power than an engine with its displacement would routinely produce. ( there also are flaws to the Hemi, and is why it’s not the sole engine that Chrysler produces ).
The interior of the automobile looks much more expensive than you would expect for the cost of the Magnum. Since Mercedes purchased Chrysler, the Dodge autos I have sampled had a sharp improvement in interior quality. While on the road, the auto is really solid and the seats are comfy even on long road runs.
As much as I like the looks, after driving it a bit I really have to ask the design idea the Magnum offers. It is a station wagon built to transport a lot of folks and a lot of stuff. But mating this with a tough engine with the taught racing-like suspension is uncomfortable for both. It is like having a Corvette tow a small trailer, and you are in the trailer and the Corvette driver is 15 years-old, pushing the car to its limits. (Only an actual Corvette has a way more comfortable suspension than the Magnum). Even driving on smooth roads, the steering is extraordinarily darty and hard to control. And with a huge auto, all that weaving and road feedback is exaggerated for the passengers and everything you have stored in the back.
I like having a navigation system, but figuring out the way to use it with the wheel controls made me frequently refer to the user’s manual. In spite of the high h.p. And low-end torque I played with when beginning from a full stop, the RT model I drove averaged 20 MPG on the higway.
What I presume to be the target market for this car, those 18-22 year old men that I discussed, will probably love this automobile. And as much as I like driving sports cars, the darty steering and sharp suspension make it too uncomfortable without any spectacular payoff. The 0-60 sprint is fun for a little while, but I’d pass on buying a Magnum as a daily driving vehicle.
Have you ever seen a supercar? Check out some of the coolest and most exotic cars in the world at thesupercars.org and also check have a look at old Dodge Magnum.
