What’s New About The Dodge Magnum RT
The new Magnum is a great looking car that will get your neighbors speaking as you rumble around the block. The unique styling of the Magnum will also attract gawkers in the shape of 18-22 year old fellows pointing for their friends to “check that out”. And some folks will approach you as you are filling up the gas tank to ask, “Does it really have a Hemi?”, with only a vague notion that it somehow makes the auto better.
The Magnum is offered with many various engine sizes ( either a 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder) with your selection of h.p. Output of 190, 250, 340 and 425. The cost of the automobile also corresponds with the engine size beginning at $30,345 to the expensive STR-8 model for $37,320. A huge part of the mystique around this automobile is the Hemi engine. The Hemi is short for hemispherical combustion chamber, which creates more efficient fuel burning and allows larger valves for better airflow. Basically, it produces more power than an engine with its displacement would usually produce. (There are downsides to the Hemi, explaining why it’s not the only engine that Chrysler produces).
The interior of the vehicle looks much dearer than you’d expect for the price of the Magnum. Since Mercedes bought Chrysler, the Dodge automobiles I have sampled have had a sharp improvement in interior quality. While on the road, the auto is really solid and the seats are comfy even on long highway runs.
As much as I like the looks, after driving it a bit I have to question the design concept that the Magnum offers. It is a station wagon built to move plenty of folks and lots of stuff. But mating this with a robust engine with the taught racing-like suspension is uncomfortable for both. It is like having a Corvette tow a little trailer, and you are in the trailer and the Corvette driver is fifteen years-old, pushing the car to its boundaries. ( Only a Corvette has a way more comfortable suspension than the Magnum ). Even driving on smooth roads, the steering is very darty and difficult to control. And with a huge vehicle, 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 working out the way to use it with the steering wheel controls made me often refer to the user’s manual. Regardless of the high horsepower and low-end torque I played with when beginning from a full stop, the RT model I drove averaged 20 Miles per gallon on the higway.
What I presume to be the target market for this car, those 18-22 year old fellows that I mentioned, will probably love this car. And as much as I love driving sports cars, the darty steering and pointy suspension make it too uncomfortable without any impressive payoff. The 0-60 sprint is fun for a little while, but I’d pass on buying a Magnum as a daily driving vehicle.
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