CD Article: 2008 Dodge Magnum R/T

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


The Magnum enters its final year in 2008, and Dodge "finally got it right," says Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh. "If you can live with the fuel numbers, this is a comfortable and surprisingly practical vehicle."

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[tpl]

If the roof line was horizontal all the way to the back of the car it would make a great station wagon in the old "full sized car" style.  With the big V8 it would tow a big trailer as well. All you'd need would be a vinyl bench seat in the front and it would be great.    Long live the '70s!

If the EPA hadn't nearly killed all big cars  with CAFE there would be no need for SUVs except for the hard core off roaders.

[sailor723]

If the roof line was horizontal all the way to the back of the car it would make a great station wagon in the old "full sized car" style.  With the big V8 it would tow a big trailer as well. All you'd need would be a vinyl bench seat in the front and it would be great.    Long live the '70s!

If the EPA hadn't nearly killed all big cars  with CAFE there would be no need for SUVs except for the hard core off roaders.

 

My Dad's '69 Grand Marquis Colony Park would do everything I need a car to do today (although I do like AWD).

[Spheric]

In the end, the saddest part of all isn't so much that the Magnum's gone, but that Chrysler finally got it right, just before they killed it.

That statement from the article just about applies to every last year model by most manufacturers.

[Demosthenes X]

My tester was further optioned with a performance package, at $2,100, which added 20-inch wheels, extra airbags, and performance exhaust, seats, steering and suspension, along with a $1,275 package of six-CD stereo, lighting, remote starter, alarm, garage door opener and trip computer, a $1,075 sunroof, $775 Xenon headlamps and $300 for UConnect hands-free communication, which includes an auto-dimming mirror. That brought it all to $45,820 before taxes and freight.

We complain about BMW's options packages, but at least they give us seats standard...   

We rented a Magnum a couple years ago - the interior was bland and uninspired and the engine was weak.  I think the V8 would have happily solved the latter issue, and it sounds as though the interior is much improved today.    Too bad it doesn't come in stick...

[Mitlov]

We rented a Magnum a couple years ago - the interior was bland and uninspired and the engine was weak.  I think the V8 would have happily solved the latter issue, and it sounds as though the interior is much improved today.    Too bad it doesn't come in stick...

Which of the two V6s did it have, the 2.7L or the 3.5L?  From what I've read, the 2.7 is badly underpowered, the 3.5 is perfectly adequate, the normal Hemi is great, and the SRT8 is insane.

[Spheric]

How can a 2.7 litre V6 engine be underpowered ? Looking at the Magnum I don't think the power / weight ratio would be abnormal. 

[Mitlov]

How can a 2.7 litre V6 engine be underpowered ? Looking at the Magnum I don't think the power / weight ratio would be abnormal. 

The engine only made 190 horsepower if I recall (it was a very old-tech engine chosen for its cheapness, not its power-to-displacement ratio), and the car is VERY heavy.

[jww]

If the roof line was horizontal all the way to the back of the car it would make a great station wagon in the old "full sized car" style.  With the big V8 it would tow a big trailer as well. All you'd need would be a vinyl bench seat in the front and it would be great.    Long live the '70s!

If the EPA hadn't nearly killed all big cars  with CAFE there would be no need for SUVs except for the hard core off roaders.

Back in the mid-90s, we owned an 1982 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser station wagon. As far as hauling, towing, and general power, it was  incredibly good. Then you would sit at a traffic light idling, and watch the gas gauge go down. We got lots of use out of it though in two years. We paid 1000 for it from friends and sold it as-is for 450 2 years - almost to the day - later.

[Demosthenes X]

Which of the two V6s did it have, the 2.7L or the 3.5L?  From what I've read, the 2.7 is badly underpowered, the 3.5 is perfectly adequate, the normal Hemi is great, and the SRT8 is insane.

I can't be sure, but I believe it was the 2.7, which as you say is terribly weak in that car.  We had a Charger with the 3.5 as a rental at one point too, and it was adequate.  Probably just fine for the average buyer, still not good enough for my dad who needs 300hp out of his engines, but thinks more than that is overkill.

[Winklovic]

Which of the two V6s did it have, the 2.7L or the 3.5L?  From what I've read, the 2.7 is badly underpowered, the 3.5 is perfectly adequate, the normal Hemi is great, and the SRT8 is insane.

I made a run at the local drag strip with a 3.5L equipped Magnum and ran the quarter-mile in 16.01 seconds at over 87 mph.  More than adequate, I'd say.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The front end of the '08MY finally looks decent.

Are they still building 300 Touring wagons for European export? Assume not but curious. Maybe at the Magna Ster plant or not at all?

[auto_enthusiast]

There was an article in the local papers that the Magnum (especially the SRT8 model) could be a collectors item in the future.  Not many were produced, the model line gets discontinued, it has lots of power (at least the V-8 versions do), decent handling, and distinctive styling. 

It will be interesting to see if they actually become collector cars in the future...wagons rarely seem to be that popular but who knows?