The new Magnum is a great looking car that may 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 years old fellows 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 truly have a Hemi?”, with only a vague notion that it somehow makes the car better.
The Magnum is offered with many various 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 large 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 bigger valves for better airflow. Basically, it produces more power than an engine with its displacement would routinely produce. ( there also are downsides to the Hemi, explaining why it’s not the sole 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’ve sampled have had a pointy improvement in interior quality. While on the road, the auto is extremely solid and the seats are cosy even on long road runs.
As much as I like the looks, after driving it a while I really have to query the design concept that the Magnum offers. It is a station van built to move plenty of people and a large amount 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 vehicle to its boundaries. ( Only a Corvette has a way more cushty suspension than the Magnum). Even driving on smooth roads, the steering is very darty and difficult to control. And with a big 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 how to use it with the 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 MPG on the higway.
What I presume to be the target market for this auto, those 18-22 year old men that I discussed, will probably love this automobile. 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.
What is your dream car? Check out some of the fastest and most exotic cars ever built at thesupercars.org and also take a look at preowned Dodge Ram Van.