Dodge Magnum SRT-8
Since I poked so much fun at Chrysler recently with the Inappropriately Named Chrysler Products series, I figure I'm overdue to feature an Appropriately Named Chrysler Product--the Dodge Magnum SRT-8.
Because full throttle easily transforms the Magnum into an explosive projective--one that in certain hands could be used in an anti-social fashion--I think the name is well-deserved.
Such was not the case with the previous Dodge Magnum covered in this space.
Despite Chrysler's recent upheaval, the automaker has been widely hailed for its leadership in returning traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, V-8-powered large cars to the market. The focus of that attention has been the flashy gangster-ready Chrysler 300, the beefy Dodge Charger, or the upcoming muscle-car-revival Dodge Challenger.
However, to the surprise of exactly nobody, my favorite car off the Chrysler big-car platform is the oddball Magnum wagon. Complete with its curiously macho truck grille and its 1940s throwback low-profile chopped wagon back, the Magnum has a style all its own. I think of the Magnum as a muscle car with a backpack. Particularly from the rear 3/4 view, I love it, and have since I first saw the Magnum concept.
Plus, stir in a 425-horsepower Hemi V-8 into the mix, and the Magnum becomes everything that the great muscle cars of yore were--big, bold, and viciously fast--but more, with the comfort and the hauling capability of a wagon, with a sheen of sophistication from the available AWD. Plus, as brutally fast as those old muscle cars were, the Magnum SRT-8 could rough up even the best of them up to take their lunch money.
With a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds, the SRT-8 is a bona fide hero car, and at less than $40K, a pretty remarkable bargain. Step down a level, and for just a tick more than $30K will still buy you a Hemi R/T with 325 horsepower that can outrun 99% of cars on the road. Of course, you still have to deal with Chrysler's traditionally spotty build quality, but at least you'll be smiling on the way home from the dealership.
If today's performance explosion is as memorable as the muscle car heyday of the 1960s, I think the Magnum SRT-8 and R/T will be remembered in hushed tones in decades to come.
I love the ad below--not only does it drill in the Magnum's compelling combination of performance and cargo-hauling ability, but because of the quasi-Lotus Esprit/Lamborghini Diablo kit car that the Magnum blows off. No offense, but I think a well-driven 10-year-old Camry wagon could probably dust that hideous amalgamation.
The two photos of the red Magnum are simply the SRT-8 press photos. The gunmetal-gray photo immediately above this paragraph is of the original 2003 Magnum concept--this is the shot and the angle that initially hooked me into Magnum appreciation.
--Chris H.
Frank Black on February 28, 2008 at 07:33 PM
Word on this one, dude. If I felt I needed a wagon, this would be it. Even if I felt I didn't need a wagon, this might be it. I'm not a total car junkie but I don't remember hearing much about this thing before it was introduced. All of a sudden I just started seeing these station wagons -- STATION WAGONS -- that sounded like freakin' Mustang GTs. I've often wondered how well they've sold; seems like a fabu concept and I see quite a lot around, even in granolaville Seattle.
on February 29, 2008 at 04:02 AM
I remember a discussion my brother had with his wife......she said the next new car HE was getting would be a station wagon,so he showed her the Magnum. All you heard was :"That's not fair!" All these cars and their siblings are cool.I can only see two flaws with the Charger...Coronet would be a correct name for the 4-door,and a stick offered in all of them.
DianeK on February 29, 2008 at 05:32 AM
After 8 inches of snow Tuesday and working on another today my R\T is parked in the garage and will remain so until there's no more salt on the road. But my hubby's out in his Hemi Ram "working".
I love just looking at the R\T so much I'll open the garage door just to see the back end. And as far as driving it goes, let's just say when my brother talked about getting a Corvette I just laugh and let him drive Maggie. Funny he doesn't talk about that 'Vette so much anymore.
Steaming Pile on February 29, 2008 at 07:41 AM
Of course, the Magnum is designated a light truck for CAFE purposes, so it gets to guzzle gas to its heart's content. Isn't it nice that we have Republicans running the EPA who help auto companies cheat?
on February 29, 2008 at 08:06 AM
So is the "pity"cruiser.....let's not go there!
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on February 29, 2008 at 09:58 AM
@Steaming Pile
Leaving aside for now whether or not the target of your blame is even accurate, can we please let Car Lust remain non-political?!???
PLEASE?????
Car Crazy since the '60's on February 29, 2008 at 10:26 AM
If you like the Magnum, better buy one fast. Latest news is that as of May 2008, Chrysler will cease production of the Magnum, the PT Cruiser convertible and the Crossfire
JorgXMcKie on February 29, 2008 at 01:04 PM
I live near Detroit, and they hardly ever even advertised the Magnum around here. I checked one out at the local Dodge dealer last year and left when the salesman just didn't seem that interested in someone interested in the Magnum. The wife then went to Pontiac and got the crossover SUV. Ah, well, Chrysler is going down the tubes for a reason.
JorgXMcKie on February 29, 2008 at 01:05 PM
I live near Detroit, and they hardly ever even advertised the Magnum around here. I checked one out at the local Dodge dealer last year and left when the salesman just didn't seem that interested in someone interested in the Magnum. The wife then went to Pontiac and got the crossover SUV. Ah, well, Chrysler is going down the tubes for a reason.
JEM on February 29, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Much as I love big-motor wagons (a '60s Ford restomod in progress, an Audi S6 in the driveway, right now my Benz E63 is only desktop-wallpaper...) the Magnum loses me with its truck nose, high beltline, and tiny windows.
Someone at Mopar didn't have the courage of their convictions when it came to trying to sell a wagon, so they tried to truck it up. And, of course, the Cerberus/Nardelli Chrysler doesn't even have that much nerve.
Still, if you gotta have a Magnum, the SRT8 is the way to go.
Chris Hafner on February 29, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Steaming Pile: "Of course, the Magnum is designated a light truck for CAFE purposes, so it gets to guzzle gas to its heart's content. "
Actually, considering its size and the fact that it's powered by a big V-8, the Magnum's mileage is surprisingly ... well, not great, but not terrible either.
This is not to say that the truck designation isn't a joke - it certainly is. And the idea that trucks and cars deserve to be judged differently nowadays, when both cars and light trucks are purchased to be used almost identically, is flawed.
But as Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame says, let's leave the political aspect out if it. Car Lust isn't about overarching social issues; it's about entertainingly petty things.
Chris Hafner on February 29, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Oh, and "Steaming Pile" and "Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame?"
To paraphrase ESPN's Bill Simmons quoting "Boogie Nights" - which I realize makes this a fairly tortured reference - those are fantastic names!
Chris Hafner on February 29, 2008 at 02:53 PM
"": "Coronet would be a correct name for the 4-door"
I would *love* to see the return of the Coronet nameplate. Actually, I'd love to see Gran Fury and Valiant back too.
Chris Hafner on February 29, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Car Crazy: "If you like the Magnum, better buy one fast."
Yeah, I saw that. I don't understand why they'd drop the Magnum, unless they think they'll need that capacity for the upcoming Challenger.
But as a relatively inexpensive full-size wagon, with the speed of a muscle car and bold looks, the Magnum is unique. And I hate to see unique cars discontinued.
Chris Hafner on February 29, 2008 at 03:35 PM
JEM: "Much as I love big-motor wagons (a '60s Ford restomod in progress, an Audi S6 in the driveway, right now my Benz E63 is only desktop-wallpaper...)"
A '60s Ford wagon restomod and an Audi S6 in the driveway? I don't suppose you'd like to swap lives for a few days?
JEM: "Someone at Mopar didn't have the courage of their convictions when it came to trying to sell a wagon, so they tried to truck it up."
Hmm. I actually don't see "truck" when I look at the Magnum. Its grille is truckish, true, but everything else about it says wagon. And while normally I'm a fan of low beltlines and airy greenhouses, there's something about the low and mean chopped roofline on the Magnum that gets my juices flowing.
Alan Walters on February 29, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Chris,
Thanks for the article on a notoriously underappreicated Magnum. I think you nailed my feelings exactly with regards to the rear three quarters view from the show car (I saw it at Chicago).
You may want to rethink you conception of Chrysler's "traditionally spotty build quality", however. My experience has been nothing less than fantastic. My 2001 PT Cruiser fully decked out with the manual transmission has been a paragon of quality. To date, I've spent precisely $334 dollars in repair expenses excluding replaceables like oil, filters, tires, etc. That is a very low figure for any 7 year old car--especially considering that 2001 was the first year of a completely new model. Based on my experience with the PT, I purchased a Pacifica as well and am happy to report that has been flawless to date. I got sold on flexible urban family transportation but have been delighted to discover extremely well built autos.
JEM on February 29, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Chris - my parents bought the '64 Ford new and after ten years of on-again off-again work it's actually on four wheels and painted now. Used S6s are fairly cheap (to buy, if not to run), and E63 desktop wallpaper (well, it trades off with the new CTS-V right now) is even cheaper.
Yes, behind the grille the Magnum is no different from any other LX-platform car, Chrysler did (or at least intended to) sell a 300C wagon outside the US and that'd have been interesting. Hell, even put it in Charger duds.
If DC had done the LX family with the beltline an inch and a half lower, it'd still have been a remarkably attractive and distinctive vehicle and one a lot friendlier to drive, IMO.
John Bono on February 29, 2008 at 05:47 PM
I'm glad this is your latest car lust. I thought it was all over after your Z-24 debacle. Fonzie had his water skis on and was getting ready to go shark jumping, when you came out with this Car Lust, and redeemed yourself.
mad anthony on February 29, 2008 at 05:50 PM
@JEM
I think spotty is the perfect word for it. I too, had a PT Cruiser (2002 Limited in Inferno Red auto). I had a ton of problems with it, including having to replace the transmission controller, the entire gauge cluster, and an air bag light that would come on randomly when it rained.
My parents were always Mopar loyalists, and I was a big fan until the Cruiser. I ended up doing something I never thought I would do - trading it in for a Ford (Ranger).
tinkerdad on February 29, 2008 at 06:25 PM
I rented one of these on a recent vacation. Ran and handled great BUT the cramped interior and gun slits they call windows made me feel like I was in a bunker. That plus Chrysler's abominable build quality means I would never, ever buy another Chrysler product, no matter how pretty, no matter how fast. One warm day last summer, in the parking lot at work, a tail light lens fell out of my 2003 Caravan. The glue holding it in place had softened to something resembling chewing gum. (They used the same glue to hold the door gaskets in place - those are now falling down.) Started replacing worn front end components at about 30K miles. Water pump at 25K miles. The power steering pump is try to decide if it's going to live to see 40K miles. CRAP car.
Rob on March 03, 2008 at 08:42 AM
I had a 97 Neon that I bought at 30,000 miles when I was 17. I beat the living SHIT out of that car until I was 21, and had 105,000 miles. It never had a problem. What drove me nuts was the hard plastic interior that rattled like crazy. It was fast and a lot of fun to drive though.
Steaming Pile on March 03, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Well, although I kinda agree with the sentiment that Car Lust is not the place for a heated political discussion (we have Daily Kos for that), one reason I pointed this out about the car vs. truck CAFE thing is that the result of automakers (and not just US automakers) gaming the system is the "crossover SUV", an ungainly-looking thing (I have no idea how they drive) that often resembles a pregnant roller skate. If you watch enough TV, you'd get the impression that this was the "in" vehicle to have. I have problems believing that it doesn't represent so many compromises in design that it'll end up being the Edsel of the 2000s.
Or it could be the Swiss Army Knife of cars. Anybody else have any thoughts?
Frank Black on March 03, 2008 at 12:08 PM
"I have problems believing that it doesn't represent so many compromises in design that it'll end up being the Edsel of the 2000s.
"Or it could be the Swiss Army Knife of cars. Anybody else have any thoughts?"
That's actually an interesting issue. I've always thought of X-Overs as a good compromise between what people generally say they buy traditional SUVs for -- high seating position, cargo capacity, "outdoorsy" image -- and what they really want -- all of the above plus something that doesn't ride and handle like a truck. I've thought for a while that the SUV functioned basically as a replacement for the station wagon. X-Overs seem to me to be moving the SUV closer to the station wagon while still maintaining some of the aspects of the truck-based SUV that people like.
I've never driven one though; I'm a car guy. I guess one would make sense if I had a lot of stuff to haul around on a regular basis but didn't need the off-road capabilities. I'd go for the Magnum if I decided I really needed a wagon.
rlord on April 02, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Had a Ram 1500 with baby V8 (4.7 Magnum engine) and got a 300C to have a more fuel-friendly mode of transport. Didn't like the 300 except when I put my foot down. Luv that Hemi power. It was too much of a leap from even a very nice truck to an oh-so-refined sedan. I was afraid to even get in the thing if I was dirty and forget about the kids getting in. So I traded it straight up for the Magnum R/T. It only takes a month to get used to the windows and you really can carry a bunch of crap, especially with the seats down. It was cheaper of course than the SRT version, but a big plus for me was the 4-cylinders firing on the highway thing for mileage. The SRT doesn't have that. Consequently, with everbody in the car, the back full of stuff and a bike or two hanging off the back, I can cruise at 90mph and still get around 24-25mpg. Add in the leather, roomy back seats, the Mercedes E-class undercarriage, satellite radio, DVD player and radar/laser detector (courtesy of original owner) and its a pretty sweet ride for $20k.
Chris D on July 18, 2008 at 11:13 AM
rlord, I'd have to agree on your points. I have an SRT8 Mag and I love it. I went from a LandCruiser and had concerns at first over going from a Toyota to a Dodge, but have been pleasantly surprised so far, in all aspects. Even the SRT8 gets 23 mpg on the highway (with 4 people and a little luggage, and waaay better than the 13 I got in the LandCruiser) if you drive sensible, and averages about 15 in mostly city driving. While I didn’t buy it for fuel economy, it is not too bad in that area. But it sure is fun to drive it hard too!
I also just came back from the Drive SRT Experience, and driving a Magnum on a road course (Virginia International Raceway) was a tremendous blast. While you can’t cover up the fact that it is a 4200 pound car, Dodge did a pretty good job at it.
At any rate the commercial was right; fun, performance; and utility. I love my Mag and am disappointed to see them go. It puts a smile on my face every time I get in it, and in the end that's what you hope a car will do for you.