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.
gerald hensley on May 21, 2011 at 10:34 PM
I HAVE A 2006 MAGNUM SRT8 I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST AUG 2010 FOR MY WIFE SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH THE WAGONS WHEN THEY CAME OUT.SO WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE TO PICK THIS CAR UP I JUMPED ON IT AND IT WAS PRICED RITE.WE DROVE THE CAR UNTILL JAN OF 2011 THATS WHEN WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT.EVERYTIME WE WOULD FILL THE TANK UP AND WOULD MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THE CAR WOULD DIE! AND THEN IT WOULD HARD START.SO AFTER 2 TIMES OF THIS I TOOK THE CAR TO MCPEEK DODGE IN ANAHEIM CA THEY TOLD ME THE RETURN VALVE IN THE GAS TANK HAD GONE BAD AND THE FUEL WAS RETURNING BACK UP THE FUEL RAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT. SO THEY REPLACE THE TANK AT THAT TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS TIME TO SERVICE THE TRANS THE CAR WAS AT 67000 MILES.WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP I DROVE IT HOME AND GAVE IT TO MY WIFE.THE NEXT DAY AFTER SHE CAME HOME I JUMPED INTO THE CAR AND RAN OVER TO A FRIENDS THATS WHEN I NOTICED THE LOSS OF POWER.JUMP AHEAD 2 WEEKS I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR TRANS SERVICE AGAIN TOO MCPEEKS THEY TELL ME THERE IS A LEAK AT THE COUPLER ON THE TRANS I TELL THEM TO REPLACE IT.AND TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR FOR PERFORMACE LOSS. THEY BRING CAR BACK AND TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG! SO I TAKE THE CAR HOME.AS THE WEEK GOES BY MY WIFE AND I NOTICE THE CAR IS NOT PERFORMING WITH THAT PLANT YOUR BUTT IN THE SEAT FEELING. SO ME BEING A OLD CAR GUY I THOUGHT BY REPLACING THE PLUGS WITH NEW E3S IT MIGHT TAKE CARE OF IT. WELL IT DIDNT! SO WE DROVE THE CAR FOR ABOUGHT 1 MORE WEEK AND THE CAR GOT TO WERE IT WOULD NOT START AND WHEN IT DID IT WOULD NOT PERFORM AT ALL. SO BACK TO MCPEEK IT WENT THE CAR WAS TERE FOR 3 WEEKS! THEY REPLACED THE PCM THE TCM THE COILS THE CRANK TRIGGER THEN THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT AND I COULD COME PICK THE CAR UP?. SO WE PICKED THE CAR UP AND TOOK IT TO HUNGTING BEACH DODGE IN CALIF AND IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 2 WEEKS MY WIFE AND I HAVE NO CLUE IF THE CAR IS GOING TO BE FIXED AND I DONT WANT A NEW PLANTER BOX IN MY FRONT YAURD WE LOVE THE CAR CAN ANY BODY HELP?