| The new Magnum is a great looking car that will get | | | | Mercedes bought Chrysler, the Dodge vehicles I've |
| your neighbors talking as you rumble around the block. | | | | sampled have had a sharp improvement in interior |
| The unique styling of the Magnum will also attract | | | | quality. While on the road, the car is very solid and the |
| gawkers in the form of 18-22 year old guys pointing | | | | seats are comfortable even on long highway runs. |
| for their friends to "check that out". And a few people | | | | As much as I like the looks, after driving it a while I |
| will approach you as you are filling up the gas tank to | | | | really have to question the design concept that the |
| ask, "Does it really have a Hemi?", with only a vague | | | | Magnum offers. It is a station wagon built to transport |
| notion that it somehow makes the car better. | | | | a lot of people and a lot of stuff. But mating this with a |
| The Magnum is offered with many different engine | | | | powerful engine with the taught racing-like suspension |
| sizes (either a 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder) with your choice | | | | is uncomfortable for both. It is like having a Corvette |
| of horsepower output of 190, 250, 340 and 425. The | | | | tow a small trailer, and you are in the trailer and the |
| price of the vehicle also corresponds with the engine | | | | Corvette driver is 15 years-old, pushing the car to its |
| size starting at $30,345 to the expensive STR-8 | | | | limits. (Only an actual Corvette has a much more |
| model for $37,320. A big part of the mystique around | | | | comfortable suspension than the Magnum). Even |
| this car is the Hemi engine. The Hemi is short for | | | | driving on smooth roads, the steering is very darty and |
| hemispherical combustion chamber, which creates | | | | difficult to control. And with a large car, all that weaving |
| more efficient fuel burning and allows larger valves for | | | | and road feedback is exaggerated for the passengers |
| better airflow. Basically, it produces more power than | | | | and everything you've stored in the back. |
| an engine with its displacement would normally | | | | I like having a navigation system, but figuring out how |
| produce. (There are also drawbacks to the Hemi, | | | | to use it with the steering wheel controls made me |
| which is why it isn't the only engine that Chrysler | | | | frequently refer to the user's manual. In spite of the |
| produces). | | | | high horsepower and low-end torque I played with |
| The interior of the car looks much more expensive | | | | when starting from a full stop, the RT model I drove |
| than you'd expect for the price of the Magnum. Since | | | | averaged 20 MPG on the higway. |