Dodge Magnum SRT8

[SpatiallyAware]

Thoughts?

I'm looking for a beater-ish daily driver car.. Something I can take camping, canoe trips, and will tow a small trailer for house duty. I have a ranger and I like it, but would be much more comfortable in a car.

 

[Fenixgoon]

as long as you don't care about gas mileage, it's a pretty damn practical vehicle, IMO.

 

[thedarkwolf]

seems like major overkill for a beater lol

 

[Pariah]

seems like major overkill for a beater lol

Those were pretty much my thoughts. If you drive an AMG or M5, maybe it's a beater. Otherwise, not so much...

 

[ProchargeMe]

I'd go for it, you can usually find a decent SRT8 with less than 100k miles for ~$16k

 

[CraigRT]

Even an R/T with the 5.7L could easily tow and haul a lot.
Practical definitely, but hard to see out of...

 

[Fritzo]

Even an R/T with the 5.7L could easily tow and haul a lot.
Practical definitely, but hard to see out of...

Yeah, they are cramped. Cheap plastics too.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

seems like major overkill for a beater lol

Well... I said beater-ish... Basically something I can drive into the ground with no concern about resale or racking up miles.

To me, this means it has to have solid suspension (wheels aren't pointing two different directions after blasting down a gravel road, but no real off-roading capability needed), easy to work on, and common enough to have readily available engines/transmissions just in case of a major failure.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Yeah, they are cramped. Cheap plastics too.

This is the biggest downside, I hate chintzy interiors. When you say cramped, do you mean the front seats or back?


I really can't come up with anything better for what I want... I've looked at avalanches, but they're way overkill for my needs. I have also looked at the older mercedes wagons, but they're either WAY overpriced or ragged to hell and back.

 

[Fritzo]

This is the biggest downside, I hate chintzy interiors. When you say cramped, do you mean the front seats or back?


I really can't come up with anything better for what I want... I've looked at avalanches, but they're way overkill for my needs. I have also looked at the older mercedes wagons, but they're either WAY overpriced or ragged to hell and back.

The Magnum is the same platform the 300 and the Charger use. It's very low profile, so headroom is a problem and narrow windows mean lower visibility.

Have you maybe considered a Volvo or Audi wagon? They have some balls and have a lot better build quality + interiors.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

The Magnum is the same platform the 300 and the Charger use. It's very low profile, so headroom is a problem and narrow windows mean lower visibility.

Have you maybe considered a Volvo or Audi wagon? They have some balls and have a lot better build quality + interiors.

I like the audi wagons but I don't want one out of warranty.

I really don't need AWD nor do I want the complexity unless it's a "truck" based vehicle. I greatly prefer rwd.. So volvo is out since it's either fwd or awd.

 

[nerp]

Neat choice. You want to make sure the tie rods and front suspension has been addressed, this generation of Chrysler/Dodges on that platform are known for issues.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Neat choice. You want to make sure the tie rods and front suspension has been addressed, this generation of Chrysler/Dodges on that platform are known for issues.

Hmm... I'll have to talk to my suspension/alignment guy. I guess I assumed these were solid since cops use them. I wonder if they use heavy-duty suspensions on the police versions.

 

[ProchargeMe]

Hmm... I'll have to talk to my suspension/alignment guy. I guess I assumed these were solid since cops use them. I wonder if they use heavy-duty suspensions on the police versions.

Police cars almost always have suspension upgrades.

 

[Fritzo]

Police cars almost always have suspension upgrades.

Yeah, there's an Interceptor package they add to police cars that isn't available to the public. It includes higher powered engines, reinforced suspension, and sometimes armor plating or engine shielding.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Ram 1500 with the pentastar v6 and 8 speed trans. 18/25mpg. You could have it for 10+ years easily and abuse the sheet out of it.

 

[MegaFlop]

Just FYI, I have a 300C SRT8.

The SRT8 cars are not rated for towing and I believe the Magnum SRT8 is the same. Also ground clearance is a serious problem. The front airdam on the 300 is only a few inches off the ground. It doesn't clear most parking stops. If the Magnum SRT8 is the same you aren't going to want to take it off paved roads.

 

[JCH13]

Crown Victora? A police interceptor version (slightly lifted suspension) wouldn't go amiss. It's tow rating is 1500lbs.