2005 Dodge Magnum RT 340-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI

Summary:

Everyone should own one!

Faults:

We had to take the car in for an alignment. The mechanic at the dealer said they have had some trouble with this model pulling to one side when you're driving.

There are some metal clips in the cargo area (near the edge of the door) that can be used to secure items, one of them was missing and had to be replaced. (Although we purchased the car new, it had been driven regularly by one of the managers at the dealership)

General Comments:

As a woman I have some complaints about comfort. Everything is clearly designed for a man, or for someone of a larger stature. I am 5 ft 6 in and by no means consider myself a dwarf, but I feel almost lost in the front seat when I am a passenger. It almost has the feeling of a bench seat.

On that same note, when I'm driving I have trouble reaching some of the controls, for example I can't reach the blinker unless I completely remove my hand from the steering wheel (in my Jetta I can reach it with my little finger). Everything is a bit hard to reach. Even when I have my seat moved closer to the dash, I still have trouble reaching the rear view mirror to adjust it. Likewise, when seated inside the car it's all I can do to reach the door handle in order to pull the door closed! This is when the door is only opened to the first "notch."

The arm rests on the doors might as well me made of wood because there is no cushion to them at all.

My biggest complaint is that there is no handle on the ceiling above the front passenger door (aka the "oh $hit handle"). You would think they would make a point of including something like that in a car that has a reputation for hauling some serious butt!!! In addition to the fact that there is nothing to hang on to when my husband zips around corners, we purchased our Magnum to be our family car when I was 6 months pregnant and I had a heck of a time getting in and out of the car without that handle!!!

As far as performance goes, it's everything we wanted it to be. We have no complaints in that department.

Overall we absolutely LOVE this vehicle. I never imagined that my husband would be driving around in a station wagon and actually like it!!! I don't think he will ever want to get rid of this car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th April, 2005

30th Jan 2006, 14:07

The only thing uglier to come from Chrysler is the butt-ugly PT Cruiser.

31st Mar 2010, 14:22

You can't fault them for trying. I bought a seal for my 3.5 H.O. Tranny's Electro-Unit and changed the fluid while I was at it. The parts came in a Mercedes bag.

Go figure.

2005 Dodge Magnum SE 2.7L 190 H.P.

Summary:

The return of the American RWD Sedan

Faults:

The car is still pretty new and has been so far so good. I did have a little idiosyncracy with the rear wiper, where it stopped working and the button was hot (!). It hasn't duplicated yet. When cold, the power steering is very stiff.

General Comments:

All around, I am quite impressed. I have been waiting so long to get a RWD sedan and this one did not disappoint. Even though it is a company vehicle, hence the 2.7 liter engine, it is quite impressive in base trim. The power is adequate, better than minivans and SUVs, if not blinding. The traction control is really top-shelf. I had trouble fishtailing it in the snow, even around turns. When I disabled the TC, it was all over the place. Now we need GM and Ford to start making RWD V-8s again!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th January, 2005

25th Jan 2005, 10:31

Would point out to the reviewer that Ford never stopped making RWD V8's: the Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and Town Car are alive and well!

25th Jan 2005, 16:02

Um, the Magnum is the wagon; the sedan is the Charger.

Wait a minute, this isn't even your car? And it has the 2.7 V6 engine? Is that the same one widely reviled on this very site by multitudes of P.O.'d Intrepid owners?

So besides ignoring the fact that there were still V8 rwd American sedans around before this one, your title doen't really even apply to your car, does it?