Comments: 1-15, 16-19
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.
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 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!
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?
Interesting that this company (DC) is being heralded as being in the vanguard of the return to rear wheel drive.
It was sometime in the mid to late 80's that I read a quote from whoever was president of Chrysler at that time, which said something to the effect that Chrysler had seen the future and it was in front wheel drive, that all of their development was going to be in fwd cars and that after their only remaining rwd cars, the M-bodies, expired (which happened soon after), there would never be any more rwd Chrysler vehicles except for trucks.
I have to agree with the reviewer, though, there doesn't seem to be anything in the GM or Ford pipeline for the next few years, but fwd cars. The Buick Lucerne, which replaces the Park Ave and LeSabre next year, is still fwd, as is the Cadillac DTS. Ford's Taurus replacement, the Fusion, is also fwd.
The Magnum and all its related models remind me of the cars that Bruce McCall from National Lampoon used to draw as satires of 1950's cars, with their upright grilles, slab sides, and narrow windows. Spinner hubcaps (that really spin) are now in fashion again. Who knows, maybe tailfins will make a comeback too!
The person who was president of Chrysler Corporation in the 1980s would be Lee Iacocca, and the change that he made back then, like the pledge to cease manufacture of RWD models, was one he was forced to make for survival's sake. Chrysler had been VERY close to folding in the early 1980s before Mr. Iacocca took over. His leadership turned Chrysler around into making cars that were in tune with the times. FWD econoboxes, a.k.a. the K cars, were what Chrysler needed to make to revive themselves.
Of course, Mr. Iacocca isn't helming Chrysler anymore as that became Bob Lutz's job until 2001. Now it's Dieter Zetsche.
Of course today, the times have changed. Then again, I am wondering if DaimlerChrysler have put their heads back in the sand like they did during the 1970s, what with DC cars that aren't that economical during a time when gas prices are on the up and UP. I'm surprised that Mr. Iacocca is doing commercials for these idiots!
Check out:
www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com
- Reinhart.
The 2.7L V6 installed in the Magnum and 300 is a revised version of the troublesome one found in the Intrepid and Concorde. The oil sludge problem has been resolved for the Magnum and 300.
I doubt that Chrysler solved the 2.7l engine problems. Chrysler has stated that it fixed out the 2.7L engine problem in the intrepid after 2001. However, there is still people out there with Intrepids from 2002,2003, and 2004, who are still having engine failures, even though Chrysler supposedly claims fixed the defect with the water pump, timing belt, and oils passages that have plagued the 2.7L engine. Don't believe everything you hear!
The 2.7 litre engine is an amazing engine. You have to get your oil changed religiously every 5 thousand k, if not sooner. As long as that is done the engine will last forever. Most people with the 2.7 engine problems result because of a lack of attention to regular maintenance.
The 2.7L engine is the worst engine on the current market. I used to own a 1998 dodge intrepid, with the 2.7 engine, changed the oil every 2000 miles with Mobil 1. I still had engine failure, and had to get rid of the car. I checked out some of the new 300C's and Magnums, and big surprise the 2.7L engine is still in production. Chrysler charges over $8,000 to replace the 2.7L engine. Well why not keep it in production with newer models, they can still make a profit over a faulty product they introduced in the vehicles.
Well, to the person commenting about the crown vic family, have you ever actually driven a crown vic? It drives like something from the 80's (oh, wait, it IS!) with lots of body lean and tire squealing for little or no reason. The police can only drive the things after lots of of suspension and driveline upgrades, and then only after lots of practice, too. What DC is doing with the magnum/charger/300 is heralding the return to FUN-TO-DRIVE RWD sedans. Having driven a 2003 crown vic and being the current owner of a 2004 hemi magnum, I can tell you that the magnum is head and shoulders above the crown vic in every respect except for one thing: people don't move out of your way in traffic like when you drive a crown vic (everyone's scared you're an unmarked cruiser!), and I can live with that if driving the magnum means not being mistaken for borrowing my GRANDFATHER'S car.
Well you can't be too sure anymore. I live in Michigan and they have unveiled a new breed of police cars introducing magnums and chargers in black and white!! watch out!! if you don't believe me do a google search for magnum police. I wouldn't even try to outrun these guys.
"Return of the American RWD sedan?" The Magnum is built in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, in an ex American Motors/Renault plant, but I guess Canada is still technically (North) America.
Brampton?
Isn't that the old AMC plant where they made such "classics" like the Eagle Premier and Renault Alliance?
Let's hope the quality control there is a little better nowadays.
I thought the Eagle and the Alliance were built in the Kenosha plant?
I am the proud owner of a 2004 Intrepid SE. The car has been good to me overall. It has plenty of room for rear passengers and a huge trunk. I like the design and think it's the best looking sedan in its price range. It handles nicely with adequate acceleration. My MPG has ranged from 20-28 which is good. I believe the overall value of this car is one of the best you can find if you are looking for a family sedan. It is also a good commuter car.
No major problems yet. Cross my fingers.
I had a 2001 Intrepid with the 2.7 I used Mobil 1 10W-30 every 3000 miles. I had to have a new water pump put in at 100k... that's it. And I drove it HARD. When they opened the front cover to put the water pump in... no sludge was found. More 2.7's were made for the Intrepid than the 3.2, 3.3, or 3.5... so of course there are more engine failures. But for every engine failure, there are like 10 others that have gotten over 100k with no problems. Until I see actual numbers on how many engines failed vs. how many engines lasted well over 100k, it's just a bunch of media hype to me.