427435
05-23-2004, 08:56 AM
Although I have a deposit down on an MM, I like a lot of the features of the Dodge Magnum. The local Mercury/Dodge dealer (yes, that's right), who my current lease car came through, got a red, hemi powered magnum in last week. The lease car guy gave me the keys to it and I took it for a drive.
The ride/handling is excellent---smooth, quiet but with good control. The independent Mercedes rear suspension gets the job done better than the MM. On the other hand, the MM interior is much, much nicer and "richer".
Looks are in the beholder's eye---the MM is a 12 year old design while the Magnum is new and fresh. I prefer the MM.
The station wagon back, however, would be much more verstile and useful. By the way, the battery is located in the back, next to the mini spare---makes for better weight distribution. The lease guy (a car buff, unlike most salesmen) claimed a 51/49 front/rear weight distribution which would make the Magnum a lot better rear wheel drive car to drive in Minnesota winters (not to mention better handling, as well)
The 5 speed transmission also worked well and the slap/shift up-down is interesting.
Finally, the Hemi. I wasn't that impressed. Yes, it's a strong running, big sedan (sorry, station wagon) but it didn't feel any stronger than the MM I drove. The car had 80 miles on it so it might break-in a little more but not that much. I pulled onto a level, new piece of asphalt (in the country) and did a couple of 0-60 runs with a stopwatch (the salesman wasn't with me). I got 7.5 and 7.9 seconds to 60. Yes, I know that there are a lot of variables with hand timing, but I've timed other things and I'm usually inside of a 1/2 second. If the car magazines get times in the 5 second range (like an article on the Chrysler 300 C said), then they are getting a lot stronger engines than this dealer did in this Magnum.
If you turned the traction control off and brake torqued it heavy, you could leave some serious rubber. The 7.9 run was with the traction control on and no brake torque which resulted in a brief chirp. The 7.5 was with the traction control off and a little more brake torque---a little more rubber and a little better time. But it wasn't a mid 6 second car. By the way, the same kind of tests for my Sable and old Grand Marquis resulted in mid 9's for both of them. Never tryed to do it with the Vette as the first shift is at 60 mph---and there is too much stuff happening (including trying to maintain steering control) to try and run a stop watch too!!! :D
Bottom line, I'm staying with the MM. The interior is much nicer and (despite its age), I like the looks better. The 5 speed and independent rear suspension of the Magnum just won't do as much for me, in my daily 130 mile daily round trip commute, as the MM's interior. The MM will probably draw less attention from the law, also.
Dodge will sell a bunch of these, however.
I would like to hear of the results of any head to head contest between a stock MM and one of these Chrysler 330 C or Dodge Magnums
The ride/handling is excellent---smooth, quiet but with good control. The independent Mercedes rear suspension gets the job done better than the MM. On the other hand, the MM interior is much, much nicer and "richer".
Looks are in the beholder's eye---the MM is a 12 year old design while the Magnum is new and fresh. I prefer the MM.
The station wagon back, however, would be much more verstile and useful. By the way, the battery is located in the back, next to the mini spare---makes for better weight distribution. The lease guy (a car buff, unlike most salesmen) claimed a 51/49 front/rear weight distribution which would make the Magnum a lot better rear wheel drive car to drive in Minnesota winters (not to mention better handling, as well)
The 5 speed transmission also worked well and the slap/shift up-down is interesting.
Finally, the Hemi. I wasn't that impressed. Yes, it's a strong running, big sedan (sorry, station wagon) but it didn't feel any stronger than the MM I drove. The car had 80 miles on it so it might break-in a little more but not that much. I pulled onto a level, new piece of asphalt (in the country) and did a couple of 0-60 runs with a stopwatch (the salesman wasn't with me). I got 7.5 and 7.9 seconds to 60. Yes, I know that there are a lot of variables with hand timing, but I've timed other things and I'm usually inside of a 1/2 second. If the car magazines get times in the 5 second range (like an article on the Chrysler 300 C said), then they are getting a lot stronger engines than this dealer did in this Magnum.
If you turned the traction control off and brake torqued it heavy, you could leave some serious rubber. The 7.9 run was with the traction control on and no brake torque which resulted in a brief chirp. The 7.5 was with the traction control off and a little more brake torque---a little more rubber and a little better time. But it wasn't a mid 6 second car. By the way, the same kind of tests for my Sable and old Grand Marquis resulted in mid 9's for both of them. Never tryed to do it with the Vette as the first shift is at 60 mph---and there is too much stuff happening (including trying to maintain steering control) to try and run a stop watch too!!! :D
Bottom line, I'm staying with the MM. The interior is much nicer and (despite its age), I like the looks better. The 5 speed and independent rear suspension of the Magnum just won't do as much for me, in my daily 130 mile daily round trip commute, as the MM's interior. The MM will probably draw less attention from the law, also.
Dodge will sell a bunch of these, however.
I would like to hear of the results of any head to head contest between a stock MM and one of these Chrysler 330 C or Dodge Magnums