Any Magnum owners? (wagon)

[71bigblock]

Just wondering if anyone on here owns a Magnum?  I think moparnut does.  Anyways, within the next year I want to buy a car that I wont have to fix every couple months, and gets respectable mileage.  My Stealth just isnt doing that for me right now.  And it takes premium.   

The Magnum really appeals to me.  Can still haul people/stuff while probably getting the same mileage as my Stealth.  From what I see, the used Magnums with less than 80,000 or so on them are priced in the low teens.  I really dont want to/cant spend more than that.  I cant even spend that much, but you know what I mean.   

Have they fixed the problem with the 2.7 motor?  I know that the 3.5 is good and strong, thats probably what I would look for.  But I did talk to a guy with the Hemi and MDS, and he said he averages from 20-21.5.  Thats pretty darn good, I thought.  But I do want better than that.  25 would be nice.  I can sacrifice power, I dont need to go fast everywhere.   

Pros, cons, anything?  Thanks guys. 

[72hemi]

Resale for the Magnum is terribel, so that is good news for you as a buyer but bad news when you go to sell it. I know you said that you want the best mileage and power isn't everything but you can pick up an SRT 8 Magnum in the low to mid 20k range currently and the prices will only continue to drop. They are a great car, I have driven them twice at SRT track days. Can't say anything about the lower models since I have no experience with them at all.

[MJS73]

It will have to be be used, since the Magnum is now discontinued.

Mike

[71bigblock]

It will have to be be used, since the Magnum is now discontinued.

LOL, did you read my post?  Yes I know they're discontinued. 

Thanks for the information 72hemi, but I dont have that kind of    unless I sold my Challenger.  And that isnt happening in the near future.  They are probably the best bang for the buck in the SRT8 lineup... 

[NoMope Greg]

My wife and I test-drove a Magnum with the 3.5 and a Charger with the 5.7.  We preferred the Charger for visibility out of the car and comfort, but would have been quite happy with the 3.5.  We might have bought a Charger in place of her Accord, but the math didn't make sense at the time. 

[ntstlgl1970]

the 2.7L doesn't get much better mileage than the hemi, and the 3.5L is the same or worse than the hemi, get the hemi. check dodge.com for the actual numbers

[71bigblock]

the 2.7L doesn't get much better mileage than the hemi, and the 3.5L is the same or worse than the hemi, get the hemi. check dodge.com for the actual numbers

I have checked them over for a little while now.  Looks like the 2.7 will average about 25 mpg or so.  The Hemi only averages very low 20's, and thats if you dont step on it, EVER.   Plus for a Hemi Magnum, you're looking at another at least 5 grand, most likely more than an SE.  I dont want to spend much over 10k.  I dont even want to spend that much, but sooner or later I need to get a newer more reliable/versitile vehicle that can also be driven in the winter. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___2006-DODGE-MAGNUM-SE-WAGON-SPORTS-2-7L-V6-DOHC-EXC-COND_W0QQitemZ180242836045QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180242836045&

Something like this.  Pop the dents out on the bumper though.   

[bb71challenger]

If you are looking for something you dont have to work on then dont get the 2.7 litre. They have always been junk and nothing is going to convince me that they are not still junk. The 3.5 is a good engine though. I know if I were to get one the rear drive R/T would be my starting place. Have you priced any 5.7's? Good luck as it sounds like a helluva bargain for what you will be getting. If I did not want my Challenger to be done and the possibility of getting a new Challenger I would be all over an SRT8 Magnum.

[71bigblock]

Thanks for the input.  But I really dont need or want a Hemi, lol.  Just no reason for it.  The only thing that convinces me that the 2.7 is good, is that they are putting it in what like 8 different vehicles, all now covered with a lifetime powertrain warranty.  That to me says they have it figured out.  I need to ask a local Mopar independant mechanic, he would know. 

Another:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___2005-Dodge-Magnum-SE_W0QQitemZ180243961187QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180243961187&

I mean, they're out there, and seem to be very affordable.  The more I look at them, the more I like.  That canoe/surfboard/luggage rack  on some of them does nothing for me though, ick.

[moparnut]

I'm here huckleberry
I love my magnum and i do outside sales so i am in it 8 hours a day. Its the most comfortable car i have ever owned and plenty of room for sales samples. I actually loved the 2.7 also but wanted a bit more passing power but didn't want the hemi because of higher price and less mileage. I get 3-4 mpg more than a hemi and since i drive 40k Miles a year, thats big bucks. MY 01 intrepid i sold when i got the magum was a 2.7 car and i had 200k on it when i sold it with never a problem, but i still like the 3.5 mucho better. It really has some ballls. With the 3.5(sxt pakage) you get more than the 2.7 like traction control(a must for me living on a dirt road and the road to my shop is steep(see picks in my sig) I didn't want the AWD for mileage reasons as well. The Sxt package has a few other bells and whistles too. The power front seat is way cool with lumbar support. I bought mine last year, it was a year old with 15k miles on it for 16.9k. In fact i just ordered the valley stealth verticle reciever hitch for it, it should be here soon. It totally hides the hitch and with the prices of Diesel for my truck, I will use it more for the smaller stuff(like picking up an engine,a few bails of hay ect with my 4x8 trailer. The bad thing is you have to use 89 octane gas with the 10-1 compression.
I think the 2.7 would be very under powered for this car. I ALWAYS still get compliments on the car many times a week. Last week a young lady walking by in a parking lot told me. "If i had that car and you had a feather,we would both be tickled",lol I laughed and said thanks.I would have bought the hemi, if it wasn't a work car and if i wasn't driving 40k miles a year. Maybe I'll save that for the new challenger and put in in my shop. Wishful thinking,lol, But if the ecomomy starts to get better soon, it might happen

[moparnut]

oh and the auto stick with the SXT is the coolest thing, feels like a stick when you run thru the gears

[71bigblock]

Sweet, thanks a buch for the advice.  Thats the best, straight from the horses mouth.  Very good points.  I have also heard that the Magnum is very roomy.  One guy told me he bought a Magnum over a Charger because it had more room, he was like 6' 4".  I'm 6' 1", so I should fit fine.  If I sell my Stealth, and spend some of my saved $$, it should easily be over half of the cost.  I'm in no hurry, either.  I'm going to do a good amount of research this time around.   

Oh and what do you average for mileage?  Didnt see that in your posts? 

Thanks again bud.   

[moparnut]

Well the horses mouth? I've been called the other end a few times
Ya know, it would be a guess, since i fill up 2-3 times a week i really don't want to know,lol. I do know it ain't bad. I'll  check it on my next tank, but.... I have a very heavy foot and the ac is cranking this time of year since its over 100 degees. I know it doesn't get as good as my intrepid 2.7 did but thats expected. Would i trade it for a 35mpg  honda car when gas is 4 bucks a gallon? not on your life, too comfortable and i need the room for long drives.

[moparnut]

also i have a sales meeting in sacramento,ca once a month, 388 miles round trip and I usually have at least 1/4-1/3 tank left. So freeway?? 27-28mpg or so would be a good guess