2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 First Drive

The Dodge Magnum is a station wagon. Isn’t that a dull design to use for a performance car? While some might think the Magnum’s exterior design would get stale quickly because it’s a wagon, the lines are radical and edgy, and we think it’s got a long shelf life. Cool aspects about the SRT-8 are the giant forged aluminum wheels, lowered suspension, and subtle but effective styling tweaks that give it an aggressive appearance.

Is the Dodge Magnum SRT-8 really fun to drive, or is it just big wheels and a slammed appearance? We had so much fun driving the Magnum SRT-8 that the Dodge folks nearly had to pry the keys from our hands. The growl of the exhaust reminds that a powerful, 425-horsepower V8 is sitting under the hood and that all we had to do was tickle the accelerator pedal to make the Magnum snap to attention.

Why buy the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 when I can get a 5.7-liter, 340-horsepower V8 Magnum RT for about $30,000, almost $8,000 less than the SRT-8? Think of the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 as a Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Wagon for half price, and you see the value in the car. And for that extra $8,000, you get 85 more horsepower coupled with Euro-grade braking, steering, and suspension hardware. The Magnum RT is a fast car in a straight line. The Magnum SRT-8 is a fast car carving any line.