Newbie Question regarding the Dodge Magnum RT

Howdy all,

I am new to this newsgroup, so a hearty hello to all.

I placed an order for 2005 Dodge Magnum RT in February, at $500 over
invoice.
I was called yesterday that my RT will be in this weekend, but that I still
have the option of backing out of the deal if I choose to.

While waiting for the RT, I had bought a 2004 Volvo S60 2.5 Turbo.

So my questions/request is as follow:

Any info on the RT beyond the manufacturer's PR? How is it selling?
Holding up? Performing in the real world (Power & Fuel efficiency)?
Any failure/recall/discovered problems?
Should I keep my Volvo or go through with the purchase of the Magnum and
dump the Volvo?

I will appreciate sincere response.
Thanks.

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

Welcome onboard.

That should answer one of your questions below ("How is it selling?").

It's a brand new model. No such data are available, except for the fact
your dealer's willing to let you walk away from the deal, which means
he'll have no problem finding another customer in a hurry for your car.

Only if you're a masochist. Volvo forgot how to build a reliable
electrical system around 1997, and they've been busily forgetting how to
build other subsystems reliably ever since. Failures -- especially after
the warranty is over -- are frequent, expensive, and stupid in nature
(melted/shorting turn signal sockets!! Volvo, together with the rest of
the industry, managed to produce reliable turn signal sockets for decades
until they just *forgot* that the sockets need to be, y'know, electrically
and thermally durable!)

Volvo has been coasting for a decade now on the reputation they earned
with the 120-140-240-700 series cars. It is no longer deserved; their cars
are neither notably durable nor notably reliable, and they no longer have
a safety lead over anyone else in the industry.

DS

 

I think it is selling really well. My mom lives near a Dodge dealer. I
checked the lot and he had 8 Magnums on the lot. None had the price sticker
on it. I went back a week later and 6 of them are gone. The only ones
left are the ones the salesmen drive.

 

They are willing to let you out of the deal because they already have
someone else willing to pay more for the car. I haven't heard
anything bad about them but I don't expect we would this early in the
game. Proabably be a good year before any problems that might exist
start showing themselves.

I would dump the Volvo and get the magnum if it were me.

Steve B.

 

Well,thank you all!

I took delivery of my Inferno Red Dodge Magnum RT today!

Sweet! Really really Sweet! Way sweet!

Thanks again.

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

I agree, but then I'm not the Volvo type.Don't act like you don't know what
I mean. The volvo is the least styled car on earth, and the Dodge Magnum,
well, isn't.

The OP must have plenty of money; ordered a brand new car and bought another
brand new car to drive "while I wait".

 

Dude,
Life is too short.

I use to drive a 2002 Durango, and I still own a 1966 Mustang with a built
289(See picture link below). Wife drove a Taurus SHO. SHO gave up on her
one day on the California Freeway with my 10 months old Baby.
So I ran and bought her a Volvo as a surprise. She didn't like or want the
Volvo, instead she took my Durango.

Meanwhile I had ordered a Magnum with the intentions of selling or trading
in my Durango.

So now I try to sell the Volvo at a huge loss.
But life is still great and I give thanks to God for giving me the means to
provide for my family!

What's your story Joe?

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

My first reaction was, gee, he's going to take a bath on that Volvo. But
then I noted, apparently correctly, that you were seeking automotive advice,
not financial advice. If money is no object, hell yes you should get the
Magnum! (Which apparently you did.)

Congrats on the new car. Good luck dumping the Volvo. Nice pictures, by
the way.

--Geoff

 

You bought you wife a Volvo? Don't you love her anymore?


Matt

 

Lol! {;-)}

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

Thanks for the comments.

Pictures of the Magnum will be on line tonight!

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

My first reaction is, "how can the same person buy THOSE two cars
without having a severe personality disorder."

My second reaction is a memory of a friend's S80 burning to a crisp in a
downtown parking garage (oh, how the fire department responded to THAT)
because of an electrical defect.

 

I probably do have severe personality disorder.

I frequent both the Chrysler and Ford Mustang Newsgroup!

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

I've had my Magnum RT for 4 days now. That much power for that little price
and that much fuel efficiency (I've averaged 20 mpg city and highway so far)

I need a little help here guys! How do I wipe a big ole freaking smile off
my fu**ing face!
It's a rush driving this darn thing I tell you!

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

Drive a Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, or similar generic
disposable people-mover and think about the poor sods that actually PAID
to own one of those things.

 

So I drove to Palm springs area early this morning for a meeting from Rancho
Cucamonga (Ontario area) on 10 freeway (Relatively flat)
Because of the comfort UConnect, I was able to be on the phone from Ontario
to Cabizon. Also I only cruised at 60-70 mph

At Cabizon I stopped to buy some clothing at the retails outlet and noticed
that my car averaged 29.3 MPG on the computer. Pretty unbelievable!

Of course coming back was more like 23 mpg since there was traffic and when
there was no traffic I was more attentive (meaning I was flying)

I have posted pictures I took of the odometer on my webshots site below.
Look in the album with cars.

--
_______________________________________
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is
like an eggs-and-ham breakfast:
The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

http://community.webshots.com/user/godwino

 

Did they ever? I don't think Mercedes or even BMW had that much to learn
from Volvo..

DAS

 

Volvo was still doing very well when Pehr Gyllenhammar, the leader of
their corporate change from "Fordism" (mindless assembly lines) to
team-based work, finally retired. His successor felt the company was
coddling its employees (apparently hadn't read Gyllenhammar's book,
People at Work, available at Amazon - no, you can't have my copy!) and
got strict on 'em, they partnered with Mitsubishi, and the execs chose
to sell the car business to Ford. None of these bode well for Volvo.

I remember the 240GL fondly - it was a tank with an interior that made
my 1976 Valiant look like a Lexus, a shifter that was harder to use than
the one in my Sundance, and quality that didn't quit. (The 740 was a bit
more refined). I loved the 850's eager engine and I liked its upgraded
interior, though some of their fittings were not quite up to the
standard set by the Sundance and Neon! Still a great car overall. Of
course you paid a premium for ANY Volvo. But you do that for a Honda or
Toyota, too.

Mercedes and BMW could learn a lot about quality from Volvo of the
1970s-1990s. Of course, Mercedes could also learn from Mercedes of the
1980s.

PS> For what it's worth...
http://www.allpar.com/cars/lx/magnum-review.html is a Dodge Magnum R/T
(or Magnum RT) review based on my own experience.

 

??!! Huh?

One of the nicer aspects of the 240 was its manual-transmission shifter.
There must've been something wrong with yours. The automatic shifter was
just fine, too.

 

I don't disagree with that. However, even in the eighties Merc had
instances of problems, as did, I suppose, every one else.

Nowadays increasing complexity has something to
do with declining reliability, not just chez Mercedes.

DAS
--
For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
---

[.........]
.. Of course, Mercedes could also learn from Mercedes of the

...................