I got a call from a dealer that I test drove the Magnum rt at a while back. He told me they had the awd that I was interested in on the lot. The sticker on it is 35k and only had the sunroof extra!! The original RT that I drove with the navigation system and everything but the sunroof is still on the lot and selling for 26k!! I am sure its racked up some test drive miles though. Anyway, the awd rt really impressed me. I expected it to be heavier and more sluggish. Boy was I wrong! It felt quicker and sportier all around. Since my Expedition was just totaled, I think this is going to be its replacement. I can think of another truck/car this size that I have ever enjoyed driving.

By the way, I have not even seen a test on the AWD version and was suprised they had one so quickly He said someone ordered it and then changed their mind and got a rwd instead.

 

Before you buy the Magnum RT AWD, drive a $37K Nissan Armada SE 4x4. It burns 87 octane, gets 18MPG in mixed driving and actually has a more refined drivetrain than the RT - once you get used to loud exhaust note. It has a nice airy interior with great visibility, sharp handling and a non-clausterphobic greenhouse. The huge mirrors are great in traffic, while the standard back up sensors work great for parking. Compared to an Expedition, driving this beast is easy. Compared to a Magnum RT AWD, you don't lose much (if any) performance or fuel economy with the Armada. I couldn't care less about the 3rd row bench, but at least it can stay hidden.

Personally, I liked the Magnum RT I drove. I could get past the delayed throttle action and too soft suspension and some cheap trim pieces, but the horrible rear visibility and limited cargo capacity kept me from buying.

 

Don't lose performance?!!?? How does a 15.5 second 1/4 mile full size SUV compare in performance to a much lower riding stationwagon that runs low 14's??

The AWD Magnum gets better gear ratios to compensate for the extra weight/drag of the AWD-train. I'd expect it to run ~14.4's in the 1/4.

Falchuck even mentions it feels as quick or quicker than the 2wd version.

 

Go for it. That is one of my favorite cars at the moment.

 

Good to hear. As a SUV owner (and hater) and a hater of minivans - when it comes time for "soccer mom" in several years I'll be going after a wagon. Every good word of the magnum brings good hopes the segment will be much stronger when I have to get one. An AWD wagon sounds awesome...

 

just found this link on autoweek and thought i would post it up here for ya falchulk


http://autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101219

 

Thanks for that, good read. I know its got to be slower then the rwd magnum but damned if it did not seem to pull much harder. I cant wait to see some numbers that dont have (est) next to them.

 

Despite weighing half a ton less, not to mention the higher HP and torque ratings, the Magnum RT just doesn't feel much quicker than an Armada. It doesn't stop all that much shorter, it doesn't have that much more cornering grip and the onset of body roll seems to come sooner. Considering that the Armada has more has Land Cruiser levels of offroadability, it's stunning how well this thing moves.

I hope they did change the gearing and shift programing, because I spent way too much time roaring around in the lower gears with the RT. The RT is a quick car by any measure, but the engine electronics need alot of tuning.

 

redzed forgot to mention that the Armada suffers from Nissan's quickly falling quality/reliability (something he always seems to mention if reviewing an American product) and the fact that the Armada is simply one of the ugliest SUVs ever (still short of the Aztek however.) I'm wondering how many would cross-shop a sport wagon with a Hemi and a hulking SUV based on a full-size pickup chassis anyway....

 

I'll make it simple for ya falchulk.

Tall truck-SUV with high center of gravity and ho-hum power=Armada.
Low slung wagon with one mother of an engine=Magnum.

If you want an odd looking SUV=Armada.
If you want Darth Vader as a station wagon=Magnum

Magnum-Good. Armada-very bad.

 

They need to slap a Radix blower on an AWD Hemi Magnum. This car I would sell a lot of my guns to buy.

 

I just wish GM would come out with an LS1 based wagon. Until then my next vehicle is going to be a Magnum.

 

1. I wonder if guionM has ever driven an Armada?

2. The Hemi is powerful, but the interaction between the throttle and transmission are annoying.

3. That "low slung wagon" isn't going to be very good in a blizzard and won't be able to venture very far off the pavement.

4. The Armada is "odd looking," but it's not as if the Magnum isn't.

5. The Magnum is good. Probably the best domestic-badged non-sedan product at the moment. For the money, the Armada is better.

 

1. As if Chrysler's reputation is something to brag about....or even Mercedes?

2. The Canton, Mississippi plant where the Armada was built was de-bugged pretty quickly by Nissan management.

Ugly? Sure, what big SUV is pretty? It's also big, powerful and handles like a champ.

I did.

 

Fact of the matter is:

redzed talks up all these "great" products, and puts down all these other ones... yet no product since GM's 1996 Chevy Camaro has been good enough to get him to part with any money.