Thanks again for the REALLY good responses. This is great to be able to bounce this stuff off car owners even before I make a commitment.

We're still going to give the SE a test drive when it becomes available, but I'm pretty sure we'll end up with the SXT. It really makes sense now about the SE simply being a fleet type unit - good for rentals or whatever. The thing that was confusing me was the salespeople I've been talking to. All of them tell me there's no problem with the SE. Now I think they were just seeing a person to pawn-off the bottom model too.

Cheers,
Tilt

 

I totally agree - the SE was struggling hard to keep up with my demands, I drove the SXT every week for a couple of months, waiting for my RT to come in and I gotta admit, it's really a sufficiently powered car with the bigger v6 in it. I can see that turning into the 'company-car' standard in a year or so.

But the RT was what I was after - I've always said that 'too much is never enough' and the Hemi is almost 'too-much' sometimes.
But my last tank of gas was 20.2mpg, and if you knew how long my foot was down deep into the throttle for that tank, you'd be impressed too...

Mike

 

SXT, if not the Hemi.

Get a squirrel and a Running Wheel if you are going to get the SE, you will need the extra power to get it going.

But wait, you stated that you will have children in this car, didn't you? Wouldn't you want your car that is going to protect your family in a serious car accident to at least have enough power to get you out of harms way? No way would I jeopardize my family in a sub-standard vehicle. No amount of money could pay for them. Protect your most valuable investments (your family). Get an RT with all of the Safety Options. You will not be disappointed...

 

Well...I'd sure love to pick up an RT....but at $40,000 plus (Cdn).....it ain't gonna happen!! Most of the Magnum RT's at the dealers around my area are about $45,000 (plus 7% goods and services tax) Canadian.

It's going to be a small stretch for the SXT (30 grand plus Cdn). I'm still kinda young, and don't have a lot of disposable cash around. The safety of my family is certainly front and center. One of the main reasons we're looking to get the Magnum is for the larger vehicle size. The Magnum will be a lot safer than our Mazda Protege 5. I'd love to be able to transport them around in a tank......but unfortunately I have to think practically.

Gas is also quite expensive here (even though the damn stuff is made in our back yards!!!!).

This is why I'm doing all this research before I sign on the line. I don't make a practice of getting something I don't need.

Tilt

 

Awesome, Tilt....

That is the name of the game... Do the best you can with what you've got. Seems to me you have your priorities straight, and with the Magnum (RT anyway) weighing in at 4,100 Pounds (not sure of the STX weight) you will not be all that far off from the tank you had mentioned. And you are absolutly right about the Magnum being a safer car. It is surrounded by a lot of metal and is WIDE. Good luck with whatever decision you choose, but let us know anyway, so we can raz you for not getting the RT. [8D] (just kidding)

 

LOL!!!

Ahhh.....and the hazing has begun!!

Will advise when the Red SXT is sitting in the driveway.

Cheers,
Tilt

 

Hey Tilt, I can tell you from my test drive of both the SE and the SXT I noticed a huge difference in the power and I understand that not being a need but I feel much better when I need to get out of the way of a car and I step on the accelerator and it goes. I Love my SXT and don't regret the extra money I spent to get it and I really didn't spend that much on my SXT. I got mine for just under $24,000. I am not complaining with that price tag. That's TTL included. I hope you get a chance to test drive the SE just for your piece of mind but ultimatly I feel you will buy the SXT. Goodluck and happy test driving.

 

Considering the Ford Explorer which was the best selling SUV for many years was only available with a 160 HP, 4 speed drive train. The Explorer had slightly more torque. However for me nothing like a AWD RT fully loaded. Quite a bargain at $34K (including finance discount) loaded except for sunroof compared to other vehicles out there. Just wish the SRT-8 was AWD I might have gone for it. If I can't afford the RT, I might suggest you buy a used 05 RT.

 

A very good suggestion....

....however, with the car being only a few months old, there are a scant few around my parts. Let alone used ones for sale.

The other thing is financing. I'm in my mid-thirties, with a young family, and I'm a 'one-man-operation' in my contract drafting business. Business is good, but there's not a lot of cash laying around these days. Actually the only reason I'm looking at a more expensive car (like the Magnum) is that my Mom wants to give me some money towards a new car. Sounds pretty funny eh? Mommy's buying me a car!! But it's because she helped out my brother a few years ago with a bunch of money. Now she wants to even it up. So she told me she'd help with a monthly payment on a nicer car to transport her little grand-kids around. Who was I to argue?!

Normally I'd be looking at a car about 10 Grand cheaper (in the 20 Grand range - Canadian), but I'm sick of driving compact imports types that would get wiped off the planet in a collision with all the SUV's and trucks around here. So with Moms help, I get to do something that I didn't think I'd be doing for another decade.

So that's why I'm not real worried about the RT. The SXT will be more than enough to make me happy.....and keep my family safe.

I know some folks here have been saying that the Hemi will give them the power to get 'out of the way' in a situation. I can honestly say, I've never come across a situation where I needed to jamm on the gas to avoid something. I consider myself a pretty good driver. I've never been in an accident (touch wood), and I've put on many miles so far in my life. Not to say that it can't happen, but I just don't know where having a Hemi is going to save me from an accident. Good awareness of my surroundings, and proper driving has kept me in good shape......so far!!

Thanks again for the input. All this discussion is certainly giving me peice-of-mind that I'm heading in the right direction. I'm still going to try an SE (just for giggles), but I'll be starting my SXT hunt soon.

We have 2 Dodge dealerships here in Red Deer. Then there's about 3 or 4 others within an hours drive. It'll be a challenge to find a good place that will be willing to work with us. One of the dealerships here in the city is not known for there friendliness. The will cater to the folks that they have tons of bucks in the bank.....but the rest get the 'nose-up' treatment. The other dealership isn't a lot better, but they seem to have trouble showing knowledge of their products.

It's going to be a challenge.....but we're ready for it. We have the luxury of time on our hands. We're in no BIG panic and can wait until the right car (and deal) comes along.

Cheers,
Tilt

 

Hi Tilt,

I've also been sitting on the Magnum sideline waiting to see if the 2006 SXT includes the Mercedes 5-speed automatic, since I believe this combination would give good reliability, acceleration, and fuel economy. The news is the 2.7l SE will be discontinued in 2006, so Dodge might offer a 3.5l SXT package with more of the RT features like 5-sp transmission, larger brakes, and anti-sway bars, as well as a bare-bones 3.5l package for fleet sales.

I agree with the experts on the forum, the current SXT with 4-sp does not offer much better fuel efficiency over the RT.