Hey gang. Just joined you guys/gals forum to learn about the Magnum. I want to buy my wife one so I have to at least read about them on their perspective forum to learn all of the quirks that will come with it. You all have a real nice and informative board here. I am no stranger to car forums for I've belonged to a few Lincoln Mark VIII and new era GTO boards. No magazine will ever give you the real nuts and bolts of any car like a forum will.

Anyways, I'm looking to get her an AWD to replace my pick up for when it snows and for the Lowes/Home depot hauls. I've always liked the Magnum Wagon from it's inception first in the R/T form and then of course in the SRT/8 model. She doesn't mind if I get her the 3.5 v6 but it's gotta be AWD.

I've read about common problems ie Transmission O ring fix and some suspension parts crapping out early and one mention of the AWD system acting crabby and something about water in the transfer case (that can't be common). Is there any thing else AWD related? I can handle a wrench but I'm not into tearing apart trannys. Once for wifey's Mark VIII was more than enough.

Also, What real world fuel mileage is the norm. for say a 3.5 v6 and 5.7 V8 AWD ?

Thanks for sharing.
Don.

 

Welcome, hope you find a nice one/ The AWD are rare up here in Canada anyways. Had mine about a week and love it!

 

I don't have an AWD, so I can't speak to any transfer case issues, but my '07 R/T has been dead stone reliable.

The "O" ring issue is a very easy fix and has probably been addressed already on any Magnum you'd be purchasing. There have been some problems with the front ends, however I don't know if the AWD has the same issues.

I drive mine almost exclusively in town and with the Hemi, I've been seeing around 14 to 16 MPG. On the highway, the HEMI's see significantly improved mileage because of the cylinder deactivation feature.

For town driving, the 3.5 will see better mileage, however on the highway, the gap closes up between the Hemi and V-6. Personally, I don't drive around with my hair on fire, but like having the extra power on tap if needed.

With the added weight and parasitic losses involved in the AWD system, maybe the Hemi would be a better choice, just a thought for ya.

 

Thanks Honu. That's an impressive review for the R/T. I had also forgotten about the cylinder de-activation feature for the Hemi's and make the R/T a viable choice for an AWD model.

Thanks again.
Don.