I have both in my driveway.

Just bought the SRT and I'm selling the RT. You couldn't pay me to keep the RT.
Driving dynamics are totally different. As for the price, it's a bargain compared to what you would need to do to the RT to make it similar.

Let's take a quick look:

Front fascia bought and painted: 1000
Brembo Brake system: 3000 (conservatively)
20" wheels and tires: 2500
Engine performance: 2500 (just headers, intake and exhaust) making around 380 HP at the crank.
Rear end gearing: 1000
Seats and sport interior: 1500 (just a guess)
Suspension: 500 (also a guess)
Loss of warranty: ??????

That's $12,000 and that's not counting all the little stuff.

 

Here's my only knock on the Magnum SRT-8...why would anyone pay 40k for a performance station wagon. That's the thing that kills me. This isnt a Mercedes or BMW, it's a Dodge. I really do feel like this is overpriced. It's a great performance vehicle. I've driven an R/T, and was able to take a ride in the dealer's SRT-8. There is a difference and I'm sure people would want that. I just dont know that for the 40k, I wouldnt be better off going with a SRT-10 Ram.

Granted, not everyone wants a truck. I just dunno that the price befits the vehicle. If the price was say 29-32k, I'd go for it.

Before you respond, know that I think the Magnum is an awesome vehicle and that I do consider it to be the best model car made by Dodge currently.

 

Wow, for that price, I'd snag the SRT-8. My "local" dealer wants to gouge me for $46,670.99. Uh, I don't think so. A dealer that's about an 8 hour drive away will sell me the same car for $500 under invoice, which ends up being around $38800. I can buy a similarly equipped RT for $29,000.

Not to be argumentative, why is a performance truck any cooler than a performance station wagon? Each is equally dorky if you step back and think about it. And I can't imagine that an SRT-10 truck is any cheaper, and it's not even a 4x4. If I'm stuck having to have a practical "family" car, I want the coolest one I can buy! I'll pass on a BMW or Mercedes--they don't offer anything that is comparable that interests me.

It seems like vintage wagons are the *thing* right now. We bought a '67 Chevelle wagon at a yard sale and turned around and unloaded it on eBay for a significant profit w/o even washing it. Prices on vintage wagons are going thru the roof, in comparison to just a couple of years ago. I guess if vintage wagons are cool now, now ones are, too.

 

We all have our reasons for what we lust after, or what we buy. I have a Magnum SRT8 on order, to me it's a bargain. I want a sleeper, you know................. like a '69 Dodge Dart with a big block....... the unsuspecting racer. I am not one to buy a vehicle that I don't love, this fits the bill, practical, beauiful, and extremely fast. A different driver buys an SRT vehicle, just like the driver that buys an M5 or a CTS-V, performance beyond what is standard. I can't wait to go beyond the SRT standard, and push the limits of the car, headers, exhaust, intake, injectors, maybe a supercharger. These are things I would do to any vehicle I would purchase, the SRT just gives me stronger base to start with.

Also, here in Canada Magnum SRT8's range from 52K-58K. Signifigantly less that comperable European vehicles previously mentioned.