2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 First Drive

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Introduction

2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 - First Drive: In North America, consumers think of station wagons in a "mom running to the market" kind of way. That is until now. Dodge, with its Street and Racing Technology (SRT) group, is injecting more performance and excitement into everything it touches - including the Dodge Magnum.

Chopped, dropped and channeled, the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8's rumble reverberates in your ears long after the engine is shut down, its source one of the coolest station wagons you've ever seen. When you hear this Magnum's exhaust note, you know there have been a good number of modifications performed under the hood, and you're right. This, quite honestly, is the most impressive station wagon we've driven in many miles. It may not possess the sophistication of a European sports wagon, but who cares. In fact, after a few short minutes behind the wheel of the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8, we forgot all about those wagons from across the Atlantic.

The SRT-8's power would have been enough to inspire desire just a short few years ago, but today a vehicle must deliver more than straight-line performance. And deliver the Magnum SRT-8 does. This car is more than just powerful - it handles well, and the surprising thing is that it's not a custom hot-rod hopped up on aftermarket parts. You can buy the Magnum SRT-8 directly from your local Dodge dealer.

Model Mix

In the SRT lineup there is just one version of each model, at least for right now. The way Dan Knott, director of Street and Racing Technology, and his team play the game, just about anything can happen and usually it does - to the great delight of enthusiasts. We sure haven't been disappointed by what has emerged from behind those SRT garage doors.

All SRT vehicles are aimed at one thing: Performance. To create the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8, engineers made a gamut of changes over the base Magnum but with the understanding that drivers have to use these vehicles on city streets, and that most SRT owners generally drive their cars more frequently than buyers of other high-output vehicles. You see, SRT contends that its customers are driving enthusiasts, not car collectors.

The 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 falls right into the profile of the SRT philosophy. It's an exciting, responsive automobile with the drivability of a traditional family car, but with the performance and handling of a sports car.