Dodge Magnum

Scuzi · 1 Mar 2006 at 21:05

After my previous thread about renting a car in Canada, I've managed to get a good deal on a Dodge Magnum. I've no idea about American cars so had a peek on the net. The thing looks bloody huge! I believe the one I'll be hiring comes with a V6.
Has anyone driven one? What's it like to drive? I'll be drivng from Toronto -> Florida and back in it with 2 other people. Is it a good car for cruising in? What can I expect from fuel economy?

Tell me everything you know about it, good an bad.

Thanks

Scuzi · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:04

Anyone?

lukechad · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:10

They are a super comfortable car with LOADS of room for all passengers. With it being america it will no doubt be an auto which means you wont really realise you have a 5.0 under the bonnet. We had one when we went to Florida and the miles soon clocked up on the thing, its such an excellent cruiser.
From memory the only fault we could find with ours was its colour, we had one in a horrible creme colour when we would have preferred black or something less ghastly.
In terms of getting used to my dad said you dont really appreciate the size of the thing as the roads over there are just as oversized compared to what you are used to over here

Not much else I can comment on really.

Pants · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:24

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/03images/la_srt8.jpg

They look sexy.

panthro · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:35

your driving from toronto to canada!?! good luck mate!! thats some serious mileage. Im sure you will enjoy yourself on the way.

SaBBz · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:38

panthro said:
your driving from toronto to canada!?!

Probably take no time at all

panthro · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:39

panthro said:
your driving from toronto to canada!?! good luck mate!! thats some serious mileage. Im sure you will enjoy yourself on the way.

Quoted for stupidity!!! lol.

I meant Toronto to Florida

Scuzi · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:40

SaBBz said:
Probably take no time at all

I'll be taking it to Florida and back over the space of about a week. It's more for the roadtrip experience than anything

Any idea of fuel prices over there at the minute?

panthro · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:44

atm a lot for americans due to the current oil situation....but it will still be cheap for you going from here to there!

lukechad · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:51

Its about 1/3 of the UK prices usually over there, but the cars will drink about 3x as much, so per mile you are looking at roughly the same as we pay over here

EDIT: http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/

Joe T · 2 Mar 2006 at 20:57

I think this thread needs Mickey_D.

Scuzi · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:01

lukechad said:
Its about 1/3 of the UK prices usually over there, but the cars will drink about 3x as much, so per mile you are looking at roughly the same as we pay over here

EDIT: http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/

Thanks! Those prices look good although I can't expect ultra economy. I suppose as long as economy doesn't drop too far below 20mpg it should still work out cheaper per mile than it does here.

:cool:

Chabsy · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:01

Are you ok to take the car over the border they can be funny about that?

lukechad · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:03

Chabsy said:
Are you ok to take the car over the border they can be funny about that?

Depending who he is renting with then you can pretty much drop the car back in any state (no pun there), We used Dollar rent-a-car when we were there and I am sure you could drop it in at any depo

Scuzi · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:07

Chabsy said:
Are you ok to take the car over the border they can be funny about that?

Yeah, it meant that the liability insurance was compulsory but I was going to take that anyway

geiger · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:09

How many miles is that

Scuzi · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:15

About 1250 miles each way. We might cut it short depending on time but as it stands, 7-8 days should be fine.

SaBBz · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:24

Sounds like an awesome experience. Have fun

geiger · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:24

Doesnt sound too much especially if you can share the driving ? Most Ive driven is about 600 miles in a day which wasnt that pleasant tbh (it only had 4 gears

), my main advice would be to take tiredness seriously though stray moose is probably your only real worry out there

Mickey_D · 2 Mar 2006 at 21:31

Petrol currently is sitting at $2.239/10 and $2.299/10 for regular unleaded. But that's in the States. Canada is quite a bit more expensive. Pick up the car in Toronto and drive directly to New York (or michigan) to fill up the tank. And on your way back you'll want to fill it back up again before crossing the border.

One thing to remember about renting in Canada and driving to the States is that the car's speedomoeter will be in kilometers. Not so much of a problem in Canada as everything is in metric up there, but everything is in miles down here. So hope you can do multiple conversions simultaneously on the fly....

I do believe the Magnum only comes with the Hemi V-8. Could be wrong and don't have the time to research. Even with the Hemi, it'll still get 20-25 mpg especially since you'l be doing mostly motorway miles.

I don't think you're leaving yourself enough time to do the trip, though. Toronto to Florida is one hell of a distance. Not one to try in less than two or three days unless you plan on only driving for your entire week.

One thing to point out is that if you rent the car in Toronto, you WILL NOT be able to turn the car in in Florida. Even if the company name is the same, they are different companies on either side of the border and the car CANNOT be left in the States, so you'll be doing the trip as a round trip........