I had cause to visit my local Dodge dealer last week. My company was in need of Sprinter van, so I went up there to do the deal. As I pulled onto the forecourt, my senses were assaulted by a sinister looking monster that was all alloy wheels, Brembos and blacked-out windows. Behold, the Dodge Magnum SRT-8.
Using a mixture of begging, conniving and bribing tactics, I was able to persuade the salesman to afford me an unaccompanied test drive - given I'd just handed him an order for a $36k van, it would have been somewhat churlish for him to deny me.
I'll cut straight to the chase - and I'll also prepare myself for a barage of critiscism about how they don't go around corners, look crap, have cheap interiors etc.
My current ride is a 2000 C5 Corvette, with a quite chirpy 5.7litre LS1.
The SRT-8 is a balls-to-the-wall fire breathing maniac of a car. It is a somewhat 'roomy' estate/sport-ute, with a very high belt-line and low roof, giving it an almost 'chopped' look. Lurking beneath the hood is a 6.1 litre hemi V8 that delivers - get this, 425bhp. The example I drove also had a Corsa Indy cat-back exhaust system which made it sound like a competition car from outside (muffled burble on tick-over, rising to thunderous roar, on the inside).
This car is mental. It accelerates faster than my C5 and the surge is endless - it just won't stop increasing velocity. It's also a big car, so it doesn't feel floaty, or light at the front under large throttle inputs. It's accommodating for 5 adults, comfortable, has a superb tiptronic and is totally loaded. The brake upgrade is probably essential on a car of this size - and they certainly contained it's power. I didn't have much opportunity to get onto a more challenging road, but it seems planted - and has the usual electronic stability and traction controls - so I imagine it will be adequate, if not inspiring on a twisting road (the likes of which are hard to find here, sadly).
I must have one of these cars. The Corvette is a very, very nice performance package - but I'm swayed by monstrous horsepower and a degree of civility and practicality. Aside from the 20" wheels and the crackling exhaust, it's reasonably inconspicuous too.
...and the coup de gras? $38k and change - 20,000 quid. It has to be done!
