where's the awd love on this forum?

[rascal1984]

Hello All

I bought a 2005 Magnum RT AWD full load 4 years ago. We have 5 winter months here and all imaginable weather (snow, ice, storms, -30's, wind and rain). Love the way this car handle, never got stuck in snow and I start faster than anybody else cause I kept the original size winter tires (when you have wider tires, like big RAM'S and SUV's you tend to slip more having more contact with the snow or rain). I remember in a heavy snow storm on a double lane flat highway near Ottawa, Ontario, in February you could not see more than 30 feet in front, everything white all over and holding the track at 40 miles an hour. Only an Escalade passed me by on that strip at about 50 miles an hour. What a scene, like heaven to drive the car but scary to hit the ditch.
I Had only few troubles. The front suspension is fragile on these cars and we have rough roads here. My car have 80 000 miles now and I replaced both front tables and linkage (600 $ each table + workmanship). The Boston acoustics sound system wit 6 CD player works fine but the screen display does not work anymore. A specialist told me that Chrysler use to sell a computer chip part to replace de defective one, but now it is no longer available and you have to replace the whole thing (1 400 $ for a rebuilt and trade in your old one with only 3 months warranty, what a scam). So I bought GPS at 200 $ and manage to have my controls set up before the screen went black out completely.
Some other minor things has electric control for window opening and those windshield washer sprayer have to be replaced on the hood (cheap plastic).
This is the first car that I would like to keep for 15 to 20 years or more. Before I had a Dodge Nitro RT. Was fun to drive like a Jeep, but Magnum is lot more comfortable and fast. Still is roomy. I slept in camping in the back (I'm 6 foot 1 inch) and being comfy. Carried, wood, trees, composter bins, bicycles in it.
I check the value on the Black book and it's holding it. I paid 15 000 can $ 4 years ago and value now is 11 000 $.
I know that maintenance will be going up in the future. My mechanics told me that the catalyzers converters on those cars are worth 1 000 $ each and their is 2. We don't have environmental check-up here for old cars (yet) but for some US states and provinces that could be an issue.

Have a good day all Magnum lovers

Rascal

[J-Dubz]

Love my Magnum! I rescued a 2005 AWD Magnum RT. I almost bought one of these before I got my Jeep.

I got the Jeep instead. Drove that for 15 years, went cross country several times. But a deer killed it.

This was right during the chip crisis when there weren't many cars. I really wanted a Magnum. but, I'll only drive an AWD car. So, I kept searching, till I finally had to give up.

I ended up with a Honda CRV-EXL AWD. It was a toy. So, I kept searching. and finally found an AWD Magnum that wasn't all rusted out. and I found it. It needed some work to get it mechanically sound.

But she's on her way. She purrs like a kitten. Rubber has been replaced. Shocks this weekend. Brakes will be after that.