Review coming soon!
RNR Automotive Blog
Just another car guy talking about cars.
Tag Archives: dodge
2005 Dodge Magnum R/T Review
Dodge’s lineup in the last ten years included cars that bear no similarities with cars of the same name back in the ’70s. Examples include the Charger, Dart, and this Magnum. The Magnum back in the 1970s was a coupe that was produced primarily to compete in NASCAR, and its production run lasted only two years from 1978-1979. The Magnum were also rebadged Dodge Darts sold in Mexico and Brazil during the 1980s. In 2004, Chrysler (Dodge is owned by Chrysler) launched the 300 sedan. After the 300 debuted, Dodge followed up with a wagon version of the 300, the Magnum. This was a bold move considering America is biased towards minivans and SUVs as family vehicles, more so the latter. Growing up, the only wagons that I have seen in my life were Subarus and German makes. Personally, I think wagons are cool, and logically, they use less gas, are better to drive and they’re just cooler. Sadly, my tastes are in the minority as I also don’t wear Sperry’s or drink Starbucks or eat Nutella, so of course the general American population goes for SUVs. Even though the Magnum was derived from the 300, it was made to look like the Charger which came in 2005 as a 2006 model. This makes sense because the Charger was a twin of the 300. The Magnum came with an array of powertrain options mirroring that of the 300 and Charger’s including a V6, 340 horsepower R/T, and a 425 horsepower SRT version. This is my first time I have reviewed an actual wagon, and quite a wagon at that.
2012 Dodge Challenger R/T Review
Seeing how the market reacted to the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang in the 1960s, Dodge went to work at developing a rival. In late 1969, the Dodge Challenger and its twin, the Plymouth Barracuda were introduced. Their advantage over the aforementioned Camaro and Mustang was that they both could be ordered in numerous trims and options with any engine from Chrysler’s lineup (Dodge and Plymouth are owned by Chrysler). Plymouth positioned the Barracuda against the Camaro and the Mustang while the Challenger rivaled luxury muscle cars such as the Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird. It sold well but there was one caveat: timing. These two muscle cars rose to prominence as the muscle car segment declined, not to mention there was the oil crisis shortly after. Discontinued in 1974, the Challenger was revived not as a muscle car, but as a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant Lambda. Unsurprisingly, this Challenger was discontinued in 1983. As the 2004 Ford Mustang restarted the pony war, Dodge revived the Challenger. This time, it would stay true to the 1970s Challengers and Barracudas.
2013 Dodge Dart Rallye Review
Despite the current Dart, it was not always a modern compact sedan that was based off an Italian model’s chassis. Rather, in the 1960s, it was a lower priced alternative to the Dodge Charger and Challenger. Then in the 1970s, as the U.S experienced an oil crisis, the Dart became a compact. In 1976, the Dart was discontinued. Dodge’s entry into the compact car market was the Neon. The Neon was successful due to its mix of youthful styling and decent driving dynamics. Then came the disappointing Caliber hatchback. Rushed through development, the Caliber was of poor quality and felt underdeveloped. As Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep went under Fiat’s control, work was being done on the Caliber’s replacement. Using the chassis of an Alfa Romeo Guiletta, the rejuvenated Dart combines American styling and European handling. Continue reading
2005 Jeep Wrangler X Review
“I caught her topless”
The Jeep Wrangler originated from the military vehicle, Willys Jeeps. Willys made a civilian version of the Jeep dubbed the CJ. In 1986, Chrysler (owner of Jeep) replaced the slow-selling CJ with the first mass market Wrangler. This Wrangler became successful and a symbol of American pride. The Wrangler was seen as a car which you just simply enjoy life in. No wonder the Wrangler has appeal as a midlife crisis car for some people. It was unique due to its off road ability, retro looks, and overall cool factor. The fact that you could take the doors and top off didn’t hurt either. The Wrangler was redesigned in 1997, and that is when the Wrangler really took off. Building on the older Wrangler’s traits, it was more comfortable, faster, and bigger, but still retained its off road prowess.
2009 Dodge Charger SE Review
Disclaimer: This car is not stock. Upgrades include rear spoiler, powder coated wheels, black plastidip door handles and door bumpers. black front grill, SRT bumper, CCFL Halo headlights, and Flow Master 40 Series exhaust. This Charger is rental car spec, meaning it comes with a 2.7 liter V6 not included in the non fleet Chargers.
You wouldn’t believe it from looking at this car, but its history goes way back to late 1960’s. The first generation debuted in 1966 as a version of the Coronet. It wasn’t until the next generation in 1968-1970 that the Charger name garnered fame. Showcasing distinct styling cues such as the “coke bottle” styling (the side looked like the side of a coke bottle) and the menacing grille with hidden headlights, not to mention it had the power to match its aggressive looks, the sales took off. This generation became the most famous Charger of all time, helped by its appearances in Fast and Furious series, Dukes of Hazzard, and Bullitt. When you think of a classic Charger, you think of this generation. Sadly, this iteration was the Charger’s peak. As the years passed, the Charger transformed from an iconic muscle car to a front wheel drive hatchback in the 1980s. It wasn’t until 2006 that Dodge had the courage to revive the Charger name. For the first time, the Charger was a four door sedan. The Charger and its twin, the Chrysler 300, were built off the platform of Mercedes E Class, promising better refinement and driving performance than what is normally expected of Chrysler and Dodge vehicles.
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