Stop buying SUVs, get a second-hand Dodge Magnum instead

I want to make this clear, I don't hate SUVs. Having said that, while I don't subscribe to the "all SUVs are s**t party", I certainly understand why people do, and I agree that SUVs are, for the most part, unnecessary and boring. And that's the biggest problem, if you ask me, most SUVs are a bit dull. That's why, instead of buying the next "mid-size CUV", you should consider a second-hand Dodge Magnum. Especially if it's the SRT model.

The Magnum was widely ignored when it first came out, and as a result, it depreciated like a piece of cheesecake in the Sahara and you can now get one for peanuts. It was based on the Chrysler LX platform but it bore the 'Dodge' name which, for some reason, is somehow more appealing, isn't it? In traditional Dodge style (at the time), it was only available as an RWD or as an AWD car and with V-shaped cylinder layouts: V6 or (HEMI) V8. And then there's the SRT variant.

Apart from being the perfect sleeper, the SRT was rare as Dodge only built 4,130 units in total between 2006 and 2008. Back when it was new, a Magnum would've set you back anywhere between $26-$36,000 but now you can get a second-hand one for as little as $4,000-$5,000. Even the SRT-8 model isn't that expensive, considering there aren't that many, available from around $15,000-$20,000 (if you've got time to invest in the search).

The cheapest version is powered by a 2.7 L V6 engine, putting out 190 hp, while the 3.5 L model delivers 250 hp. Both came with a dim-witted auto gearbox but we'll gloss over that. Alternatively, you can look for the R/T model, powered by a 5.7 L HEMI V8, delivering 340 hp. The gearbox was still an auto but it was a bit faster and a result, the HEMI Magnum did 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. In 2006, they began selling the SRT-8 model, powered by a 6.1 L HEMI with 420 hp and equipped with 20-inch wheels and Brembo brakes.

Inside, you'll find a cabin that's not as good as its German rivals at the time - if we're honest - A, because it didn't look as good and B, because it looked like it had been carved from a single block of plastic but let's be frank, do we really care?

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If you're in the market for a comfortable, spacious and fast vehicle, take a minute to look at some classifieds online. The alternative is yet another SUV.