HELP! Magnum Owners or Magnum Drivers!

[Herb Jenssen]

Yeah, it's me again. I need help! As everyone knows who has followed my posts I'm having issues with the performance and tow package on my Magnum.
This post concerns performance.
I brought the Magnum back to the dealer in Baton Rouge last Monday for further evaluation.
They gave me a Toyota Rav 4 for a loaner!!
Anyway, The service manager called me Monday evening and said they checked the throttle range and everything checked out. He said he also tried out the Magnum RT that they have and it seemed to perform just like mine.
He said he could not get the tires to spin on dry pavement with the ESP off on thiers either. I said well, I guess you have TWO with problems and I told him what the Chief Engineer for the Magnum and 300C told me (See Happy Herb's Update).

Here is where I need your help.

I would like everyone who owns a Magnum RT, 300C or who has tried this when they drove one to let me know what happened.If you haven't, try the following:
I would like you to do this on dry pavement. NO BRAKE TORQUING! Take the ESP off and punch it from a dead stop and let me know what happens as far as wheel spin goes. 0 to 60 times would also be nice. By the way, the chief engineer said all the 0 to 60 times are done with the ESP on.
I will post the name and number to the service rep later this morning and I would like everyone to call him and tell him your results on my behalf.
It's 03:00 and the number is out in the car. I'm up this early because I can't sleep thinking about this.
I thought I was going to get some help from this Chief Engineer because he told me he would and voiced his concerns.
So far, according to the service manager no one has called him about my car.
I've only talked to the Chief Engineer once. I've talked to his wife twice who was reluctant to give me his work number (can't blame her).
I called again last night but received their recording and I left a message to call me back. No call!
When I did talk to his wife she told me her husband has waited a long time to design these Hemi rear wheel cars.
She even told me there must be something wrong because she has a 300C and has no problem getting the rear wheels to spin anytime she wants them to.

I tried searching for a 300C site like this. I found a lot of places talking about them, even a Corvette site, but nothing like this one.
If anyone knows of one please send the link.

Well. I think I'll jump back in the rack!
Later
Herb :help:

[WumpscuT]

If you can't get the service you want, can you go to the news to see if they can help? If a manufacturer claims certain figures about a certain product, and yet your product doesn't perform accordingly, and if the manufacturer doesn't correct the problem, then i would suggest looking up legal information in your state to see if there are any "lemon" laws. In Florida, there is a law that if a new vehicle is in the shop for a certain amount of consecutive days, or in the shop repeatedly for the same problem for a certain amount of times, then the dealer must either refund you or give you another vehicle equal to the one you have.

If all else fails, get an attorney...

Basically, know your rights.

[Herb Jenssen]

That's how I got Chrysler to even call me. I threatened to call the local TV channel help department.
It looks like I still might wind up there.
Later
Herb

[Unholy]

Here is a nifty little device to check your stats on your car....

http://www.gtechpro.com/

I plan on placing it on my vechicle when its delivered to the dealer and before I take possession.

[Mischief]

Just wanted to let you know Herb, I can spin the tires from a stop in mine.

[Mischief]

What you really need to do is take the thing to a shop with a Dyno. That's the only way you are really going to find out how much power it's making. I know that the Baton Rouge area has a pretty large F-body population (Camaros, Trans Ams), so there should be several places you can go. Dodge claims 340bhp, which is crank hp. Figure somewhere in the neighborhood of 20% loss to the wheels on an automatic transmission. So, you should wind up with around 270hp to the wheels. If if's less then that, I would say you are having problems.

[drdeville]

Hey Herb,

I hope you have your car sorted out! :party:

What's your 0-60 time, flooring it from a dead stop?
You'd give us all a useful data point.

You may not have any recourse for being unable
to spin your tires, but you probably do if your car
doesn't meet Dodge's 0-60 spec. :tup:

Good Luck,

George Ferguson

[Herb Jenssen]

I really could care less about spinning the tires. I just wanted to know if any one else could do it with their Magnum or 300C.

so far I've tried two Magnum RT's and neither one could.

The best the Area service Rep and Service manager could do with mine and another RT was 7.1 seconds no matter how they started.
Later
Herb

[drdeville]

Hey Herb,

Thanks for the data point. 7.1 seconds 0-60?
Hmmm... that does sound a little slow.

It seems to me that, in terms of making sure
your car is up to snuff, your only recourse is
Dodge's published specifications for the car,
such as horsepower, torque, and 0-60 times.

In terms of HP, I did a little clicking around,
and could not find a manufacturer's 0-60
specification on the Dodge site. Does anyone
know if there is one, and what it is?

If there isn't one, you're stuck with HP and
torque, as Misschief suggested. I know Mustang
Cobra owners were able to get satisfaction from
Ford when their cars did not meet HP specs.
Dyno time, perhaps?

A couple of other thoughts. I heard a rumor
(maybe here) that the 300c / Magnum engine
computers reduce performance until the break in
period is complete. Can anyone confirm or refute this?

Also, due to torque peaking at high rpm and a
low numerical rear end, these cars are not known
for neck-snapping (or wheel spinning) grunt.

To quote NewCarTestDrive.com 's review
(a site which uses reputable reviewers):

"Even with all that power and torque, the acceleration isn't neck-snapping; the Magnum has a very tall final drive ratio of 2.82, which is great for gas mileage and quiet running, but tempers acceleration. There were times it felt like it had 340 horsepower, and times it didn't. There were more times that it didn't feel like it had 390 pound-feet of torque, which might be because the torque peaks at a relatively high level, 4000 rpm. With torque peaking at 4000 and horsepower peaking at 5000, there's a relatively small area of maximum happy performance for such a big engine. We're not complaining, merely lamenting what could be. And no doubt will, with aftermarket tuners."

By the way, they loved the car. :tup:

The best suggestions I can offer are to find another owner and
compare cars (which won't cut any ice with Dodge, but would
show you whether or not your car is slower than some), or stick
it on a dyno (which would give you hard data you could take to
Dodge).

Regardless, I hope you get this sorted out to your satisfaction,
and enjoy your fine car! :D

Best,

George Ferguson

[davidl13]

i too am not getting the performanc i expect...or that i think are the published specs...

keep me in the loop on what you find...

David
david@puresound.net

[earthdoc]

Guys,
First and foremost, please realize that the performance with the Magnum and 300C will not be off the line. Yes, it feels a little week there. A straight drive would probably cut .4s off of the Magnums 0-60, maybe even .6. Basiclly with the 2.82 gears, the car is not an accelerator. Dodge advertises the car as a sports tourer. Take the car on a few windy roads, ie. the mountains and you will REALLY appreciate the Magnum. Especially if you utilize the autostick. Come up to a curve in 3rd. Drop to 2nd as you enter the curve. Punch it at the apex and now you get to feel what the Magnum is really all about. Hey and the straightline performance aint bad either.

If you really want the straightlie stuff, get about $5K out and wait a couple months. Once the superchargers are out, this will be the way to go.

Bottom line, the Magnum Rocks. I have had alot of new cars, but never one that turns heads like this one.

-Mel :cool:

[Herb Jenssen]

Unholy,
I tried the G-tech and the Passport timer.
I prefer the Passport. It's much easier to use and you can read it better.
Later
Herb

[hemibass]

dam a 2.82 rear end and with 18in tiresu will need a lot of power to get it going

[Herb Jenssen]

Earthdoc,
What your not taking into consideration is the 1st and 2nd gear ratio that the Magnum and 300C have.
They may have a 2.82 gear but times that by 3.59 for 1st gear and times it by 2.19 for 2nd gear.
You won't find very many vehicles with that 1st and 2nd gear ratio.
So, it all comes out in the wash.
My opinion, I think it should have better performance from a dead stop!

P.S. What did you mean by straight drive??

Later
Herb

[earthdoc]

Herb,
By straightdrive, i meet if they were to put a 6 speed manual in the car, then it would kick as off the line. Keep in mind that the automatic is controlled by the computer. This affects the ability of the engine to spool up faster. If it were a straigh drive, you could spool up the revs and release the clutch, resulting in more aggresive off the line launches. To be comparable, go drive an automatic Mustang Cobra vs. a straightdrive Cobra. Considerable difference. Basically with automatics today in any manufactured car, you will find that the off the line performance is not as exacerbating (did i spell that right) as you want it to be. The manufacturers know what they are doing to protect the tranny to prevent warranty claims. Also, like i said earlier, take to car through some curves and use the autostick. Here, the computer is programmed to be more responsive the the drivers patterns. Hence, the name Sports Tourers.

Anyway, i also agree that i would like more punch off the line. You can do some things, exhaust, mod chip, etc. as they come out, but if you want a kick in the pants with the automatic off the line, then get out your checkbook once the superchargers are out. I think the whipple chargers will be the way to go, especially for off the line.

Thanks,

Mel

[RedRam20s]

What altitude are you at?

[rampower]

I had the Autostick in my Intrepid and it is not the same as a stick. Even in Autostick mode, the computer regulates when to shift into another gear. It will not allow the rpm's to get too high or too low.

[hemibass]

a auto cobra they did not build any but i know what u mean

[earthdoc]

:rck: RamPower,

Try out the Magnum Autostick. We had (3) 300s at work and i thought it was more of a gimmick. With the Magnum they must have done their homework, because it rocks. If you drop down, it will not drop too harshly and it will compensate and still shift up it it feels that you are not powering it throug the gears.

No, it's not a stick, but its pretty much the best of both worlds. If I'm in traffic, i don't have to worry about premature knee replacement surgery.

-Mel

[six pack]

I tried a 300C and it would not spin the tires without braking it first.

[magnesium]

Hey Herb,

I live in Baton Rouge and have an R/T. Call me and we can talk.

445-3329

Andy

[gcox]

I haven't done any 0 to 60 tests but have had it up to 125. It sticks to the road like glue. Now I said that to say this, According to all of the articles I have read everyone agrees with different tires the hemi should burn em off,
i.e. the touring tires that come stock on the Magnum are hard to break lose.
When I left the dealership while turning onto the road I did get some squall.
Now does anyone know what the top end on this sled is? Its supposed to do
0 to 62 in 6.3 ( 62 corresponds to 100 kmh on the speedo).
Happy motoring.

gcox

[gcox]

Stood on the gas this evening, no smoke but a most satisfying squall.

I’d rather have a bottle in front of me then a frontal lobotomy!

[BlanchMan]

Rampower,

The autostick in the Magnum and 300C are completely different than the Intrepids. The Intrepids is a chrylser design, the Magnums/300C is a mercedes design. Completely different.

The main reason to use the autostick is to get the transmission to either hold a gear while driving in the twisties, or to allow you to tach out each gear during hard accelerations. Try it in those modes.

That's about it.

[BlanchMan]

Oh yea, tried full trottle acceleration from standstill. ESP on. Small spin. The road was a very smooth road. Actually, it was the dealers lot. Was showing off a bit. I think they liked it.