75% of truck owners tow 1/year or less?

[Too many Kubotas]

IIRC, you have a Hellcat, so no way I'm going to give you a hard time, for your choices. But speaking personally, if I were aiming to buy small-displacement AWD, no way on earth it'd be anything with a Dodge badge. The only thing they had going for them was the 6.4L and 6.2T motors, really no other reason to even consider that brand, IMO.

Fair enough, but I don't lust for more power when driving the V6s. Alright, I definitely have to budget for spending a much longer time in the opposing lane when passing someone, but other than that I think they're just fine power wise.

As I recall, they're as quick or quicker than the coveted Challengers from the first go-around. Is it more fun to have an extra 490 or 400 hp? Absolutely! But on the other hand, the V6s corner a bit better.

Isn't there some junk food outfit that claims that you can't have just one?

 

[Too many Kubotas]

If they'd made an AWD version of that with the 6.4L Hemi, or even the 5.7L Hemi, it'd have been a killer kid hauler.

I'd also take that one over a Durango, but after seeing how teeny the drivetrain parts are on the AWDs, I'm surprised that they hold up to a V6.

Of course, I'm also thinking that a Dana 44 is about right for a 60 hp Jeep.

 

[WinterDeere]

Isn't there some junk food outfit that claims that you can't have just one?

That's the problem!

My wife went thru a period of getting a new car every 6 - 24 months, just a long string of unfortunate circumstances, where she totalled quite a few cars in a row. Anyway, one of the half-dozen cars she owned in that run was an Audi A3 2.0T, and I absolutely loved driving that little car. Unfortunately, when we had our first kid, we found it just about impossible to get a baby carrier seat in and out of its small back door, so it eventually had to go.

I was really looking forward to replacing it with another sporty Audi, but in a mid-sized wagon body, like an A4 or A6 wagon. But stupidly, they didn't offer manual transmission or their highest-horsepower engines in a wagon in the USA, because "Americans don't want manual transmission." They basically forced us to switch brands, since my wife would only consider manual transmission.

Point being, if I were going to buy another small-displacement wagon, it'd almost certain be Audi, BMW, or Volvo over Dodge. I love Dodge for their high-horsepower large-displacement engines, and very little else. I do worry about the future of this brand, as I really don't think there's any reason left to ever buy a Dodge, with the discontinuation of these engines.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I was really looking forward to replacing it with another sporty Audi, but in a mid-sized wagon body, like an A4 or A6 wagon.

Okay, if a manual was a must I guess that ruled out the RS6 Avant.

That thing was right up there with a 911 Turbo S, I think. No, not mine, but my girlfriend sure liked hers. Until she traded it in.

 

[Renze]

I thought the 5.7 Charger AWD was just the police interceptors?

Saw this "practical" truck on Marketplace. View attachment 1666409

The 2.4 was an IDI naturally aspirated engine with 80hp. Even the Germans find it dead slow... The 2.5 TDI in 130 or 150hp trim would be a better pick to take overseas..

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

I think that is the case in more recent years. But when I was shopping Chargers in 2016, I do recall a 5.7L AWD option. Can't remember if they sold it under the usual "R/T" badge, or some other, but there did seem to be some 5.7L AWD option available to the general public back then.

I've posted this one before, some fanatic's personal concept car, but I really do wish Dodge had made something like this. I'd have bought this over the Durango, as my wife's daily driver. IIRC, it was a 2015 Charger SRT 392 front end. If they'd made an AWD version of that with the 6.4L Hemi, or even the 5.7L Hemi, it'd have been a killer kid hauler.

View attachment 1666412

Looks like a Magnum.

 

[WinterDeere]

Looks like a Magnum.

Yep. That's basically what the guy created, a 2015 or 2016 Magnum, custom body work.

Dodge never made a Magnum in the 2015-and-up (gen. 7.5?) body style I showed above, nor did they ever make a high-HP AWD variant.

They did have a 425 hp RWD version using the old SRT-8 motor, which must have been one heck of a sleeper, after mom drops the kids off at school. That motor was later upgraded to 485 hp for 2015 and later, in the Charger, but the Magnum was discontinued by then.

Related to towing and the topic, we actually do use our wagons for towing, as my racing boats are quite light, even on-trailer.

 

[paulsharvey]

This new Toyota Corolla pick-up has to be a joke? Not that the vehicle looks bad, or doesn't fill a role; but if you are making a small car based truck, the Last thing on earth you would do is give it the same name as a tiny compact entry level car.
Be about the same ad if GM released a Maverick counter, and called it the Geo Tracker or Geo or Metro.... anyone lining up to by the brand new Chevy Cavalier truck...

 

[tacticalturnip]

The Subaru Baja really was before her time.

 

[Renze]

This new Toyota Corolla pick-up has to be a joke? Not that the vehicle looks bad, or doesn't fill a role; but if you are making a small car based truck, the Last thing on earth you would do is give it the same name as a tiny compact entry level car.
Be about the same ad if GM released a Maverick counter, and called it the Geo Tracker or Geo or Metro.... anyone lining up to by the brand new Chevy Cavalier truck...

The VW Caddy Mk1 pickup has a cult following here. Not that theres anything in the bed of them, ever...

VW Caddy Mk1 Buying Guide

If you're after a retro Volkswagen with a hint of commercial practicality, the Mk1 based VW Caddy could be the car for you. Ever popular, but not always well treated make sure you read our buying guide before you make a move you might regret.

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