When we last left off I was explaining about how I hate trying to purchase a new car from a dealership and that I was now in the hunt for the perfect used car. Well, this hunt has proved to be an interesting one, full of ups and downs. The first order of business was deciding on what type of car I was going to purchase, but to do this I needed to ask myself a few quick questions to justify my choice. I honestly believe that this is something everyone should do, as it not only makes the process easier, but in fact may open up some options that you (the purchaser), may or may not have considered.

Q. Do I really need a new car?
A. In my opinion, yes, as I currently drive a 1997 Mercury Villager Minivan with 133,xxx miles on it. The van itself is actually in pretty good shape, but as with most 12 year old automobiles, things are starting to go. Shocks and struts will need to be replaced soon, as will the tires and exhaust. There is some surface rust beginning to form on the hood and the interior is heading south as well. Keep in mind, it’s not terrible by any means, but with a vehicle of this age and mileage, one begins to wonder just how long it will go and more importantly – will it become a money pit. I’ve been down that road before and there is nothing worse than wondering “if” your daily driver is going to get you to the next stop. Plus, I’m 37 years old and have no kids, so driving a minivan is just… well… annoying.

Q. Needs VS. Wants
A. Ahh… the big question and the one that most people have the biggest problem with. First off, what do you use your vehicle for? Are you a soccer Mom/Dad? Do you live in a climate that warrants AWD or 4WD capabilities? Do you do track days? Questions like these will help narrow down your choices. Don’t go out and buy a new Corvette if you have 3 kids and live in Alaska, maybe it’s me, but this may not be the best choice. Look at the needs your new vehicle needs to fulfill before you plunk down those hard earned green backs.

My criteria was as follows:
1. Carry 4 full sized adults comfortably – I measure full size, by my size, which is 6′4″, 240lbs.
2. It needs to haul stuff around, i.e. boxes, luggage for road trips and the occasional car parts.
3. Needs to have a warranty.
4. Needs to go, stop and handle like a rock star, you know… just in case I decide to try and break the trans-continental record or something.

With these four obstacles addressed I was now on the hunt for my new ride. My preliminary list looked somewhat like this and these are all USED vehicles that I can still get a warranty on:

1. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
2. Dodge Magnum SRT8
3. BMW 540i Wagon
4. Dodge Ram Quad Cab SRT10
5. Subaru WRX Wagon
6. Chevrolet Trailblazer SS

After mulling it over and checking out all of the above I finally decided on a Dodge Magnum SRT8 and heres why. Keep in mind that I have seat time in all of these vehicles so this wasn’t a blind choice. The Jeep SRT8 and Trailblazer SS are both amazing vehicles, but didn’t make the cut because the ride of the Jeep is uber-harsh and price of SS’s (for the price I wanted to spend) did not coincide with my plan. The Ram SRT10 was simply too damn big and would’ve been a bitch to park in Queens. The Subie wagon was simply too small and the BMW… well, last year I got rid my E39 M5 and I just began to get those nickel and dime nightmares again, so it got the boot as well.

That left the Magnum SRT8. My introduction to this vehicle was actually on Lime Rock Raceway in CT, one of my students had one. At first I was a bit skeptical, but then I drove it and came away with a new respect for the SRT line. It’s VERY fast: 0-60 time is about 5.2 seconds, with 0-100 in about 12 seconds, a 13-13.6 second quarter mile, a top speed of 165-170 mph, a skidpad rating of .9 g, and a braking distance from 60-0 in around 110 feet. Ladies and gentleman, those are IMPRESSIVE numbers… keep in mind also that this is a station wagon and has almost 72 cubic feet of cargo space to boot.

Part Three of this adventure will go over the highs and lows of trying to find the perfect Magnum SRT8 – I’ll say this now… DO YOUR RESEARCH!! Stay tuned….