If your recollection of the family station wagon is a huge slab-sided behemoth often with fake wood applications and a chrome luggage rack that carried all the kids, camping gear, luggage, toys and just about everything else, you're in for a surprise with the 2005 Dodge Magnum RT.

Magnum is the new full-size replacement for the for the Dodge Intrepid (can you even picture what the Intrepid looks like anymore?) with rod-and-custom looks like a styling project out of Orange County Ironworks from Discovery Channel's hit show "American Chopper."

Magnum's "chopped-top roofline", huge 18" wheels, lowered stance, dark glass and long hood behind the bold Dodge truck grille all contribute to the muscular look of the performance "Mopars" of the '60s and '70s. This is not your father's station wagon!

The Dodge Magnum is the first cousin of the also-new Chrysler 300 series; both debuted in April. Both vehicles have enjoyed phenomenal sales success since their introduction.

Driving the metallic red Magnum RT about Phoenix and a trip to Tucson turned many a head. "That thang got a Hemi?" Of course the answer was a visual giveaway with Hemi badging on both front fenders, rear tailgate and telltale rumble from the twin chrome exhaust pipes. Sweet!

The heralded Hemi V-8 with 340 horsepower and tire shredding 390 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm is all the buzz these days at Daimler-Chrysler. Lest you worry about drinking gas faster than the pump can provide it, the Magnum comes with what Chrysler calls its Multi-Displacement System, MDS for short, where an unusual feature shuts the fuel supply off so only four cylinders are employed at cruising speeds. It happens seamlessly and I couldn't tell when it activated or disengaged. Fuel mileage is rated at 17 mpg city and 25 highway.

But not all Magnums are of the Hemi variety. The base SE ($21,870) is equipped with a 2.7-liter, 190-horsepower V-6 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. It's nicely equipped with air conditioning, power windows and locks with remote entry, AM/FM/CD audio system, tilt-telescoping steering column and 17" tires. All Magnums are rear-wheel drive standard with AWD optional on SXT and RT.

The SXT ($25,370) comes with a 3.5-liter V-6 that puts out 250 horsepower, and uses the same four-speed transmission. Added equipment for the base price includes ABS with brake assist, traction control and electronic stability control. It also includes aluminum wheels, power driver's seat and a cargo cover. Because of the added safety features I recommend skipping the SE in favor of the SXT or RT.

The RT ($29,370) gets the 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi and a five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick. The RT adds to the SXT features leather seating, 18" polished wheels, dual exhausts, fog lights, and a Boston Acoustics premium sound system.

The Magnum is built on a 120-inch wheelbase, nearly seven inches longer than Intrepid. The ride is firm but certainly not uncomfortable. There's power to spare with the Hemi but Magnum isn't the sharpest handling vehicle. There's noticeable body lean when pushed into a sharp curve or corner, but overall it handles nicely given its beefy weight of 4142 pounds. The transmission is smooth and the huge four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes were excellent. Overall the driving experience was surprisingly refined given its relatively low price.

Inside, the Magnum is simple yet attractive with four white faced dash gauges trimmed with a stainless trim ring. All the knobs and controls were easy to use and adjust but the radio was more complicated than necessary. The dash is simple in appearance without looking cheap. Interior legroom is huge both front and back. Magnum does not offer third-row seating.

Because of the sloping roofline, visibility out the rear side windows and narrow rear window limits vision from the driver's seat and takes some getting used to. Most ingenious is the way the one-piece tailgate opens. The top of the tailgate extends about two feet into the top, which allows you to stand close to the back of the car when opening it up.

The Hemi Magnum was one car I didn't want to stop driving. While the styling might be too aggressive for some tastes I love the look and thoroughly enjoyed my week behind the wheel. It's remarkably quiet, smooth and roomy. In seems to be the kind of car you'd expect Paul Sr. from American Chopper to drive.

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