Cheapest Used Dodge Cars - Caliber, Magnum, Charger

Dodge is a company with quite a broad product lineup, and as a result at the lower levels of their pricing structure there are some interesting vehicles to be found. While the standard compact cars are still well represented, base models of some of the company’s larger sedans are also quite affordable, leading to some tough choices for those shopping for an inexpensive new car.

Of course, the question becomes even more complicated when recent used cars are brought into the mix. Not only are used cars almost always priced significantly less than their newer equivalents, but many times buyers find themselves able to shop for a higher trim level than they would have been able to afford new. The fact that many used cars are also available with the balance of the factory warranty transferable to a new owner makes most buyers pause and consider whether they really want to pay a premium for the simple privilege of being an automobile’s sole proprietor.

Dodge’s least expensive vehicles are split between a full-size sedan and wagon and a compact wagon that incorporates styling cues from a wide variety of different vehicle types. This article takes a look at each of these automobiles and compares them against used examples from a few years previous to see just how much of a factor depreciation has played in terms of reducing prices. By taking into account the changes in features and specifications from year to year, buyers can decide for themselves whether a new or used vehicle presents the best value.

Since the price of a car or truck can vary to a great degree depending upon where in the country it is being sold as well as how well it has been maintained, the prices encountered on dealer lots could very well be different from what is discussed here. The numbers listed in this article are intended as a general guideline, and should generally be taken to represent vehicles with low mileage in excellent condition.

2007 Dodge Caliber versus 2009 Dodge Caliber

The 2009 Dodge Caliber is positioned as the company’s least expensive vehicle. With a sticker price of only $16,840, the Caliber combines the practicality of a wagon with the tall ride height of a crossover SUV. The base Dodge Caliber provides drivers with a 148 horsepower, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine along with a 5-speed manual transmission. Equipment is sparse, with cloth seats, 15-inch steel wheels and a CD player the only real features. Even the rear brakes make do with drums instead of discs in an effort to cut costs.

The Caliber was an all new vehicle for 2007, replacing the venerable Neon as Dodge’s entry-level offering. There are virtually no differences between the 2007 and 2009 base models – the same engine and equipment level are found in both vehicles. When it comes to pricing, while there is a gap between used and new it’s not all that large – a 2007 Dodge Caliber with fewer than 17,000 miles showing on the clock can be had for around $11,000 dollars. While a savings a $5,000 is nothing to be sneezed at, neither is it impressive.

The real value when it comes to shopping for a used Dodge Caliber is uncovered when higher trim levels are taken into account. The all-wheel drive 2007 Dodge Caliber R/T, which also features a more powerful 172 horsepower 2.4-liter engine and a continuously-variable automatic transmission is priced roughly the same as a new base model. A low-mileage R/T makes a substantial upgrade over the entry-level vehicle, particularly when considering the fact that it adds cruise control, leather interior trim, a tighter suspension system and much nicer wheels.

Frugal shoppers are much better off spending their hard earned cash on the feature-rich 2007 Dodge Caliber R/T and leaving the austere 2009 base Caliber sitting in the dealer showroom.

2005 Dodge Magnum versus 2008 Dodge Magnum

While discontinued for 2009, the Dodge Magnum is still being sold as new by dealerships as a 2008 model. For around $24,000 this full-size wagon comes equipped with a standard 178 horsepower, 2.7-liter V-6 and a 4-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel disc brakes, air conditioning, power door locks, power windows and cruise control help to make the base Magnum a very comfortable place to spend some time. The wagon also features an extensive amount of cargo space, on par with many sport-utility vehicles yet without the same gruff styling or ecological impact.

The 2005 Dodge Magnum is for all intents and purposes the same car. The 2.7-liter V-6 engine is rated at 190 horsepower, but this is due to changes made in the SAE rating system a few years later, meaning that it produces identical power to 2008 edition. The vehicle also shares the handsome, chopped-top styling of its newer brother, and the standard features do not differ in the slightest. Price-wise, the 2005 Magnum seriously undercuts the newer vehicle, with excellent examples to be found starting at around $11,000. In fact, if buyers are willing to take a slight hit on fuel economy, it is possible to pick up a barely-driven, all-wheel drive edition of the 2005 Magnum that features Dodge’s 340 horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 for only $15,000 – a savings of almost $10,000.

For wagon lovers on a budget, the 2005 Dodge Magnum holds much more value than the 2008, particularly when taking into consideration the fact that it is the final year of production. Muscle-heads will also appreciate being able to score such a potent vehicle for next to nothing, and they will enjoy the extra creature comforts that come part and parcel with the Hemi R/T package.

2006 Dodge Charger versus 2009 Dodge Charger

The 2009 Dodge Charger is the company’s flagship sedan, and it is available in a wide range of different trims. The base Charger is priced at $25,285 and is powered by the same 178 horsepower, 2.7-liter V-6 engine as the Magnum. A 4-speed automatic transmission handles gear changes, and buyers are treated to keyless entry, power mirrors, windows and door locks and air conditioning, along with a CD player. The Charger is not overflowing with luxury equipment but it is far from barren and provides drivers with the majority of the features expected in a full-size four-door vehicle.

The 2006 Dodge Charger leapt out of the gate as Dodge’s first rear-wheel drive sedan in many years, and its arched front headlights and vaguely malevolent front end styling match that of the newer vehicle. The vehicle’s engine, transmission and interior features match the 2009 model, and the cars are impossible to tell apart from either the inside or the outside. Prices for the 2006 Charger are higher than those for the slightly older Magnum, indicating how much more accepted the sedan was by consumers versus the wagon. This is not to say that there still aren’t respectable savings to be found: a 2006 base Charger can be picked up with around 30,000 miles for only $15,000.

When it comes to the Hemi-powered Charger R/T’s, the situation is a little bit different. In order to slip behind the wheel of a 340 horsepower beast, buyers will have to pony up between $18,000 and $20,000. This is still at least $4,000 below the cost of a 2009 base model, and the good news is that these vehicles are plentiful in the secondhand market. While the price difference between new and used entry-level Chargers is clearly biased towards the older edition of the vehicle, deciding whether to pick up a more expensive V-8 Charger is more a function of personal taste than ruthless economy.