I can guarantee here that a number of people reading this car-ticle will disagree with me on a number of my choices for what should be considered Dodge cars that are worth every penny and Dodge cars that just are not even worth a dime. I know this. And I am sorry to say that I can't please everyone but I will say that my basis for each choice, whether good or bad is pretty solid based on reviews, ratings, and performance...and looks too, to some extent.

There are some Dodge cars here that people may not even recognize. A good part of the reason for that is that they went out of production years ago. That might have something to do with why they may not be worth a dime. That being said, there are some older Dodge cars that are certainly worth every penny. Ultimately, it really does depend on many factors, car to car.

All I can really say is that no matter how much any one person here may fawn over this Dodge or that one, some readers will be very happy and others will be upset. But I just can't help the fact that Dodge has been all over the place when it comes to reliability and worthiness for buying a car. Just remember that these outcomes are on them. Just make sure to get your money back if they really spun you with one of these cars.

25 Worth It - The Ram

This is probably the prized possession of Dodge right now and has been for years. The Ram has long been one of the best-rated trucks in the world (under the Ford F-150) and in terms of reliability and just outright ability, this truck is probably at the top for best Dodge purchase around. A forum reviewer left this comment about the Ram: "It is big, and if you want "Smart Car" economy.....well you can put a Smart Car in the box." It's a truck...no one is expecting the best gas mileage.

24 Not Worth It - The Caliber

I actually really wanted this car to be worth the money. I have only ever driven one of these one time in my life and I have to admit, it was fun. It had unsuspected pickup that almost got me pulled over. It was great. But even though it's a cheap machine to find these days, the mechanicals of this machine are so difficult to find and weed through that people have trouble finding anything under the hood for maintenance. Not to mention that both comfort and handling are cut back pretty heavily.

23 Worth It - The Rampage

Here is Dodge's version of the Chevy El Camino, and I have to say that it is certainly worth every penny. There is something about the Rampage that really does look fierce (even while it looks ridiculous). It sports a flatbed, mild hauling ability, great mileage, and no computers...which pretty well means that the enjoyment of this car is between the driver and their ability alone. Sure, it really does look kind of silly, but given the ratings and reviews, sorting the pros and cons...this is worth every penny of the likely $2,000 one will spend.

22 Not Worth It - The Challenger Demon

I know people are really not going to like this but the Challenger Demon is just not worth the money. Sure, the Demon comes with a V8 that rides with the power of over 800 horses. That is a lot of power. It really is. But...when is any regular Joe going to use those horses? This car costs over $80,000 but the base model Challenger costs less than $30,000 and still boasts over 300 horsepower. The base model is enough to brag about. Why waste money on this?

21 Worth It - The Magnum

I know the looks are a little weird, but try and think of it as an adapted and modernized Chevy Nomad...but with a Hemi under the hood. This car is surprisingly powerful, has plenty of space, and is variably cheap, with a price tag that jumps between $6,000 and $13,000. That might seem like quite the range but this thing can also be bumped from 180 horsepower (without Hemi) to 425 horsepower (obviously, with Hemi). All in all, this car is worth the money.

20 Not Worth It - The Grand Caravan

This big piece of machinery, while it does have removable seats (depending on the model) for seating kids or for making storage space, is ultimately way too pricey for what buyers get. Starting at $24,000, the buyer can have no features and a pretty lousy ride. Or they can spend up to nearly $40,000 for the best ride...or just buy a Dodge Sprinter and turn it into a family camper that can be taken down to use for storage when needed.

19 Worth It - The Durango

Sure, this car can be pretty pricey, there is no doubt about that. But it's all about what one is getting with that price. This car has been ranked in the top ten when talking about best mid-sized SUVs. That's got to count for something. Perhaps the worst review out there for this machine is that Dodge lied about the gas mileage, which does tend to be poorer than they claimed. Beyond that, however, the lively Durango is among the top choices for those who drive Dodge.

18 Not Worth It - The Intrepid

There are a lot of happy customers out there when it comes to the Dodge Intrepid...but that is only because they have not owned it long enough. The ridiculous number of reviews posted on Repair Pal about this car is staggering. The biggest issue (aside from having to replace brakes, fuel lines, transmission, heads, windows, and compressors on a regular basis)? It seems that most people who have a complaint about this car have just had the engine kick out on them. That's it. Done. While driving. No thanks.

17 Worth It - The Diplomat

Someone could get their hands on one of these for under $3,000 now, at the high end of a buy. It was never a pricey car to begin with, either. And even though it is kind of a boat of a car and the handling and fuel economy feel that to some extent, this car is probably more reliable than the Dodge Caliber and could probably beat the Dodge Intrepid in a race (but maybe only because the engine would give out in the Intrepid).

16 Not Worth It - The Challenger Hellcat

Here is the thing with any Challenger past the base model...unless someone is actually looking to race the thing, there is really no reason to buy something being dragged along by so many horses. Over 700 horsepower and a price tag of over $60,000 is, I guess, cheap when it comes to finding a car to race, but if we're just talking the looks of a Challenger...the base model is half the price and half the horsepower (which is still a powerful car but still more expensive than a base Mustang).

15 Worth It - The Dakota

One of these can be had now for somewhere between $10,000-$15,000. That's not too bad for a light-hauling truck. It handles great for a bigger vehicle and there are really only two complaints across the board about this thing. First, the fuel economy isn't wonderful but...it's a truck. And secondly, everyone wishes that this would have come as a 5-speed for more "oomph!" Instead, it remained at the 4-speed transmission mark for a long while. Considering the price for space, capability, and handling, though? I'd take it.

14 Not Worth It - The Journey

When a car goes for anything between $7,000 and $17,000...there has got to be incredibly varying degrees of something wrong with it. To the point that I think it might not even be worth the journey (pun intended). A lot of people love the look and the power of this car...but the downside to those two things, according to Car Gurus, are poor brakes, big blind spots, a loud drive on the highway, and...well, if that is not enough to dissuade someone from buying, then I don't know what is. Doesn't seem like the safest of cars to me.

13 Worth It - The Charger SXT

First of all, the base model for the Dodge Charger is under $30,000. This already beats the R/T by quite a few grand, even though this means foregoing the Hemi. The Charger has been rated number one as best full-sized sedan before and there is a reason for that. This is very much a U.S. car. It is a muscle car that can still support a family but also get wild when it needs to. That being said, those who want their cars to do all the work should not get one of these.

12 Not Worth It - The Lancer

Yup, that's right. The Dodge Lancer. Not the douchey Mitsubishi. Though that being said, one would be better off getting the Mitsubishi Lancer over this thing. Back in the 60s, it might have been a good car, but this 80s version is not worth the few pennies someone would ask for today. I think the best way to sum this car up is to quote a Dodge forum reviewer. "Saw 132 mph on the digital speedometer before it stopped working."

11 Not Worth It - The Nitro

I actually ride to my teaching job at the local college in one of these every week. Thankfully, it's not mine. Sure, this thing has got some power to it, and that's great. Most Dodge cars have at least that going for them...but when one is driving a big box that can't handle well and is poor on gas...what's the point? Not to mention that this car is only a few steps removed from the ridiculous Chevy HHR in terms of looks. And that is just sad.

10 Not Worth It - The Omni

Here's the thing, this might be a Shelby car but it is certainly no Mustang and the look of this thing is just silly. Not to mention the fact that there was pretty well no power to the Omni. It was great on gas, so that is a plus, and there was plenty of room in the back. But when the biggest issue in reviews is that fact that it's just really not something even the owners want to look at...it's probably best to find a newer and better-looking car that will be cheaper, and without the Shelby claim on it.

9 Not Worth It - The Shadow

Well, here's the thing about the Dodge Shadow. Aside from the fact that it looks ridiculous (like most cars out of the 90s), this thing is just not built right. It's got poor fuel economy even though it is so tiny, and because it is so tiny, not even kids can fit in the back seat (that's right, there is a backseat in there somewhere). It would be cheaper, in the long run, to buy a newer car that is better on gas than to spend $2,000 on a used Shadow...and then throw money in the tank every two seconds.

8 Not Worth It - The Stratus

"...in the first year the wiring to my brake light has failed, the wiring for my passenger door window and backseat windows have failed, it is sputtering, I have no heat, it keeps overheating. It has gone on me a couple times. This is literally a throwaway car. You can drive it for a year then it is literally dying. I will probably never buy a Dodge anything ever again." That's a healthy review of a car one should not spend any money on, I would say. Many thanks to Consumer Affairs for that one!

7 Worth It - The Challenger SXT

This is the Challenger that everyone should buy if they are in the market for one anyway. The Hellcat and the Demon are just wastes of money. They really are. Aside from the fact that this is at least half the price of the either of the other two, this is better on gas, won't go through tires as quickly, and already comes with over 300 horses to power it. Why anyone would need 700 or 800 for at least an extra $30,000 and then never actually use the power is beyond me.

6 Not Worth It - The Viper

I know people are going to be mad about this one, but it is true. There is a reason why the Dodge Viper was discontinued...more than once. No one in their right mind would waste money on this. Sure, it looks amazing. But posters are way cheaper. The average price of this car is $142,000. That's already almost double the Challenger Demon and with less horsepower (though with a V10). Cheap interior and a lower stature that is asking for rocks to scratch the kit make it nowhere near worth the money. Just go get four Mustangs and race with some friends instead.