Used Car of the Day: 1989 Dodge Ramcharger

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

Today's UCOTD isn't a car -- it's truck. Or really, an SUV from the days when SUVs were big and boxy. Say hello to this 1989 Dodge Ramcharger.


The seller says it runs "great" but the A/C and the fuel gauge don't work. It looks fairly clean in the photos but not perfect, cosmetically speaking -- it is a little beat up.

Which is fine. We're not here to sell these cars -- we just pick stuff that we think you all would find interesting. I suspect you lot are the kind of folks who miss the old Ramcharger. So check it out.

Click here to learn a bit more about this Texas-based beast.

[Images: Seller]

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Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • Keith Keith on Sep 23, 2023

    Some of us appreciate sharing these finds. Thank you.


    I always have liked these. It would a fun work car or just to bomb around in. Easy to keep running. Just get an ignition kill switch and you would have no worries leaving it somewhere. Those OEM size wheels and tires are comical. A Juke has bigger wheels!

  • Wjtinfwb Wjtinfwb on Sep 25, 2023

    Poor cousin to the Blazer & Bronco that dominated this segment. The 1st Gen Ramcharger was a much better and better looking truck, with the 440 available and without the AMC Pacer style real windows. The Bronco and Blazer felt and looked much more modern and cohesive than the Mopar's, and that's not saying very much. Probably attractive to the Mopar faithful but for the rest of us... No thanks at any price.

  • Rover Sig 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, like my previous JGC's cheap to keep (essentially just oil, tires) until recent episode of clunking in front suspension at 50K miles led to $3000 of parts replaced over fives visits to two Jeep dealers which finally bought a quiet front end. Most expensive repair on any vehicle I've owned in the last 56 years.
  • Bob Hey Tassos, have you seen it with top down. It's a permanent roll bar so if it flips no problem. It's the only car with one permanently there. So shoots down your issue. I had a 1998 for 10 years it was perfect, but yes slow. Hardly ever see any of them anymore.
  • 3-On-The-Tree 2007 Toyota Sienna bedsides new plugs, flat tire on I-10 in van Horn Tx on the way to Fort Huachuca.2021 Tundra Crewmax no issues2021 Rav 4 no issues2010 Corolla I put in a alternator in Mar1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 280,000mi I put in a new radiator back in 08 before I deployed, did a valve job, new fuel and oil pump. Leaky rear main seal, transmission, transfer case. Rebuild carb twice, had a recall on the gas tank surprisingly in 2010 at 25 years later.2014 Ford F159 Ecoboost 3.5L by 80,000mi went through both turbos, driver side leaking, passenger side completely replaced. Rear min seal leak once at 50,000 second at 80,000. And last was a timing chain cover leak.2009 C6 Corvette LS3 Base, I put in a new radiator in 2021.
  • ChristianWimmer 2018 Mercedes A250 AMG Line (W177) - no issues or unscheduled dealer visits. Regular maintenance at the dealer once a year costs between 400,- Euros (standard service) to 1200,- Euros (major service, new spark plugs, brake pads + TÜV). Had one recall where they had to fix an A/C hose which might become loose. Great car and fun to drive and very economical but also fast. Recently gave it an “Italian tune up” on the Autobahn.
  • Bd2 Lexus is just a higher trim package Toyota. ^^
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