3rd dealer...3rd try

[Hothonda]

I give up....

Yesterday visited another SRT Dodge dealer w/ a 2014 GTS in stock ( has had for a while). It's sitting on it's own SRT
rubber mat with multiple signs that say "DON'T TOUCH THE VIPER". Also has a second stick w/20K ADM. Asked the salesman what the deal was with
that & he replied with a smile "worked last time".

No test drives allowed. Business has not been great according to the group of employees following me checking the Viper out.

The thing I don't get is if the dealer could never get another Viper ever, maybe these tactics would work with somebody, but when
you can get another & another & another why worship the inventory?

After 3 pretty much identical recent experiences w/Dodge dealers - it's precursor for me of what the service end of ownership would be like.

Dealers are more geared for Duck Dynasty relatives to jump on $60K heavy duty Rams v selling SRT Vipers.

It's over.

[ViperSmith]

It is a sad fact, that these dealers are selling something outside their ability. But, it happens in other brands too. Audi won't let you drive an RS5, Nissan a GT-R (at least locally to me...) - just what happens when dealers sell something out of their league. I don't understand why either. So what if you crash the car, you have insurance. Put some miles on it? When they are giving $10k off sticker, who cares about 20 more miles.

Where do you live? SRT has been getting around this garbage by having drive events around the country. Owners of V's have let others drive their cars to give a whirl.

I will say my local dealer(s) are the same, but I've had great experiences with service.

[City]

Do you need to test drive in order to purchase? We've got several excellent and honest dealers that will help deliver exactly what you want for the best price.

[Timnineside]

Hothonda,

I can can see where your coming from however the opposite of this would be why do you need to test drive it? It's obviously a Viper and you know what the car is and what it is capable of. You're buying brand new and the car has a warranty. If you want to drive one and you're willing to spend the cash look up some more reputable dealers (supporting vendors here) and give them a ring. I bet for the right price you could fly there, test drive, ship home and get a better experience while still ending up spending less money then if you purchased locally. However keep in mind you'll have to take the car to your local slime-ball dealership for service if needed.

Something to think about I guess on your end. No dealers in my town would know the difference in a 94 RT to a 2014 GTS so I don't have this dilemma.

[City]

You might inquire with the folks in the Washington region about getting a drive.

[Hothonda]

Do you need to test drive in order to purchase? We've got several excellent and honest dealers that will help deliver exactly what you want for the best price.

Before I would step up, need to drive a car....Did this w/my 991, multiple NSX's, BMW's etc you name it...never a problem ever. This is ridiculous.

Thanks

[XSnake]

Before I would step up, need to drive a car....Did this w/my 991, multiple NSX's, BMW's etc you name it...never a problem ever. This is ridiculous.

Thanks

Viper has double the power of all of those.

In this day and age you can search dealer inventory across the entire country. Find something you are seriously interested in and go look at it. You show up from out of state I guarantee you can get a test drive. They know you are serious then.

[6th-Element]

There is a point where you must face reality.

Vipers have NEVER been test drive cars, period.

You would be hard pressed to find a single Viper owner, that bought a Viper new, that test drove the car.

Local to me, even a sales manager of a huge dealership drove a new 08 Viper directly across the street from the dealership right into a telephone pole and wrote off the car, just showing a customer that HAD BOUGHT IT what it could do.

This is not what you want to hear and we all know that other dealers will let you drive whatever, Porsche, Aston, Jag etc. Hell my local Porsche dealer lets me have service loaners that are worth way more than a Viper, but, once again, reality check, those cars all have Nannies on them and the dealerships all have insurance and those are the main cars they sell.

[Hothonda]

There is a point where you must face reality.

Vipers have NEVER been test drive cars, period.

You would be hard pressed to find a single Viper owner, that bought a Viper new, that test drove the car.

Local to me, even a sales manager of a huge dealership drove a new 08 Viper directly across the street from the dealership right into a telephone pole and wrote off the car, just showing a customer that HAD BOUGHT IT what it could do.

This is not what you want to hear and we all know that other dealers will let you drive whatever, Porsche, Aston, Jag etc. Hell my local Porsche dealer lets me have service loaners that are worth way more than a Viper, but, once again, reality check, those cars all have Nannies on them and the dealerships all have insurance and those are the main cars they sell.

Reality is, I don't need a car that bad....like my Wife says "there's always another car".

Who knows maybe in 2015-2016 it will be a completely different program?

This is only for fun, but I put 11K on my Porsche having fun last year.

[ViperSmith]

There is a point where you must face reality.

Vipers have NEVER been test drive cars, period.

You would be hard pressed to find a single Viper owner, that bought a Viper new, that test drove the car.

Local to me, even a sales manager of a huge dealership drove a new 08 Viper directly across the street from the dealership right into a telephone pole and wrote off the car, just showing a customer that HAD BOUGHT IT what it could do.

This is not what you want to hear and we all know that other dealers will let you drive whatever, Porsche, Aston, Jag etc. Hell my local Porsche dealer lets me have service loaners that are worth way more than a Viper, but, once again, reality check, those cars all have Nannies on them and the dealerships all have insurance and those are the main cars they sell.

Which is part of the reason why the '13 and '14 are rusting on dealer lots.

"Reality check" - this is 2014 and the competition the Viper is up against will let people test drive their cars. If SRT dealers refuse to let people get behind the wheel, they won't move them. If people get behind the wheel, they will buy them.

Just because some of us are crazy enough to buy without a test drive doesn't mean everyone is.

If I wasn't in love with getting the car myself and I couldn't have test drove it, I wouldn't have bought it. If I am dropping $100k+ (hell even a lot less than that) I want to drive it. Exotics allow for it, so should Dodge. (And note, exotics don't always have to, seeing as they are sold out for years)

[Brian GTS]

I think part of the problem is there are just not enough cars to go around. This is a LOW VOLUME which means a lot of these dealers only get one or two cars. A lot of people will want a "new" un-driven car. If they allow test drives, that is more detrimental to the sale of the car since they only have one or two and there will be a lot of "tire kickers". Sure, a Porsche or BMW dealer is more apt to allow test drives as they are much higher volume cars.

Now if dealers had a half dozen on the lot, I would think they would use one for demo purposes, but this is not the case.

I think SRT had the right idea in the beginning when they provided Red SRT "Track Pack" Vipers for dealers to use as a "demo".....so the Porsche, BMW, Vette guys could get a "taste" of the car....but that was short lived and now they are producing LESS cars.

Maybe the Viper will only ever be an "Enthusiasts" automobile. I don't know. As long as they are able to produce it and still be profitable, it wouldn't bother me. I LOVE the Gen V. No test drive needed....ever.

[99RT10]

Ringgold Dodge is selling out all their Vipers. They have a clearance going on. They will even let you sit in one.

[Hothonda]

Now I'm pretty much burnt out on this whole Viper thing....but here's a quick story:

In 1994 a good friend bought a new NSX in Portland, OR & kept urging me to go drive one. Told him no way I want one of those Japanese POS &
besides the local dealers had them roped off - "Do not touch BS" etc., EXCEPT one local Acura dealer had 4 of them sitting outside in front. 2 red & 2 black.

Saw them, had some time, stopped, salesman said "let's take one out" -went for a test drive. Great car and drove one home that night.

That's not all though...bought 4 more new ones up until 2005 when Honda quit making them & have purchased a total of 21 Acura's from this dealer
in 20 years - mostly MDX's.

Most Dodge dealers don't get it & probably never will.

[Nine Ball]

One-way plane tickets are cheap. Find a dealer willing to work with your requests, and take a short trip. I've bought/driven cars from several different states, those were always my favorite drives home.

[johniew398]

I'm glad most dealers don't let people test drive them. I would hate to buy one where just anyone was allowed to test drive it; but that's true with any vehicles
I've purchased except a demo.

[Whitemamba]

Now I'm pretty much burnt out on this whole Viper thing....but here's a quick story:

In 1994 a good friend bought a new NSX in Portland, OR & kept urging me to go drive one. Told him no way I want one of those Japanese POS &
besides the local dealers had them roped off - "Do not touch BS" etc., EXCEPT one local Acura dealer had 4 of them sitting outside in front. 2 red & 2 black.

Saw them, had some time, stopped, salesman said "let's take one out" -went for a test drive. Great car and drove one home that night.

That's not all though...bought 4 more new ones up until 2005 when Honda quit making them & have purchased a total of 21 Acura's from this dealer
in 20 years - mostly MDX's.

Most Dodge dealers don't get it & probably never will.

Now let me ask you this, "If you were selling your car, would you let anyone come to your house and drive your new NSX?". Well you might but then again you might not unless you had some idea on whether not the person was just some person out for a joy ride. Now think about this when it comes to pre-judging "If you were to try and pre-judge someone before you let them drive the car, then you might be setting yourself up for a lawsuit. In this day and age, lawsuits are started for less. All it takes is a person to come in and get a test drive and then refuse the next person simply because you think they might not qualify.

Now if you were really wanting a Viper, you would buy one. If you wanted to ride in one, you might try contacting one of the local clubs to see if one of the members would give you a ride. As for driving one, driving a Viper is not like driving an NSX. The torque of an NSX topped out at 210 whereas the 2013 Dodge Viper starts out at around 350, at the wheels that is.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Reality is, I don't need a car that bad....like my Wife says "there's always another car".

Who knows maybe in 2015-2016 it will be a completely different program?

This is only for fun, but I put 11K on my Porsche having fun last year.

Hot Honda

I'm in the Pac-NW and have owned 15 Vipers. (Prior was Porsche, Lotus, Jags, etc etc) I am also a PCA instructor, Audi, Viper, and LamboNW.

Beside the fact that PNW COLD temps are not conducive for a newbee-test-drive.......

I never test-drove ANY of my new Viper purchases beforehand. And I flew 1500 miles to see my first one in 1992 and they would not even let me SIT in it ! (6'3" concern) 98% of Ferrari / Lambo owners don't test-drive either. FordGT? Ditto. I just helped a TX guy snag one in Pac-NW BC. No test drive.

Please do NOT be turned off by the power-trippin salesman who can never hope to own one. And please do NOT just use the showroom experience as weekend entertainment and sour-grapes posting.

If you do buy a G5 Viper, you will find yourself 'invisible' in your Porsche and invincible in the Viper!

PAC-NW? I can probably help you get a test drive/ride OR/WA. If you are near Portland-Vancouver area, 100%.

Your audience here are owners who WANTED a Viper after Porsche/Vette, etc.... and were realistic about how to make that happen. If that's you, please email or call me. I have helped over 200 people buy their first Viper.....

Jon B 360.837.3937 JonB@PartsRack.com

[Hothonda]

Mods please close this thread....thanks!

(BTW, It's not about the NSX, it's the experience)

[slitherv10]

NSX's have 270-300Hp and the Viper has 640HP. I think allowing every Tom Dick and Harry (no pun intended) to test drive such a car would only get them in hot water.

Usually a good manager/owner/salesman can pick out a fudd. If your serious they'll know it. If they still don't get it, then you find one that does take you seriously.

If though you are out just to be able to say you've driven one and want to just experience one, then don't blame them for doing what they do. Not saying this is the case with you, but, show them some serious drive and I am sure they will oblige.

I know when I went to buy my first Twin Turbo Porsche years back, they did not take me seriously and no test drive until I put down a refundable deposit which showed them I am serious. Its like when you put an offer for a house, they want to see a deposit first before even entertaining your offer.

Maybe that can be something the dealers could do

[ViperSmith]

Now let me ask you this, "If you were selling your car, would you let anyone come to your house and drive your new NSX?". Well you might but then again you might not unless you had some idea on whether not the person was just some person out for a joy ride. Now think about this when it comes to pre-judging "If you were to try and pre-judge someone before you let them drive the car, then you might be setting yourself up for a lawsuit. In this day and age, lawsuits are started for less. All it takes is a person to come in and get a test drive and then refuse the next person simply because you think they might not qualify.

Now if you were really wanting a Viper, you would buy one. If you wanted to ride in one, you might try contacting one of the local clubs to see if one of the members would give you a ride. As for driving one, driving a Viper is not like driving an NSX. The torque of an NSX topped out at 210 whereas the 2013 Dodge Viper starts out at around 350, at the wheels that is.

Seems to be working great for sales this year.

You guys don't get it for people outside the "Gotta have one now" crowd.

[VENOM V]

If I were a dealer in it for the long term, I would designate one Viper for test drives. Then sell it at a demo discount at the end of a model year or two, and do it again.

I agree with the OP and ViperSmith. We the hardcore fanatics didn't need a test drive, but most buyers do.

But as others have posted, if you really want the car and are serious just call around until you find a dealer that will give you a test drive. Pre-negotiate the price over phone, fly out there, test drive it, buy it.

[ViperGeorge]

I agree with Honda. You should be able to test drive a car, even an expensive one. I once went to an Aston Martin dealer in New England. Drove there in my 2001 Camaro SS. I was looking at a brand new 2003 DB7 GT. $170,000. Guy says do you want to take it for a drive? I say sure. I went alone. I come back and he says if you want to take it overnight let me know, you could bring it back tomorrow. I didn't need to. I bought the thing on the spot. There is no way the guy could have known I was serious. I mean I drove up in a Camaro. He didn't care about the mileage either. Warranty started when I bought it not when the odometer said zero.

[ViperSmith]

If I were a dealer in it for the long term, I would designate one Viper for test drives. Then sell it at a demo discount at the end of a model year or two, and do it again.

I agree with the OP and ViperSmith. We the hardcore fanatics didn't need a test drive, but most buyers do.

But as others have posted, if you really want the car and are serious just call around until you find a dealer that will give you a test drive. Pre-negotiate the price over phone, fly out there, test drive it, buy it.

Honestly I can't understand the crowd here. People can't see past their own experiences. Not everyone wants to buy a car without driving it. If I wasn't 100% sold on the car, I wouldn't have bought one without driving it.

Sure, there are solutions here as people have suggested. Flying out to a dealer is a great idea.

But the "If you want a Viper go buy one without driving it" are willingly ignorant to how the rest of the world operates.

When Porsche and other brands toss keys at you to test drive cars that cost more, it doesn't help. "I wouldn't buy a car with XYZ miles on it!" - well people aren't buying them with 5 miles on the odometer either.

Butts in seats = cars sold. There is no way you can drive this car and not love it. The fact he has to fly to find a dealer is a bit problematic. It shouldn't be difficult to part with $100,000.

[Bitten]

I bought in 06 and in 14, I drove my 06 off the truck and I was able to help with the PDI on both cars. It's a priceless experience. My husband started taking serious prospective customers for rides in my 06 when the 2008 became available for pre order. He sold 6 New Vipers that way in a very small town.

If you are interested, check with local club members. They might not let you drive but you would surely get a ride.

The dealers have so many people who are want to drive but couldn't or wouldn't buy. When I decided to buy a new one, it gave me instant street credit to show up in mine. There was no hassle, no fuss, easy purchase with a great deal on the price. They know many current owners want a car with the plastic still on the seats.

[VENOM V]

Butts in seats = cars sold. There is no way you can drive this car and not love it.

That is exactly what Aston Martin, Porsche, and other high end dealers have figured out. In fairness, so have a number of Viper dealers. Those are the Viper dealers that will be around a couple years from now, while the others without vision will throw in the towel.