Being fussy or not?

[LmeaViper]

Background:
Live in Canada.
Went for a few hour drive yesterday to look at Viper at a dealership (arranged meeting with Salesman in advance of X hour drive so they knew I was coming in and a serious buyer).
The Dodge dealership appeared to focused upon truck sales more than anything.
As the drive progressed the temps dropped and rain then snow started to develop.

Rolled into the dealership and they had maybe 1/2 the lot paved and the other half was gravel. I was thinking WTF, but it is a smaller city and appeared to be growing dealership as opposed to an established one.

Went inside and they had 1-2 trucks and a minivan or 2 indoors but didn't see the new Viper. Met the salesperson and he took me outside to view the car. The Viper was sitting on the gravel portion of the lot and had been sitting there for a few weeks (as the dealer advised me). It was covered in dust (from the gravel lot) and snow and freezing rain etc. The fitament of the body panels was very good but I obviously I couldn't see what the paint was like. Oddly the gunmetal color looked essentially black in the cloud cover.

My friend that was with me was appalled that the car was not indoors not roped off. In addition, it bothered him that they left the car open and some dad (smoking a pipe) and his kid were bumming around the lot and getting in and out of the Viper as well after we walked away. It never bothered me as much as it did my friend however, I advised the dealer that the car I was trading in NEVER sat in the snow and was garaged 100% of the time I was not driving it. The Salesman didn't seem overly concerned that the car was outside and he advised me that they never brought it indoors because the lighting inside is not very good to showcase the car, I didn't buy that explanation but it was sunny and nice the previous day.

Two Questions:
1. Should I be concerned about the dealerships apparent lack of care in how the car is stored / handled / protected?
2. How does the Gunmetal pearl look in the sun? Is it a metallic grey color? Or black?

Your thoughts please?

[ViperSmith]

It is a car it will be ok. Our local McLaren dealer keeps about 8 $330,000 650S outside in the elements.

My biggest concern with the paint would be is them trying to clean it up and causing swirl marks.

I'd use it to your advantage. Obviously they want to get rid of it.

[Sainthitch]

I would personally care about how the car is handled. I to go Wellington Motors in Guelph where they currently have several vipers. 2 are in the show room, another 2 they have parked in the service bay, and mine that is currently there for service. every one of them has a sign saying do not touch, stay away, etc... With my car - they delayed service the one day as it was raining and they didn't want to take it from the service entrance to the shop because it would go through the rain. Your talking about the flagship car and the dealership should treat it as such - which is why only specific dealerships are allowed to get them new as well as service them. My guess is your looking at one used? (Nothing wrong with that! bought mine used with 900km on it - why not save a buck)

Ultimately its your call as its your money being spent on it. It would have to be one hell of a deal for me to consider that one.

I live in waterloo ontario so if you need someone to take a look at a car around this area - let me know - more then pleased to help. Hope you find one!

[JonSav]

I see higher end exotics out on the lot in the snow all the time.. Don't worry about it.
If you buy the car tell the dealership not to detail the car. Take it to a professional detailer.

[TIME]

Yes, you should be concerned about such dealership. It is totally messed up. This is a perfect example of why Dodge is not selling (enough) Vipers to people that that don't already know what a great car it is. Who is going to fork over ~$100K, given the scenario you describe?

[LmeaViper]

I would personally care about how the car is handled. I to go Wellington Motors in Guelph where they currently have several vipers. 2 are in the show room, another 2 they have parked in the service bay, and mine that is currently there for service. every one of them has a sign saying do not touch, stay away, etc... With my car - they delayed service the one day as it was raining and they didn't want to take it from the service entrance to the shop because it would go through the rain. Your talking about the flagship car and the dealership should treat it as such - which is why only specific dealerships are allowed to get them new as well as service them. My guess is your looking at one used? (Nothing wrong with that! bought mine used with 900km on it - why not save a buck)

Ultimately its your call as its your money being spent on it. It would have to be one hell of a deal for me to consider that one.

I live in waterloo ontario so if you need someone to take a look at a car around this area - let me know - more then pleased to help. Hope you find one!

Thanks, I may ask down the road that you potentially look at a car for me out East....really appreciate that..
Note that the car is new and was reportedly special ordered by a client from that dealership. Apparently during the build period, the buyer decided he could not afford the car and reportedly forfeited his deposit account the economic downturn. The dealership is looking to sell the car based upon those circumstances.

[darbgnik]

Which dealer is it? And where are you located?

And to further what others have said, the car isn't damaged goods, it was designed for the elements. Believe it or not, the clear coat may be in better shape if they never cleaned it all, vs the ones I've seen inside dealerships, details by morons.....

A car I looked at had signs on every side asking people to please not touch, and the clear coat on the new Vipers is so good, that it showed every line made by their interior detailer. I mentioned to the sales guy I talked to, that maybe you should make sure the detailer isn't allowed to touch the car either. Now the lines were light, and not through the clear, but still was hard to look at, even knowing a light polish would make it perfect. His dealership also didn't seem to care that the paint on a Viper rivals any current high end car, even to them it's just a Dodge.

[Steve M]

In general, I'd prefer to buy a car from a dealership that cared as much about the car I was buying as I do...I know that's pretty much never the case, but this isn't some $15k-$20k Dart we're talking about here...this is Dodge's flagship model, and should be treated as such. If you can get a good deal, I'd certainly jump on it and worry about fixing any paint defects later, but like already stated, don't let them clean it up unless you want an even bigger headache later.

[SA Heat]

Yes, you're being too fussy. Everyone should want to buy their $100K+ dream car after it's been stored in the elements on a gravel parking lot and finger-banged by plenty of people who don't care about it.

But seriously, there are plenty of places to buy the Viper you want who will treat it like they actually care, and they'll probably be happy to deliver it to you.

[Leslie]

I see higher end exotics out on the lot in the snow all the time.. Don't worry about it.
If you buy the car tell the dealership not to detail the car. Take it to a professional detailer.

I love rescuing things, you could see it that way too
I would for sure if it's a good deal, otherwise if you are paying full price, get one from a trusted Viper dealer.

[mblgjr]

Yes, you're being too fussy. Everyone should want to buy their $100K+ dream car after it's been stored in the elements on a gravel parking lot and finger-banged by plenty of people who don't care about it.

But seriously, there are plenty of places to buy the Viper you want who will treat it like they actually care, and they'll probably be happy to deliver it to you.

Too funny.

The color looks amazing in the sun, very classy/sexy.

Find a good car you can be happy with, or be prepared to have that one fully detailed once purchased.

[Mazak]

I see higher end exotics out on the lot in the snow all the time.. Don't worry about it.
If you buy the car tell the dealership not to detail the car. Take it to a professional detailer.

Good advice.

Take a bucket ,sponge and your check book with you. Give them your price conditioned on the paint meeting your approval. If they will accept your price wash the car yourself.