The word surrounding the upcoming 2013 Viper has been “exclusive”. Chrysler is trying to move the car upmarket in image from it’s hairy, Cobra like roots and will do so in several ways. Production will be capped at 2,000 units a year, the price is going to be $100,000 and the most recent thing we’re learning about is that the cars will only be available at a select number of dealers, like maybe 100 tops across the country. On top of that, dealers looking to get the Viper for sale must pony up some big coin and pass several tests to be eligible to see the super cars in their showrooms.
According to the reporters at Automotive News Chrysler is instituting a new two tier SRT program that will cost dealers a bunch of dough to be a part of. The “Tier 1” package is $5,000 and that gets you specialty tools, training for service technicians, and signage. While that doesn’t sounds too bad, if you want to be part of the “Tier 2” program you need to kick in an additional $20,000. For that $25,000 total you get the honor of selling the Viper, assuming that you pass a round of customer satisfaction and quality tests. We’re wondering how many dealers will actually buy into this. Places in large metro areas would make sense, because money seems to hover in those spots, but outside of the coasts and a couple of large Midwestern cities, are dealers really in a position to throw up $25,000 to have the ability to sell a model that they’ll move two or three of max, maybe four in an epic year?
We realize that car dealerships on the whole are profitable businesses, but it seems like it would take a bunch of Vipers to eat up that $25,000. Sure, it may draw some people into the show room, but then again a nice older Viper may do the same thing for free. Are we missing something here?
Chrysler to charge dealers $25,000 to sell Viper
If you can’t beat the Corvette, make them “exclusive” and compete with Ferrari and its ilk
A truly Stupid move any way you look at it . The Viper has never hurt for sales . Half its appeal has been its Cobra like presence along with the fact that Joe Middle Class average could … with work and patience aspire to owning one etc . Knock the price out of the ball park along with the added pretense of exclusivity as well as putting the screws to the Chrysler dealers wishing to sell them and what the Viper will wind up as is another in a long line of American Made Sports Car casualties
But what do you expect when Marchionne’s Madness is Ruling the Roost over Chrysler way ? Seen what the man has done to Maserati Alfa Romeo and FIAT since his tenure began ?
Oh but have you heard the best of Marchionne’s future plans for Chrysler ? Seems the Dodge Challenger is on its last legs about to be replaced by the Chrysler Barracuda ( no I’m not kidding ) …. with the best part being …… its going be based on a FIAT FWD platform . Along with …. a Unibody FIAT FWD based JEEP Wrangler replacement !
Yeah Marchionne’s going to save Chrysler alright . Just like he’s ‘ saving ‘ FIAT . Which is to say running them into the ground while filling his own pockets 😉
Government mandated traction control on all vehicles 2012 and newer caused some of the “toning down” of the Viper, not that it’s really toned down. Most of the high price tag is from inflation, it’s still cheaper than a Corvette ZR1. Haven’t heard whether the Barracuda will be a Chrysler or Dodge or SRT (SRT being it’s own brand like Ram now), but I’ve never heard of it being FWD, don’t know where you got that. I’ve also never heard of the Wrangler being replaced. Is a FWD based Fiat platform going to be used for a Jeep, probably, but that’s no different than the FWD based Compass or Patriot.
Also, apparently bread is not edible, maybe it’s steel or cardboard.
supposed to be a reply to GuitarSlinger
The metro dealers like Chicago area, Lauderdale, Miami, Atlanta, etc. will have no problem whatsoever selling every one Dodge builds. Don’t forget that high demand cars will likely sell above MSRP, just like the Prowler did for most of its production run (even though it was not that nice, fast, or cool of a car). The Viper won’t have any year end sales to move inventory, trust me….
Ford has been doing the same thing with their SVT program for decades, never hurt the sales of Cobra Mustangs or Lightnings any. You are waaaaay overblowing this.