I know it is sad, but what will dealership closing do to price of 08-09 Vipers?

[PhoenixGTS]

Will the stock of dealers forced to cease selling Chrysler products be moved to remaining dealers? Or will the unfortunate dealers have to fire-sale their inventory? Or will the departing dealers merely convert into used car dealers (or continue selling other new makes they are dealers for) and slowly sell off their Chrysler inventory?

 

[bluesrt]

if they dont sell off their cars by june,they have to wholesale them to other dealers

 

[Martin]

There's a big legal challenge being waged right now to try and get Chrysler to work with the dealers on that front. Just think - it was only a few weeks ago where Chrysler got up in front of all the dealers and pleaded with them to take on extra inventory to help Chrysler out. Now, they're saying 'tough luck' that you couldn't sell that inventory that we pleaded for you to take on? I don't care about bankruptcy in that case - it's just bad-faith any way you look at it. I hope the lawyers play a video of Chrysler execs pleading with the dealers and assuring them that they're "partners in this recovery" and if they step up to the plate, Chrysler will step up for them...

 

[VicTxV10]

I know a dealer that is on the list that has two 09's on the lot. Two weeks ago, the cars were discounted 16K off MSRP and today both are listed with 10K off MSRP. What happens to those cars if they get down to June deadline and they still have them on the lot? Do they just get moved to another dealer willing to take on two Vipers?

 

[Martin]

I know a dealer that is on the list that has two 09's on the lot. Two weeks ago, the cars were discounted 16K off MSRP and today both are listed with 10K off MSRP. What happens to those cars if they get down to June deadline and they still have them on the lot? Do they just get moved to another dealer willing to take on two Vipers?

Typically they get auctioned off if another dealer won't take them outright. Since CAAP will not be building any more Vipers under the Dodge nameplate after this run of cars on the line is over, I doubt they'll have much trouble selling them once the reality sets in. In fact, I'll bet that we start seeing some serious Viper inflation soon - especially on '09 cars that will be quite rare if CAAP does indeed stay on the path it currently is on. If you see one that you like, buy it now. I predict we'll be hearing all kinds of angry banter on this board in a month when prices are MSRP++ instead of EP++... I hate to be the one that says "I told you so" so I'm just going to say it now.

 

[VicTxV10]

Typically they get auctioned off if another dealer won't take them outright. Since CAAP will not be building any more Vipers under the Dodge nameplate after this run of cars on the line is over, I doubt they'll have much trouble selling them once the reality sets in. In fact, I'll bet that we start seeing some serious Viper inflation soon - especially on '09 cars that will be quite rare if CAAP does indeed stay on the path it currently is on. If you see one that you like, buy it now. I predict we'll be hearing all kinds of angry banter on this board in a month when prices are MSRP++ instead of EP++... I hate to be the one that says "I told you so" so I'm just going to say it now.

Thanks! So anything off MSRP right now is a good deal then. Looks like 2009 may come down to the lowest production year to date with the exception of 92.

 

[Flash1034]

Now that Vipers are gone. I think prices will firm up and may even rise in the long run. Especially for the desireable colors.

Flash

 

[Lawrenzo]

I'll bet that we start seeing some serious Viper inflation soon - especially on '09 cars that will be quite rare if CAAP does indeed stay on the path it currently is on. If you see one that you like, buy it now. I predict we'll be hearing all kinds of angry banter on this board in a month when prices are MSRP++ instead of EP++... I hate to be the one that says "I told you so" so I'm just going to say it now.

As the new owner of a 2008 SSG vert, I hope you're correct

 

[Martin]

As the new owner of a 2008 SSG vert, I hope you're correct

I actually hope I'm wrong - but things sure look like this is the end of 'Dodge Viper.' Let's keep our fingers crossed that the new buyer is announced soon (and they're cool people). That would seem to make sense since it can very clearly and definitively be deduced that Viper production won't continue at CAAP under the Dodge name. At least, if you consider the cancellation of a bunch of sold orders to be clear and definitive... If I were a buyer of the Viper business unit, I know that I would request those orders to be cancelled so that I had a shot at tapping that built-in market.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

Just glad I own one.

 

[Viper X]

Glad I got my 09 ACR in December, but then again, like Martin said above, I've been telling our members to "buy them while you can get them".

Oh, and Viper isn't gone yet, "Dodge" Viper likely is .....

 

[Flash1034]

As the new owner of a 2008 SSG vert, I hope you're correct

I was wondering when you'd poke your head up Lorenzo...

Billy

 

[Boxer12]

Typically they get auctioned off if another dealer won't take them outright. Since CAAP will not be building any more Vipers under the Dodge nameplate after this run of cars on the line is over, I doubt they'll have much trouble selling them once the reality sets in. In fact, I'll bet that we start seeing some serious Viper inflation soon - especially on '09 cars that will be quite rare if CAAP does indeed stay on the path it currently is on. If you see one that you like, buy it now. I predict we'll be hearing all kinds of angry banter on this board in a month when prices are MSRP++ instead of EP++... I hate to be the one that says "I told you so" so I'm just going to say it now.

How about some examples of vehicles that went up in price when its manufacturer went bankrupt? I haven't done the research, but how about DeLorean? Saleen? What about Alpha Romeo when they disappeared in USA? The price of Lambos and Ferraris, not to mention Porsche and Vettes are down, and you think Viper is going up? I think that's wishful and reckless (unless you are talking to guys who have the money to burn). Lack of warranty and resale price decline will cause the price to tank, IMO. Lack of parts will not help the situation. JMHO

 

[plumcrazy]

i agree with boxer12.

of course us vipr owners WISH and HOPE they will go up, but not very likely in all honesty with what is going on with viper

 

[Martin]

How about some examples of vehicles that went up in price when its manufacturer went bankrupt? I haven't done the research, but how about DeLorean? Saleen? What about Alpha Romeo when they disappeared in USA? The price of Lambos and Ferraris, not to mention Porsche and Vettes are down, and you think Viper is going up? I think that's wishful and reckless (unless you are talking to guys who have the money to burn). Lack of warranty and resale price decline will cause the price to tank, IMO. Lack of parts will not help the situation. JMHO

It really comes down to desirability and supply. If you look back at desirable car manufacturers or low production models that disappeared, and compare the prices of those with other models of the same time period, you'll see the desirable ones built some serious collector value. What will happen is probably the same supply/demand cycle that you see with other items of value. At first, people will snap up the cars like crazy, driving the prices up. Then there will be a lull and prices will correct and eventually bottom. Finally, prices will go on an upward trend but fluctuate with market conditions.

Cars aren't good investment vehicles. That's not what they are intended for. If you are a big fan of a car like the Viper, you know things are going to change, and you have the money to get one - you could do a lot worse things in life than go out and buy one. I keep going back to the times during the late seventies when I was coming across Hemi Cudas, Chargers, Shelby GT 500s, Jag E-type convertibles, etc., for VERY affordable prices and I passed on them because I figured I'd always find another one. It took many years before I first saw that Blue and White GTS at an auto show - and I just knew that it was what I was waiting for all my adult life. Now, I'm hooked on the ACR. Sure, the GTS has lost value since I bought it. I've had a heck of a lot of fun with it, though. Same thing will happen with the ACR. Life is short. If you can afford to buy something that you really want, why the heck not do it?

 

[99 R/T 10]

Well, I've got 4 of the 7 I have alwasy wanted. Just three more to go.................................

 

[Lawrenzo]

I was wondering when you'd poke your head up Lorenzo...

Billy

"poke my head up" eh- no pun intended- considering I'm 6'4" with a 'vert

I don't receive it until Thursday, so I'm not official just yet.

 

[plumcrazy]

more than likely its gonna do the opposite....make the vipers worthless and impossible to get rid of when we wanna sell.

hows THAT for change ? gotta love it !

 

[FLATOUT]

more than likely its gonna do the opposite....make the vipers worthless and impossible to get rid of when we wanna sell.

hows THAT for change ? gotta love it !

I highly doubt that will happen.

It's just my opinion but I see them rising in the long run. I think they were just to important to the culture in the mid to late 90's for them to just fall by the way side. If you were an import guy you had to own a Supra, if you were a muscle car guy you had to own a Viper. We'll see but I think they will go up as supply drops off.

Andy

 

[1BADGTS]

How about some examples of vehicles that went up in price when its manufacturer went bankrupt? I haven't done the research, but how about DeLorean? Saleen? What about Alpha Romeo when they disappeared in USA? The price of Lambos and Ferraris, not to mention Porsche and Vettes are down, and you think Viper is going up? I think that's wishful and reckless (unless you are talking to guys who have the money to burn). Lack of warranty and resale price decline will cause the price to tank, IMO. Lack of parts will not help the situation. JMHO

I agree 100%.At this point in time there are STILL 08 cars available that dealers have been floorplanning since OCT 07 (over 1.5 years )that are not sold.To me at least its a pure numbers game -there simply were,are too many Vipers built esp in this bad economy .Look at the Ford GT for example they ALMOST hold their value with around 1200 total built.

 

[Martin]

I agree 100%.At this point in time there are STILL 08 cars available that dealers have been floorplanning since OCT 07 (over 1.5 years )that are not sold.To me at least its a pure numbers game -there simply were,are too many Vipers built esp in this bad economy .Look at the Ford GT for example they ALMOST hold their value with around 1200 total built.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. The economy is crap these days, and expensive toys aren't moving too well. It's a lot like the recession/gas crisis during the early seventies. That said, obviously nobody's holding a gun to anyone's head and forcing them to buy or not buy one. It's a personal decision and something that you do and then don't look back. I would never buy a car for its investment value - I buy for the fun value or the work value. That said, my personal opinion is that this is the right time to buy for a number of other reasons - but if those other reasons turn out to be based on false assumptions, or just plain old don't pan out, I don't care. I'm not planning on selling anytime during my lifetime.

 

[gofastr]

I couldn't care less what happens to the prices. I'm driving mine and totally enjoying it!

 

[gb66gth]

The sad truth of the matter is that while the Viper will definitely not be built by Dodge anyomre, it will, in all probability, not get sold to anyone else, and just die, no more Viper at all. Although I hope I'm wrong.
Think about it. With the new emmission and fuel efficiency standards that are about to come out, nobody is going to put the kind of $$ necesssary to develop the 8.4L 600bph motor into one that runs super clean with super high MPG.
The new owner will probably have to sell the car as a component vehicle, kinda like and Cobra or GT40 replica, car seperate from the drivetrain, in order to circumvent the new standards. And then will anyone want to buy one that way, at $100k OR MORE?

 

[Martin]

The sad truth of the matter is that while the Viper will definitely not be built by Dodge anyomre, it will, in all probability, not get sold to anyone else, and just die, no more Viper at all. Although I hope I'm wrong.
Think about it. With the new emmission and fuel efficiency standards that are about to come out, nobody is going to put the kind of $$ necesssary to develop the 8.4L 600bph motor into one that runs super clean with super high MPG.
The new owner will probably have to sell the car as a component vehicle, kinda like and Cobra or GT40 replica, car seperate from the drivetrain, in order to circumvent the new standards. And then will anyone want to buy one that way, at $100k OR MORE?

Normally I'd agree with you - but let's wait until either June 3 or June 8 to make that call... I'm VERY confident that there is indeed a deal done, and we'll hear about it on or around one of those dates.

How the car and pricing will change is going to be interesting - as will be how they structure the handoff. It's a little strange that orders that aren't at least in 'E' status got cancelled - I would have expected the new owner to just take over the operation and have all the sold orders assigned to them. But, maybe it's cleaner to just start from scratch on June 9 - I just don't know.

One way or another, I think Viper parts and service will live on for the forseeable future. Heck, you can still get parts and service for a Ford Pantera through cottage industries. With the number of Vipers out there, I doubt very much that enterprising people won't find ways to meet the parts/service needs of the car for a very long time.

 

[PhoenixGTS]

I think Viper parts and service will live on for the forseeable future. Heck, you can still get parts and service for a Ford Pantera through cottage industries. With the number of Vipers out there, I doubt very much that enterprising people won't find ways to meet the parts/service needs of the car for a very long time.

I agree that parts are not much of an issue. Given the weird situation of getting Viper parts from Chrysler, most of us enthusiast owners try and get out of warranty parts from alternative sources anyway already (us Gen II guys for sure). It is the "only own a car in warranty" or "I never work on it myself" buyer who will have to take a pass on a Viper if it dies, and that might mean new left-over go for cheap while used prices stay the same. Just a guess.

I'd love an 08-09 but dang Wells Fargo sent me a letter yesterday saying they are lowering my HELOC limit from $200k to $102.5k due to the value of my house sliding. Grrrrr.

Michael

 

[BolsOut]

...Could this car be the next generation's Shelby A/C Cobra?

Discuss...

 

[Martin]

Normally I'd agree with you - but let's wait until either June 3 or June 8 to make that call... I'm VERY confident that there is indeed a deal done, and we'll hear about it on or around one of those dates.

I just heard that some of the secured creditors are trying to mount another battle to halt the sale of Chrysler assets. If the judge hasn't already OK'd the Viper deal (he obviously hasn't), it could now get delayed until all arguments are heard... This just keeps getting more and more interesting. If I were a smart lawyer on the dealer's side, I'd file a motion that the dealership network is essentially an asset and Chrysler can't dispose of that asset until after all the other arguments are heard, too.

 

[Boxer12]

I agree with most parts, but Good luck getting your hands on a new replacement ACR wing.

 

[Martin]

I agree with most parts, but Good luck getting your hands on a new replacement ACR wing.

I'm hoping none of us needs one in the near future Even so, I'm pretty sure they'll be about as easy to get as OEM body parts for a GT500, '71 Trans Am, etc... All the more reason to not crash. Just think what a totally stock and unmolested ACR will be worth 30 years from now (maybe with some luck and healthier living I'll actually be around to see it for myself).

 

[jdavis]

If the sale has not been inked yet to a buyer, it is going to be tough to get a deal done due to the new CAFE standards just passed by the Obama administration. A new owner with a single product line (Viper) is going to have a tough time meeting a 40mpg fleet average.
IMHO,the future price for current Vipers will remain low for years to come. Perhaps there will be an uptick for the early GTS cars but time will have to catch up with the Gen 3 and Gen 4 cars before they appreciate a significant amount. Perhaps in a couple of decades.