Bruce H.
Enthusiast
I can't imagine how you can't imagine that upscale car buyers would buy the Gen V Viper without test driving it. There is post after post on this forum from "supposedly" upscale car buyers that have purchased the Gen V Viper without test driving it. Maybe they do not fit your definition? I must not understand who you are defining as an upscale car buyer. Perhaps a person that has no specific interest in a Viper, but, just wants a car to look good in and show off at the country club? If so, why would they care how it drives? If you are talking about serious car enthusiasts, you are talking about the type of people that have been posting here that they bought it.
Just busting your chops a little in a light hearted way. I bought my Gen 2 without driving one first. I feel that I am a ********* enthusiast. I did not care if it fit like a glove. I bought it because I like experiencing speed and performance in different ways. I understand that there are guys who only want to "be with" one specific type of woman. There are others that want to "experience" different types of performance, as long as it is not a forever deal and doesn't result in a permanent loss in assets.
Some dealers probably think that there are enough buyers like me, to justify their strategy. Their business plan makes perfect sense to me. They are NOT looking for Viper buyers who need a test drive. So be it. So what.
Most of my friends are track buddies who spend an unhealthy amount of time on the track, and drive there`s very little on the street other than to get to and from events. I averaged about 20 days per year on the track for years, driving from the Toronto area as far as 17 hours to Road Atlanta and other iconic tracks. That`s how I enjoyed performance cars, and them fitting me and my carry-ons like a glove was more of a necessity than a desire. 9-12 hours straight driving tests a seat and seating position`s comfort pretty effectively. Most Viper owners don`t track their cars, or to any real degree, and they enjoy their performance cars in very different ways. I haven`t done these road trips more recently, as my schedule hasn`t allowed for them, however I picked up my last one Oct `11 at the dealer on a Thurday at noon and had it on a more local track 6 hours away the next morning, and to more local track a few times since. I did give the dealer a refundable deposit before test driving it, as did the buddy who ordered one of the first GT-R`s, and the two that have fully refundable deposits on new NSX`s that are subject to test drive. I think a dealer asking for a deposit is quite reasonable as I know it`s ultimately designed to protect the car that myself, or someone like me, will be buying. If a customer isn`t willing to put down a deposit to test drive the car then let the dealer sales person do the driving until the consumer has done his research and is comfortable to make a purchase on that basis. A buyer shouldn`t expect to be just handed the keys, even if some dealers allow or encourage it.
As far as the few 2013`s that early adopter forum members have bought sight unseen to be one of the first to get these cars, I`m relieved to read the few positive feedback stories as they`ve received their cars, but how many other high-end high performance buyers are going to buy up the rest of the 2013 production without any opportunity to drive the car they are standing there looking at with check in hand is beyond my ability to comprehend. But I will make one prediction...the dealers that will allow a test drive to qualified buyer with a refundable deposit will be the ones that sell all the Vipers they can get.