Saying bye and giving an apology

[Nine Ball]

BMW gave me another X5

Audi gave me an A5 when my S5 was in the shop

Cadillac gave me another CTS when mine was in the shop

Giving a $150,000 Viper buyer a Dodge Journey is unacceptable. For one 1 or 2 days, sure. But 58 days??? I thought SRT wanted to have its own brand? then SRT owning customers should get SRT vehicles as loaners, period.

 

[Paul Hawker]

"Giving a $150,000 Viper buyer a Dodge Journey is unacceptable. For one 1 or 2 days, sure. But 58 days??? I thought SRT wanted to have its own brand? then SRT owning customers should get SRT vehicles as loaners, period."

Now this makes sense.

 

[Tenney]

That loaner program is not all that unusual for super premium cars.

Mercedes will not give you a SLS for loan.

BMW will not give a M 6 Loaner.

Ferrari will not give you an Enzo.

Rolls Royce will not give you a Phantom

Lambo will not give you a Guellardo (sp?)

Porsche will not give you a GT

Even most insurance companies will not provide these type of loaner cars in the event of a claim

Using more pedestrian cars is normal, and that is what they keep in their loaner fleet. Expecting a Viper loaner is not going to happen.

However I cannot blame Kris for being upset. There should not have been the need for such long term loaners, and bottom of the barrel loaners showed little respect.

Tesla give you a Tesla ...

 

[PeerBlock]

Apology accepted, man. I feel like...like...we're finally making progress here. Let's have a party. I have a few Wham CDs and Tubz soda. You bring the chips!

 

[Coloviper]

Depends on the dealership. My wife and I have a couple of Cayenne Turbos (mine is a Turbo S) and the Porsche dealer works with Enterprise as it's loaner rental company so you get what Enterprise has when you take it in. Now they have been pretty good because if I say "you know I have never been in a Panamera and we are thinking about maybe getting one" Before I can finish that sentence, they say well then today is your lucky day as the loaner vehicle this time around is a Panamera. However I have to ask and you add up the MRSPs on our Cayennes and you are at $250k. I agree that for Viper service and warranty, they should have you in an SRT product, period, end of story. However remember it is a dealer issue, not SRT. SRT will, just like Porsche, only repay so much to the dealer for use of a rental or loaner during service. Comes down to **** bag dealers once again.

 

[REDBLACK]

Don't blame you. Enjoy the ZR1.

 

[johniew398]

I wanted to say that this a awesome forum with true car enthusiasts that have a passion for the Viper. For anyone that didn’t know my Viper was officially bought back this past Tuesday and I ended up buying another ZR1.
I would like to say that the Viper is an amazing car that I did enjoy it up until the end but with the way my situation was handled I got a bad taste in my mouth from the Chrysler attorneys and buy back group and that is why I was bashing the Viper. So to set the record straight I do believe the interior & exterior styling, fit, and finish is a 10 and the car is wicked fast. I did manage to put 5,400 miles on mine while I had which was only 78 days so I did know the car well in that short period of time. And I honestly was going to get another Viper when I was given he option to have a repurchase or replacement but once I agreed that I wasn’t going to keep mine my case was transferred to a different department and that’s when my experience went south and it became me against the attorneys instead of them helping me get another Viper.
The one piece of feedback I would like to give SRT is this; If a Viper owners car is in for warranty work on multiple visits for the same issue, under 12 months old, and going to be at the dealer for more than a week waiting on parts with no ETA then there should be a factory owned Viper in every region of the country and that should be used as the rental so that owners like me that drive the car everyday can stay in love with the Viper. If they are not willing to do that than they should be willing to pull parts off the assembly line from a car that is going to a dealership with multiple Vipers in stock. My first visit was 3 days and they gave me a Chrysler 200, my second visit was 7 days and they gave me a Dodge Avenger, my third visit was officially 57 days and they gave me a Dodge Journey.
So I’m sorry for my bad mouthing of the Viper, I honestly would not have bought it for 152k (139k + tax, tag, and title) if I didn’t think it was an awesome American built machine, it’s just too bad mine was a lemon. But for anyone that thought I was being too picky about the paint transfer that was occurring on my driver’s door and rear brake duct, the issue was actually due to the driver’s door lip being 1/8th of an inch longer than spec and was always going to hit the brake duct and was starting to dent it. Add that to my window not staying rolled up, check engine light on, ECS light on, air bag light on (the parts to fix this took the longest almost 3 weeks), and the car being stuck in race mode the last 2 weeks I drove it I don’t believe any Viper owner would put up with that.
Kris

Glad it worked out in the end.

One question though: When my wife's MB SL550 is in they give us a suitable Mercedes, not an SL; but a suitable car. They even offered a loaner the other day when we were just leaving it for a car wash.

When you drive the most expensive car that SRT makes what are they supposed to give you as a loaner?

 

[REDBLACK]

Glad it worked out in the end.

One question though: When my wife's MB SL550 is in they give us a suitable Mercedes, not an SL; but a suitable car. They even offered a loaner the other day when we were just leaving it for a car wash.

When you drive the most expensive car that SRT makes what are they supposed to give you as a loaner?

SRT Challenger, Charger or 300C.

 

[Chelseasnake]

SRT Challenger, Charger or 300C.

dodge neon

 

[REDBLACK]

Glad it worked out in the end.

One question though: When my wife's MB SL550 is in they give us a suitable Mercedes, not an SL; but a suitable car. They even offered a loaner the other day when we were just leaving it for a car wash.

When you drive the most expensive car that SRT makes what are they supposed to give you as a loaner?

SRT8 300, CHARGER or CHALLENGER. BTW, a new $150K Viper should not be in the shop in the first place unless it's for an oil/filter change.

 

[ViperSmith]

SRT8 300, CHARGER or CHALLENGER. BTW, a new $150K Viper should not be in the shop in the first place unless it's for an oil/filter change.

Yeah, I've never heard of a $300,000 Ferrari or $450,000 Lambo being in the shop either.

Silly SRT!

 

[Hemotoxic]

SRT Challenger, Charger or 300C.

Exactly. Maybe even a lightly optioned SRT Viper, but a GTS would be a bit much to expect. Or a Dart, since everybody says the interior is just the same as a Viper. hm. Anyway, Chrysler is missing an opportunity to sell its products to a captive audience.

When my Corvette 1LT base coupe aka "Poverty Package" has been in the shop, I've gotten a loaner Tahoe, Impala, and Silverado. The Wimpala was overnight while the harmonic balancer (known LS3 weak point) was changed under warranty, and if that was the only car I could have for the rest of my life, assisted suicide would be the first option. It did make me appreciate my Corvette even more. The Tahoe and Silverado were both top-of-the-line 4WD with LTZ option group, great trucks that really sold me on the products. I recommend them to everybody looking for that kind of vehicle. If Viper owners get to drive other SRT products, I expect they'd have a good word to pass along.

Kris, totally sorry about your experience. Awhile ago I got Chrysler to buy back a truck for a client, dollar for dollar including all taxes and fees, and that was only because I could use North Carolina's triple-damages lemon law as leverage, and only after the client posted his truck's problems on YouTube. It took months and was just a huge and unnecessary pain for all. They spent many thousands on defense lawyers to end up at the same place we started. Have fun in the ZR1.

 

[plumcrazy]

lambo dealer wont give you an equal im sure

 

[PilotaX]

My Porsche dealer gives me a Mazda 6... I tell them "no thanks, I have another car."

 

[PilotaX]

Honestly though, I think it would be a bad idea for SRT or any other make to offer a loaner exactly equivalent to the car you bring in for service. For one thing, it would be very expensive. Another issue is that people often trash their loaners, which is more problematic if it's an expensive one. This country is way to litigious for that to work. Imagine the liability if a dealer's loaner Viper was involved in an incident.

For perspective, in California a dealer can even be held liable for selling someone a car they aren't sufficiently capable of operating safely. I kid you not. Given that crazy law, it's amazing you can even sell Vipers here.

P.S. I've found SRT and the local dealers to be extremely helpful. On par with the Porsche, Mercedes and BMW dealers. The showrooms aren't quite as nice. But, that's just fluff IMO.

 

[SADVIPER]

No need to give an apology. You had a lemon and Chrysler treated you awfully. Best of luck with the ZR1!

This.
Goodluck!

 

[SilveRT8]

Cadillac gives me a SRX whenever the CTS-V is in for service. OK by me

 

[FrankBarba]

Mercedes....I have a 50K Van,when it is in the shop they give me nothing except
a thank you & we will call you when finished. "Do you need a ride somewhere"
When i say yes i'll be driving 400 miles today, i get nothing, not even an old mercedes.
Now the Chevy dealer is different. Took my Durango in for some body work & i got a Van.
The local Dodge dealer would not give me the time of day for body work since it was not
an insurance claim. Looks like instead of purchasing a New Viper - GM has me checking
out the Vette.

 

[Alabaster Mamba]

Well as others have said, SRT/Dodge should give out an SRT product for it's loaner car when needed. Some people will/would buy based upon experiencing the new product. So the Viper owner that goes in and is in need of a 4 door vehicle for daily use, might just see how nice the vehicle is and buy one based upon this. You may not even need one of those vehicles now but may decide to get one based upon that loaner car. I am planing on buying another Durango just because I love my 2012 so much. And when I take it in for an oil change, the dealership never fails to show me the rest of their lineup. Everyone loves to feel/be treated special. Giving people a nice loaner car isn't too much to ask for. As someone else stated, when the wife takes her BMW in to get serviced, it always comes back washed, they have food in the break room, and offer her a nice loaner car even if she is just getting the oil changed.

 

[KB Viper]

as some clarification; when dealing with the Chrysler customer care advocates i begged for a SRT vehicle. i was pretty sure a Viper was out of the question but i begged for a SRT challenger, charger and or cherokee and made the argument that since i had a SRT vehicle then at minimum my loaner should be a SRT. needless to say they kept on referring to the loaner car as a favor and it was not required under warranty. also they only covered the cost of the rental i had to pay the $11 a day insurance.

even after all that i was still willing and wanting to get another Viper, it was in the negotiation process of deciding weather to take the replacement or repurchase that i realized Chrysler lawyers did not care at all about my business and they could care less what was best for me.

 

[theviper]

Kris, SRT has a great deal to learn about marketing, especially when it comes to people who make more than $100k/yr or purchase "lifestyle" cars/brands. Now, they have to deal with Vipers that are lemons (yours was not the first to be bought back, have the engine replaced, etc) and cars at half the price that are in many ways better (C7). As a true blooded Viper fan, I will say this. Individually, many people at SRT are great (Ralph, etc). However, collectively, they are in over their heads and seem to not even be aware that they need help, desperately.

 

[chorps]

as some clarification; when dealing with the Chrysler customer care advocates i begged for a SRT vehicle. i was pretty sure a Viper was out of the question but i begged for a SRT challenger, charger and or cherokee and made the argument that since i had a SRT vehicle then at minimum my loaner should be a SRT. needless to say they kept on referring to the loaner car as a favor and it was not required under warranty. also they only covered the cost of the rental i had to pay the $11 a day insurance.

even after all that i was still willing and wanting to get another Viper, it was in the negotiation process of deciding weather to take the replacement or repurchase that i realized Chrysler lawyers did not care at all about my business and they could care less what was best for me.

I don't understand what the heck Chrysler is thinking here...their lawyers have their heads so far up their behinds that they have no clue what kind of damage they are doing to the brand, and to the Viper in particular.

It's not like the SRT-8 Cars are any big whoop to produce...giving a guy a loaner on a car that SRT/dealer screwed up/couldn't fix would be much better good will than having to take the car under a buyback.

Management needs to kick some butts at marketing and then at legal. Don't treat the guy who paid top dollar for the Viper like a guy who bought a demo 4-cylinder 200 series. Build a brand. Make your customers feel like they are wanted.

 

[Vooodoo ACR]

That loaner program is not all that unusual for super premium cars.

Mercedes will not give you a SLS for loan.

BMW will not give a M 6 Loaner.

Ferrari will not give you an Enzo.

Rolls Royce will not give you a Phantom

Lambo will not give you a Guellardo (sp?)

Porsche will not give you a GT

Even most insurance companies will not provide these type of loaner cars in the event of a claim

Using more pedestrian cars is normal, and that is what they keep in their loaner fleet. Expecting a Viper loaner is not going to happen.

However I cannot blame Kris for being upset. There should not have been the need for such long term loaners, and bottom of the barrel loaners showed little respect.

In my experience the norm is for them to give you the best loaner they have available. Whenever I brought my R8 in for service, I would typically end up with an A8 loaner unless I requested something else they had available. I will say that I ended up with a rental Dodge Caravan when I brought my new M6 in for the first service. The BMW dealer had no loaners available and were working with Enterprise to provide loaners. My service was done in 2 hours though, so I wasn't stuck with the minivan for days.

 

[SnakeBitten]

Kris, SRT has a great deal to learn about marketing, especially when it comes to people who make more than $100k/yr or purchase "lifestyle" cars/brands. Now, they have to deal with Vipers that are lemons (yours was not the first to be bought back, have the engine replaced, etc) and cars at half the price that are in many ways better (C7). As a true blooded Viper fan, I will say this. Individually, many people at SRT are great (Ralph, etc). However, collectively, they are in over their heads and seem to not even be aware that they need help, desperately.

I agree completely. You just dont bungle things on the magnitude SRT has unless there are fundamental problems with your business model. This has been an epic embarassment so far. I read KB's horror story and just couldnt stop shaking my head. SRT cant blame Lieberman or Pobst or the economy etc for any of this. Time to start righting the ship. Start with one of the most important factors. Your customers.

 

[Capt Van]

even after all that i was still willing and wanting to get another Viper, it was in the negotiation process of deciding weather to take the replacement or repurchase that i realized Chrysler lawyers did not care at all about my business and they could care less what was best for me.

Kristopher,
I'm on your side 100% but GM is no different, they don't give a rats *** about your best interests. For example my ZR1 is one of the front end vibration, they know it's a problem but getting them to fix it takes an act of god. I think I get some little pos car when it's in for warranty.

 

[Grisoman]

I honestly would not have bought it for 152k (139k + tax, tag, and title) if I didn’t think it was an awesome American built machine, it’s just too bad mine was a lemon.

On a buyback, how do you recoup some or all of the T-T-T expenses? Does SRT cover that as well?

 

[KB Viper]

On a buyback, how do you recoup some or all of the T-T-T expenses? Does SRT cover that as well?

you get back full price paid plus tax tag and title. the subtract a milage fee and whatever else you will let them talk you into.

 

[ViperSmith]

you get back full price paid plus tax tag and title. the subtract a milage fee and whatever else you will let them talk you into.

Curious, what about gas guzzler, since it is an excise tax?

 

[Capt Van]

you get back full price paid plus tax tag and title. the subtract a milage fee and whatever else you will let them talk you into.

Ballpark, how much are totally out of pocket?

 

[ViperSmith]

Here is a bit of contrast, Chevy is shipping this guys C7 back to the factory to repair it - he had pretty bad paint issues.

This impresses me, SRT. No push back. No 35 day wait.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c7-...paint-runs-on-the-doors-6.html#post1585242096

UPDATE!

First, I want everyone to know that my local dealership's customer service manager has offered nothing less than the highest level of customer service over the last two days.

Secondly, my impression from Chevrolet Customer Care has been that they want to resolve my issues in a way that is reasonable and satisfactory for everyone involved. After meeting with my local customer service manager, I am even more convinced that this is indeed the case and have full confidence in the situation being resolved appropriately.

Here's where we are at this point...

Chevrolet is taking the quality issues with my car very seriously. Conversations took place today at a very high level within Chevrolet/Corvette management and the consensus is that my Corvette should have never made it out of the factory in the condition that it did. They have not yet offered to buy the Corvette back and send me a new one, but that is still a possibility. However, the solution I am agreeing to attempt is better, in my opinion.

Chevrolet wants to transport my Corvette back to the factory so they can properly address every issue. Because so many panels have issues (my local Customer Service Manager pointed out additional paint and body problems that I had yet to discover), I am requesting a total re-skinning of the car with all new body panels. Of course, this will be done at the factory and the fit and finish will be correct.

I imagine the scrutiny that will be given to the completed product will be significant because they will not want to send anything back to me that is less than the highest quality. If this is the route they decide to take, I would get to keep my 1786 VIN and not have to go through another break-in process.

Consideration is also been given to the inconvenience and down time that will occur while my Corvette is at the factory. I feel that it is appropriate to not discuss in a public format the consideration being given, but suffice it to say that it appears that Chevrolet/Corvette is going to exceed my expectations in this regard.

Once my repaired Corvette passes their inspection, I have been told that someone from the plant will accompany my Corvette to personally deliver it back to me.

This is what I know at this time. I will learn more specifics in the next day or two, but it looks like this is going to be handled professionally and appropriately at every point. I am extremely appreciative of this!