Well, the car hasnt been what they wanted, far, very far from plans.
What does it needs, maybe a good marketing, in my opinion it has one of the worst marketing in the Industry.
Several dealers stock them, in my opinion, most of those dealers shouldnt even exist, I think the Viper deserves much better facilities, at least a decent showroom, with one of a kind exhibition, Chrysler should stop building it right now, and start againby the end of this year with the 2015 model, believe me, if they dont build no even one more car, by the end of the year, dealer will still stock several

Marketing, hasnt been good for SRT at all, all others SRT are also not selling very well, maybe its part of the price, but I still think their marketing is fery, very bad right now, in fact I cant remember something relevant lately from SRT, not a marketing that come into my mind.

If this will continue, Ralph will soon start to stop playing with the brand and will have to start working again, I dont see a bright future fore the SRT brand, they will stop making a profit.

 

Plus.....it's VERY expensive.

 

IMO, the problem with Viper is that everyone still sees it as a Dodge Viper, but now its pricing is in Porsche territory. I don't think it's a poorly-designed or poorly-built vehicle by any stretch, but all the media outlets say how the less-expensive "Stingray" is now faster and better. It needs to cost $40k less across the board for the same options / spec sheets (if not moreso) to be in the ballpark of the average American sports-car buyer. Because for those people who want attention and prestige, it's easier to live with a 911.

 

"Gilles said that many dealers keep the expensive cars, which list for over $100,000, locked in their showrooms, limiting sales"

Seriously?? Sales are being restricted because the vehicles are locked in showrooms? Maybe if they didn't cost $100k-$150k they wouldn't have to be locked in showrooms...

 

Time to call Sharp. Viper needs to jump upscale as the new ME412, Need Firepower, Gilles needs to seek other opportunities.

 

IMO, the problem with Viper is that everyone still sees it as a Dodge Viper, but now its pricing is in Porsche territory.

The problem with the SRT Viper is that it's basically a Dodge Viper, except it now costs like a Porsche.

You can't have an extreme sports car without performance numbers that put it on another level when compared to a vette. You can't ask people to scold their butts and calves, break their backs, sweat bullets when they drive, if you don't also offer them the best driving experience out there to compensate for it.

Or you can, but you can't ask for all that money for it. Especially not when the elephant in the room costs a lot less.

It's back to the drawing board, time to fix it and come back with a vengeance before it's too late and financial losses start to accumulate.

 

Well said RVC, the whole SRT lineup needs dose of reality when it comes to pricing.

 

All the marketing in the world won't convince people to pay more for a car than they think it is worth. This seems to be a common problem across the SRT lineup. If they can't sell the cars cheaper, the SRT brand may well fold.

 

But since SRT does not do dealer assistance (i.e. rebates/incentives), has there been any financial losses for Chrysler the company, and not just Chrysler dealers?

 

All the marketing in the world won't convince people to pay more for a car than they think it is worth. This seems to be a common problem across the SRT lineup. If they can't sell the cars cheaper, the SRT brand may well fold.

That would be a real shame, considering the roots of the brand.

Time to speak up and see if anyone up there is actually listening.

Mike

But since SRT does not do dealer assistance (i.e. rebates/incentives), has there been any financial losses for Chrysler the company, and not just Chrysler dealers?

I assume dealers only in the long run... When they lose money on one they have little incentive to buy more for their dealer lots.

Local Jeep dealer used to stock as many first gen SRT GC's as they could get. Now, because they just sit on the lot, they are very cautious about them.

Right now they have three, a 2012, a 2014 that they have had since before Christmas, and a 2014 they got about two weeks ago.

They actually had two 2012's... They sold one of them in October of 2013. Still can't get rid of this current one. Price is heavily discounted.

Mike

 

What % of previous generations were Vert sales? If they're shutting down for 2 months, perhaps some retooling is in order?
This brutal prolonged winter isn't helping things either.

Also, they need to quit sending 140k testers for review. how about a BASE GTS model for the mags, instead of one with 15k worth of options. This confuses people, they think now that ALL Vipers cost 140k when, in reality, the 100k base SRT better represents the heart and soul of the Viper.
People somehow think that the Viper is slower than even a Stingray. (judging from user comments on several sites). Even though the TA retook the LS record, the general public seems to think that the Viper is a straight line car, worthless for anything else than showboating and smokey burnouts.

 

Time to call Sharp. Viper needs to jump upscale as the new ME412, Need Firepower, Gilles needs to seek other opportunities.

The 1992 Viper was a game changer. This Viper is a bench warmer.

 

I have said it for years, the Viper needs to evolve, part of evolution is getting better, much better and moving upscale. SRT should not build this car. It should simply be called Viper, that is the brand. GTS, ACR are the model names. Turn the Viper into Ferrari. Ferrari is the brand, 458 Italia is the model. I also believe they got away from the core of the Viper, raw, unadulterated, exhilaration. The fact that he wanted the performance to be more attainable by the average guy - that is what a Corvette is for, the average guy. Too much clutter - big speakers, 8.4" screen and reconfigurable TFT display - all nonsense IMO. When people think about the Viper, they don't think about conveniences, luxury, accessible performance, gadgets, they think about a scary, out of controlled performance monster. Shelby 427 cobra. I feel the world has left the Viper in the 90s, quite frankly. This car is unsure of where it needs to be, philosophically speaking. I think the problem is complicated, everyone has their opinion. Honestly, I truly believe this car will never get to where I think it should be, sad. They don't have the money. Please don't lecture me on what you think I should have said. This is my opinion, spare me your rhetoric, I don't car. This is the car I have dreamed of and it hurts to see it lose it's way. Death of Jeep, more like Death of a Viper. No, this is not a memorandum about what I think about Traction Control or ESP, it's not, that is mandated. They lost focus and tried to make this car appealing to too many of the wrong people, they lost focus, period.

The 1992 Viper was a game changer. This Viper is a bench warmer.

One simple statement with huge impact. You are right. I was very disappointed, still am, with this new car. It's not a Viper, period.

 

I have said it for years, the Viper needs to evolve, part of evolution is getting better, much better and moving upscale. SRT should not build this car. Too much clutter - big speakers, 8.4" screen and reconfigurable TFT display - all nonsense IMO. When people think about the Viper, they don't think about conveniences, luxury, accessible performance, gadgets, they think about a scary, out of controlled performance monster. Shelby 427 cobra. I feel the world has left the Viper in the 90s, quite frankly. This car is unsure of where it needs to be, philosophically speaking.

I agree, and it's the point of my post... you have a triple-digit-priced car that is having an identity crisis. It's got premium superb quality leather and all these fancy options available... and yet it's loud, it's hot, it's obnoxious - it's bipolar in the WRONG ways. They either need to go one direction or the other. In other words, amenities identical to the last-gen Viper for the one direction, or amenities in the other if they want to try to price themselves into Porche's market: Rear-exiting exhaust that doesn't pump heat, noise and vibrations directly to the occupants, etc. I agree that this is not an "Everyman's car" - but they are trying to make it be one by adding stuff that people who really want a Viper couldn't care less about. Honestly, I would LOVE to have a Viper. A blue GTS. But not this current generation. I want a Viper, not a leather-wrapped identity crisis. Yes, they have the $tripper models that cost "Only" 110k or so, that are closer to a true Viper in blood and execution. The $140k+ Vipers need to have sound deadening, rear-exiting exhaust with crossovers, and other "Luxuries" that put them into competition within the market they've been priced into.

 

From Autonews:

http://www.autonews.com/article/20140318/OEM01/140319833/chrysler-to-idle-viper-plant-for-two-months-on-slow-sales?cciid=email-autonews-daily&r=3771D6126356D8M

TMD

 

My local dealer has had the same two Vipers sitting in the showroom for 6 months +

 

Mine has had a red one sitting right by the front doors for a few months now. It's permanently locked, and has "Please do not touch" signs on it.

They just got a second one - black with stripes.

Wonder how long they will sit there.

 

The 1992 Viper was a game changer. This Viper is a bench warmer.

that's why I said the ME412 should be the new Viper years ago.

I would suggest folks look at Motor Trends Car Of The Year show on their you tube channel.

odd how keeping production down and the price up came back to bite them.

 

I have pics somewhere but there is a Dodge Dealer here in Colorado springs that has a black GTS. I took a picture of the dealer sticker in the window, the skinny one with the mark ups, since the Marony(sp?) Sticker wasn't on the car.. but anyways it said 170,000 dollars... are you kidding me.. what kind of markup is that.. I see the problem besides being over priced in the first place..now its over-OVER priced lol.. Sad really

 

"Gilles said that many dealers keep the expensive cars, which list for over $100,000, locked in their showrooms, limiting sales"

Seriously?? Sales are being restricted because the vehicles are locked in showrooms? Maybe if they didn't cost $100k-$150k they wouldn't have to be locked in showrooms...

So, you did not get Ralphs message Im seeing...

Time to call Sharp. Viper needs to jump upscale as the new ME412, Need Firepower, Gilles needs to seek other opportunities.

We need the Firepower with a BIG V8

 

So, you did not get Ralphs message Im seeing...
We need the Firepower with a BIG V8

Or a hellcat....

 

SRT will try to improve more the Viper, they will try to give you more for your money, no major exterior changes arround the corner.

 

hellcat, And I would expand the SRT lineup with new Alfa Line so we would have an SRT Razor/Demon/Avenger badged SRT only.

 

everyone keeps saying its priced like a Porsche... Come on now... even in 1998 the Viper still costed 80-90K That was still Porsche Territory.

What i think needs to happen is a Less Powerful Viper. De-tune the Standard Viper in to a actual Grand Tourer (call it the GT) 570hp and a road friendly soft suspension with Rear outlet exhaust. some might not like it but its better than a entry level V8 Viper.

 

Viper's fine. The Roadster will sell very well when it debuts, and it would be a very good opportunity to introduce a less expensive Viper, too.

I agree, though, that the dealers, or at least the majority, are clueless when it comes to moving them them through the door. At every dealer I have seen, they nevr really intended to sell their VIper, they serve only as novelty, and a very fast tax write off. Heck even the local Ford dealer buys super Shelby's, Rausch's, and other Tuner Mustangs, and the sales manager (a friend), admits that they sell them, in spite of themselves, and usually for very little to no profit. He told me that selling such cars is a specialized skillset, lacking in most.