Who else out there has an order in for a Challenger Hellcat
Discussion
I ordered one from a large CDJR dealer in central FL last July. At the time, Chrysler LLC hadn't announced the price - but the dealer stated a ballpark number, which happened to be bang-on. On my order they included a caveat that they could not confirm the final price until the car was ex works. They used that caveat to gazzump me.
Initially it was slated for delivery late Nov, then late Dec, then they said the car was ex works in mid Jan, but they had received an offer for the car that was far in excess of the list price ($61985) and asked me if I would like to submit a bid for the car, in excess of $110000, or would I like my deposit back.
I was slightly enraged by this and sought legal advice. My attorney said the best I could hope for would be return of deposit + interest (which the dealer agreed to). Had I chosen to pursue it, it would have cost me several thousand dollars in legal and court filing fees - taken several months to get a hearing, with the likely outcome that the dealer would merely agree to order another one, for delivery God only knows when.
The car still hasn't arrived at the dealership and the bid is now over $150k, according to the service manager. There are 3 CDJR main dealers in my area and each has so far been allocated one vehicle apiece - one of the dealers is showing 2 cars in their website inventory, but no accompanying VINs - no cars physically on the lot and a price of "Price on Application".
It's going to be quite some time before these are readily available in the US, so who knows when for an export deal.
Initially it was slated for delivery late Nov, then late Dec, then they said the car was ex works in mid Jan, but they had received an offer for the car that was far in excess of the list price ($61985) and asked me if I would like to submit a bid for the car, in excess of $110000, or would I like my deposit back.
I was slightly enraged by this and sought legal advice. My attorney said the best I could hope for would be return of deposit + interest (which the dealer agreed to). Had I chosen to pursue it, it would have cost me several thousand dollars in legal and court filing fees - taken several months to get a hearing, with the likely outcome that the dealer would merely agree to order another one, for delivery God only knows when.
The car still hasn't arrived at the dealership and the bid is now over $150k, according to the service manager. There are 3 CDJR main dealers in my area and each has so far been allocated one vehicle apiece - one of the dealers is showing 2 cars in their website inventory, but no accompanying VINs - no cars physically on the lot and a price of "Price on Application".
It's going to be quite some time before these are readily available in the US, so who knows when for an export deal.
From USA Today - hmmm.
Some Dodge dealers cheating on Hellcat orders
James R. Healey
4 Hours Ago
USA Today
35
SHARES
3
COMMENTSJoin the Discussion
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Chrysler Group LLC | PRNewsFoto
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
FCA is warning potential buyers that some of its Dodge dealers are cheating them — accepting deposits for more of the high-performance Hellcat models than they are likely to be able to deliver.
The company says the maximum any dealer can expect is one Hellcat model a month — either a Charger four-door or a Challenger coupe, but not one of each. Promising buyers more Hellcats than that limited allocation could be borderline illegal, Dodge parent FCA (formerly Chrysler Group) says.
Dealers sometimes buy cars from other dealers, but for hot models that can lead to prices well above the window sticker. The first dealer will want a big markup on the sale because of strong demand, and the second dealer then will mark up the price paid to the first dealer.
The slap at dealers is extraordinary. Car companies typically look the other way when their franchisees push the limits of acceptable selling, claiming dealers are independent businesses they do not control.
Hellcats — more properly, SRT Hellcats — are 707-horsepower, 6.2-liter, Hemi V-8 muscle cars. Designed as expensive, limited-volume models, FCA has been overwhelmed by demand in these days of an improving economy and relatively low fuel prices.
Dodge hasn't shied from the cars' excesses. It notes, for instance, that the supercharged Hemi V-8 in the $64,900 Charger Hellcat would empty its 18.5-gallon fuel tank in 13 minutes with wide-open throttle at the car's rated maximum 204 mph.
Some Dodge dealers cheating on Hellcat orders
James R. Healey
4 Hours Ago
USA Today
35
SHARES
3
COMMENTSJoin the Discussion
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Chrysler Group LLC | PRNewsFoto
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
FCA is warning potential buyers that some of its Dodge dealers are cheating them — accepting deposits for more of the high-performance Hellcat models than they are likely to be able to deliver.
The company says the maximum any dealer can expect is one Hellcat model a month — either a Charger four-door or a Challenger coupe, but not one of each. Promising buyers more Hellcats than that limited allocation could be borderline illegal, Dodge parent FCA (formerly Chrysler Group) says.
Dealers sometimes buy cars from other dealers, but for hot models that can lead to prices well above the window sticker. The first dealer will want a big markup on the sale because of strong demand, and the second dealer then will mark up the price paid to the first dealer.
The slap at dealers is extraordinary. Car companies typically look the other way when their franchisees push the limits of acceptable selling, claiming dealers are independent businesses they do not control.
Hellcats — more properly, SRT Hellcats — are 707-horsepower, 6.2-liter, Hemi V-8 muscle cars. Designed as expensive, limited-volume models, FCA has been overwhelmed by demand in these days of an improving economy and relatively low fuel prices.
Dodge hasn't shied from the cars' excesses. It notes, for instance, that the supercharged Hemi V-8 in the $64,900 Charger Hellcat would empty its 18.5-gallon fuel tank in 13 minutes with wide-open throttle at the car's rated maximum 204 mph.
Mexican cuties said:
Pants, any idea what year, we have 2009 challenger, So not sure if that includes ours??does any one have the link where you can enter the vin number to double check
, already had 2 recalls sorted fantastically
Ta
Where have you had recall work done ? as I have a 2009 SRT8 and never taken it anywhere as I service myself so not aware of any recalls, I would be interested on how to check, thanks Vaughan, already had 2 recalls sorted fantastically
Ta
Mexican cuties said:
That's good, we only found out when giving our vin to match some touch up paint, hughes of beaconsfield couldn't have been more helpful and all sorted now
Looks a dry weekend so time to dust off the cobwebs!!!!
That's nice to know that their happy to help, I picked up some part from their for my wifes 300C and found them very helpful, there was a dodge viper in there being serviced at the time so assumed they would possible be able to work on my car if need be, Knowl Hill were never that helpful which was my local dealer before hand. Mine gets the cob webs blown out every day Looks a dry weekend so time to dust off the cobwebs!!!!
My order's in. Hoping I don't have to wait too long, (won't be surprised if I do) but I'm willing to pick it up from the other side of the country where a mate runs a dealership.
I had a good nose around one today that had co e into the dealer 30 minutes earlier, it's all it took to convince me I was barking up the wrong tree buying a scat pack one.
Matt, if you didn't manage to get one I have 2 solid contacts id be happy to put your way if you're happy to buy out of state. They won't gouge you, but can't guarantee a delivery date - only that dodge have pledged to fulfil every order placed.
I had a good nose around one today that had co e into the dealer 30 minutes earlier, it's all it took to convince me I was barking up the wrong tree buying a scat pack one.
Matt, if you didn't manage to get one I have 2 solid contacts id be happy to put your way if you're happy to buy out of state. They won't gouge you, but can't guarantee a delivery date - only that dodge have pledged to fulfil every order placed.
Stu R said:
My order's in. Hoping I don't have to wait too long, (won't be surprised if I do) but I'm willing to pick it up from the other side of the country where a mate runs a dealership.
I had a good nose around one today that had co e into the dealer 30 minutes earlier, it's all it took to convince me I was barking up the wrong tree buying a scat pack one.
Matt, if you didn't manage to get one I have 2 solid contacts id be happy to put your way if you're happy to buy out of state. They won't gouge you, but can't guarantee a delivery date - only that dodge have pledged to fulfil every order placed.
Kind of you to think of me Stu - A dealer over in Bradenton FL reckons he can get me one and will guarantee the price on placement of order - what he's struggling with is specifics re color/trim - and when. I'm a little disillusioned - and my Ford dealer is all over me trying to get me to 86 the Hellcat and place an order on a GT350 with him. My Ford guy says he can give me a solid delivery date too and a factory visit to drive it off the line. Currently in limbo... I had a good nose around one today that had co e into the dealer 30 minutes earlier, it's all it took to convince me I was barking up the wrong tree buying a scat pack one.
Matt, if you didn't manage to get one I have 2 solid contacts id be happy to put your way if you're happy to buy out of state. They won't gouge you, but can't guarantee a delivery date - only that dodge have pledged to fulfil every order placed.
Matt Harper said:
Stu R said:
My order's in. Hoping I don't have to wait too long, (won't be surprised if I do) but I'm willing to pick it up from the other side of the country where a mate runs a dealership.
I had a good nose around one today that had co e into the dealer 30 minutes earlier, it's all it took to convince me I was barking up the wrong tree buying a scat pack one.
Matt, if you didn't manage to get one I have 2 solid contacts id be happy to put your way if you're happy to buy out of state. They won't gouge you, but can't guarantee a delivery date - only that dodge have pledged to fulfil every order placed.
Kind of you to think of me Stu - A dealer over in Bradenton FL reckons he can get me one and will guarantee the price on placement of order - what he's struggling with is specifics re color/trim - and when. I'm a little disillusioned - and my Ford dealer is all over me trying to get me to 86 the Hellcat and place an order on a GT350 with him. My Ford guy says he can give me a solid delivery date too and a factory visit to drive it off the line. Currently in limbo... I had a good nose around one today that had co e into the dealer 30 minutes earlier, it's all it took to convince me I was barking up the wrong tree buying a scat pack one.
Matt, if you didn't manage to get one I have 2 solid contacts id be happy to put your way if you're happy to buy out of state. They won't gouge you, but can't guarantee a delivery date - only that dodge have pledged to fulfil every order placed.
I'm 4th on the list at the dealer, which is going to be a b
h of a wait if they're only getting 2 a year. They've had 2 so far this year and are one of the few to have turned over a Viper recently, so I'm hoping dodge is feeling kind. As for the GT350 - that's my backup plan, I've been trying to put a deposit on one for a few weeks to avoid what's happened with me being late to the party on the Challenger, but nobody around these parts seems to know anything about them just yet.
Looks like I got in just in the nick of time! Just called my dealer who said a guy wanted to order one yesterday and they're not taking any more orders - hellcat doesn't appear as an option on their ordering system now. Also, he thinks the power trains are in short supply as hardly anyone has ordered Chargers but the lead time has gone through the roof on them.
Matt - is your ford guy taking orders? I'm having a hell of time getting anyone who knows anything about the GT350 yet up here.
Matt - is your ford guy taking orders? I'm having a hell of time getting anyone who knows anything about the GT350 yet up here.
This whole allocation thing is a real PITA. Not helped by the fact that Dodge does not enlighten people as to what the hell (excuse the pun) is going on. It looks like Dodge have put the order book on hold we presume to build the back log of orders going back to September last year. Whether that means the likes of Bob Frederick will have all his sold orders fulfilled is a different matter.
My advice to both of you is to try and fine one on the lot. I've had an deposit in since August with no sign of the car being built. It took me about a month and countless on line chats and emails to eventually find my exact spec car on the lot and available at list price or MSRP.
Even cars that have an ADM of $15,000 most are doing deals to sell them as to not hurt their future Hellcat allocations. I think the only thing you have to do decide is if you are willing to pay ADM and by how much. In my mind I was going to pay $5,000 over, just got very lucky.
www.hellcat.org is a wealth of information with many helpful people. Also posting cars that are available. Well worth a visit. I wish you both good luck in obtaining your Hellcats but honestly go find a physical car and save yourself the agonising wait.
My advice to both of you is to try and fine one on the lot. I've had an deposit in since August with no sign of the car being built. It took me about a month and countless on line chats and emails to eventually find my exact spec car on the lot and available at list price or MSRP.
Even cars that have an ADM of $15,000 most are doing deals to sell them as to not hurt their future Hellcat allocations. I think the only thing you have to do decide is if you are willing to pay ADM and by how much. In my mind I was going to pay $5,000 over, just got very lucky.
www.hellcat.org is a wealth of information with many helpful people. Also posting cars that are available. Well worth a visit. I wish you both good luck in obtaining your Hellcats but honestly go find a physical car and save yourself the agonising wait.
Gassing Station | Yank Motors | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff