Dropping it hard, Dodge has announced they will lower the price of the 2015 Dodge SRT Viper by $15,000. With slumping sales, the halo ride of Dodge has seen better days. Launched in 1992, this high end performance exotic started at an asking price of around $50,000 and some change. Twenty plus years later the price has doubled. Making the only hand crafted American supercar affordable to an elite few.
Rising cause for concern, the Dodge boys appear to be in a huddle with a new game plan to ensure the SRT Viper’s future. With the Viper plant on idle twice already this year, due to overstocked inventory not moving off showroom floors, many have speculated whether the Viper will survive. With more than 600 examples said to be unsold; this translates into a 434-day supply on hand. Definite cause for concern.
Through August of this year, Dodge has sold just 438 Viper units, which is barely enough to keep the business afloat. With Chrysler absorbing SRT back into the fold, the Viper will now come available on showroom floors throughout the Dodge network. A major move on Dodge’s part, as in recent years the Viper was only offered exclusively through SRT locations as a standalone. Clearly a strategic move, to market the Viper to a larger arena in the hopes of moving more units.
With a $15,000 reduction, the SRT Viper will now be offered at $84,995. A massive deduction over the previous year model. To ensure loyal fans are taken care of and there is no cause for concern related to depreciation for existing owners, Dodge has a surprise for you. Anyone that already bought the latest Viper, which was all new for 2013, will be given a $15,000 certificate towards a new Viper—whether they trade in their existing car or purchase a new Viper outright. This $15,000 certificate is in addition to the $15,000 price reduction. This means existing Viper owners could walk away with a 2015 SRT Viper for as little as $70,000.
All unsold cars from previous model years will also feature the same discount, effective immediately. Dodge says it will be repositioning every Viper model with a lower starting price, but has yet to reveal details for these. With such a large reduction in price, this could make the SRT Viper more of a competitor for the 2015 C7 Stingray Corvette. However we don’t think the Chevy crew is too concerned yet.
Getting their heads back in the game, the Dodge boys appear to be ready to take the only hand crafted American car to the playing field in a throw down match, to remind the consumer why this is the ride of choice. With the SRT Viper and Stingray Corvette price point closing in, which of these sweet rides would you choose?