A dealer has some “used” SRTs with under 100 miles on them for a good price. They said they bought them at a “Chrysler Auction” back in January and April and that they were used (or were to be used - I am not sure which) as Demos/show cars.

Should this raise any red flags? Anyone ever heard of a Chrysler Auction? I assume it is some sort of manufacturer auction for dealers. They assured me they are not damaged in any way (flood, hail, Wind damaged, etc). I am tempted to pick one up, but want to make sure this isn’t something odd. I know Subaru had a bunch of “Wind damaged” cars they auctioned to dealers late last year – cars that were damaged sitting in port by some storm. These sold used for steep discounts on the East coast – but they also advertised them as “damaged”.

- Patrick

 

These are most likely from the DCX stock reduction program. That's how I got mine so cheap. They may have been used as corporate demos or had minor transport damage (any damage repaired).
The only drawback would be the warranty start date being the day it was turned over to the stock reduction plan. You may lose a month or two of warranty. The cars released through the stock reduction program must be sold as used cars. Mine was sold as used and I am the first owner. I'm even getting the luggage.
If there has been any work done to the car, federal law requires them to release a disclosure. They will do it. Any damage done before a car is sold by a dealer will not show on carfax or other investigative site. Again, it will be listed as a used car despite having never been sold.
If they've got what you want, go for it. It's a good way to get a nice car dirt cheap.

 

Be careful with the Chrysler Inventory Reduction auction sales. There is a link here that had a guy who bought an SRT-6 from a dealership as a "new", "untitled" dealer "executive" car (ie. demo or other) and it turned out it was beat up on the SRT Track Experience as the defacto SRT-6 used for training and hard tranny use on the SRT Track Experience where drivers pay $300 to beat the **** out of various SRT vehicles. He found out the hard way afterwards with tranny problems, and he discovered a "mysterious" shadow on the top of the windshield while cleaning the car one day where they had previously stuck on the SRT Track Experience vinyl from it's early hey-day. I will try to find that post and put the link up here.

Found it here: https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ack+Experience

Have a 3rd party mechanic check out ANY vehicle you buy at ANY auction.

 

Thanks for the responses!

The car I am looking at only has 53 miles on it, so it shouldn't have been beaten on too badly - if it had more I probably would be worried it was used as some sort of track demo car. It was "bought" in April, so I will lose about three months of warranty - but for the price I am ok with that. I asked again and they assured me it has sustained no damage and has had no body work done to it. I should be picking it up this weekend!

 

Advice above is correct, however, if the vehicles that you are looking at have less than 100 miles, they were not used in the SRT experience, not possible. I just bought a program car, it was registered in Mich 6+ mos ago, had 2.7K miles on it (obviously the owner didn't drive it much), i've had mine 9 days now and a have put 700 miles on it! As Feet indicated, ask for the car paperwork (he and I were looking at the same SRT - he got there first), but the dealer gave us full disclosure on the "issue".
Good luck and check back in if you have any thoughts.

 

At what price?

 

Did I snipe you on that one? How close to a deal were you when I got the papers?
The salesman (Pat Durham) said that someone called a couple hours after I returned the signed buyers order.

 

LOL...I was waiting on some money (commissions) to come in and I was gonna get it. I'd been talking with them for about 3 weeks before you bought it. NO worries buddy, I wasn't sure I wanted the SRT anyway, I love it, but just wasn't sure it was the right thing for me. I still didn't have my "funny money" in hand when you bought it, I hadn't put a deposit on it because I hadn't made up my mind...I'm just glad someone here got it.


Yep, that was me calling Pat. I saw your post the day you bought it (hadn't picked it up) and I knew it was the same car.

 

$29,000. Not as good of deal as some have managed - but about $1,500 less than I have been able to find a new one for. As long as it is undamaged (unrepaired) I don't mind giving up three months of warranty to save over a grand.

 

Where was the SRT experience held?? California?

 

You bought a srt for 29k? Really? If so I'm ready to trade up.

 

All models of The SRT's we drove @ the track experience had 3-4K miles on them. And yes they were thrashed hard all day long. Surely they take those back and tear em down for durability testing, can't think of a better SEVERE duty than that. Ask Dr Z and see what happens.

My '98 Dak R/T @ 38K miles was bought back, then sold by Chrysler @ auction. There was an class action suit for tow rating on them and they bought back hundreds of them, put a new/lower tow rating sticker on and sold them all as used @ auction. Paid me full MSRP and for the 4K in goodies I had receipts for, so I drove it almost 2 years for free.

DB

@ the SRT Nats, not a CF in sight.

 

Yes, I paid $29,000 + ttl (I am in Texas as is the dealer FWIW). I found out it was previously a show car (did a few months for Chrysler going to various car shows). It wasn't driven much (less than 100 miles) though I am sure it probably got sat in and prodded by the car show attendees. It was then auctioned off by Chrysler to the dealer. So I got it "used", though it had never been titled. Its warranty had started in April ‘06 when the dealer bought it - so I lost three months of that. Plus someone made off with the luggage at some point. Still I think it was an ok deal. The dealer has one with 2,000 miled on it (don't know what the history on it is) they are asking $28,999 for - I am sure you could get it for $28,000 or so.

 

I'm going to look at one this weekend. I've already got a limited coupe but if I can upgrade and get rid of my interstate noise. I will definitely do that.