Click above for a gallery of Viper carnage
Imagine making the purchase of your dreams - a brand new 2008 Dodge Viper with only five miles on the odometer. It's sitting safely in the showroom without a scratch just waiting for you to drive it off the lot. The only thing it needs is a tank of gas, which of course the dealership offers to pay for. Here's where the story goes terribly wrong. A member of SRTForums.com and employee of a Southern California Dodge dealership says that the Viper was headed back from the gas station and only about 1/8 of a mile from the dealership (!) when the driver lost control of the 600-horsepower beast and crashed into four parked cars. The result is one severely smashed up snake. We'll be watching eBay Motors for a low miles, slightly scratched 2008 Dodge Viper with a full tank of gas. Thanks for the tip, Ian!
[Source: SRTForums.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
tbss_in_the_D @ Apr 1st 2008 9:06AM
The question of the day is what happened to the employee? I would not like to be that guy!
WillDaThrill @ Apr 1st 2008 10:46AM
OK, not to sound like an ass or anything, but you wrecked (probably totaled) an 80K+ car into 4 other cars. You think they'll keep you on even after the dealership had to eat the repair cost on the whole incident?
Greg @ Apr 1st 2008 11:14AM
According to the thread, which of course no one read, he didn't get fired and he's not paying for the damage. He definitely SHOULD have been fired, but I guess the owner decided otherwise.
Dealerships have insurance precisely for situations like this. It's not like the kid would be able to pay for that sort of damage anyway. The original poster suggested that he might have to pay the deductible, which seems fair.
Randy @ Apr 1st 2008 1:22PM
Two words: "Owner's Newphew"
BAMF @ Apr 1st 2008 1:45PM
No way, the question of the day is: How does a car with only 5 miles on it have an empty tank? You're telling me he totalled a car over 1 or 2 gallons?
Benfolio @ Apr 1st 2008 3:47PM
Vehicles are delivered with very little gas in them, usually less than 5 gallons, to selling dealers.
Ever taken a new car for a test drive??? Usually the low fuel light is already on and the needle's near E after the car's been PDI'd (Pre Delivery Instected, usually a PDI Tech will drive a car for 3-5 miles to check it out for problems) and moved around the lot or whatnot.
That One Person @ Apr 1st 2008 4:39PM
I work with a guy who used to work at a Jeep dealership. They used to take brand new Jeeps or Jeeps that were in for service and actually go offroading with them. He said they used to have a huge dirt pile behind the dealer and they would normally jump Wranglers off of it.
Him and three other employees did this. Never got fired for that type of thing. But you know what the three other employees got fired for (the guy I work with quit because of money issues)? Using dealership money to buy a gallon or two of gas every couple of weeks for their personal vehicles.
jack @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:50AM
hes probably working for yugo now
Larry @ Apr 1st 2008 9:11AM
That'll buff right out?
dejal @ Apr 1st 2008 9:40AM
You beat me to it!!!!!
I wanted to say that.
NOreasonY @ Apr 1st 2008 9:14AM
I would assume with a gas station 1/8 miles from the stealership and crashing into 4 parked cars.....this guys got no excuse...aaaaaaand hes pretty much screwed hahaha
Rick @ Apr 1st 2008 9:15AM
Someone was having a brief moment of fun that they will be paying for for the rest of their lives.
MemphisNET @ Apr 1st 2008 9:15AM
RIP mad car.
Wow... so... mr. showboat stomped on the gas and... well... now you know the rest of the story.
Todd @ Apr 1st 2008 9:25AM
Ahhhh, an anomaly in the "More money than skills" department. Interesting, driver does not actually have the wealth, but the end result is the same.
When oh when will there be a barrier to entry? Some written test, or skills assessment that will prevent people without skill and or common sense from getting behind the wheel of very high performance cars? Where is the universal test, that upon completion generates an allowed list of vehicles....THAT IGNORES PERSONAL INCOME!
( computer print out ) "...Based on your performance during the written and road course testing you are allowed to drive: [none] please use public transportation.
MajorGeek @ Apr 1st 2008 9:32AM
Great response Todd, kids prove every day they lack the skills to be horsing around, even if they are given professional chances, cough Nick Hogan, cough. One nice thing about my Viper is so many of them get wrecked, lowering the numbers still out there. I lost control of mine once when I got over confident and will not make that mistake again.
CC13 @ Apr 1st 2008 9:31AM
How's that for Aprils Fool Day...
Gstill @ Apr 1st 2008 9:31AM
That's what the dealership gets for hiring Hulk Hogan's son.
Mohannad Aldubayan @ Apr 1st 2008 9:34AM
Even if the car made it safely back to the dealer, i really wouldn't like anybody driving my car around no matter how close gas station is!!!!!
When the employee leaves dodge i think Kia is a great choice, cars are cheap there :))
Cas @ Apr 2nd 2008 12:21PM
Whenever I purchase a new vehicle, my dealer always gives me a voucher for a full tank of gas at the station across the highway from the dealer. i have to pass that staion on my way home so it's actually quite a convenient little arrangement. I've been to that station four times already. I think my dealer likes me, lol!!
vince @ Apr 1st 2008 9:36AM
SMOOTHE MOVE EX-LAX