Dealership has five days to sell entire inventory

The soon to be terminated 789 Chrysler dealerships have all of five days to sell thousands of Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep models, or else the damned dealers may have to eat their remaining inventory. When the termination letters went out on May 14, the pink-slipped dealers had 44,000 new cars and trucks on their lots, and there are still plenty of vehicles left to sell. Times are tough for the 789 closing Chrysler dealerships, but for customers looking to get into a new Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep, this may be the best time ever to get off the sidelines and buy.
Virginia dealer Pohanka Chrysler-Dodge is having an "everything must go" sale to rid itself of its remaining models, and the deals are reportedly off the charts. The dealer's sales team already moved 80 models since the notices went out, leaving a substantial 40 vehicles to be sold off in less than five days. One woman, who was interviewed by CNN, received 40% off of the price of a well-appointed Dodge Nitro. The midsized SUV carried a $29,170 price tag, but she paid only $17,510. With only five days left to sell its remaining vehicles, dealer Ray O'Bryhim says he may have to discount vehicles even further to avoid losing big with unused inventory.
Since Chrysler is in bankruptcy proceedings, it isn't obligated to buy back any leftover inventory, and the dealers aren't legally able to sell new Chrysler products without a franchise license, which they'll lose after their contracts expire in five days. Chrysler points out that since it hasn't produced vehicles since May 1, many dealers are hungry for inventory, and they've been buying vehicles from the soon to be closing retail stores.
Gallery: Closing Chrysler dealer sale
[Source: CNN]











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
GS 11:45AM (6/04/2009)
This is my hometown dealer, and I stopped by yesterday. They had a white Challenger R/T stickering for 30K and the salesman said he would let it go for 28,500. He said that the Challenger is pretty much the only vehicle that isn't being firesaled, the vans and trucks were going from 20-40 percent off. I'm going to keep my eye on the Challenger this weekend and if it has not moved by Sunday, I'm going to see if they'll sweeten their offer a bit.
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abbas350 7:20PM (6/04/2009)
i guess 60% off of a new viper is out of the question
c. moreton 10:18PM (6/04/2009)
offer him 18,00 for that auto. They will take it.
JAck 5:51PM (6/05/2009)
Dude... That is a steal!... Thats the price of a base model charger O.o
Challengers around here sell for $45K No joke. I looked into it about 2 months ago
RemusRM 11:54AM (6/04/2009)
Big Valley Dodge in Van Nuys, CA had a similar sale with 20-60 percent off. The bad is that all these sales were on 2007 NEW or 2008 NEW cars. A crossfire was 60 percent off but when I went to KBB was the same price for a used on with moderate milage.
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gumby 12:22PM (6/04/2009)
Not surprising. So with their "Fire Sale" you're basically getting the same instant depreciation as when you drive a full priced car off the lot, you're just not paying for it.
TruthKid 12:57PM (6/04/2009)
I wish they had deals like this when I bought my 300 a couple years ago...
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TomdeTomTom 1:12PM (6/04/2009)
Honestly I'd rather have a healthy Chrysler that could service and support my vehicle where I know my warranty wouldn't have problems... than even heavy discounts
TomdeTomTom 1:10PM (6/04/2009)
If your buying a model you plan to running till it stops...this is a great time. I saw the Van Nuys ads in the paper...wow!
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Dave 2:02PM (6/04/2009)
What about their pre-owned inventory
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Martin 3:50PM (6/04/2009)
Were do i find these dealers?
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chuck 5:37PM (6/04/2009)
You could not give me one of their cars. Who is going to stand behind it?
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xtasi 6:45PM (6/04/2009)
Since Chrysler if bankrupt and in liquidation and a new company is being formed... will they still honor their warranties? There was an article, here on AB not too long ago, about how some people had warranty claims that Chrysler wasn't covering because of bankruptcy, what happens when the "new" company emerges?
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/21/consumer-group-objects-to-chrysler-bankruptcy-on-grounds-custome/
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/18/chrysler-reportedly-bouncing-checks-to-owners-of-lemon-law-vehic/
I guess that risk is worth to some people.
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Michelle T. 8:58PM (6/04/2009)
No thanks. Love my Honda Civic. Have had it for four years and not one repair needed! Have almost always owned Hondas -- simply because I saw one too many friends or family members with major problems with American cars.
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danno 8:59PM (6/04/2009)
strange how certain chysler dealer's were given just 26 day's to eliminate there inventory...and g.m dealer's who close will have over a year.. odd...Of course all chyrsler dealer's who are being closed did not support obama in last year's election...so say no more..the czar's have spoken!! Feel's likes russia...
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danno 9:34PM (6/04/2009)
Listen.. lady please.. do the people who support this country a great big favor and move to japan..really why not live a life that is completly breakdown free..move there and all your problem's will no longer happen..And really it's much better to support them 100% than the paltry 20% or so.you do now..you will love it!! And god forbid we should have another world war.. you will have a job building munition;s for them..And in today's world it could happen..Oh don't worry about america we will be a push-over..you see all of our auto plants will be closed by then and we can't build the plane's we would need,or the missle's..so congradulation's on finding that new gov home .many thanks for purchasing your asian car;s over the year's..
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Darin 5:25PM (6/05/2009)
Your American pride is appreciated Danno, I see it in both your postings- but it is warped; disparaging to others successes and ignorant or dismissive of our failures. An attitude of that sort will not earn respect that America should aspire to, through leading by example. We do not have to be the best at everything, and just because someone else does something better than we do does not make us less-than.
Maybe other countries make better cars that cost less - why is it so hard to be complimentary of their success? We need to step up our game, not belittle theirs.
Don W 10:00PM (6/04/2009)
Some amazing prices! It makes me wonder just how much money do they make when they sell new cars. What is the cost for making them?
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charmaine a nygaard 10:36PM (6/07/2009)
I live in Suffolk County and would like to buy a discounted Saturn SUV.
Can you tell me a good price and where to buy it.
Thanks CAN
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Ken Garcia 10:51PM (6/04/2009)
Its June of 2009. It was real clear that in October 2008 we were headed to this day. My recommendation to the situation then was not rocket science. GM needed cash. They should have lowered credit thresholds thru GMAC. Irregardless of credit. They should have low balled the cars then. The government shouldnt have given em a dime until they nearly depleted their inventories. They should have done so with limiting the warranty based on credit and or price or a combination thereof. Instead. We are there anyway, they are going Chap 11, they are laying off thousands and the worst part about it is all the white collar over paid folks who continue to get paid way too much and we the the public are paying their salaries with the bailout and the folks who are holding the bag are the suppliers and their staffs. Did the bailout help them?
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