Bill;
It is good you have options to remedy but there are many that want it from the factory just that way and matching the MRSP sheets. If I was dropping the $150k, you better believe it would have to be EXACTLY what I want from the factory period, no exceptions. There is just something about a completely 100% original from the factory car versus a modified after the fact car as the later conjures up visions of "modified tuner" with the good and bad that comes with it. With the implied and expressed SRT Business Model to this point and where we thought SRT was going with build-to-order customs, the decision to remove certain options from the factory raises a lot more questions and concerns than simply not offering the packages. There is a sense of knee **** reactiveness and disconnect to what we are seeing which translates to unprofessionalism and questions trust. Call it teething, which it is to a degree being in the new Fiat company and reopening with a new car, but again timely communications is key.
In the end, there should just be one car, an SRT Viper base model with the ability to custom order it with any and every option as needed. Get rid of the two models and packages etc., just make it one model with infinite option possibilities so to speak. No need for fancy on-line tracking and ordering systems. We are talking about 800 to 1,000 cars. You can track everything on an Excel worksheet. It is not rocket science. Not saying a nice small Cloud-based ordering and tracking system could not be very easily developed and implemented. The bottom line is why waste the effort of additional models. The community and owners will realize and recognize certain combinations as desireable, etc. just like a Ford Mustang Super Cobra jet (SCJ) and a COPO Camero in the olden days. Just open it up like Burger King and let people have it their way. SRT is still making the insane mark up on the individual options anyway. Models and packages are a way to cut down the price of the car by packaging. There are zero savings to packaging options offered by SRT now with the Viper so what is the point? Making a single option unavailable on an SRT model when doing so may sell 50 more cars for the situaiton than people on the fence who do not want everything in a GTS. That is where SRT is making the absolute wrong move with the packages and models.
It is just getting a little old in regards to the official, unofficial information, he said, she said of the whole experience. The car appears to be a great car as most that have them (actually ALL I believe who have posted here) love them. However it is purely buying experience of the the business side of marketing, operations and customer service that appear to be lacking. As an example being an engineer (which I am, but on the non technical business side nowadays), I understand the real difficulties in making other non-traditional engineers interact with people. It's not mosts fortay. Recognize that and fix the problem in the organization. Again, we are not talking about mass production here. It sounds like the right people still need to come together in some of these areas I listed above in SRT to hit it out of the park. Just having gear-heads do everything is not always the best position for the brand. Specific gear-heads that understand marketing, operations and even some fianance in addition to the passion of a gear-head are the ones you want dealing with solutions. Each of these cars is a Strategic Solution and SRT needs to get away from a Commodity execution model. I see commodity based models fail every day with companies all over North America. The minute they move to a true Strategic Solutions based model of business, and operations, all these problems and negative buying experiences and stories go away. Confidence is restored and the opportunities are endless. To do anything different, in the unique situation SRT is in is really under-estimating the situation. People buy the cars for the hand built attention to detail, why go 1/2 the way there on the rest of the experience. Put the big boy pants on, roll up the sleeves and give it the personal attention to do it right. Owners should walk away with a feeling of this entire experience from the moment I walked into the dealer or filled out an order form was trustworthy, informative, treated with respect and as part of the entire team and process right to when they handed me the keys and I drove away. That will win repeat business and new owners. Why do you think Corvette offers ability for personally build your own motor for your ZR1 car in their factory. Connect with the buyer for the experience Just sayin'.
