Some stories in the automotive world simply must be told. For years, I have exposed dealers for their ridiculous markups and treachery. I have argued endlessly about the difference between market manipulation and actual market forces.
However, my main goal is to drive one point home. Patience pays off. You should never pay a markup, regardless of your wealth or desire.
Paying these premiums only enables dealerships to scoop up huge profits for no reason. Consequently, they take $10,000 or even $100,000 from you. The car is simply not worth their inflated asking price. Furthermore, dealers often justify these prices by claiming the car will appreciate.
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In reality, they try to capture 20 years of future appreciation upfront. They want you to gamble that a Dodge Demon 170 will skyrocket in value. Meanwhile, they secure their profit immediately.
The Lie of Instant Appreciation
Dealers sold buyers lies. For example, they claimed the Demon 170 would reach $500,000 in five years. I actually recorded a salesman telling me exactly that. He insisted the car would reach half a million dollars shortly.
We know that is utter nonsense. Very few performance cars have doubled or tripled in value so quickly. Even Bugattis generally do not see that kind of return. Consequently, this insanity took over the market.
I screamed from the mountaintops not to pay these prices. In addition, I battled dealers verbally on their lots and over the phone. My mission was to expose their greed. Today, however, victory arrived.
The 1,000-Day Standoff
Recently, I received a notification in a Hellcat forum regarding a victorious gentleman. He secured his Dodge Demon 170 at MSRP. This is a rare confirmed case where a buyer purchased a Demon 170 without a markup.
Aside from influencers with deep connections, this almost never happens. Previously, most dealers charged at least $100,000 over sticker price. However, if you caught them at a weak moment, you might pay $50,000 over.
Now, however, we know these muscle cars are selling for close to MSRP. This specific story involves a man who waited 1,000 days after order books opened. He watched the dealer hold out for a markup, but they eventually conceded.
This situation proves that dealers are idiots. They preferred sitting on a depreciating asset for 1,000 days instead of selling immediately for MSRP. As a result, they tied up capital for nearly three years.
The Idiocy of Dealer Greed
If that dealer sold the car on day one for MSRP, they would have saved their reputation. For instance, they could have touted themselves as an honest dealership. Instead, they held out.
Ultimately, they arrived at the same financial destination 2.5 years later. They sold the car for MSRP anyway. This highlights the idiocy of dealers sitting on inventory, hoping for a payday that never comes.
Stellantis performance cars are done going up in value. Furthermore, they are done selling for ridiculous prices. In fact, prices are coming down to sticker, and we may soon see them drop below MSRP.
The buyer posted his victory on the forum. He noted he was “still flabbergasted” it took 1,000 days for the dealership to concede. He waited them out, watching and making offers until they finally accepted reality.
Lot Rot and Mechanical Concerns
While the buyer won the financial battle, there are valid concerns regarding the vehicle itself. This car sat on a lot for 1,000 days without moving. In the automotive world, we call this “lot rot.”
The Demon 170 has some known engine sensitivities. Leaving a machine stationary for two years can lead to issues with tires, seals, and fluids. However, the warranty situation is favorable for the buyer.
The warranty begins when the dealer officially reports the sale. Because this was a new car in inventory, the buyer receives the full factory warranty starting now. In contrast, if the car was a demonstrator, the warranty would have burned that whole time.
Fortunately, that is not the case here. He gets a new car with a full warranty. Nevertheless, he should definitely check for flat spots on the tires and dried seals.
Opportunity Cost and Investments
A forum member made an excellent point about the financial implications of this wait. Specifically, the stock market rewarded this buyer for his patience. If he held that cash in the S&P 500 or Bitcoin, his gains would be substantial.
In essence, the market appreciation on his cash likely paid for a significant portion of the car. Therefore, he effectively got a massive discount by waiting. Conversely, the dealer lost money due to inflation and holding costs.
Some might argue that time is more valuable than money. They might ask, “Would you pay $100,000 to have the car earlier?” Many people did exactly that. However, those people effectively burned their money.
Whoever paid $200,000 for a Demon 170 got absolutely screwed. The market has spoken, and values have corrected. Furthermore, this buyer did not languish while waiting; he already owned a Red Eye and a Corvette.
The Reality of Muscle Car Prices
This story should serve as a wake-up call for Demon 170 owners and dealers alike. It proves that cars still sitting on lots after 2.5 years are dead weight. Consequently, many other Hellcats and Red Eyes are likely gathering dust right now.
Dealers still hope someone stupid enough will walk in and pay a markup. I have screamed this message loud and far: do not pay it. You will lose on depreciation. But more importantly, you should refuse out of principle.
That said, I am all for buying something fun. When you go to Disneyland, you leave with nothing but Mickey ears. You pay for the experience. Therefore, if you buy a car to enjoy it, losing some money is acceptable.
However, paying $150,000 over sticker price immediately is simply stupid. Yet, some people in Demon 170 groups claim prices will bounce back to $500,000. Those people are beyond help.
Final Thoughts
They are hoping against hope for a fantasy that will not happen. Meanwhile, this buyer stood firm. He deserves a pat on the back for his discipline. He exposed an insane dealership and proved that patience wins.
We must acknowledge the victory here. A guy said, “I will wait you out,” and he won. As we move forward, keep this 1,000-day standoff in mind. Remember this story next time a dealer tries to slap a markup on a performance car.
Happy New Year, everyone. Please like and subscribe as we push toward 100,000 subscribers. Finally, I appreciate your support in exposing these practices, and I will see you in the next one.
