[NASAHellcat]

Hey everyone! I currently live in Northern Virginia but am moving to Panama City Beach, Florida in October. I'm ready to order my Charger and was going to do it once we moved. But now, I'm rethinking that decision (based on all the horror stories of Florida dealer add-ons, etc.). Koons is literally a mile away from where I currently live and I'm going to take a printout of my online configuration to them and ask for their out-the-door price. Since it would be a 1,000-mile drive back here to pick it up, has anyone had a great experience with a Dodge dealer in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, or Alabama? Thanks in advance.

 

[WVHEMIS]

Steve White Motors in NC is pretty good.

 

[807HEMI]

I don't think anyone is going to commit to an out-the-door price when they don't yet know how many allocations they are getting and what the 23 MSRP is going to be.

Good luck.

 

[NASAHellcat]

Steve White Motors in NC is pretty good.

Thanks - I appreciate it.

 

[NASAHellcat]

I don't think anyone is going to commit to an out-the-door price when they don't yet know how many allocations they are getting and what the 23 MSRP is going to be.

Good luck.

Thank you. Yeah, I may have to wait until the '23 ordering window opens...maybe sometime next month?

 

[Ace1894]

I’ve had great experience and service with Benson CJDR in Greer, SC. Ask for Matt or Ben.

 

[Johnman]

I'm waiting for the Charger Hellcat Widebody Prison Riot.

 

[Redeye_eh]

I'm waiting for the Charger Hellcat Widebody Prison Riot.

hahahaha

 

[Cerino2000]

Steve White Motors in NC is pretty good.

But don’t expect any killer deals on hellcats there. They are local to me and Ive bought many vehicles there but they aren’t doing deals on hellcats. Best parts place in the country though in my opinion. They don’t have doc fees and they don’t force dealer add-ons either though.

 

[NASAHellcat]

I'm waiting for the Charger Hellcat Widebody Prison Riot.

No doubt the tin cup would be an extra cost option!!

 

[WVHEMIS]

But don’t expect any killer deals on hellcats there. They are local to me and Ive bought many vehicles there but they aren’t doing deals on hellcats. Best parts place in the country though in my opinion. They don’t have doc fees and they don’t force dealer add-ons either though.

Did not know that about the HC's. Two of my friends bought Scat Pack's there and got 5K off sticker for cars sitting on the lot. This is much better than our local dealers are willing to do. I live in Charleston, WV and it is not a bad drive for us.

 

[Slidd]

I think on an ordered car Steve White would do MSRP with no extra bs fees and give you free shipping to surrounding states or 500 miles or so, maybe more.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[White Trash]

Wait till the order banks open.
Great dealers in the panhandle.

 

[JMAbacus]

I’ve had great experience and service with Benson CJDR in Greer, SC. Ask for Matt or Ben.

I live 30 minutes from Greer. I have a NBRE coming from Cummins at 6K below MSRP that was a recent order. I had a JB order earlier in the year (when prices were better) for 8K below MSRP from a different dealer. How competitive is Benson on pricing when ordering RE's or JB's compared with Koon's and Cummins? Thanks

 

[Ace1894]

I live 30 minutes from Greer. I have a NBRE coming from Cummins at 6K below MSRP that was a recent order. I had a JB order earlier in the year (when prices were better) for 8K below MSRP from a different dealer. How competitive is Benson on pricing when ordering RE's or JB's compared with Koon's and Cummins? Thanks

Not sure now. The deal I got wasn’t as good as your best there, but it was close enough that I didn’t want to go out of state. There may not be nearly as much there now as far as a deal goes, but they have been top notch with service since I bought the car as well.

 

[Xylander]

Hey everyone! I currently live in Northern Virginia but am moving to Panama City Beach, Florida in October. I'm ready to order my Charger and was going to do it once we moved. But now, I'm rethinking that decision (based on all the horror stories of Florida dealer add-ons, etc.). Koons is literally a mile away from where I currently live and I'm going to take a printout of my online configuration to them and ask for their out-the-door price. Since it would be a 1,000-mile drive back here to pick it up, has anyone had a great experience with a Dodge dealer in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, or Alabama? Thanks in advance.

In Panama City, Bay Dodge is a cesspit of a dealer. I've had numerous run-ins with them over the years (my former design shop was in Panama City). Their body shop is excellent, but their dealership is horrible. If you could go back with a time machine to 1968 to experience a period-correct high pressure scumbag dealership, it would be indistinguishable from what you would find today at Bay Dodge.

The owner of that dealership is elderly and is "one of those guys" who would arrive at the dealership in a suit and matching 10-gallon hat with a big cigar. Adjacent to the showroom, he's got a car collection of around 30 mostly tri-5 Chevys and other odds and ends. His son grew up around that dealership and has had numerous Vipers and Hellcats... and he's wrecked several of them. That brat kid is now the GM of the dealership.

My last dealing with them a couple years ago was with a client of mine, a wonderful lady in the market for Shaker Scat Pack that they had in the showroom. I went in to give them an offer and when the brat kid GM found out that my client was a woman, he injected himself into the negotiation by saying, "Oh, are you sure this chick of yours doesn't want something with more room for groceries?" Needless to say, this "chick of mine" was one of the senior assistant Attorney Generals for the State of Florida and she heard his comment as we were on a conference call with her and the sales manager while discussing the particulars of getting the car dealer swapped to Tallahassee. I think that's the quickest I've ever seen a done deal flip from done to dead in my life.

But Bay Dodge's claim to infamy is that they're one of those dealers that will routinely sell a car at say 3% interest over 60 months, then call back 2 days later and tell you to bring the car back because "you couldn't qualify for the loan." So, when you arrive, they do that old block the car in thing so you can't leave while they hammer you for hours on a 7% loan over 72 months or you have to give the keys back. If you try and say, "sure, take the car back," they then remind you that your deposit/down payment is non-refundable, so you should pick out another car. It's just a shitty way to do business.

 

[NASAHellcat]

In Panama City, Bay Dodge is a cesspit of a dealer. I've had numerous run-ins with them over the years (my former design shop was in Panama City). Their body shop is excellent, but their dealership is horrible. If you could go back with a time machine to 1968 to experience a period-correct high pressure scumbag dealership, it would be indistinguishable from what you would find today at Bay Dodge.

The owner of that dealership is elderly and is "one of those guys" who would arrive at the dealership in a suit and matching 10-gallon hat with a big cigar. Adjacent to the showroom, he's got a car collection of around 30 mostly tri-5 Chevys and other odds and ends. His son grew up around that dealership and has had numerous Vipers and Hellcats... and he's wrecked several of them. That brat kid is now the GM of the dealership.

My last dealing with them a couple years ago was with a client of mine, a wonderful lady in the market for Shaker Scat Pack that they had in the showroom. I went in to give them an offer and when the brat kid GM found out that my client was a woman, he injected himself into the negotiation by saying, "Oh, are you sure this chick of yours doesn't want something with more room for groceries?" Needless to say, this "chick of mine" was one of the senior assistant Attorney Generals for the State of Florida and she heard his comment as we were on a conference call with her and the sales manager while discussing the particulars of getting the car dealer swapped to Tallahassee. I think that's the quickest I've ever seen a done deal flip from done to dead in my life.

But Bay Dodge's claim to infamy is that they're one of those dealers that will routinely sell a car at say 3% interest over 60 months, then call back 2 days later and tell you to bring the car back because "you couldn't qualify for the loan." So, when you arrive, they do that old block the car in thing so you can't leave while they hammer you for hours on a 7% loan over 72 months or you have to give the keys back. If you try and say, "sure, take the car back," they then remind you that your deposit/down payment is non-refundable, so you should pick out another car. It's just a shitty way to do business.

WOW, thanks for that incredibly detailed reply! That basically painted a complete picture of the dealership for me. I did a "build out" of what I was interested in buying and entered the Panama City Beach zip code at the Dodge site and they sent my contact information to Bay Dodge. A guy named Ronnie has reached out to me but after reading your write up, it doesn't sound like a place I'd want to buy from. Have you had any experiences with their service department? They'll be the closest CDJR dealership to my house once we move but I'm assuming that the fish stinks from the head down...

 

[Xylander]

WOW, thanks for that incredibly detailed reply! That basically painted a complete picture of the dealership for me. I did a "build out" of what I was interested in buying and entered the Panama City Beach zip code at the Dodge site and they sent my contact information to Bay Dodge. A guy named Ronnie has reached out to me but after reading your write up, it doesn't sound like a place I'd want to buy from. Have you had any experiences with their service department? They'll be the closest CDJR dealership to my house once we move but I'm assuming that the fish stinks from the head down...

Nope, I never dealt with their service department, aside from when they were "trying to buy" my 2015 Mustang GT. At the time, it was not for sale. It was a 1,000whp car and I had driven it up there to inspect a holdover new 2013 SRT8 on their lot (this event occurred in 2016). They wanted to give me an offer for the Mustang, just to see if I liked it. Some kid (16-18?) asked me for the keys so they could drive it around back to inspect it. I told them to jump in a lake and he could pop the hood and let it idle if he wanted, but I'm not getting the car inspected out of my eyesight. Their service manager came over with the used car sales manager and they pointed at things and talked between themselves before offering me something like $35,000... maybe more if it came back with a clean inspection. Needless to say, the car was only a year old and MSRP'd for 49k and had about 40k in work added at that point. So, yeah... no deal there. One of them made comment that they didn't believe it was a 1,000hp car. I asked him then what engine he thought was in the car. "Oh it's just a 5.0, that's what it says on the side." Sure, it was a 5.0, but it was an engine swapped 5.0 to a race built 5.0 Aluminator with custom JPC racing heads and the whole nine yards. I replied, "So, what does a 1,000hp motor look like?" I then pointed to the other badge on the car (my shop's logo). I reminded them that I owned and managed that shop, and that maybe they should look a little closer.

That's really the only experience I have with their service department.

 

[NASAHellcat]

Nope, I never dealt with their service department, aside from when they were "trying to buy" my 2015 Mustang GT. At the time, it was not for sale. It was a 1,000whp car and I had driven it up there to inspect a holdover new 2013 SRT8 on their lot (this event occurred in 2016). They wanted to give me an offer for the Mustang, just to see if I liked it. Some kid (16-18?) asked me for the keys so they could drive it around back to inspect it. I told them to jump in a lake and he could pop the hood and let it idle if he wanted, but I'm not getting the car inspected out of my eyesight. Their service manager came over with the used car sales manager and they pointed at things and talked between themselves before offering me something like $35,000... maybe more if it came back with a clean inspection. Needless to say, the car was only a year old and MSRP'd for 49k and had about 40k in work added at that point. So, yeah... no deal there. One of them made comment that they didn't believe it was a 1,000hp car. I asked him then what engine he thought was in the car. "Oh it's just a 5.0, that's what it says on the side." Sure, it was a 5.0, but it was an engine swapped 5.0 to a race built 5.0 Aluminator with custom JPC racing heads and the whole nine yards. I replied, "So, what does a 1,000hp motor look like?" I then pointed to the other badge on the car (my shop's logo). I reminded them that I owned and managed that shop, and that maybe they should look a little closer.

That's really the only experience I have with their service department.

Pretty interesting that a service manager couldn't discern a built engine - and even scoffed at it. I've had my share of Mustangs over the years. My two favorites were a fox body '86 GT convertible and a '12 GT500 convertible. Both had respectable factory HP ratings and were a blast to drive (especially since my ability to build or massage a motor is laughable). I sure am looking forward to upgrading to an 800+ HP Charger Hellcat in the near future. Now, I just need to find the right place to purchase. Oh yeah, and service it as well...

 

[Xylander]

Pretty interesting that a service manager couldn't discern a built engine - and even scoffed at it. I've had my share of Mustangs over the years. My two favorites were a fox body '86 GT convertible and a '12 GT500 convertible. Both had respectable factory HP ratings and were a blast to drive (especially since my ability to build or massage a motor is laughable). I sure am looking forward to upgrading to an 800+ HP Charger Hellcat in the near future. Now, I just need to find the right place to purchase. Oh yeah, and service it as well...

Well, just next door to Bay Dodge is AutoNation Ford. Jay, the service manager at that dealership was a blithering moron. How he got into his job I don't know. That guy knew about as much about cars in general as I do about Han dynasty Chinese politics... which is just about nothing. I'll just say the following about my first experience with him. He lasted about 2 years at that dealership... I honestly don't know how.

Jay: "So, what's the issue with your 2015 Mustang GT?"
Me: "Brakes are squealing. Car only has 81 miles on it."
Jay: "OK, let me look something up... what engine is in that one?"

Me: "The only one that comes in the GT."

~This occured about 8 months before we modified it and engine swapped it.