Hands down our #1 negative review comes from the condition of our cars that we use for sessions:
We started RageRVA as a place for people to come get their big emotions out in a safe, non-judgemental space. We have a variety of sessions available, but the vehicle smashes are both very popular and our biggest expense, frustration and challenge to manage. We’ve had thousands of really happy guests, but for people expecting a clean, untouched vehicle we are bound to disappoint because we don’t sell that experience.
We do NOT use cars that have any possible consumer value remaining – the cars you see in our rooms are strictly parts/rage room quality. Thankfully, cars are made with a significant amount of metal and can hold up to multiple sessions or we wouldn’t be able to offer vehicle sessions at all except to the privileged few, who could afford to shell out $2-3K for an untouched car, which would still have no windows and significant body conditions because we won’t run cars which still have value to someone.
When we purchase a car (through a dealer, VA has odd rules about vehicles) it has to be prepared environmentally and brought into the shop when a truck is able to get through the alley to our warehouse. The vehicle has to be in good enough condition for us to keep until we can buy a new one, yet in poor enough condition that it can’t be used on the road. Most of our vehicles come in without windows and many have body damage.
As a result of the pandemic, the used car market is bananas right now, and the cost/availability of vehicles suited for our purpose changes daily. Prices have skyrocketed and availability has significantly dropped. Too, we know what types of behavior leads to accidents and injury, so we have developed specific safety rules that allow us to offer vehicle smash sessions under certain conditions. We do our best to communicate that clearly to each and every guest, but we sometimes fall short or have individuals who choose NOT to follow our rules.
We examine every vehicle every day and after each session to ensure there is still enough metal to hit on the vehicle and give guests an entertaining time. As you can see from the image above, guests failed to follow directions and have literally peeled the metal off the vehicle, leaving nothing for the next guests to safely hit.
These vehicles still have lots of life left in them – see how much metal remains to be hit? Both the sides and front end of these cars can handle significantly more damage in sessions. Sending it to the wreckers now would be a waste – it deprives people who want to hit a car at a reasonable price the opportunity to do so. This is why we ask people to not remove doors, peel off the metal or rip off bumpers – it leaves something for the next person to enjoy.
We want our guests to enjoy themselves, and we pride ourselves on offering an experience you won’t get anywhere else. Hopefully this information will help our guests understand what our car experience is designed to offer.