Tom F&L GoR
Enthusiast
Boo! Hssss! Hssss! ~~~~:>~~
I have ~104K on mine and now travel 51 miles one-way to work. Of the 4-5 cars in my family "fleet" (all Dodge) it has not been significantly better or worse for overall cost of maintenance.
Cost of fixing Viper 94 - 96
- Thread starter Saxon
- Start date
Boo! Hssss! Hssss! ~~~~:>~~
I have ~104K on mine and now travel 51 miles one-way to work. Of the 4-5 cars in my family "fleet" (all Dodge) it has not been significantly better or worse for overall cost of maintenance.
AZTVR
Enthusiast
Mostly from someone who doesn't know how to open or close it without adding stress to it. It is big and relatively heavy and has the sides hanging down pretty far away from the hood support points.
You need to try to lift it close to the back center rather than one side. When you shut it, after making sure the back is lowered carefully into the guide points, you need to push down the front with each hand placed around the hood mounting points.
JohnnyViper
Enthusiast
my understanding and what I have been told for the high cost of the hood is for a few reasons. Its one of the largest single body panel ever produces in a sports car at more then 35% of the total car body panel area, for every one hood to market two were scraped/rejected because for poor forming or other serious flaws and its made of a special and expensive fiberglass composite able to withstand the heat of the engine...its good you are doing your research...Murphy’s Laws can come into play....have a chunk of change set aside for the unforeseeable expensive repairs...and be prepared for it, they will inevitable happen!!! Saxon I have seen you post other threads here before with your interest in viper, if you have the money or even if it’s a bit of a stretch and money will be a “little” tight for a bit …trust me it is worth every penny even after the expensive repairs. Just don’t be one of the viper owners that have to sell after a year because they got in over their head because it is a sad day for that owner to let their beloved snake go as well as it devalues the viper market because when I viper owner gets into financial trouble they sell super low. I am not saying this would apply to you its more to other potential viper owners out there reading this posting. If you want a viper do not rush into it because you “can” get a loan or just make the payments. Be able to afford the car comfortably you will enjoy it soooo much more and if that means waiting a few years so be it….it will be that much sweeter when you do get your snake!!!
jdeft1
Enthusiast
I am interested as to why you advise against using gen 1 as a daily drive (I assume DD is daily driver). I would like your take on the subject and if possible I would prefer it to be placed in an open forum so that others contemplating just that could sort of compare notes. If you prefer pm then by all means. Either way I am all ears.
I decided not to comment here about using a gen 1 as a DD because the topic is maintenance costs etc... but since you asked: This car you consider is not a 'vette. An early viper is quite a bit less refined than your 'vette and lacks basic commuter comforts like windows and a roof! The sound system is crap (not that it matters since the exhaust discharges just a few feet from your ear). Did I mention that most (maybe all) gen 1 cars leak in the rain? Some of them worse than others so keep a few old towels handy on that first wet experience..just in case. You should also keep in mind that these early cars really can't be secured very well and it's a simple matter to break into a open car. Consider, two guys could easily swipe your $15k hood in less than 5 minutes! Better hope Walmart has their security cameras on! Furthermore, there are no cool little cubby-holes to put your wallet, garage door opener, spare change or cell phone... The '95s and 96s do have a pocket along the front of the seat. Let's see, there's zero trunk space when the top's in it so it's not a grocery-getter either. I'm sure there are other reasons why you may not want to keep a viper as primary transportation.
I consider these among the reasons why I love the viper but they're also why I drive a different car for mundane tasks and commuting. The old viper's great as a second, third or forth car... because it's GREAT at what it was designed to be!!
Proof that it can be done!!
I decided not to comment here about using a gen 1 as a DD because the topic is maintenance costs etc... but since you asked: This car you consider is not a 'vette. An early viper is quite a bit less refined than your 'vette and lacks basic commuter comforts like windows and a roof! The sound system is crap (not that it matters since the exhaust discharges just a few feet from your ear). Did I mention that most (maybe all) gen 1 cars leak in the rain? Some of them worse than others so keep a few old towels handy on that first wet experience..just in case. You should also keep in mind that these early cars really can't be secured very well and it's a simple matter to break into a open car. Consider, two guys could easily swipe your $15k hood in less than 5 minutes! Better hope Walmart has their security cameras on! Furthermore, there are no cool little cubby-holes to put your wallet, garage door opener, spare change or cell phone... The '95s and 96s do have a pocket along the front of the seat. Let's see, there's zero trunk space when the top's in it so it's not a grocery-getter either. I'm sure there are other reasons why you may not want to keep a viper as primary transportation.
I consider these among the reasons why I love the viper but they're also why I drive a different car for mundane tasks and commuting. The old viper's great as a second, third or forth car... because it's GREAT at what it was designed to be!!
Proof that it can be done!!
Thanx for your contribution. Undoubtedly, lack of windows and solid roof is not the best solution for somebody who lives in urban setting such as NY. I admire the dedication to the machine of those who drive it every day. However, I am planning on Viper to be my second car purely for fun, mostly to be used from late spring to late fall. Naturally, the perfect solution would be a GTS and assuming one can be had for around 30K, most of the problems mentioned by you would be solved.
As for Walmart, I do not think there is one in NYC, but there are plenty of guys who would have no problem taking that hood off
Thanks for the advice. I am not thinking of buying a Viper to have it only for a year. However, knowing life I cannot discout that option. Not because I cannot afford the maintenence, but knowing life, one needs to take all possibilities into the equation of Viper ownership.
jdeft1
Enthusiast
Go get yourself one Sax....
Old Vipers are a great deal these days. Like many here, I consider my viper to be trouble free. I'm driving my third gen 1 these days and it's the first to cost me anything more than basic maintenance. I'd advise you keep in mind that all the old vipers are exactly that: old cars. Expect to pay a good chunk of change for fluid changes, tires etc when you buy.. I'd also suggest you look for a car that has the most "extras" (mine came to me with a van-load of memorabilia, three sets of windows, both tops and an exhaust system....) Then you're off!
If you love a basic, bare-bones sportscar the gen 1 is for you! (think '60s Cobra... with a top option).
Old Vipers are a great deal these days. Like many here, I consider my viper to be trouble free. I'm driving my third gen 1 these days and it's the first to cost me anything more than basic maintenance. I'd advise you keep in mind that all the old vipers are exactly that: old cars. Expect to pay a good chunk of change for fluid changes, tires etc when you buy.. I'd also suggest you look for a car that has the most "extras" (mine came to me with a van-load of memorabilia, three sets of windows, both tops and an exhaust system....) Then you're off!
If you love a basic, bare-bones sportscar the gen 1 is for you! (think '60s Cobra... with a top option).
Tom F&L GoR
Enthusiast
Thanx for your contribution. Undoubtedly, lack of windows and solid roof is not the best solution for somebody who lives in urban setting such as NY. I admire the dedication to the machine of those who drive it every day. However, I am planning on Viper to be my second car purely for fun, mostly to be used from late spring to late fall. Naturally, the perfect solution would be a GTS and assuming one can be had for around 30K, most of the problems mentioned by you would be solved.
As for Walmart, I do not think there is one in NYC, but there are plenty of guys who would have no problem taking that hood off
BooX2! HsssX2!
OK, I live in a middle class neighborhood that isn't a problem so I park in the driveway all the time. But I also commute to Tarrytown, NY and park in an office complex lot. Yes, I now have a hardtop and windows, because after 12 years of the softtop and vinyl windows (and a new job) I thought I deserved an "upgrade", but would have driven with the softtop and vinyl curtains. Without a door knob to try to open, someone has to "break" the window or roof to get to my valuable GPS ($80) or figure out how to unbolt the V1 ($400). After that they have the security box to deal with. If someone knows how to defeat the security, steal the hood or 6-bolt wheels then in my opinion it won't matter if it's in front of the 1,000 people where I work or in front of your neighbors at home.
It's a car, not a statute. And for better or worse, Tarrytown has a Walmart.
And finally, I made a mistake. I now have 108,000 miles. Purchased with 34,150 km, changed speedo to US version with 7056 miles, so have to add 14.288 to miles showing (currently 94,000) so that math ends up with 108,288 miles. And 10/12's of the year it sat in a parking lot where I was working! I highly recommend trying to use it up before the car outlives you!
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jdeft1
Enthusiast
There's no denying Tom's gen 1 experience...Maybe he should come back to the DC area and drive the Capitol Beltway to work for a while...to gain my perspective? By his own admission, he owns a few other cars....(me too).. I might drive mine every day if it wasn't a freakin' nightmare commute!! My 27 mile drive to work often takes an hour and a half or more. Really, it's just not quality viper time!
I do put the quality miles on my car though because I love open roads. My vipers have seen many thousands of miles of roadtrip action! I'm guessing 70K over the years....
I do put the quality miles on my car though because I love open roads. My vipers have seen many thousands of miles of roadtrip action! I'm guessing 70K over the years....
Tom F&L GoR
Enthusiast
There's no denying Tom's gen 1 experience...Maybe he should come back to the DC area and drive the Capitol Beltway to work for a while...to gain my perspective? By his own admission, he owns a few other cars....(me too).. I might drive mine every day if it wasn't a freakin' nightmare commute!! My 27 mile drive to work often takes an hour and a half or more. Really, it's just not quality viper time!
I do put the quality miles on my car though because I love open roads. My vipers have seen many thousands of miles of roadtrip action! I'm guessing 70K over the years....
Yes, I admit my 52 miles can be as short as 46 minutes, so a much better average than 27 miles in 90 minutes. I am honestly sorry about that and even I would opt for the recliner-stereo on wheels rather than three pedals on the floor, rowing through only three of 6 gears and the frustration. And happily by your admission, getting lots of miles on the Viper odometer is a mini-vacation.
ZYellow01RT
Enthusiast
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What he said. My Gen 1 has 80K miles, and no major issues.
Runs great and maintaining it like the rest of my 4-wheeled toys.
musclenutz
Enthusiast
Good advice! The Viper hood can cause you a lot of grief if you don't take the time to learn how to safely shut it..I make sure i lower it into the guides..then place my hands evenly on the front to push it down to where it is about four inches open,then with an even quick push,it closes properly without chipping the front of the door.
