Currently own an ISF, convince me to get a SRT-10...

[VtotheJ]

Before I begin, pardon the long post... I have a lot of questions.
The Viper has been my dream car since the age of 10, when the GTS came out. I currently own a 2008 Lexus IS-F... it's been nothing short of awesome, 416hp on tap with a perfect combo of luxury, reliability, comfort, exclusivity, and speed. It's a quick sedan with paddle-shifters, and shifting is extremely quick... but it was only a matter of time until I started longing for a fast manual car (my DD is a 5-speed Integra). So of course the Viper SRT-10 came to mind... with that I have a few questions.

- I prefer the 2006+ coupe to the convertible soft-top, are there any other major differences between the years?
- I was told the cabin heats up and this can be cured with aftermarket exhaust?
- How is reliability on 2006+ Vipers, how do they compare to later models like 2008+. The majority of the carfaxes I've seen on Vipers are pretty clean.
- How are resale values. Do you guys think I should wait until next year after used 2013 Vipers go up for sale, then will the 2008 SRT-10's drop?
- What are typical service & maintenance costs. I currently shell out ~$140 for oil changes on my ISF. Paid $600 for 30k service which included oil chg, replace AC filter, brake fluid, air filter, and differential fluid. How does the Viper compare? I know it's a supercar, was just wondering what I can expect.
- How is the Viper on road trips? I don't take many but want to know if it's liveable on a 2-4 hour drive, let's say. The stock suspension on my ISF is VERY stiff but comfortable seats make up for it. And how is it in traffic? How is the clutch? Majority of my drive to work deals with stop and go traffic with occasional highway pulls.
- I noticed some come with Nav, does it also come with iPod connectivity or Aux & how's the 7-speaker system? I can't drive without my iPod.

If there's anyone here from the Northeast region NY/NJ/CT I would love to check out your car and talk about the Viper, appreciate your help!

Thanks guys.

 

[OtheJerk]

Maintenance is cheap compared to my last cars and diff no where near Supercars status pricing
I had -"Mercedes corvette range rover Porsche Maserati " and I would say the viper is very fair

Reliability - great -
Comfort - once you get used to it great
Heat - just keep the air on
Clutch - good
Radio -get aftermarket

I have a 06 coupe price difference to the 08-10 is huge , but 100hp more

Good luck

 

[tbsviper]

Questions are good and many here to help you transition to a viper of your dreams. First the viper is not an isf and vice versa. The viper is an old fashioned high performance machine....it's you and the car. I have an 06 and no complaints. Yes, it gets hot but ac works. Two to four or more hour drive no problem....why so short! Daily driver in stop and go traffic could be pain in several respects....should consider skip shift bypass, i.e having to shift from 1 to 3 at low acceleration/speed. Maybe consider schedule/route change to minimize traffic. Maintenance minimal and reasonable but 10 quart synthetic oil change. Watch for sale, pick up oil/filter and do yourself or take somewhere you trust. The Gen III coupe was only built one year so somewhat rare and a good step to transition later to an even more HP Gen IV or Gen V. Good luck !

 

[ROCKET62]

....
The Viper has been my dream car since the age of 10 ....

Enough said! You will not regret owning your dream car.

I fell in love with the original Viper at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989 and knew at some point, I had to have one. Loved my '93, moved up to a custom '05 that I rebuilt, and now am in an '09 that I also rebuilt. Don't know your price range / color choices, but the Gen 4 ('08-'10) are a definite upgrade to the '06.

 

[webby]

The interior does heat up but to be honest the only times it's been unbearable were when I insisted on having the top down on an 85+ degree day. If I have the top up and AC on, it's never been a problem even on the hottest days. But yes aftermarket exhaust can help... I believe it's the cats which are the main problem. And on the flip side it lets me keep the top down into November.. even December and still stay warm.

I've made several 5+ hour road trips and they have been very comfortable. I didn't really appreciate that until I rented an Audi A3 in Germany... really amazing interior but my lower back was killing me after only a couple hours.

 

[VtotheJ]

Thanks for the advice fellas....would love to check one out in person. Pics do not do any Viper justice. They are also very rare, which is another pro. They hold their values VERY well. I have only seen a few Vipers randomly besides the regulars at the local C&C. Keep the answers/advice coming!

 

[Steve M]

- I prefer the 2006+ coupe to the convertible soft-top, are there any other major differences between the years?
- I was told the cabin heats up and this can be cured with aftermarket exhaust?
- How is reliability on 2006+ Vipers, how do they compare to later models like 2008+. The majority of the carfaxes I've seen on Vipers are pretty clean.
- How are resale values. Do you guys think I should wait until next year after used 2013 Vipers go up for sale, then will the 2008 SRT-10's drop?
- What are typical service & maintenance costs. I currently shell out ~$140 for oil changes on my ISF. Paid $600 for 30k service which included oil chg, replace AC filter, brake fluid, air filter, and differential fluid. How does the Viper compare? I know it's a supercar, was just wondering what I can expect.
- How is the Viper on road trips? I don't take many but want to know if it's liveable on a 2-4 hour drive, let's say. The stock suspension on my ISF is VERY stiff but comfortable seats make up for it. And how is it in traffic? How is the clutch? Majority of my drive to work deals with stop and go traffic with occasional highway pulls.
- I noticed some come with Nav, does it also come with iPod connectivity or Aux & how's the 7-speaker system? I can't drive without my iPod.

If there's anyone here from the Northeast region NY/NJ/CT I would love to check out your car and talk about the Viper, appreciate your help!

Thanks guys.

I'll take a stab at some of these:

- I prefer the 2006+ coupe to the convertible soft-top, are there any other major differences between the years?
2006 was the first year for the coupe in the SRT-10, and generally they command a higher price (lower supply). There were no 2007 cars, so 2008 was the start of the Gen 4 cars that had 600 HP (engine upgrades included variable valve timing, swinging oil pick-up tube to eliminate oil starvation in long sweepers, drive-by-wire throttle bodies, better heads, revised intake manifold, etc.) and an overall beefier drivetrain (TR-6060 transmission, better differential).

- I was told the cabin heats up and this can be cured with aftermarket exhaust?
The cabin heat issue with the Gen 3s (2003-2006) can be atributed to two things - the catalytic converters in the sills and the exhaust cross-over behind the rear seat. Aftermarket exhaust systems usually eliminate this cross-over, and high-flow cats can help keep the sill temps down. The Gen 4 (2008-2010) cars don't have the cross-over, but the cats do still cause some in-cabin heat right at your feet. In my experience, the A/C in my 2008 keeps up with this just fine, even with the stock cats.

- How is reliability on 2006+ Vipers, how do they compare to later models like 2008+. The majority of the carfaxes I've seen on Vipers are pretty clean.
In my limited experience, reliability is not a concern unless you really track the cars hard, and even then, they are very stout and well-built. Some 2003-2006 Viper owners that track their cars upgrade to the swinging oil pick-up tube/pan configuration, but that's about their only shortfall. For the average driver, a Viper won't break.

- How are resale values. Do you guys think I should wait until next year after used 2013 Vipers go up for sale, then will the 2008 SRT-10's drop?
Viper resale values seem to remain fairly steady...they definitely fall in those first few years, but level out and generally stay there (or keep gradually falling). Limited supply helps with that.

- What are typical service & maintenance costs. I currently shell out ~$140 for oil changes on my ISF. Paid $600 for 30k service which included oil chg, replace AC filter, brake fluid, air filter, and differential fluid. How does the Viper compare? I know it's a supercar, was just wondering what I can expect.
I don't think I can really answer that because I do my own maintenance...for my '08, engine oil changes take 11 qts. Since Wal-Mart carries Mobil 1 0w40 in 5 qt jugs (@ $25 per jug), I can source the oil for ~$60 + $11-$12 for an SRT oil filter from Viper Parts of America. I also source my own transmission and differential fluids ($50-ish for the transmission fluid, $30-ish for the differential fluid + required additive), so those aren't bad either. Performing those services yourself is actually very easy to do on a Viper...everything is easy to access. An engine oil change requires removing nothing except for the drain plug, and the transmission and differential can be accessed by removing the belly pan. I use a pressure bleeder for the brakes so that's a one-man job, and do the same for the clutch fluid. These are very friendly cars to work on, and IMO, even easier to work on than my '02 Camaro was. If you get it serviced elsewhere, the Viper tax generally applies.

- How is the Viper on road trips? I don't take many but want to know if it's liveable on a 2-4 hour drive, let's say. The stock suspension on my ISF is VERY stiff but comfortable seats make up for it. And how is it in traffic? How is the clutch? Majority of my drive to work deals with stop and go traffic with occasional highway pulls.
I drove my 2008 13-hours one way home after I bought it, and aside from wanting to follow imperfections in the road surfaces, it wasn't bad at all. The seats are very comfortable, and the stock suspension isn't that stiff IMO. The clutch in my '08 is easy to operate, and the effort is pretty low. It would get a bit old after a while in stop-and-go traffic, but so do all manuals in my experience.

- I noticed some come with Nav, does it also come with iPod connectivity or Aux & how's the 7-speaker system? I can't drive without my iPod.
I don't think any of the factory stereo options come with iPod connectivity, but I think you can get adapters that work for the Gen 3 cars pretty easily (the Gen 4 cars use a hybrid CAN/BUS setup that is a bit tempermental). I too don't travel without an iPod, so I installed an aftermarket head unit that was compatible. Don't expect the stock stereo system to blow you away either...it just isn't that great. The Viper's engine drowns out most of what little bass comes out of the speakers, and the cabin just isn't really set up to provide a great sound stage. It can be fixed a little, but it will never be great. Honestly, I don't feel the need to listen to the stereo as much in this car as I have others.

 

[VtotheJ]

Steve much thanks for the reply!

Another concern is driveability in winter, dry conditions ONLY of course. I drive my ISF only in dry conditions, also in the winter when there is no salt on the roads. It's manageable and doesn't spin in cold climate unless I push it hard. My friend told me on cold days his stock C5Z would spin in 3rd gear half throttle... I could only imagine what the Viper would do. I don't believe in garage queens, and at the same time I don't believe in having one car all year long, I have a DD. Is the Viper a garage queen in cold winters for you guys (~30deg) ?

 

[1bad540]

Short answer yes

 

[HobokenViper]

Long answer, yes. Haha!

VtotheJ - I'm probably your neighbor and would be happy to show you my car sometime. Funny thing is that I actually just bought a 2014 Lexus IS350 F-Sport AWD as my DD and love it. But NOTHING puts a smile on my face like my Viper does. I've owned several sports cars in my 34 years of life, and the Viper is the first one that I plan to keep forever, and the first one that was my true first dream car. It is fun in ways hat no other car could be, and also draws attention to yourself like almost nothing else on the road (all too often this is actually a negative thing in my 1 year experience with the car as there are too many bad people and bad drivers out there). I agree with about everything the rest of the group has already said. The Viper is a very well built car that is very reliable as long as you don't regularly thrash it on a track, it is a safe car in the right hands and will look for ways to kill you if you don't respect it, it can heat up in the cabin a bit (especially with the top down on a warm day), the ride is tight but comfortable, and it absolutely ***** in stop and go traffic as most manual transmission cars do. All in all, I can't recommend it highly enough to you, and you won't be able to wipe the smile off your face for many long months if you buy one of these bad boys!!!!! I would highly recommend the Gen IV over the Gen III though. Much better car overall, and much more powerful. They are also holding their value better.

 

[Fatboy 18]

Most Vipers get put away over the winter months, Tires is one of the main reasons, they do not make a tire for the colder months, summer tires only.
The torque from the Viper can make for some heart stopping moments on cold damp roads. The car can also be attracted to DEER, so watch out for those too
Also the Run Flat tires fitted to the Gen 3 according to many owners were not good at all with poor grip. Many owners changed them out.

You should check out tire prices if purchasing a Viper, its one of the things you need to budget for

Good luck with your quest

 

[Steve M]

Steve much thanks for the reply!

Another concern is driveability in winter, dry conditions ONLY of course. I drive my ISF only in dry conditions, also in the winter when there is no salt on the roads. It's manageable and doesn't spin in cold climate unless I push it hard. My friend told me on cold days his stock C5Z would spin in 3rd gear half throttle... I could only imagine what the Viper would do. I don't believe in garage queens, and at the same time I don't believe in having one car all year long, I have a DD. Is the Viper a garage queen in cold winters for you guys (~30deg) ?

As has already been stated, the issue is the tire size...manufacturers just don't make all season or winter tires in sizes that you see on a Viper (the 345 rears especially). Summer rubber compounds get hard and slick at anything below about 40-50 degrees, so that will be your limiting factor.

If it gets below about 50 degrees, I generally just don't take it out...it really isn't much fun to drive if you can't go anywhere when you floor it.

 

[v10enomous]

I'm thinking that 99% of Viper owners in the north here have another car and I haven't heard of any who don't.

 

[pathoguy]

I have an 06 coupe (black with silver stripes). Bought it 3 years ago from the original owner who had logged 4048 miles. I bought it through the original Dodge dealership, just 20 minutes from the house. It now has 12,300 miles. I have never driven long distances, so no experience there. My commute to work is 4 minutes on a 55mph two lane with no lights or stops. By the time I get to work, car is just about warmed up. I do not use the car if forecast is 30+% rain. Only issue has been the driver's window regulator which was replaced. I don't race of any kind so cannot attest to its ferocity. I do take the car on a local 70 mph 4 lane every couple of months or so and wind it up to maybe 4500 rpms, just for the exercise. I can see why folk wreck this car....torque beware.

It gets hot and humid down here in the south but I have found the a/c to cope very well and way better than with the Gen II that I owned before. The only mod was changing the original runflats. Although I am not into any one brand of sports car and not blindly loyal to the viper, I am thinking of moving to a Gen IV soon. There just is nothing out there that excites me as much and I am not going to drive 160 miles (round trip) to the closest Porsche, MB, BMW etc dealer.

 

[VtotheJ]

I will always have a DD for the winter months, just hate having a garage queen during that time. Thanks for the responses guys, HobokenViper you have a PM...

 

[heath1225]

Trust me, if this has been your dream car then just go get it. It is my dream car too. I finally bought one this summer and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made! Every time I look at it feels like the first time I saw it.

 

[1bad540]

Where are u in The north east?? Im in Queens Ny.

 

[VtotheJ]

1bad540 I'm near Westchester NY

 

[1bad540]

O kinda far. Figured if u were close to the city

 

[VtotheJ]

I don't mind making a trip to Queens or even Manhattan... went to college in Long Island so I still have plenty of contacts there.

 

[HobokenViper]

I will always have a DD for the winter months, just hate having a garage queen during that time. Thanks for the responses guys, HobokenViper you have a PM...

VtotheJ, Thx for the note. I sent you a PM back. Hope to check out your ISF as well.

 

[HobokenViper]

VtotheJ, it was great meeting you at the show the other day in Scarsdale. Loved your ISF too. Let us know if you ever have any other Viper questions in the future, and let me know if you ever need help when you go to buy your first one at some point down the road.

 

[VtotheJ]

Great meeting you sir, and thanks for showing me the car. Will def keep in touch!

 

[swexlin]

I have a 2003 32,000 miles. I bought it in April 2010 with 23,000 miles on it. First thing I did was change out the runflats to PS2s. I do take the car out in the winter, IF the road is clear and DRY, every couple weeks, simply because sitting for long periods is not good for any car. However, I drive like a grandma, no exaggeration, because all the torque on those tires= no bueno. EASY shifts into first at a stoplight, EASY on the throttle, then back in the garage. Example, this morning when I pulled our out to go to cars and coffe, it was 31. Drove her easy, and no issues. Beware that you nee STOPPING distance too, so watch traffic. However, I then went to a car show, and even after driving 15 miles, and the temp was 52, I was at a light on a hill. Green light, clutch in, 1st gear, and my rear end slipped just slighty....that's Viper torque. Anticipate what the car will do, and it will give you many years of driving pleasure.

 

[Vipes]

Most Vipers get put away over the winter months, Tires is one of the main reasons, they do not make a tire for the colder months, summer tires only.
The torque from the Viper can make for some heart stopping moments on cold damp roads. The car can also be attracted to DEER, so watch out for those too
Also the Run Flat tires fitted to the Gen 3 according to many owners were not good at all with poor grip. Many owners changed them out.

You should check out tire prices if purchasing a Viper, its one of the things you need to budget for

Good luck with your quest

Yep, good advice here! I also don't like driving mine in the winter because I don't want the corrosive salt to ever touch the car.

 

[ACRsnake]

Gen 4 . ...