Do NOT buy the '96 GTS at Prestige Imports in Dayton, Ohio...!!

[JeremyBlackwell]

Do NOT buy the \'96 GTS at Prestige Imports in Dayton, Ohio...!!

Well, I got a flight up to Dayton, OH to buy the '96 GTS that Ken checked out for me at Prestige Imports and said was OK, but when i got here i had a big surprise...
The Viper was the biggest piece of crap i have ever seen! It had been hit in the rear end HARD, the doors were bowed out, the body work didn't line up, the paint didn't match, the stereo system had wires hanging down everywhere, the interior had various rips/tears/scuff marks everywhere, it had a loud tick/knock from the driver side of the motor, had trouble codes 12 and 55, was 3-4 quarts low on oil and the oil was BLACK, had rust under some of the paint (bubbled paint around rivets), clutch felt bad, brakes squeaked, grinds going into 3rd, etc etc etc (i could go on all day!
The salesman didn't know what the hell he was talking about and told me the car was mint before i flew up!! Needless to say, i went home without a Viper

I'm not talking trash about the place, just wanted to let everyone know that this 17k mile 'deal' for only $42000 is NOT worth $30000! BEWARE....
Well anyway i found another possibility elsewhere, so if you are near Fresno, CA please read my other recent post. Thanks everyone.

 

[SUN RA KAT]

Re: Do NOT buy the \'96 GTS at Prestige Imports in Dayton, Ohio...!!

Jeremy - Sorry it didn't work out for you. I did tell you that the oil was extremely dirty and low at least 2 quarts - that in my mind sent up a BIG warning symbol to me. I also told you I was concerned about the condition of the brake fluid looking down and dirty. 3rd gear did not grind for me. The brakes did not squeek for me. I did point out that the leather on both seats had worn through. I heard no tick from the motor. Some of the other things you mentioned were not apparent to me probably because this was the first Viper I got to look at and drove. I also told you that the stereo was set for full bass - probably for hip-hop music and maybe the previous owner had been a drug dealer. That and the condition of the oil sent up BIG caution signals to me. The rest of the car appeared OK to my ****** experience with a Viper.

 

[Kurt 97 GTS]

Re: Do NOT buy the \'96 GTS at Prestige Imports in Dayton, Ohio...!!

Jeremy,

Keep on looking!! There are way to many nice and clean Vipers out there to buy a p.o.c. and regret it. Stay focused and take your time, the right one is out there - you just got to find it!! Let me know if I can help.

 

[SteveBCloud9]

Re: Do NOT buy the \'96 GTS at Prestige Imports in Dayton, Ohio...!!

If it sounds too good to be true.........

 

[RonC]

Re: Do NOT buy the \'96 GTS at Prestige Imports in Dayton, Ohio...!!

Ya know Jeremy,

It is a whole lot safer to buy the car from either a VCA member or one of the dealers that frequent the board. These cars are just too susceptible to abuse. Certainly people like Tator or Pemberton would help you.

Ron

 

[pauls]

Re: Do NOT buy the \'96 GTS at Prestige Imports in Dayton, Ohio...!!

Ron Wesley has several vipers on his lot in Akron, Select Lease.
He has Dave Cueni's 96 GTS which is a lease return, about 26M miles I think. It was the fastest unmodified Viper I have seen. Went 11.50 at last years Viper Nationals, just by bolting on slicks and skinnies. I see a Black one on the lot too. 800 226 2886

 

[SUN RA KAT]

Re: Do NOT buy the \'96 GTS at Prestige Imports in Dayton, Ohio...!!

FYI

One thing I should mention is that Jeremy is an expert at buying used cars and fixing them up for resale at a profit.
http://www.extremeautosports.com/

It's very difficult to do long distance inspecting and buying, especially when the inspector has had no experience with the make of car in question. But, there were a few things that he found wrong that were not wrong with it when I drove it 2 days before he did. I suspect someone took it out for a very brutal ride and abused the heck out of it between when I drove it and Jeremy drove it.