DROPPING VIPER PRICES????

[NJVIPER]

I rather disappointed in some of the forum posts I have read regarding "dropping Viper prices".
Folks, this is a normal part of the USA economic cycle.
It has always been and will probably be part of the way we do business in the USA and most likely globally.
Knowing this, we weather through these cycles.
Just like a rollercoaster, we hit the lower parts of the ride in the Fall and especially the Winter and then hit the high part of the ride in the Spring and Summer.
Knowing this should we panic? I will not.
I have my Viper for the sheer enjoyment, not for any financial gain.
But if people want facts, let's look at the following:
1.) Ebay...How many people get all fired-up saying "Didi you see how low the prices are on Ebay??". Let's look at the facts. How many of these Vipers finish the auction time and do not sell becuase they did not reach the reserve price? Or how many times is the same car put on Ebay for re-auction? Or let's look at the true conditition of these cars...hummm. Granted you will get some that are pretty good, but stil caveat emptor!
2.) People continue to advertise across the Internet stating how wonderful, excuse me, perfect their cars are. It took me almost 9 MONTHS to find a Viper that was really as represented. There is alot of garbage out there.
3.) Worry about the price of a Viper when it comes time to sell otherwise ENJOY IT!!! Somethings in life are not always about money.
To-date, I believe I am speaking from fact, Dodge has produced a little less than 13,000 Vipers.
I would say that that alone makes the Viper a very special, and valuable, automobile!!!!
So fellow Viper Owners, the moral of the story is let's not panic. As we say at work "Management by Fact, not Opinion".

NJVIPER

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

And get ready for another price hit, when the SRT'***** the streets. The GEN I and II will fall deeper with the RT's taking the bigger hit.

 

[99 R/T 10]

Ha, more like if not when from the rumors floating around. Something like 2004. Not worried though, I bought it for enjoyment.

 

[Mopar488]

Its the old supply and demand principle at work. It will not be too long before you cannot touch a new Viper for under $100K. It may be a while before the GTS is available in the new body. It seems to me that if you have something now that has already taken its 25% hit from MSRP, you will be in good shape for the future. A lot of people would rather pay $55 - 65K for a clean low mileage Viper in excellent condition that shell out close to $100K for a new one that will take its own 25% hit eventually, unless it is rare in its own way.

 

[DEVILDOG]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder:
And get ready for another price hit, when the SRT'***** the streets. The GEN I and II will fall deeper with the RT's taking the bigger hit.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
WRONG! The original, ground breaking, OMG, proven world race hissssssstory champion VIPER will be a valuable classic long after the SRT is forgotten. Go to the Barrett-Jackson Auction in 20 years and see for yourself.

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

DEVILDOG, regarding 20 years, I hope you are right. I plan to keep my ACR and GT-2.

But at present good luck. Read the Jan. issue of Sport Car International. That says it all!

 

[NJVIPER]

Hello...Again, less than 13,000 made....

 

[snowmann]

Cars are never investments. Only a fool would buy a car for an investment (much better ways to invest 60K). Just enjoy the car and know that cars will never hold their value. Life is short and I can't think of too many other ways I would enjoy losing 30K... And true hang onto it for 25 years and you might get your $$$ back.

 

[Ray R]

Cars are not a good investment? I cashed in stock options in 2000 to get my GTS. Those options would be worthless now!!!

Seriously, I have to agree. You don't buy cars to make money. You buy cars for transportation and/or FUN!

 

[DEVILDOG]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder:
DEVILDOG, regarding 20 years, I hope you are right. I plan to keep my ACR and GT-2.

But at present good luck. Read the Jan. issue of Sport Car International. That says it all!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Fred,
Glad to hear you're keeping your ACR and especially your GT-2 you LUCKYDOG! I don't think you will regret it. Who cares what that rag says? They've been pissed ever since the all conquering VIPER GTS-R sent the Porsches packing to the FIA GT class!

 

[George Murray]

Viper prices are lower than in the past, but they still command much better resale than other cars of the same ilk. I know this has been often stated...just wanted to throw it out there again!

Case in point: yesterday I sold a 2000 'Vette convertible for $30,500. It was one of my inventory vehicles (I'm a dealer). The car was clean, clean, clean! 47K miles, silver, six speed. NADA wholesale is roughly $33K for the car (don't have book in front of me right now), and retail is about $38K. The car was an off-lease unit, and very well-kept. I think this car stickered for $50K new. I had the car for five weeks, and it was rather hard to sell. Lots of lookers, but not enough serious ones.

Today I'm selling a 1999 Mercedes ML430 SUV, 60K miles, for $22K. All options. Another off-lease vehicle, and I'm selling it for under NADA wholesale. I think this SUV was almost $50K new.

Yeah we Viper owners are saddened by the drop in prices, but mainly because for years we have been used to the phenomenal resale value of Vipers compared to most other vehicles.

 

[Toby]

I would think that prices will soon steady up as the economy is showing some real signs of recovery and spring time usually gets people in the mood to spend. Some private owners are having a tough time but some exotic retailers are still getting great prices for the cars. It all depends on the buyers awareness of the Viper market.

 

[00prowler]

13,000 Vipers..Think how many are overseas,Canada,Totaled,Set up for racing etc. The number is probably more like 8,000 or so. I think there are around 250 million people here. There seems that the supply and demand scenario is a little overblown. I live in CT and half the people in my county could easily afford and want one. Other people will not own a convertible, {I for one} and do not have any interest in the SRT until it grows a roof...PROWLER...

 

[Vreracing]

I like the comment about the "perfect" cars on ebay.

I was looking for a Porsche TT a few weeks ago.

I did Carfax checks on about 12 of them.

One had been registered 8 times. It was only 2 years old.

One had a Odometer rollback on it.

One had been wrecked twice.

Made me think twice about getting a used one.

So instead I got put a deposit on a new M5. The Viper has its place in the garage. There wouldn't be a lot of reasons to sell it now, or in fact any time in the future.

I agree that the only time you should look at the price of a car is when you're buying or selling.

 

[Patrick99gts]

I was wondering why Supra's are holding their value so well. I thought they were $40k brand new and they seem like their selling for not much less. Was it because of Fast and Furious? Thanks