First time Viper owner, 94 RT/10

[aodetailnj]

So a lifelong dream of mine was finally realized when I decided to pull the trigger on a ‘94 RT/10 in Viper Red. The Viper is what got me into cars and I can still picture that ‘97 GTS (B/W) poster hanging on my wall and the die cast RT/10’s that adorned my dresser.

This particular car only has 3k miles, so I had it trailered to Tator’s to give the car a once over. Early results indicate the car needs very little, sitting so much for so long had me a bit worried. Oddly enough, it is missing its sun visors..

Just wanted to pop in here for a first post and say “hi”. Looking forward to becoming a part of the Viper community and learning a bit more about my snake.
Nick

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[Robert Kennedy]

So a lifelong dream of mine was finally realized when I decided to pull the trigger on a ‘94 RT/10 in Viper Red. The Viper is what got me into cars and I can still picture that ‘97 GTS (B/W) poster hanging on my wall and the die cast RT/10’s that adorned my dresser.

This particular car only has 3k miles, so I had it trailered to Tator’s to give the car a once over. Early results indicate the car needs very little, sitting so much for so long had me a bit worried. Oddly enough, it is missing its sun visors..

Just wanted to pop in here for a first post and say “hi”. Looking forward to becoming a part of the Viper community and learning a bit more about my snake.
Nick

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Welcome again, beautiful Viper and congrats... best looking vehicle ever designed in my opinion, if it never existed and was released today it would be huge

 

[MoparMap]

The sun visor thing doesn't entirely surprise me. I ended up removing mine because I'm tall enough that I could basically never use them anyway. If I flipped them down it would obscure so much of my vision that I couldn't use them anyway. Figured it was easier to just not have them in the way at all at that point.

 

[steel snake]

Congrats! The adventure begins.............and don't floor it unless the wheels are pointed str8 ahead!

 

[aodetailnj]

Congrats! The adventure begins.............and don't floor it unless the wheels are pointed str8 ahead!

This is the kind of advice I signed up for! Hah

Much appreciated guys

 

[2002-GTS-FINAL-ED]

Sweet car Congrats!

 

[redtanrt10]

Congrats!! You made the right first move taking your new Viper to Chuck. He'll do a great job looking over the car and knows what to look for. Plus he is very fair on pricing and is a straight shooter. Hope you get a good opportunity to take some nice runs before the weather turns in NJ.

 

[InTheZoneAC]

This is the kind of advice I signed up for! Hah

Much appreciated guys

Wheels straight and new tires are a must

 

[aodetailnj]

Congrats!! You made the right first move taking your new Viper to Chuck. He'll do a great job looking over the car and knows what to look for. Plus he is very fair on pricing and is a straight shooter. Hope you get a good opportunity to take some nice runs before the weather turns in NJ.

Just got the call from Chuck this afternoon, car is ready for pick up. Hoping I’ll get a couple weeks of driving in.

 

[aodetailnj]

Wheels straight and new tires are a must

Tires were the first thing ordered, definitely priority #1

 

[David Buchesky]

I have some visors if you still need and want them.

 

[Chris Charleston]

Chuck is the real deal. Tell him one of his old Service DM's says HELLO and thanks for keeping the snakes on the road. Chris Charleston

 

[Joseph Volpe]

Congrats! We'll have to get these two together.... Not many of them in South Jersey!

 

[aodetailnj]

Congrats! We'll have to get these two together.... Not many of them in South Jersey!

Whereabout? Would love to see yours

 

[ViperRed]

Congrats on the purchase. You made a good choice.
Enjoy her in good health.

 

[kssssnake]

I have a "Tater" tee shirt. Only worn on special occasions. Best advice I ever got was that when you start feeling confident and think you have it figured out the snake will bite you. Enjoy!

 

[littlecaars]

Hey, welcome to the club. You’ll find out it will get infectious. I have owned vipers for 17 straight years and loved everyone of them. Take your time and get used to the car for if you’re not ready for it and you’re in an unusual attitude and you get aggressive it will bite you. My friend who was very knowledgeable on Viper‘s and on his second one left a red light on a left turn,dry pavement, probably a little bit too much gas went into a ditch and totaled the car. Good luck and happy motoring.

 

[Viper1722]

just got my 02 rt-10 about a month ago and it's everything i dreamed it would be. same as you i LOVED this car as a kid growing up. i listed a few things below that i've done to mine in the last month many of which you can read about on here. Let me know if you want any info on any of them.

1. join your local viper group on facebook. the viper community is the best.
2. change out the power steering pully and bracket. its not a matter of if but when
3. i still have the origional spark plug wires. there is a good set that is made by "quality wires"
4. i ended up installing a heads up display that i LOVE i would highly recommend it.
5. a drywall sanding block works wonders on your valve covers where it says viper and has the logo.
6. i changed out the headlights to LED and it made a huge difference
7. check your hidden coolant overflow tank that is in the front bumper on the passanger side. mine needed a little extra. there is a round port in the front wheel well that you put your phone in to see/check the level.
8. i changed out my exhaust and absolutly love the new sound.
9. smooth tubes and k&N filters were a easy change out and cant hurt. they claim it adds a little horses too but who knows. still worth it as they came stock on the ACRs.
10. if not having a cup holder or a place to put your phone they sell things that just slide inbetween the seat and center counsal. my wife loves having it and they sell some that can match the interior.

happy detailing... if you want any more info on the things i mentioned above just let me know.

Hope you enjoy it as much as i have. it still makes me smile every time i walk past it in the garage. lastly ill echo what everyone else is saying. respect it, especially in first gear.

 

[Viper 8 R]

TATOR’S Garage Here’s to The Viper Wizard!!

 

[Banshee]

Welcome. Bought my 2000 RT/10 in August, also very low miles. Along with the great tips from Viper1722, I did the following:

1. Buy matching touch up paint (see my reply on this one).
2. Have a professional fully detail body, engine (have it blown out w/compressor), and interior - followed by a ceramic coating.
3. SCT Tune done by a professional (I used Viper Specialty Performance)
- Fans come on sooner to keep engine cooler
- Idle now is actually an idle
- Highly annoying skip shift gone
- REV limiter increased
- HP gain (tuned 93 octane)
4. Make sure your tires not only have tread, but are NOT hard with age. Like mine your car was barely driven - hard tires will get you killed in this car if you're not careful.

...and as was previously said, definitely respect first gear. If you do start going sideways quickly LET OFF THE GAS as you counter steer. Get really used to the car first before you try and hold a sideways launch. Otherwise you'll end up doing 360's (Also never punch it around a turn) Watch many YouTube videos of Viper crashes - seriously. Learn from others mistakes.

Most importantly, enjoy the coolest car ever made.

 

[Banshee]

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[aodetailnj]

Great info guys, appreciate the welcome and am really looking forward to getting used to the car. New tires were the first order of business and I’ve yet to REALLY get on the fun pedal in the first 140 miles I’ve put on her. It’ll be a slow feeling out process...the Viper rep is well documented. It demands respect.

Fortunately I own a Coating/PPF company, so she’ll be getting a full correction and coating before I tuck her in for winter.

Hoping to get a few more weekends in before then including a trip down to the the Capital Vipers C&C in Nov.

 

[aodetailnj]

Side note, I think I walk into the garage four to six times a day just to look at it sitting there. A design that has aged so well, I can’t get enough of it

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[snakeSRTops]

Don't tuck her in for winter. A couple times a week in good weather won't hurt the car. I am in Pa. and drive it all year long. It's too cool of a car to sit idle. Good luck with your great looking viper. Mike.

 

[DJ'sviper]

Welcome. We are moving and my wife wanted me to sell my viper. I have two classic cars. Stalled her and now she is talking on how we are going to move all of them. Ha Ha. The side sills will develop bubbles from the heat because they get so hot. I had mine wrapped with airplane wrapping. It helped but they still bubbled the paint. Cooler in the car. Your car is beautiful with only 3K miles on it. Was it a salvage car?? What did you pay for it. I have extra tops if you need a hard top. Also have a fast back top. Did you get the canvas top with it? Mines a '93 Good luck.

 

[redtanrt10]

DJ, those bubbles on your sills are the rivets. Over time they don't get along with the aluminum sill and begin to bubble as the two metals interact.

 

[John A Pin]

I am looking at getting my first Viper and would like 93 , 94 or 95 but I need air con and hard top/ windows. Ant advice would be appreciate.

 

[steel snake]

Get a '96.

 

[Banshee]

Get a '96.

Agreed. If you want the 'niceties' of windows, AC, and just simply being able to lock your car properly - yet still want that look, go with a Gen 2. Gen 1's are awesome, but can be impractical depending on your use.

 

[Robert Kennedy]

Also agreed based on your post "I need air cond. hard top and windows" though you can get a Gen 1 with AC, and hard top... windows will always be soft and slide in. I had a 95 and loved the car, was depressed after selling and months later had to get another, went Gen 2 for the same reasons and picked up a 99, still going back and forth with Gen 1 or 2 as I loved the side pipes and idea of the Gen 1...

It took less than a week to know I made the right decision, I live in AZ and was able to use the AC right away though I much prefer top off driving, I've grown to actually prefer the rear exhaust and the other upgrades to the Gen 2 became apparent quickly.

Best of luck in your search