FS or Trade: 2000 Red RT/10 (Do you guys think this is a good idea?)

[Achilles99]

I am in a dilemna, and I turn to the Viper Nation to give me a little advice...

I'm tired of owning a "garage" queen vehicle. Aside from autocrosses, I haven't really stretched the legs of the Viper. Why? Quite frankly, I'm afraid to scratch it As a result, she spends most of her time covered and in a garage.

My new plan... sell it for an older, high mileage GTS. What do you think?

2000 Red RT/10 w/ 13,8xx miles
Black Interior
K&N Filters, MGW Short Shifter, EBC Green Brake Pads
Both Hard and Soft Tops
It also has the 7 year Maxcare Warranty good until 2007.

I think the warranty is what separates this from a lot of the other Vipers for sale. It's pretty good piece of mind knowing that you won't have to pay for a new engine or transmission in case it goes. Considering the fact that you can't buy the warranty after the original expires (which for 2000 year models should be this year), I think it becomes even more attractive.

The hardtop is a $2500 option, the warranty around $2000. Edmunds puts the value at $51k private party, and $55k dealer, WITHOUT the warranty. So, I figure the car is worth around $53-56k blue book. Amazing that the car went from $75k in 2000 down to $53 in 3 years .

I'm going to sell this car, and pick up a 96 or 97 GTS. How much do you think I should post this car for on Autotrader or the VCA classifieds?
I'm in no rush to sell, if that makes a difference...

 

[Don]

Keep it, drive it, enjoy it! Don't spend another day worrying about scratching it. If it happens, fix it!

 

[Achilles99]

I should add that I could use the extra cash from the sale of the RT/10 and the purchase of an older, higher mileage GTS.

Besides, why beat up a perfect car when I can beat up on a pre-beaten one Now that no more are going to be built, we have to be careful with what we do with the available pool

 

[SNKEBIT]

If it was mine,,,, I'd be drivin' it!!!! What's the diff.???
If ya sell it somebody else is gonna scratch it, plus with the warranty you din't have to worry about breakin' it!!!!!!
Drive it,, that's why they built it!!!!!!

 

[Achilles99]

OK, you guys forced it out of me...

My sig other is requiring that I free up some funds, if you know what I mean... so, selling my pristine RT/10 is serving multiple purposes

How much do you think is fair? If there are any prospective buyers out there, send me an email...

 

[FranciscoR.]

I would venture 45k - 50k...

 

[Achilles99]

Looking at the board, it seems like your estimate is about right. Well, given the condition of the car and the extras it comes with, I'm going to put the price at $53k, and I'm willing to go down to $50k

Come on, someone buy this from me so I can get a GTS ******

 

[newredrt10]

Is the little amount of money your going to make by going from your 2000 to a 96/97 gts really worth it. If you by a ****** you may have to put money into it. Keep, drive it and have fun. Fine something else to sell.

 

[ViperJoe]

No self respecting "garage queen" would ever be caught with stick on numbers getting the pi$$ wrung out of it at an autocross! LOL!!!!

 

[Achilles99]

Haha... true, maybe not a legitimate garage queen, but close enough in my book!

As for the money savings point, I think the difference would be worth it... especially if I put a warranty on the GTS...

 

[cratica]

Actually it can't be too much of a garage queen if it's already got 13K miles on it. My 96 has about the same mileage. I don't think you're going to have ANY money left over after you add taxes too. If you get the high of $48K that your car is probably worth, then buy another GTS for $43 or so, add taxes (another $3,000), then time and travel looking for another car, plus any other things the new (old ****** GTS) may need such as tires, you might actually have to PUT MONEY INTO this adventure.

Not a good idea in my mind.

 

[cratica]

btw, I don't think your car would qualify as a garage queen (besides the relative high mileage) because of your pic of it being on a autoX track!!!

Garage queens aren't raced at all, that's why their "garage queens".

 

[Achilles99]

Haha... I conceded that she's not a garage queen a few posts above However, I don't put a lot of miles on it, and would like to. I think I could easily get more than $48 for it if I wait until springtime. I haven't heard of any RT/10's with BOTH tops and a warranty going for that low. I don't consider Ebay a good indicator. 95% of those never sell.

I can get a high mileage GTS for high 30's, add a warranty, and not be much over $40k even. Tax isn't an issue if I buy private party, or from out-of-state.

I definitely want about a $9k-10k cash after I "switch" cars. Any less, and I don't think it would be worth trading her in for a higher mileage, older car. Thanks for the input, and putting it into perspective...

 

[joe117]

Here's the GTS you can buy. It's on another thread on this forum.
It's a 2001 for $44k obo.

Good luck selling your 2000 RT for $50k.
I think you are dreaming.

2001 Sap. GTS
 No stripes
 Cognac int.
 Tune-up done at 30k miles (Done by Jason Heffner)
 Little curb rash on two wheels and under front fascia
 No accidents
 One owner
 Heffner airbox installed
 39500 miles
VIN 1b3er69e01v701379
$44k obo

The fact that it's a GTS and a 2001 should more than make up for the extra miles.

 

[Achilles99]

Yep, saw that... DA@# good buy! I'd ****** that up in a heartbeat if I were looking.

Yep, $50k may be dreaming. However, I don't know of any 2000 RT/10's w/ warranty that have sold for below that. Has anyone seen any that have?

 

[Joseph Houss]

Achilles,

If your intentions are really to "downsize" financially, but keep in our Viper family, may I suggest you work with one of our Viper Friendly Mega Viper dealers like Woodhouse, Roanoke, Buhler, Tator, etc?

I'm assuming GA sales tax works the same way as NJ .... so the trade in of one unit to another (even if for a lesser price) would amount to a huge sales tax incentive (read: ZERO if trading in for lesser priced car).

These dealers will work with you, transport, add warranties, etc to make the deal as easy as possible.

 

[joe117]

How much would it cost to buy a warranty for the 2001?
Wouldn't the 2001 be under warranty anyway?

 

[Achilles99]

Achilles,

If your intentions are really to "downsize" financially, but keep in our Viper family, may I suggest you work with one of our Viper Friendly Mega Viper dealers like Woodhouse, Roanoke, Buhler, Tator, etc?

I'm assuming GA sales tax works the same way as NJ .... so the trade in of one unit to another (even if for a lesser price) would amount to a huge sales tax incentive (read: ZERO if trading in for lesser priced car).

These dealers will work with you, transport, add warranties, etc to make the deal as easy as possible.

I'm one step ahead of you... I've actually started doing that with my "local" favorite dealer... but, if Woodhouse, Roanoke, Tator are reading this post, I'm all ears!

Problem is, the trade-in value is a lot lower than what one could get private party. As for sales tax, I'm not worried about that as long as I buy from out of state... after talking with the dealer, it seems like I would still be better off trying to sell the car outright and then buying the GTS after that. It couldn't hurt to give the other Mega dealers a chance, though...

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Achilles99]

How much would it cost to buy a warranty for the 2001?
Wouldn't the 2001 be under warranty anyway?

The 2001's warranty would expire sometime this year or early next, depending on the inservice date. The 7 year Maxcare warranty runs about $2k, and the Added Care (not as good as Maxcare, but the only one available for older cars) runs $2200 for the 96 GTS.

 

[cratica]

I don't understand why the tax won't be an issue for you if you buy out of state. In Texas, you pay tax when you title/register the car in state. For instance, I bought my viper from a california dealership. They gave me the option of paying sales tax there or paying it here when I titled, whatever was less. It turned out to be less in Texas naturally. Same thing when you buy from a private party as I've done recently with my truck.

I'm in the same situation as you. I'm trying to sell my miata so I can buy a c5 vette. If I trade it in, then I get the tax break, but I get $3 or $4k less for the miata. I would rather sell it myself and just bring cash to the deal when I buy the c5 and pay taxes unfortunately. What would be really nice is if there is a way to sell your vehicle through private party and then roll that into your new "used" vehicle and only pay taxes on the difference. Can that be done?

 

[SNKEBIT]

. What would be really nice is if there is a way to sell your vehicle through private party and then roll that into your new "used" vehicle and only pay taxes on the difference. Can that be done?

I have heard tales,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Achilles99]

Regarding the tax question... I'm not sure how it is from state to state, but in Georgia, this is what I've been through:

I've bought several cars over the internet, as have several of my friends. After registering the car, I pay an ad valorum tax, but I've seen nothing about a sales tax. When do you all pay sales tax? When you register? Several weeks later? When?

My cars are from dealerships, too... not private party. I'm positive there is no sales tax on private party sales, but now you've made me wonder about dealer sales. Anyone know the story?

 

[joe117]

In Maryland, you pay the tax when you register the car for plates. They don't care where you bought it.

 

[Achilles99]

We pay the Ad Valorum tax when we register the plates, but you can't get around that... the Ad Valorum tax is assessed yearly.

I've never seen anything about the sales tax (which in Georgia is 7%... what is it in MD?)

 

[cratica]

same with Texas and California (two states I've lived in).

You pay sales tax when you register the vehicle, texas is 6.25 or 6.5 I can't remember. California is like 8 or 8.25 if I remember correctly.

 

[joe117]

5% in Maryland.
No yearly tax. No inspection after it gets inspected for the registration.

 

[grayman]

Tax rules on used vehicles vary drastically from state to state. Some states give you credit for a trade, others such as Maryland do not. Most states charge the tax up front at vehicle registration time, unless you are leasing where tax is paid monthly as part of your payment. However, the used car rules get technical and if you know how to play them you can defitely do just that. For instance, in Maryland, a used vehicle will be taxed per the declared value as declared by a notorized Bill of Sale between seller and buyer. If both parties agree to transfer ownership on paper for $1000, then voila, tax is assessed at $50.

 

[Achilles99]

5% in Maryland.
No yearly tax. No inspection after it gets inspected for the registration.

Dang, I'd take that anyday! In GA, the Ad Valorum comes out to a little over $1000/year (varies by county). Plus, I have to get emissions tested every year...

 

[Achilles99]

Here's the GTS you can buy. It's on another thread on this forum.
It's a 2001 for $44k obo.

Good luck selling your 2000 RT for $50k.
I think you are dreaming.

2001 Sap. GTS
 No stripes
 Cognac int.
 Tune-up done at 30k miles (Done by Jason Heffner)
 Little curb rash on two wheels and under front fascia
 No accidents
 One owner
 Heffner airbox installed
 39500 miles
VIN 1b3er69e01v701379
$44k obo

The fact that it's a GTS and a 2001 should more than make up for the extra miles.

FYI (for the archives) - My RT10 sold for $50k Jan/2004. It only took two months to sell. I've kept the Autotrader ad up and running (mainly because I don't have my original ad number in order to remove it). Lots of inquiries lately... summer must be coming!