GTS As A Daily Driver?

[2tall]

That's what I do.

Had my baby 24 days, with 1600 miles racked up since 4/10. the last 2 weeks have been nothing but rain...

I've yet to drive my other car.

The viper is just like any other car between 500-2500 RPM (well, it looks a lot better).

You want comfort, room for 4 and trunk space? Get the S. You want speed, style and the envy of people from all walks of life (including the richie-rich)? Get a Viper.

 

[genXgts]

BC, eh?

just missed my car, snagged it out of white rock a few months ago, although it was never for sale, I literally badgered the guy until he parted with it, try that method if you find of an owner, kinda fun to have the seller kick you in the **** on the way out with the keys!!

get the Viper, save the Grey Poupon for later in life.

 

[RedGTS]

I LOVE my Viper, but I would be a very unhappy camper if I had to drive it every day. IMO it's a no-brainer--buy the Benz.

Ronnie

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blackws6ta:
What do you guys think about a GTS as a daily driver?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

They ride like a Cadillac. Close your eyes and you couldn't tell the difference.

 

[Vreracing]

I have a 98 GTS and a VW GTI. I try to drive the GTS every chance possible and use it as a daily driver. I must admit though that I do use the GTI occasionally when I have to carry stuff with me. If its just you and one other passenger and you don't have to carry much with you I would go for the Viper as a daily driver. One problem is that you get used to so much power that if you drive it every day then every other car seems so underpowered.

You have situations where little minor things bother you with a car. Every Porsche that I've had if one tire gets even the littlest out of round (I mean really little) you can feel it at speed. After awhile the things build up to where its annoying. (Hence the Lexus)

With the Viper the minor annoyances for me become less noticeable as I drive the car more.

Where German cars are constantly speaking to you, the Viper sort of has quiet periods during acceleration and handling that you learn to recognize through experience with driving it. Its part of the reason that Porschophiles kind of freak out when they drive a Viper for the first time and are generally displeased. Once you learn all the nuances of the car you can do incredible things with it. (Attracting attention being the strong suit)

 

[King GTS]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bsteinhagen:
I drive all my cars into the city and use them all as daily drivers. (See sig below). I see no reason why you could not drive the Viper. At the end of the day when you have worked your A$$ off the drive home in the Viper makes it seem worthwhile.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Boy do we feel EXACTLY the same on that one.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
At the end of the day when you have worked your A$$ off the drive home in the Viper makes it seem worthwhile.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have both cars. SL 500 & a Viper. I'd definitely go with the Viper. You can ride it in the rain whenever you want. So long as it doesn't flood or anything in your area. The Viper is the superior choice.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Trying...to...refrain...don't...don't...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I can't help it! If you have to ask the "daily driver" question then the Viper isn't for you.

AAAAAAAAAgggggggg still holding back! Still sugar-coating my reply. I can't last much longer.

Gotta go, gotta leave this computer. Quick.

And Neon thinks quiting smoking is bad?!

 

[Shakin Snake]

WS-6,

I had a 01 Z06 and sold it last October with the plan to buy a daily driver and a GTS. When I owned the Z06 it was my only car and I put 25K miles on it the first year. That many miles per year for a speciality car is about as bright as a dark room. I sold it since I didn't want to try to sell a 2 year old vette with 50K miles.

Even if you put 15K on your Viper per year it would depreciate so much faster and not be nearly as worthy after a few years of high mileage driving. Vipers it seems, even more than other sportscars, with high miles, are really discounted in value and are not very desireable. Plus not all places that you normally travel to would you want your Viper every day to hang out at. For me my work does not have covered parking and I for sure wouldn't want it parked in the sun 8 to 10 hours each and everyday.

Buy a little car that gets good mileage and can manuver around town and that you can also park next to all the other types of A to B's. I bought a 01 Neon for 9K that is great at all intown kind of driving.

Now I'm working on getting either a 01 or 02 GTS and hopefully by November I'll be a Viper owner with another car that does all the dirty work and runs up the miles.

I feel like I have walked in your shoes so I hope my experiences helps. I also love F-Bodys. Good luck.

Shake

 

[2tall]

I hear what you're saying about depreciation, but I made my decision about that before I bought it.

It'll cost a little more in the long run to drive it all the time, but it's not exactly a cheap car to begin with.

In other words, if you can afford it, you can probably afford the depreciation hit too (unless you are living on the ragged edge).

 

[genXgts]

Shoot me an email and we can swap emails on my story on finding a Cdn spec car from an original owner, it's a good one.....

I looked for almost a year, expect 70-80 range for a nice GTS in Canada, avoid dealer cars in Canada as most don't have a clue, there is no Pemberton to turn to, although Wellington Motors (.com) is the Canadian dealer that seems to know the most, couldn't help me with my search fora Blue/White though, it was the only car I would buy....

On another note, what 2tall has going is a good thing, the more we hang out the more I want to put the cloth diapers away and get out and enjoy the thing, I'm jealous and working on it, 1 day at a time (without washing it even, what will the neighbours think!!)

 

[Jim Hodel]

By daily driver, do you mean owning a Viper as your only car? I use my Viper frequently, rain or shine, but I couldn't own it as my only car. There are too many places I need to go (skiing, camping, fishing, to the garden center) where I can't use the Viper. There are also lots of places in the city where I don't necessarily need the notoriety of driving around in a $70,000 high profile car. Get the Viper and a Subaru wagon or something similar for more mundane duties.

Jim

 

[2tall]

Eeek. I may actually drive MORE since I have this car. Just did some quick math... ~24K miles per year at the present rate.

Thank god I didn't lease.

 

[joe117]

Why is it that you need to have just one car? If you like Vipers then buy one and then go buy a new, basic F150 pickup truck for about $16k or even a used car for the non viper days. A second car is such a small outlay compared to the cars you are talking about. Get an extra car.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Viper is cake to drive. Has synchromesh gear-box and everything.
A viper is as pleasent as a vette.

 

[agentf1]

Get the Benz for a daily driver. If you want performance get a Vette as a DD. The viper is an awesome weekend car with many strong points but not a daily driver in my opinion. To expensive to fix and attracts too much attention, etc...

 

[MadMaxx]

I drive my RT every day!

Its no different than any other high performance car. After reading many posts here by some people, I had this image that a viper was a harsh ideling, ultra-rough riding uncontrolable beast. Was it? HECK NO! This thing is WAAAAAY smoother than anything muscle era w/ a cam, rides smoother than expected (it's no caddy, but it shouldn't be!) and the power is there but it's not going to just suddenly fishtale and burst into flames for no reason. Maybe i'm just used to the high speed stuff, who knows.

Imagine your WS6 w/ 100+ more ponies, lower and without a back seat... kinda the same deal. 6spds feel exactly the same to me between Fbodies and the viper, but thats just me.

Drive it, you'll love it! Don't park way out and take up 2 spaces.. thats just asking to get keyed. I park close.. but not to close when I go places. Just be aware.. don't pull within 3" of a minivan w/ "soccer mom" stickers on it, etc. etc. etc.

I have exactly 3 miles to work, on a highway blast that lasts less than 2 minutes... in a way i'm lucky, but sometimes I wish the drive was longer.

MadMaxx

 

[SapphireGTS]

I would drive my viper in the winter if Chains were legal in Illinois.

 

[Tomer]

Well, you have both sides described very well. Its really your personal choice, but I would definitely get the Viper and a daily ******...

I want my baby to be used when I want to use it, otherwise its in the garage or when parked outside always covered! I would not be able to sleep well if I were to get soccer mom door dings/scratches....So the question is, can you?
I am sure there are many folks who can say they have parked at grocery stores many times with no scratches. Thats great, but the reality is, if you do it, you run the risk.

Tomer
96 RT, white with blue stripes
95 E320 Daily Driver (check the prices on used E320s, cheaper
than you might think)
99 Durango Grocery Getter (wife's ride)

 

[SmokinV10]

I would definitely get a second car. Get a Viper and drive it a lot if you really want to. However, this car attracts a LOT of attention. You go to the mall and people are swarming around it. Constantly touching, peeping in the windows. Also, the car is hot inside. I never even need the heater. The car does such a good job warming my feet and legs, that the AC is on year round....then its too cold. Dont get me wrong, I love it and wouldnt change a thing, but I do like having a second car. If you dont want to invest a lot into another car. Why not lease a camry, a pickup (Silverado/F150/Tacoma/Tundra), or an Accord, or a Camry? You can search around for a lease deal and probably get yourself something for the Home Improvement store, grocery store, christmas mall traffic, snow, real bad weather, dusty roads. That way the second car gets the really bad abuse and you are only out of pocket less than $250 a month to keep your Viper perfect. Thats my .02

 

[toddt]

...but you'll always wonder what it would have been like to drive the Viper...

If you buy the Viper, you'll NEVER wonder what it would have been like to drive the Vette!

99 Silver ACR bone stock

 

[Tomer]

Hey blackws6ta, surely you jest?? You are kidding right?

Remember, its Mopar or NoCar!

I would rather push a Viper than drive a Vette!!!

You get the point. Now get the Viper!

Tomer
96 RT
PS Get an older Viper perhaps with Hard Top, and a ****** daily driver car...The issue is no glass side windows on 96 and earlier, but you can use the stock side curtains, or get nice glass windows aftermarket (Vmania)...You have options!

 

[99 R/T 10]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Remember, its Mopar or NoCar!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hey Tomer,
funny. I will be heading out to the Concord area about the 9th or 10th of June. You up for luch at ******'s. I think there is one in Walnut Creek.

Mike

 

[kverges]

So are you selling the Navigator? I am afraid the Viper as your truly only, only car is not a very good idea. I go almost anywhere, any time, any weather with mine and it is basically my daily driver, but I have a pickup truck for hauling 4 people in a pinch, towing my race car trailer, carting the dogs around, and parking at movie theaters or other places where folks will know your car will be unattended for an extended period of time. There ar just times when I don't want my Viper to go there and I suspect almost no Viper owner is an ONLY Viper owner.

I would NEVER pick an S500 over a Viper, though. I'd rather have an old ****** and a Viper than a luxury sedan any day.

 

[Tomer]

Wilddude, you've got mail!

Tomer

 

[joe117]

Check out what that new Vette will be worth in two years compared to the same money spent on a used Viper. You can't figure it exactly but I'd say the $48k or so Vette would have to be down by $12k after two years. The Viper probably not near that much.

 

[Birvini]

If you can't find a good used Viper now, WAIT!!! It will definatly be worth it! I've had a Viper for over a year now and there is NO comparison to anything. I bought a C5 three weeks ago, and it's nice, but no comparison at all. Hands down Viper is the best!!

Bill

 

[Shakin Snake]

WS-6,

A Corvette?????? Remember, there's no replacement for displacement. Why go Small when you can have Big.

There are some awesome Vipers for sale from VCA members on this very board. You buy can buy from out of state and have it trucked in.

Take a real deep breath and make the right choice for you. Just don't rush into it.

Good Luck.