Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q's

[Larz]

Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Hello Everyone, Im in southern California, just looked at a clean 97 Red Gts with 38,000 miles. The guy want to sell it to me for 32K. The interior looks brand new, paint is good condition, new tires. The only problem is that this car is a buy-back. I know the title is not clean but i am planning on keeping the car and dont really care about resale. The problems that it had but were fixed or repaced was. Problems Reported: 1. engine leak oil/coolant 2. Wind noise - trans bearing noise 3. idle sticks at 1500 rpm 4. engine very slow cranking 5. R/F shock leaking 6. Front brakes noisy 7.Pulls to the right 8. Drivers door hard to close---Repairs made: R/R oil cooler lines 2. replace trans and clutch 3. Set up throttle position and sensors 4. Replace battery and alternator 5. Replace shock 6. Add brake shims to all pads 7. Front end align 8.Replace weather strip. Check the vin no accidents reported. I got all this information from the origional buyback Form. What do you guys think?? Thanks for all your help and hopefully i will have a Viper soon!!

 

[FranciscoR.]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

I am not a Viper expert. I am not even a Viper owner. I however can say BEWARE!!! A car that new, going for that price, something is up. If those repairs are needed, look to spend SEVERAL THOUSAND MORE!!! I look at it this way, if those are the problems reported ( for whatever reason caused them ), just iamgine what you can't see or don't know yet. I mean, 32k for a "good mileage" 94 RT/10 is a awesome, possibly slightly low price. And that is technically much less of a car then a 97 GTS. ( Absolutely no offense intended to 94 RT/10 owners. )

 

[REDSLED]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Since you are in So Cal I suggest taking it to Dan Cragin @ DC Performance in Santa Monica. He knows Vipers and he can give you a fair assesment of the car. Do your homework before you make a decision.

 

[Larz]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Are these major problems or minor problems? The problems have been corrected. If i get the car checked out by a Viper Tech and he says the cars in good shape, is 32K a good price? Whats worse a buyback lemon title or a salvaged title? These might sound like stupid questions but if i can save 10K thats just more money i can use to mod the car!! Thanks again for all your help!!

 

[Wild Bill]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

You get what you pay for. If you pay to little up front it will probably get spent later and maybe more. That price is to low unless and there must be a reason for it being that low. If a $45K-50K car is being sold for 32K there is a reason; a dealer is not going to leave cash on the table.

The savings is just an illusion-take your time, do your homework, talk with Mr. Tator and Bill P.--you will be happier in the long run

I spent 4 months and untold hours searching and asking questions; it was worth every second.

Bill

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Keep in mind also, that it probably is ineligible for an extended service contract, so all future issues will be on your shoulders. I completely concur that Dan Cragin is the place to go for a thorough check -up and this is a great idea for your piece of mind - Dan is still Da Man!!!

 

[Kurt 97 GTS]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Classsic case of look before you leap!! Take your time and find the car that is right for YOU! I concur with the above comments completely and do have Dan take a look before putting any money on the table!

 

[99 R/T 10]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Keep in mind also, that it probably is ineligible for an extended service contract, so all future issues will be on your shoulders. I completely concur that Dan Cragin is the place to go for a thorough check -up and this is a great idea for your piece of mind - Dan is still Da Man!!!

Agreed, get the car to Dan Cragin right now. If it does check out, go for it. Make sure to check for any frame damage. The car of which you speak is on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2431482342&category=6209&rd=1
and is sitting at almost $34K, good luck.

 

[slaughterj]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Front end align

Supposed to always be an "all wheel" align...

 

[scottgf]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Sounds like it could be a good deal....
I work at a dealer (not Dodge) and we just "bought back" a car because the cig. lighter kept blowing fuses..
The customer was all upset about it and threatened to sue us, the manufacturer, and so on, so it was "cheaper" for us to buy the thing back, we lost a couple grand and went on.
Kind of stupid, but thats the way it works here in Cal. with our lemon laws and so on.
The Viper you want to buy may just have been bought back from a very "picky" customer..
I would have the car checked by Dan or someone and if it checks out, and you arent concerned about the warranty or the title, get it.
Cheers,

 

[Yellow Fever]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

WOW ! Looking at the pics on Ebay the car looks like new..Which would make me even more leary of buying this GTS for such a low price.

But then again there deals out there to be had, if Dan gives it a clean bill of health I'd jump on it !

Good Luck

Jeff

 

[Russ M]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

All I can say is buyer beware.

There are no miracle deals on cars, if this car is to be sold for 32k then it probably will need another 30k to make it right.

If you do buy it, please do not come back 6 months from now saying you were scammed.

 

[ViperJoe]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Salvage Title - could have been cut in half at a railroad crossing accident, repaired and resold with a "salvage title".

That excuse " I'll keep it forever....." heard that before then YOU have the [******] car to sell that nobody wants!

Not for my money, but then I'm one picky bastage a-hole!LOL!!

 

[tim721]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

sounds like it could be a headache. the money you'll save now you could end up paying later when stuff starts to go...
this is a dealer too going this low...just think what he got it for...be careful

TIM

 

[dansauto]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

I would rather buy a wrecked car than a lemon buy back. In some states they can not even title a lemon buy back. Years ago I bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee limited (94-95) It had low miles (15K) The Jeep was bought new and keep having transmission problems the owners keep taking it back to the dealer. Finially they pressed the issue and got thier $ back. The transmission was "fixed" and I bought the car with no title (NYS lemon law) at a dealer auction. I planned on using it with a dealer plate. I drove the thing about 1 year and had nothing but problems, I think there were a lot of other issues that were never disclosed. But that is usually the case with lemon law by backs. Lots of small problems the result in one major headache. $32K with those miles is not a steal. It's woth about $25-8 wholesale with a salvage title and lemon law history.

 

[ROCKET62]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Looks like someone may have bought it! Yeah, it POSSIBLY could be a headache, but you also could get lucky. Based on the cost for parts you could probably get close to $32k parting it out. It would be interesting to see how this story turns out - buyer keep us posted.

 

[pdmracing]

Re: Help! Want to buy a delaer buy-back 97 GTS for 32K many Q\'s

Just a thought, I recently got a 96 GTS with 18k mile, new pilots,10k stereo,Borla,5 point belts in super condition for 37K from a local porsche dealer who was taking in trade on a GT2, Our club secratary is driving it now & it is in GREAT shape w original paint. A deal? sure but they are definitly out there.