WELCOME TO THE BOARD BRAD. YOU'VE MADE ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS OF YOUR LIFE IN BUYING A VIPER. YOU'LL SOON BE PART OF AN ELITE GROUP! THE VIPER IS A VERY EXCLUSIVE CAR. (UNLIKE THE VETTE)
FOR EXAMPLE: IN 2001 THERE WERE ONLY 827 GTS'S MADE FOR THE U.S. & ONLY 359 OF THEM HAD STRIPES. I'D CALL THAT EXCLUSIVE.
THE GTS DEBUTED IN 1996 AND IMHO THEY'VE IMPROVED ON THE CAR EVERY YEAR. THE BIGGEST THING IMO, FROM OWNING A FEW, WOULD HAVE TO BE THE COOLING ISSUES. OTHER THAN THAT, THE COSMETIC IMPROVEMENTS REALLY OVERSHADOW ANYTHING ELSE. MAKING THE VIPER MORE & MORE COMFORTABLE, W/O SACRIFICING BRUTE POWER, EVERY YEAR. ALL GTS'S HAVE 450 HP & I'D RECCOMEND ANYTHING FROM 98 & UP. ALTHOUGH THE 97 BLUE WAS MY FAVORITE COLOR.
BUT TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST W/ YOU BRAD, YOU REALLY CAN'T GO WRONG WITH ANY YEAR YOU CHOOSE. THE CAR IS JUST AWESOME.