I'm back and on the hunt for a GTS...

[ViperJames]

Hello my Viper friends! Finally I'm back and ready to buy another Viper. Looking for a 99-02 GTS . Don't want red or yellow. First choice 00 steel grey, 2nd 02 graphite, 3rd- 01 sapphire , last Black.... Miles and stock not important . Price is #1. I have seen these go for $30-$35... That's what I'm looking for. Thanks James!

 

[steve e]

James good luck in your hunt, Price is #1 , but try to find a Viper thats in the best shape you can afford, spending a little more up front will save lots down the road.

 

[blackandblue01]

Have to agree with Steve. I bought an 01 gts for 28500. At first it looked great. When all repairs were made and it suited me. (I'm very picky). I had close to 45000 in it.

 

[agentf1]

Listen to Steve, buy the best you can afford. Fixing issues adds up real quick on these cars. I would expect to be in the mid 40's before you start to find descent cars, although I am somewhat of a perfectionist. Those colors are also all one year only colors with low production numbers which tend to demand a premium. That said I too think they are the best colors made, just not in that order. ;-)

 

[Paul Hawker]

Those prices you saw were back at the bottom of the recession or Florida story cars. Prices have firmed up quite a bit recently.

Objective would to be to find the perfect car for you, and pay the current market price.

When you are shopping the price always tends to be the most important thing, however once you own the car, getting the one you love becomes priceless.

 

[klpilot]

There's an 00 steel grey no stripes in Mt. Vernon, WA at a dealer. Asking 37... something. Check Auto Trader and/or Craigslist Seattle. It has a couple paint swirls, etc... but overall appears bone stock and in decent condition. The paint blemishes may be buffed out? They were asking a lot more and have been steadily lowering the price.

 

[VIPER PIT]

Got a 2000 steel grey GTS mint shape low miles but probably need 45 to sell her

 

[mike & juli]

Yayyyyy....miss your Emerald Green James and glad to see you are BOCK~!!! ("I'll Be Bock") Good luck in your search, my friend!
~juli

 

[denniskgb]

you can have mine for $45000

 

[ViperJames]

Thanks everyone. And what's up Mike and Juli??? Miss you guys too!

Paul I have gotten
Into this value debate on these forums more than once and certainly did not intend to create another so I will leave it at thank you for your input/ response.

I have seen many GTS sell for around $33-$37 in excellent condition 20k-35k miles original paint mint and know I can find one for that. Not interested in a garage queen with 5K miles I'm gonna drive it!

I would even be open to one that needs work or paint that I can get cheap. Thanks again for everyone's input I appreciate it!

 

[ViperJames]

Agentf1- I hear you I have owned 2 other vipers and know what they cost to fix and maintain. There is no guarantee I can find one at $45 that's not going to need anything just as if I find one at $35 is my point. Thanks

 

[denniskgb]

Agentf1- I hear you I have owned 2 other vipers and know what they cost to fix and maintain. There is no guarantee I can find one at $45 that's not going to need anything just as if I find one at $35 is my point. Thanks

will disagree, you will need less to do to the car at $45000 than at $32000 -$35000 price point. but thats just my opinion. I would compare it to shopping for 5 series same year, difference in miles and wear and tear would dictate a substantial price difference.

 

[TitleMine]

Have to agree with Steve. I bought an 01 gts for 28500. At first it looked great. When all repairs were made and it suited me. (I'm very picky). I had close to 45000 in it.

The sweet spot is probably more at a median level. The high end of $46-50 is too much, you don't need that to stave off repairs. The very lowest of the low are, of course, problem cars. $$37-42 is likely to be the golden ticket. Remember that if you plan to drive it, one with some legs on it (18-25Kish?) might be less full of headaches than a time capsule with like 1200 miles.

 

[agentf1]

Of course the time you spend looking for that super deal is that much less time you can be driving one. There is some value in driving now opposed to looking for one. Pending on where you are that may not be an issue yet but it will be come spring. Some people enjoy the chase. I prefer to be driving it. Just another angle to weigh into your decision.

 

[ViperJames]

Of course the time you spend looking for that super deal is that much less time you can be driving one. There is some value in driving now opposed to looking for one. Pending on where you are that may not be an issue yet but it will be come spring. Some people enjoy the chase. I prefer to be driving it. Just another angle to weigh into your decision.

You definitely hit the nail on the head. I'm buying something now and not waiting just making sure I have seen and explored everything that is out there... I think I found my deal yesterday will know tomorrow for sure.

 

[Blainne]

I have seen many GTS sell for around $33-$37 in excellent condition 20k-35k miles original paint mint and know I can find one for that. Not interested in a garage queen with 5K miles I'm gonna drive it!

I've seen them go for around $35k with 30K or more miles... sure you could find them that cheap with 20k TRACK miles. A nice viper under $35k just ISN'T realistic. They have problems or hidden problems, need tires, or some other expensive fix. Only Viper GTS's I've seen sell for 33k or under had 40K miles or more or was a SALAVAGE!! I've been watching Viper prices for over 2 years. Hunt all you want, but the cost will bite you in your ARS in the end. I've looked at the "So Called Affordable Vipers in that range... they have problems you can even see in the pics. Heck looking at the Vipers on EBAY now I can find problems Visible in the pics just on the 'So Called' MINT condition $40k Viper GTS's for sale.

You would buy a cheap viper that needed paint? Holy crap man. Thats 7 grand right there!! Just spend the extra 3-4k for the car!!! and save 20K in the long run. Take that back sure you CAN find a higher mileage Viper that needs work... but WHY?

Don't forget the other mods you need to daily drive a viper:

1. X pipe with hi flo cats or no cats. Unless you like to be cooked in the cabin and the paint to melt off the sides while you drive.

2. Power steering fix. Less you like burning Viper? Ever seen Magnesium catch fire?

3. Tires need ALL TO BE REPLACED. 17 old tires don't go well and END IN DEATH!

Theres another 4 GRAND just to make it a daily drive. Enjoy.

 

[ViperJames]

Blaine thanks for chiming in. I have owned and fixed 2'other vipers I know what to look for and what to avoid. My point was that viper prices are all over the map and just because one is $45K and one is $35K doesn't AUTOMATICALLY mean its a better car.

 

[Caesar!]

Blaine... What you said is Soooo True!!!!

 

[mattdillon]

Good Luck James! the ONLY color, Lol! I got mine around 4 yrs. ago, Bone stock with 7,900 miles for 38k & it was in Excellent condition (no scratches or Any issues) still in Excellent condition with 13k miles & Only driven on Sunny days. The ONLY thing I Hated about the RT's was the Tops (but I wanted to be able to take it off) I've since gotten the Lemke 3-Piece & Now I think she's Complete! Be Patient, you'll Find it! ONLY other color I've ever wanted to get is the 97' B/W & I may be in the Market soon but it would be hard to get rid of the Steel Gray (I want the 97' vs the 96' B/W just because of the few upgrades on them).

 

[Blainne]

Blaine thanks for chiming in. I have owned and fixed 2'other vipers I know what to look for and what to avoid. My point was that viper prices are all over the map and just because one is $45K and one is $35K doesn't AUTOMATICALLY mean its a better car.

I agree. Some people selling Vipers as "MINT" must have a different definition of "MINT" than I do. If you think Vipers are all over the place look up GT500's... about a 20-30K gap in prices between the EXACT same car for sale. Its funny to look at. I found a $95,000 13 GT500 for sale (25k dealer markup)!!

 

[ViperJames]

Finalized the deal today! So pumped. Will give details when it's 100% set in the a.m. Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[98intrigue]

In the past 18 months, a very close friend has bought a '97 GTS with 22k miles for $32k and a 98' GTS with 12k miles for 36k...absolutely 0 issues and the cars were in mint condition. The deals are out there if you are patient. People think that just because a car is priced lower means it's junk... Definitely not true.

 

[ViperJames]

In the past 18 months, a very close friend has bought a '97 GTS with 22k miles for $32k and a 98' GTS with 12k miles for 36k...absolutely 0 issues and the cars were in mint condition. The deals are out there if you are patient. People think that just because a car is priced lower means it's junk... Definitely not true.

Halelujah!!! Thank you 98 Intrigue! Exactly my point. The issue is some people paid $10-$20K more for similar cars and can't except that they could have found better deals! It is what it is.

 

[Camfab]

Mint condition is just that, unused without any sign of wear or damage. A pin head rock chip on the car and its no longer mint. Everyone else's definition is their own convenient scale of perfection.

 

[Camfab]

Congrats on your purchase!

 

[ViperJames]

Thank you! Bought a **** 2000 steel grey/black interior GTS it's actually in transit to me as I type
....... Excited does not even begin to explain how pumped I am right now.... I actually can't even sleep!! Charlie Sheen said it best.....Winning!!!!!!!!!!!