IM NEW!!

ViperVenom523

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hello all, after snooping around here for awhile and getting some info, i've finally registered. At this point, I do not have a viper, but will get one most likely in may, june at the latest and thought this was a great place to learn, my budget is around 45,000 so i'm looking at the GTS and the RT/10 but i prefer the GTS, lately ive seen some SRT10's on ebay go for as low as 44 so ill put the srt10 in the mix if one is available and let me assure you I will be immediately joining VCA after I get my viper!! I think the viper is the sexiest car ever made and can't wait to cruise down the road and intimidate every vette in my path :drive: :drive: :drive::drive:
 

Asp Man

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Welcome!
Words of advice: 1) Don't buy the cheapest one you can find, buy the nicest one you can possibly afford, even better if it's from a VCA member. 2) Now is the time to buy, prices are allways up in the dry months.
Good luck with your search.
 
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ViperVenom523

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i know the prices will sky rocket once the snow leaves, but unfortunately i don't have the money right now, oh well, how much on average do you think prices will rise?
 

Purdue_Boiler_Viper

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Start looking now so you can get a clear idea of what you want, i.e. GTS vs RT-10, Gen 2 vs Gen 3 etc. Once you decide on what you want, don't deviate. Get exactly what you want.

Don't buy a car without personally inspecting it. Talk to Chuck Tator about a specific car, he will get you the DC history.

Enjoy. You will love this car.
 
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ViperVenom523

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right now im thinking i want a 2000-2002 GTS with ABS, or a gen 3, either one would make me very happy, ive been researching for so long, the viper has been my dream since i was 4 years old.
 

AFL in NJ

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Welcome ViperVenom523! Great choice on the model years, I have an '02 Viper GTS ACR in Graphite and had it out tonight in 18 degree weather, it's a car I LOVE to drive and you will too!

As to the two choices you've posted...the first one with accident history is only worth about $35k, so don't pay more than that, even with the low miles. The 2nd car seems fine, although I would run a carfax history on it too!

We have several sponsors here who do great work in finding the best Vipers out there and re-selling them, you may want to check some of their inventory and don't be afraid to make them offers....the worst they can say is no.

Regards,
Aaron
 
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yogibayer

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Welcome!
Words of advice: 1) Don't buy the cheapest one you can find, buy the nicest one you can possibly afford, even better if it's from a VCA member. 2) Now is the time to buy, prices are allways up in the dry months.
Good luck with your search.

That is actually not what I have observed. I researched prices for 3 years before buying mine and found that prices actually dip in the spring/early summer, especially on convertibles. I think the reason is that prices have bottomed out throughout the winter and everyone has been saving their Vipers for a better market. The problem is that this floods the market and eventually people that need to sell panic and it drives prices down further. I have found that August/September is the worst time to buy.
 

rmani

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Start looking now so you can get a clear idea of what you want, i.e. GTS vs RT-10, Gen 2 vs Gen 3 etc. Once you decide on what you want, don't deviate. Get exactly what you want.

Don't buy a car without personally inspecting it. Talk to Chuck Tator about a specific car, he will get you the DC history.

Enjoy. You will love this car.

Who's Chuck Tator and how can I contact him? I'm pretty much committed to a nice GTS that I've found but haven't been able to inspect it myself because it's far away. It's down at the dealer now having work done and the service manager was pretty nice and helpful in giving me his unbiased opinion on the car which is what sold me on it, but having another person who can run the vehicles history for me would be great for peace of mind.
 

yogibayer

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By research here are a few tips:

1) Buy the Vipers buyers guide by Maurice Liang
2) Carfax...Carfax....Carfax
3) Run your VIN by CODY before buying. He has a database of wrecked Vipers that don't show up in Carfax
4) Have a Viper Tech check out the car for you
5) A new one I just learned - tires have date codes. Make sure all of the tires were made around a similar time less than 5 years ago.
 

black mamba1

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Who's Chuck Tator and how can I contact him? I'm pretty much committed to a nice GTS that I've found but haven't been able to inspect it myself because it's far away. It's down at the dealer now having work done and the service manager was pretty nice and helpful in giving me his unbiased opinion on the car which is what sold me on it, but having another person who can run the vehicles history for me would be great for peace of mind.
Chuck Tator 914 763 3136, one of worlds best Viper techs...period.
 

georgethedog

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right now im thinking i want a 2000-2002 GTS with ABS, or a gen 3, either one would make me very happy, ive been researching for so long, the viper has been my dream since i was 4 years old.

If you don't have the money, why are you looking at the more expensive ones? How about trying to find a great gen 1? :)
 
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ViperVenom523

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i like the gen1 but i really would like abs and air conditioning, and windows, just because its going to be my daily driver.
 

rmani

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Chuck Tator 914 763 3136, one of worlds best Viper techs...period.

Thanks so much. I called and spoke with chuck today and he was not only incredibly knowledgeable but very friendly and helpful. He ran the vin number for me of a car I'm seriously considering and gave me insight into what to look for when I go down to check it out. He even offered to let me call him while I'm looking at the car and he'd walk be through what to look for again.
 

RobZilla

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My opinion, don't make this car your daily driver. It will wear faster and the value will drop like a bag of rocks.

Research and find one that has everything that you want. I looked for three months and then suddenly mine popped up. If you set a time frame for a purchase, you will likely settle (bad idea).

Find a ****** car that you drive daily.

:usa:
 

RTTTTed

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Stay away from runcrap tires! I've got an '01. Because it's a cream puff it had to have forged pistons installed (add $8,000), but I'm lovin' it.

Buy one that already has bigger brakes so that the ABS isn't necessary. I just called Roe Racing and ordered my lightweight 14" big brake kit ($1500.) Now it'll easily stop in less than 100' @ 60mph! ABS won't matter and I've never instigated the ABS yet (I already have lightweight slotted and drilled 13" brakes).

Ted
 

Asp Man

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That is actually not what I have observed. I researched prices for 3 years before buying mine and found that prices actually dip in the spring/early summer, especially on convertibles. I think the reason is that prices have bottomed out throughout the winter and everyone has been saving their Vipers for a better market. The problem is that this floods the market and eventually people that need to sell panic and it drives prices down further. I have found that August/September is the worst time to buy.

Where I am, prices are at thier absolute lowest at this time of year. Conv., Coupe, w.h.y. I did my due dilligence, as well. Perhaps a local phenomenon, perhaps and economy factor (boom here for the last decade) but certainly before I bought, (and before my brother bought) and since, the prices have been the lowest in the dead of winter. THis is not unique to Vipers, either. When spring hits, the prices rise, no deviation in the past 6 yrs.that I've been watching, all gens. Highest in July/Aug, sharply dropping by Dec.
Sept. may be the worst time to buy for several reasons, not the least of which would be the lack of dry driving time left, if you're in a "wet/cold" area. But buying in the dead of winter has few advantages other than that the prices are low. Three in my area have bought in the last few weeks, it's killing them to sit and wait it out, but they got good deals.
 
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yogibayer

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Location: Milwaukee, WI and a daily driver Viper? I have to assume you'll have something else for the winter months? I'm not sure you can get snow tires for the Viper :)
 

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