I've always felt that putting the least amount down, and minimizing your out of pocket expenses, was the smartest way to buy a Viper. Knowing that many owners total out their new Vipers, and only being 25 when I got my 2008, I decided a lease was for me. A leasing company handled everything, and the total amount of the car came out to $90,000, my lease rate was over $1400/month. I believe I paid just the first month's payment, and a couple of hundred in fees, and had a Viper. I was allowed 12,000 miles per year, and honestly just drove the piss out of it enjoying it for as long as I could. Now back to the point of minimizing down payment, if I bought the car and totaled it the first month, I would only be out the ~$1400 of my payment. Leases come with gap coverage, and so if the value of the car was less than what I owed, I just walked away, and gap coverage picked up the rest. For those that put down a large down payment, you would be out of pocket for the difference (unless you have stated value, etc.). I figured even after making payments for a year or two, that I was still ahead of buying the car if something happened, especially when the economy tanked and prices on the 08's dropped.
Maybe it isn't as simple as what I've explained, but that's how I understood it. If I was to purchase another car, the balloon payment route seems to be appealing to me, as the vehicle won't be leased, but I would buy GAP coverage, so if the unspeakable happens, I wouldn't be that bad off. Minimum out of pocket up front, and deal with the balloon payment when it comes time. Just me thinking out loud.