Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a "buyback"

[Toby]

Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

I found a 99 Silver GTS/ACR with blue stripes, 33k miles.(seems like a lot of miles for a 99) The car comes with a 1 year / unlimited extended warr. The car was purchased back from an owner by DC due to yellowing of the side panels below the door due to exhaust heat. (sounds true?) The car was fixed according to the dealer. The car is being sold from a DC dealer and they were very up front about it. The asking price is 49,999.00
I do not have details on the condition of the vehicle like tires, brakes, brake fluid color, etc etc. I was told the car was inspected by the dealer. (by a Viper tech I am not sure yet) The car has not been crashed or has a salvage title. In my search I have not run into such a vehicle. Advice? A good deal or should I move on? THANKS!!!

 

[Viper Specialty]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

that sounds a little far fetched if you ask me... it would take more than just yellowing side sills for a buyback. I would try to find some info and get in touch with the previous owner. DC would replace the side sills 10x and have a custom set made out of titanium before they would do a buyback... as it is with one of out trucks...lol. (7 trannies and a rear end in a 2001 2500 pickup that is 1000 pounds UNDERWEIGHTED)

 

[onerareviper]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

TobyT,

A little friendly advice: I know you have been looking to purchase your first Viper for a while now, and are looking for a great deal. You are 1000 times more likely to find an awesome Viper sold by a respected VCA member (private party), for a very good price. A known history, cared for like a child, and mostly honest upstanding individuals. Why bother with dealers that really can't give you all the answers and need to make a profit on the sale of a vehicle???? I would look for a one/two owner car with NO QUESTIONS or DOUBTS. You should be able to find an incredible Viper with 'NO SECOND GUESSES', for a price that is thousands below what a dealer can sell the SAME car for.

Later

 

[Toby]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

Good advice, thank you. I was just wondering what was up with such a vehicle. It is most certainly low on my list. I have been looking for a while but I am in no hurry. I do think I have narrowed my search to a 98 GTS model.

 

[jamie]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

TobyT,

Give Woodhouse a call, I got a '99 RT/10 with 6800 miles for just a few more thousand than that ACR. His inventory is alot larger than his website states.

 

[Janni]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

Well, it may be a good deal - but you may not ever know... We did know of a DC buyback on a 1996 GTS for, get this "wavy door panels". Now anyone with a 1996 GTS knows that the door panels are wavy - some are wavier than others.

The owner would not accept having the panels repainted or let them try to "repair" them. However, unless this dealer knows this car, they may not have the straight skinny. the car went through an auction, as DC changed its policy about letting dealers sell them before the auction to remove any possibility for funny business.

Yellow side sills may be a reason enough to buy the car back if the person was persistent enough. Why not run the VIN and see what the record says in the DC system? DC was recently sued in NC for "hiding" lemon law cars, and even though they prevailed, my bet is that they are being careful to fully disclose buybacks to consumers.

 

[SneakyPete]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

If you are really interested in this car, Have the dealer print out the service history and where it was serviced. Then call the dealer that did the services on it for more detailed information on repairs.

Also run a carfax lemon report for accidents and major repair.

DaimlerChrysler is just buying my 2001 GTS back from me, but I had to file lemon law to get them to do anything. Now the car sits with a blown motor.

A little rule to remember, If Chrysler bought the car back by Chrysler buyback program or lemon law arbitration, there is a 99% chance that chrysler ********** the owner so bad that those cars are usually beat to hell and back.

You are better of looking for a private seller and save yourself atleast $5000 for the same car, why should you pay for the dealers overhead and advertising, when someone out there is dying to dump there car because they cannot afford the payments or want something else.

 

[viperprowler1]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

As a retired Dodge dealer of 33 years, I support what Janni has stated in her post. Most times these "buy-backs" are a customer satisfaction issue. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you cannot satisfy some owners. Many times these cars are bought back to get the unsatisfied owner out of the car, the repairs are made and the car bought by a Chrysler dealer at a closed factory sale and then re-sold to a new owner with complete disclosure. In fact, the dealer cannot get the deal paperwork from Chrysler until they sign the disclosure statement themselves. My own wife is currently driving a "lemon law buy-back" Jeep Grand Cherokee that she completely loves. If your dealer is a good dealer and you see and sign the disclosure documents and get the warranty you state, you should be good to go. If you are concerned, take the car to another dealer and pay them to look it over for you to take care of any remaining doubts you may have. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to email me and I will try to answer as best I can from my experience.

Mike
NY/CT VCA

 

[99 R/T 10]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

Call Chuck Tator, he will take care of you!!!

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

That is a steal, Buy it. Of course the side sills will yellow again over time unless you yourself take actions to prevent this. Search the board for proven remedies. Better yet leave that car alone. I'm going to take a road trip and buy it tommorrow. Red is about the only color car that does not show this problem over time.

 

[SmokinV10]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

It sounds like that is a good deal, however, that car does have relatively high miles for a Viper (although it is normal miles for any other car). I went through a buy back dealing with BMW NA on a 740 I used to own. The car had a tremendous amount of problems. Yes, they did always fix all the problems, but IMO and experience it takes a lot more than yellowing sills to cause a buy back. Maybe that was just the last straw. If it is a buy-back situation, I would run the VIN and look at the service records. This car had to have met many of the terms in lemon law in the state in which it was registered to be considered to be bought back. Remember that DC gave back this owner ALL their money after 33K miles of use. This was a money losing deal for them. So there was a reason beyond paint. It is possible that this happened mutiple times wihtin 33K miles and that the car was in the shop for over 30 days. That could trigger a buy back...but be careful.

 

[JonB]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

I know of 2 other buy-backs for yellowing sills, but not ONE instance of it caused the buy back. The 2nd case met the "failed to repair" clause, and cinched the buy-backs.
D-C and the dealer are required by federal law to fully disclose the true reason.

The price sounds fair.

Buy-backs are rare, but other factual buy-backs that I know of:

water leaks
ACR shock rattles
NGR !!!!!!!!!!
motor probs 1998 specific (2)
brake squeek !!!!!!!!!

 

[toddt]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

My man. You are buying equity. I don't care WHAT is wrong with the car, that is a good price. You have a warranty, use it.

Your side sills will probably yellow again, who cares? They only cost 400 to repaint every few years. It's really not a big deal.

My side-sills were coated inside with hi-temp reflective, and they STILL yellowed, though not as much so far. Dealer paid for it all.

Remember, the right person can hit the right buttons, and play the system just right and get the car bought back under the lemon law. All they would have had to do was show the sills yellowing and needing repair 3 times (in California) and put up a good fight.

A 99 silver ACR for 49,999? I'd try to talk em down a few MORE grand and go for it 100%! Check low blue-book. You'll drive for free for six months (aside from insurance)! (I paid 58 for mine about a year ago, albiet with only 9K miles, and I thought I was committing a crime at that price!)

 

[Toby]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

It looks like further research is in order due to the mixed response. I will run the VIN tomorrow and post the results as I get them. Thanks again for all the assistance. When I enjoy a good stress reliever...I hang at the off topic threads but when it comes down to serious Viper business...you nice people are #1 in my book and come through with no bull! THANKS!

To compare with this car I am looking at a 98 red GTS with 4000 miles on it here locally and he is asking low 50's with room to bargain. I like the ACR but I do like the security of a car with no troubled past.

Another thought is resale. I would hate to think what it would be like to sell a "buyback" Viper with what I think is excessive miles.

I wonder what the dealer paid for it?

The dealer is sending pics soon of the ACR and I will post them when I can.

 

[Toby]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

I am having a disclosure statement faxed but I verified that the ONLY reason this car was a buy-back was the yellowing sills. The car also comes with a 12 month unlimited mileage bumper to bumper warranty! wow! I am also getting a warranty report and pics sent today. I will update everybody when this happens. If I do not get this car I am sure it will make somebody a nice car.

How much more does the ACR package make a Viper worth when reselling used? I think the option is around 10K on the sticker.


This is a CA car...are the emissions different?


I did a search here and back in Feb. another poster had some of the same questions. The car was 53K then.

 

[Toby]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

I just got the discloser and warranty history.


On the top of the page the statement reads and is marked....

This vehicle was repurchased by DC Motors Corp pursuant to consumer warranty laws due to the defect(s)/nonconformity(ies) listed below.

The reported problem was yellowing around the sill area.

The repaired or other comments section states...

11/02/01- Reported problem is not a non-conformity and no repairs are necessary.

the warranty history is all codes but some things can be figured out

08503102 replace right
08192401 test and replace

02000142 4 wheel alignment

09603002 oil pan gasket

and some other stuff I cant figure out without knowing warranty codes.

22400242
23852100
23605903

I do not see any real big warranty repairs. The discloser statement seems to state exactly what the dealer is telling me verbally.

Now the dealer did say the title is clean and will not show any lemon or buyback comments on it. The only thing I really do not like is the mileage. But that is not a huge factor. I do think I would not loose on the deal especially with the warranty.

Thanks and please keep the input coming. Anybody in the Detroit area want to do a visual for me?

 

[toddt]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

acr option adds about 3K according to Kelly. If you don't buy it I'm gonna!

 

[Toby]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

Kelly puts a 99 ACR in exellent condition at 60K. With tax.. I would have 53K in it. I know kelly is high but its still a measure of value to many.

 

[Toby]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

Steve,
Thanks for the info. Now your price of 47K makes me think that the dealer with the 99 ACR would be willing to deal a little more even if they did say no. As far as I know this car has been for sale for about 4-6 months and the price has been reduced a few times. I am thinking about offering 45K and see what happens (only after I inspect it personally) If you compare the two cars.. your price wins hands down even if your car doesn't have the ACR package or a year newer.

 

[Toby]

Re: Need advice on 99 GTS/ACR purchased from DC as a \"buyback\"

well, I just got a message from the dealer that someone called yesterday and purchased the car. oh well. whoever you are...enjoy! I didn't like the high mileage anyway.