OK... So I need to know how bad are viper really.

[TonyCool]

Hi everyone,

Here is the deal. I have been working hard and saving money to buy a real nice sports car. Yes I'm on my mid life crisis ... although I'm not even 30 yet. I figured all by my self that I didn't need to wait until I was 40 to have one. I've always love the viper looks and the idea of the power on this car and I have been thinking on getting my self on a used gen3 SRT 10 viper but the more I research about it the more it seems it's not a good car to own.

For starters people is always saying that it's not a car you can drive every day, don't get me wrong I understand the cost involved on driving this kind of car on a daily basis. I have a good idea on how expensive will it be regarding gas, insurance, maintenance etc. But at the end of the day I think buying a viper not to drive it, just don't makes any sense, it would be like if I managed to hitch this super hot woman but knowing I could only make love to her 10 times a year when it's sunny and on the summer weekends. So the question is: Is it really that hard to drive the car everyday? I mean there is people driving trailers everyday, is it really that harsh of a ride? are the clutch and the steering really that heavy? is the visibility really that bad that it's very hard to park the car? is the interior really rattling all the time, is it really that loud inside while cruising? Does the cockpit and the door sills really get as hot to be impossible to enjoy the car? is the ac system as bad as people say it's?

I live in WA and it's pretty rainy out here. I'm concerned about the fact that there is no traction control on the car. Most people seem to think that I would kill my self if I try to drive a viper on the rain but I'm wondering if you are really careful with the gas is that still an accurate statement. How dangerous is it really to drive this car? I don't consider my self a bad driver but I'm aware I'm not Michael Schumacher either. I'm willing to learn and to take it easy on the car while I understand how to control the power. So I guess my final question is if I give my best how bad the viper really is?

I want to hear it from the people who actually knows what they are talking about. I'm aware I'm putting my self on a situation where I can be attacked by some people in the forum and I'm willing to embrace the consequences but I'm sure there are people that can provide me with useful insight and that's why I'm here asking.

Thanks,
Tony

 

[plumcrazy]

wont work in snow, everything else is fine

 

[Ratical2]

You might find these threads interesting, helpful and perhaps amusing!

FYI, I driven my GEN 2 in every condition except snow, and Gen3's are considered more civiliized.

Good luck on your decision!

http://forums.viperclub.org/general-viper-discussion/639489-dd-vipers.html

http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/628309-poll-daily-driver-yes-no.html

 

[TonyCool]

Thanks for the response. Not a problem not planning on driving it on the snow.

 

[Richard Koch]

I live in the Seattle area and my car is pretty much a daily driver with 80,000 miles on it. I prefer to drive it on dry days only, but I have been caught in big rainstorms and as long as I was careful on the throttle it did fine. I will take it out on some wet days and the only reason I don't do it all the time is that I have to clean the car up after driving.

If you only wait for sunny warm dry days up here you would not put many miles on a Viper.

 

[72hemi]

I have a 2001 ACR that I bought at the beginning of this year. I too am under 30. It is my first Viper, but not my first car with over 400 hp. I have spent the last 10 12 years driving high performance vehicles and been to several track days where I did have the privelage of driving a Viper on the track before I bought one. I also drive my Viper every day. That being said there are some things to know about Vipers, especially in wet weather. The Viper is a beast and does not ask for forgiveness. It has a ton of torque right off the line and you can get in trouble in a hurry in it. People don't recommend the Viper for daily use, not because of the cost of gas, insurance and maintenance, but because of the behavior of the car. It really is a race car with a license plate. It is a true drivers car, meaning you have to know how to drive to not get yourself hurt or killed.

I don't want to scare you away from a Viper, but you need to understand it is unlike anything else out there. Before my Viper I had a 2002 Z06 Corvette. That car had great performance got good gas mileage (almost 30 mpg hwy) and all the options you could ask for. But at the end of the day it wasn't a Viper. And don't let the Corvette guys tell you the Z06 is faster than the Viper.

I have also discovered there is no group of people like Viper owners. I have been part of many car clubs over the years and none of them can compare (although one comes close).

I hope this information helps. I would recommend seeing if you can drive a Viper or at least go for a ride in one before you buy one. They are very stiff, they have almost no options, no safety nannies, but loads of fun!

 

[vancouver-gts]

I'm 64 ,and would drive my 99 Viper every day if I didn't care about racking up the milage on it.My DD is an 03 Navigator that's super plush but don't find the Viper any harder to drive than my 96 Mustang GT was.You're under 30, shouldn't even get concerned the drivability of the Viper

 

[TonyCool]

You might find these threads interesting, helpful and perhaps amusing!

FYI, I driven my GEN 2 in every condition except snow, and Gen3's are considered more civiliized.

Good luck on your decision!

http://forums.viperclub.org/general-viper-discussion/639489-dd-vipers.html

http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/628309-poll-daily-driver-yes-no.html

Thanks for the response. Those threads are very interesting indeed I had read them already. I searched for all threads that discuss the DD and the traction control subjects before posting however I still wanted to post my question because it's more in the lines of whether all in all the Viper is a good car to own or not than on whether it's a good daily driver or not. I think that point has already been established. The viper is not an ideal daily driver and I'm fine with that. But despite that fact it looks like from what people is responding that if I really want to I could still use it often.

 

[JohnnyViper]

its a true sports car and all these so called "issues" are what makes it great and fun to drive. Sure it can be driven as a DD just most dont and that should tell you something. Props to the ones that do. If you can afford it buy it. You will not regret it. Its even better if you have a Daily Driver and a Viper for those bad weather days or when you want to pull the Viper off the road for a week to upgrade it. I happy drive a 2006 Civic as my DD. Nice inexpensive car that is reliable as hell and cheap to maintain. Hope you join the club

 

[TonyCool]

I live in the Seattle area and my car is pretty much a daily driver with 80,000 miles on it. I prefer to drive it on dry days only, but I have been caught in big rainstorms and as long as I was careful on the throttle it did fine. I will take it out on some wet days and the only reason I don't do it all the time is that I have to clean the car up after driving.

Good to know there are some vipers in the area I have never seen one on the road since I moved here 2 years ago. I see more ferraris and lamborghinis than vipers on the road.

If you only wait for sunny warm dry days up here you would not put many miles on a Viper.

I agree not much sunny days up here...

I live in Kirkland BTW...

 

[vancouver-gts]

I live in Kirkland BTW...

Welcome on the wetcoast.Vancouver is no different.
Back in 72 I bought my 340 Challenger and driven it as a DD for 8 years.With its light rearend it would swap ends like no other.
Had to put 200 lbs of sand in the trunk going to the ski hills
during the winter.Loved that car.My left leg is still sore from the 3500lb clutch that was rod driven, unlike the ***** hydraulics of today.

 

[TonyCool]

I have a 2001 ACR that I bought at the beginning of this year. I too am under 30. It is my first Viper, but not my first car with over 400 hp. I have spent the last 10 12 years driving high performance vehicles and been to several track days where I did have the privelage of driving a Viper on the track before I bought one.
I also drive my Viper every day. That being said there are some things to know about Vipers, especially in wet weather. The Viper is a beast and does not ask for forgiveness. It has a ton of torque right off the line and you can get in trouble in a hurry in it. People don't recommend the Viper for daily use, not because of the cost of gas, insurance and maintenance, but because of the behavior of the car. It really is a race car with a license plate. It is a true drivers car, meaning you have to know how to drive to not get yourself hurt or killed.

This would be my first high horse power car. How would you recommend for me to learn how to deal with the power? What exactly do you mean by "you have to know how to drive to not get yourself hurt or killed"? If I'm very careful on how much gas I give while learning would that be good enough to start learning or is it really like you need special driving lessons to handle a car with this much power?

I don't want to scare you away from a Viper, but you need to understand it is unlike anything else out there. Before my Viper I had a 2002 Z06 Corvette. That car had great performance got good gas mileage (almost 30 mpg hwy) and all the options you could ask for. But at the end of the day it wasn't a Viper. And don't let the Corvette guys tell you the Z06 is faster than the Viper.

Interesting how would you compare the two cars. Which one do you like the most and why? Asking because I was thinking that if viper owners them selfs recommend not to buy the car. Corvette would be the second best option to go with. Not a z06 but highly modded c5 convertible. I like the idea of better mpg and cheaper to maintain but as you well said it's just not a viper.

I have also discovered there is no group of people like Viper owners. I have been part of many car clubs over the years and none of them can compare (although one comes close).

That's good to know. I'm guessing the one that comes close is the corvette guys aren't they?

I hope this information helps. I would recommend seeing if you can drive a Viper or at least go for a ride in one before you buy one. They are very stiff, they have almost no options, no safety nannies, but loads of fun!

I'm going to try to get my self a test drive before I pull the trigger.

 

[toohot4u]

Hi everyone,

Here is the deal. I have been working hard and saving money to buy a real nice sports car. Yes I'm on my mid life crisis ... although I'm not even 30 yet. I figured all by my self that I didn't need to wait until I was 40 to have one. I've always love the viper looks and the idea of the power on this car and I have been thinking on getting my self on a used gen3 SRT 10 viper but the more I research about it the more it seems it's not a good car to own.

For starters people is always saying that it's not a car you can drive every day, don't get me wrong I understand the cost involved on driving this kind of car on a daily basis. I have a good idea on how expensive will it be regarding gas, insurance, maintenance etc. But at the end of the day I think buying a viper not to drive it, just don't makes any sense, it would be like if I managed to hitch this super hot woman but knowing I could only make love to her 10 times a year when it's sunny and on the summer weekends. So the question is: Is it really that hard to drive the car everyday? I mean there is people driving trailers everyday, is it really that harsh of a ride? are the clutch and the steering really that heavy? is the visibility really that bad that it's very hard to park the car? is the interior really rattling all the time, is it really that loud inside while cruising? Does the cockpit and the door sills really get as hot to be impossible to enjoy the car? is the ac system as bad as people say it's?

I live in WA and it's pretty rainy out here. I'm concerned about the fact that there is no traction control on the car. Most people seem to think that I would kill my self if I try to drive a viper on the rain but I'm wondering if you are really careful with the gas is that still an accurate statement. How dangerous is it really to drive this car? I don't consider my self a bad driver but I'm aware I'm not Michael Schumacher either. I'm willing to learn and to take it easy on the car while I understand how to control the power. So I guess my final question is if I give my best how bad the viper really is?

I want to hear it from the people who actually knows what they are talking about. I'm aware I'm putting my self on a situation where I can be attacked by some people in the forum and I'm willing to embrace the consequences but I'm sure there are people that can provide me with useful insight and that's why I'm here asking.

Thanks,
Tony

I am in the market for a Viper as well and I live in Washington DC where the summers can get really hot.


Your statement " is the interior really rattling all the time, is it really that loud inside while cruising? Does the cockpit and the door sills really get as hot to be impossible to enjoy the car? is the ac system as bad as people say it's?" really concerns me now. At the same time, I do realize that sport cars are built lower to the road so you will hear rattling and loudness. I dont plan to use mine as a DD so I may just overlook these cons.

 

[TonyCool]

its a true sports car and all these so called "issues" are what makes it great and fun to drive. Sure it can be driven as a DD just most dont and that should tell you something.

Of course it does and believe me I do get the point. As a matter of fact if I wouldn't there wouldn't be a post because I wouldn't be concerned about it. And I do have a secondary car that I plan to drive when I don't want for whatever reason to get in the viper. But I don't want to get the viper at all if it will be like I won't want to drive more than a handful of times a year because of the weather.

Props to the ones that do. If you can afford it buy it. You will not regret it. Its even better if you have a Daily Driver and a Viper for those bad weather days or when you want to pull the Viper off the road for a week to upgrade it. I happy drive a 2006 Civic as my DD. Nice inexpensive car that is reliable as hell and cheap to maintain. Hope you join the club

Thanks, I sure hope I get my self driven by my heart and not my head on this one.

 

[ba$$fan]

I am in the market for a Viper as well and I live in Washington DC where the summers can get really hot.

Look at where a lot of people are from here...Houston, Miami, Orlando, DFW, Austin, San Anton, Pheonix...they are all driving their cars and you can't tell me its hotter in DC.

 

[TonyCool]

I am in the market for a Viper as well and I live in Washington DC where the summers can get really hot.


Your statement " is the interior really rattling all the time, is it really that loud inside while cruising? Does the cockpit and the door sills really get as hot to be impossible to enjoy the car? is the ac system as bad as people say it's?" really concerns me now. At the same time, I do realize that sport cars are built lower to the road so you will hear rattling and loudness. I dont plan to use mine as a DD so I may just overlook these cons.

Sorry about that I wasn't my intend to scare anyone of a viper. Actually it's to get rid of my own fears so I can get into one and never look back.

 

[BlackSnake99]

I am in the market for a Viper as well and I live in Washington DC where the summers can get really hot.

I'm in NoVa and I drive mine all summer long.... with the windows down.... and the A/C off..... and it's black.

 

[DeceptioN]

I pretty much daily drive mine. If it is raining out when I'm leaving the house I take a backup car, but if I'm out and it is raining, it isn't a big deal and I can get home safely, easily. I try not to drive in the rain so my car looks freshly waxed all the time, not because it is hard to drive in the rain. You can't slam the gas in the rain, but you can easily handle with light / responsible driving.

 

[TI3VOM]

I own a Gen. 3 in northern Wisconsin and have already put about 2K on the odometer with no issues, It can be made a daily driver and it can be driven for 4 hours straight. I actually have a hard time not driving the car even after I get to where I am going I look for any excuse to get back on the road because every time I do, I cant stop smiling. I guess it goes back to the age old saying "If you have to ask...You wouldn't understand"

 

[TonyCool]

I own a Gen. 3 in northern Wisconsin and have already put about 2K on the odometer with no issues, It can be made a daily driver and it can be driven for 4 hours straight. I actually have a hard time not driving the car even after I get to where I am going I look for any excuse to get back on the road because every time I do, I cant stop smiling. I guess it goes back to the age old saying "If you have to ask...You wouldn't understand"

I think that's the one thing I don't need to ask...

 

[jdeft1]

OP, You need to understand what a viper is.

Sure you can DD the thing! But why? Most guys here have a car for everyday use. The viper is for fun! Hence the "sport" aspect of sports car...

All modern vipers are fine for any weather but snow... Go get yours and enjoy!

 

[TonyCool]

OP, You need to understand what a viper is.

I think I know what you mean. The thing is that it makes sense to me to spend lots of money on a very expensive car but I'm not sure I could right now do the same for a very expensive toy (may be on the future). So I'm just trying to see if the viper can be both for me. As I said before I will have a secondary car but I want to make sure I could use the viper often enough.

Sure you can DD the thing! But why? Most guys here have a car for everyday use. The viper is for fun! Hence the "sport" aspect of sports car...

I guess I'm just trying to have more fun than most people just kidding I do get your point though.

All modern vipers are fine for any weather but snow... Go get yours and enjoy!

Thanks a lot for the response.

 

[STUGOTS]

I have a 2001 ACR that I bought at the beginning of this year. I too am under 30. It is my first Viper, but not my first car with over 400 hp. I have spent the last 10 12 years driving high performance vehicles and been to several track days where I did have the privelage of driving a Viper on the track before I bought one. I also drive my Viper every day. That being said there are some things to know about Vipers, especially in wet weather. The Viper is a beast and does not ask for forgiveness. It has a ton of torque right off the line and you can get in trouble in a hurry in it. People don't recommend the Viper for daily use, not because of the cost of gas, insurance and maintenance, but because of the behavior of the car. It really is a race car with a license plate. It is a true drivers car, meaning you have to know how to drive to not get yourself hurt or killed.

I don't want to scare you away from a Viper, but you need to understand it is unlike anything else out there. Before my Viper I had a 2002 Z06 Corvette. That car had great performance got good gas mileage (almost 30 mpg hwy) and all the options you could ask for. But at the end of the day it wasn't a Viper. And don't let the Corvette guys tell you the Z06 is faster than the Viper.

I have also discovered there is no group of people like Viper owners. I have been part of many car clubs over the years and none of them can compare (although one comes close).

I hope this information helps. I would recommend seeing if you can drive a Viper or at least go for a ride in one before you buy one. They are very stiff, they have almost no options, no safety nannies, but loads of fun!

well put.

Viper is a great car, the reason people say its not a dd is because you have to be aware of every action every minute, because shes not so forgiving, which gets kind of tiring

 

[viper67wife]

You don't mention what generation you're interested in. Gen 1s don't lock, don't have a roof, and are NOT watertight (even with aftermarket hardtops). If you want a DD, go for a "newer" one, with "windows", whatever they are.

Is it possible to drive a Viper in the rain? Yup, just ask anyone who hung out with us at Junkman's detail day 2 weeks ago - in a downpour - 4 towels required for the 40 minute drive home. No traction issues, but with a driver with HPDE experience - on a rainy day at the track.

 

[aviatorone]

I live in Atlanta, and just bought my 1st Viper 3 weeks ago. Before buying it, I only test drove one Viper, a '96 RT, with a hardtop.

I bought the 2nd Viper I test drove. It was a Black '95 with the side exhaust.

The car is a blast to drive, its nice to look forward to while at work.

My DD is an '07 F150.

You won't be disappointed with any Viper you purchase.

 

[aviatorone]

End of 1st paragraph -used gen3 SRT 10 viper-

You don't mention what generation you're interested in. Gen 1s don't lock, don't have a roof, and are NOT watertight (even with aftermarket hardtops). If you want a DD, go for a "newer" one, with "windows", whatever they are.

Is it possible to drive a Viper in the rain? Yup, just ask anyone who hung out with us at Junkman's detail day 2 weeks ago - in a downpour - 4 towels required for the 40 minute drive home. No traction issues, but with a driver with HPDE experience - on a rainy day at the track.

 

[Jon]

I have a 2004, and before I purchased it, I too was concerned about some of these issues, mostly in regards to the power and not wrapping it around a tree. However, I have found the car to actually be very refined. It is tight, there are no rattles and noises. Its got a louder interior than most cars due to the convertible top and probably less sound proofing than most cars, but its not that bad, especially when the top is up. I come from a background of trucks and muscle cars so I may be a bit skewed in my perspective - maybe I am more forgiving than someone who has been used to owning luxury cars.

I don't like to drive it in the rain, but only because that means I need to wash it. (I hate washing cars.) I have been out in the rain a few times with it, and it handled just fine - I did not notice any tendency to hydroplane, etc. Just take it easy with the loud pedal and you should be fine.

This car certainly could be daily driven without any difficulty. The only caveat to that is if the weather is cold. The tires need a certain amount of warmth otherwise they will break loose VERY easily.

When parking, you need to be aware that the front of the car is a lot longer than you would think, so stay well back from the curbs or you will scrape up your front fascia. Visibility is less than most cars, especially with the top up, but still adequate.

The tires are very sticky and will pick up stones and fling them back at the car, so definitely try to stay off the gravel roads or roads that have had a fresh chip-seal surface applied.

I don't drive the car daily just because it is an expensive vehicle, and I don't want all the road rash, rust and abuse that would come from daily driving it. Plus here in NY we have a thing called "winter". In nice weather though, I do drive it a lot.

The ride is not harsh at all, the A/C system is plenty adequate (though the seats themselves are not cooled so your back may get sweaty), interior noise is a bit higher than most "normal" cars, it does tend to get warm inside, but not too bad especially if you eliminate the crossover pipe. I have driven the car for 8-10 hours at a time and it was very comfortable except for my right foot having to stay on the gas all the time due to the lack of cruise control. (Cruise can be added aftermarket though if you wish, and is probably not a bad idea if you plan to take long road trips.)

 

[Bird325]

To the OP, are you really serious? To the responses so far, have you been suckered into another of the many BAIT questions that show up every now and then???

OK, I'll bite on the off chance that someone new to the breed really is serious.

If you're so worried about the drivability of the Viper in all conditions, search the site. You'll find every type of driving experience that you can imagine... Snow, Ice, Desert, Rain, Mountains, Flats, Florida (is there really such a place where you can LITERALLY drive 365 days a year?).

This car is not for the faint of heart ... it was never intended to be an EVERY man's (sorry, maybe woman's) car. The maintenance costs ARE high ... the gas costs ARE high ... the ride can be rough at times ... it's NOT quiet ... it ISN'T 'Your Father's Oldmobile'. It never was intended to be! Vipers either take your heart or you shouldn't go there in the first place. Your first one becomes your mistress and you'll take every chance you have to spend time with her and you'll never reget a single moment of those stolen 'short drives'. "I'll be back in a minute" becomes your mantra, though you KNOW that's not going to be the case as you grab your keys.

If you've ever rounded a corner knowing that it was going to be you and the machine and coming out of it, you smiled ... and actually mentally thanked the vehicle you were in for sticking with you ... then maybe you're ready to move up to the Snake. If you're looking for quiet, calm comfort, get something else and save yourself the pain of having to let it go for pennies on the dollar when you have to DUMP it to pay the mortgage.

Owning a Viper is not for everyone, but if it's in your blood and you can appreciate the pure power and performance, you can't come CLOSE to it for twice as much money! I've had mine for about a year and a half after wishing for one for over a decade and my wife still has to come out to the garage occasionally just to tell me it's time to relax and let it go for the night.

There's NOTHING like it for twice the money and if you ever go there, having thought it through, you'll never regret it.

 

[TonyCool]

I have a 2004, and before I purchased it, I too was concerned about some of these issues, mostly in regards to the power and not wrapping it around a tree. However, I have found the car to actually be very refined. It is tight, there are no rattles and noises. Its got a louder interior than most cars due to the convertible top and probably less sound proofing than most cars, but its not that bad, especially when the top is up. I come from a background of trucks and muscle cars so I may be a bit skewed in my perspective - maybe I am more forgiving than someone who has been used to owning luxury cars.

I don't like to drive it in the rain, but only because that means I need to wash it. (I hate washing cars.) I have been out in the rain a few times with it, and it handled just fine - I did not notice any tendency to hydroplane, etc. Just take it easy with the loud pedal and you should be fine.

This car certainly could be daily driven without any difficulty. The only caveat to that is if the weather is cold. The tires need a certain amount of warmth otherwise they will break loose VERY easily.

When parking, you need to be aware that the front of the car is a lot longer than you would think, so stay well back from the curbs or you will scrape up your front fascia. Visibility is less than most cars, especially with the top up, but still adequate.

The tires are very sticky and will pick up stones and fling them back at the car, so definitely try to stay off the gravel roads or roads that have had a fresh chip-seal surface applied.

I don't drive the car daily just because it is an expensive vehicle, and I don't want all the road rash, rust and abuse that would come from daily driving it. Plus here in NY we have a thing called "winter". In nice weather though, I do drive it a lot.

The ride is not harsh at all, the A/C system is plenty adequate (though the seats themselves are not cooled so your back may get sweaty), interior noise is a bit higher than most "normal" cars, it does tend to get warm inside, but not too bad especially if you eliminate the crossover pipe. I have driven the car for 8-10 hours at a time and it was very comfortable except for my right foot having to stay on the gas all the time due to the lack of cruise control. (Cruise can be added aftermarket though if you wish, and is probably not a bad idea if you plan to take long road trips.)

I found this very informative thanks a lot.

Tony

 

[Kevan]

- Oil Change: $100, if you do it yourself; $350-800 if you take it to a stealership.
- Tires: $1000 minimum, for OK brands. The really good ones are about $2K for a set of 4.
- Insurance: for me (1 ticket in 20 years; 3 vehicles; $500 ded.) it's about 2X what a brand new 4x4 with full coverage runs.

- 5 minutes of driving my 2006 SRT-10 Viper coupe = weekend of hot tub shopping with Lezley Zen and Lichelle Marie.