Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
You might be driving the Viper more often than you think.
Are you sure the insurance will go up? Mine didn't go up much at all.
Are you sure the insurance will go up? Mine didn't go up much at all.
Sell my C5 for a used RT/10?
- Thread starter Chuck 98 RT/10
- Start date
RickL
Enthusiast
I'm planning on getting an RT/10 and driving it as a primary car April - October. I was suprised when I called on insurance.. in my parents name to drive it 6 months and park it 6 months it would be $1000/yr. for a '96. I paid $1800/yr on my '99 Saleen.
-Rick
-Rick
I pay $80.00 per month on my 1998 gts viper..full coverage..statefarm.
Coder
Enthusiast
I started out that way with the Viper. I had a Camaro as a daily driver. My co-workers noticed I was more irritable. Didn't know my car had anything to do with it. Anyway, I had to drive the car every day for a week to test out an A/C fix. Co-workers noticed a big change in my demeanor. Car has been driven daily since and I'm a much happier person.
MES
Enthusiast
#1 Viper is more exclusive
-15,000 Viper's made in 10 years. 30,000 Corvettes made EACH year
#2 Gawk factor
-Nothing like it. Its crazy sometimes, but makes driving it fun.
#3 C5 Performance can not compair to viper
-You got that right!!
#4 Hey! New to me, that new car feeling
-Yep bought my 97 used, can't tell it apart from a 2001 unless you really know what your looking for
#5 I have always wanted one...
-This is reason enough to buy one
#6 From my 300M I found out that Dodges service centers are better than Chevys (can you believe it!)
-If you say so.
Cons:
#1 I would not be willing to drive the viper every day. (would have to buy a cheepo daily driver) right now I drive a C5 all the time. What's better? Having a great car all the time, or a fantastic car some of the time..
-Why not drive it everyday? I do!! I put 1,000 miles per month on my Viper. Mostly short 10-15 mile trips and NONE on the interstate highway.
#2 Insurance will go up .. a lot
-Have you called your insurance agent? I think it will go DOWN!!
#3 Gas milage on the viper stinks, but that doesn't really matter. (see #1)
-I get GREAT gas mileage around 9 MPG
If your concerned about gas mileage get a Toyota
#4 No 0%!
-Only for new GM cars, would you buy a NEW Viper if there was 0% financing? No one is going to give you 0% or even close on a used car.
#5 My wife could not drive the viper safely, it would just be 'my' car. ... wait ... nevermind
-The wife will probably not like to drive in the Viper anyway, makes a good car to "get away" for a while
#6 Well ... I think I will just get myself into more trouble than I did with my NSX or Vette with the extra 100 hp and 150 torque.
-Yep better be careful of the snake
-15,000 Viper's made in 10 years. 30,000 Corvettes made EACH year
#2 Gawk factor
-Nothing like it. Its crazy sometimes, but makes driving it fun.
#3 C5 Performance can not compair to viper
-You got that right!!
#4 Hey! New to me, that new car feeling
-Yep bought my 97 used, can't tell it apart from a 2001 unless you really know what your looking for
#5 I have always wanted one...
-This is reason enough to buy one
#6 From my 300M I found out that Dodges service centers are better than Chevys (can you believe it!)
-If you say so.
Cons:
#1 I would not be willing to drive the viper every day. (would have to buy a cheepo daily driver) right now I drive a C5 all the time. What's better? Having a great car all the time, or a fantastic car some of the time..
-Why not drive it everyday? I do!! I put 1,000 miles per month on my Viper. Mostly short 10-15 mile trips and NONE on the interstate highway.
#2 Insurance will go up .. a lot
-Have you called your insurance agent? I think it will go DOWN!!
#3 Gas milage on the viper stinks, but that doesn't really matter. (see #1)
-I get GREAT gas mileage around 9 MPG
#4 No 0%!
-Only for new GM cars, would you buy a NEW Viper if there was 0% financing? No one is going to give you 0% or even close on a used car.
#5 My wife could not drive the viper safely, it would just be 'my' car. ... wait ... nevermind
-The wife will probably not like to drive in the Viper anyway, makes a good car to "get away" for a while
#6 Well ... I think I will just get myself into more trouble than I did with my NSX or Vette with the extra 100 hp and 150 torque.
-Yep better be careful of the snake
TOOOFST
Enthusiast
This ones easy,go rent a viper for the day.I've owned 3 vettes and loved em in the day(just can't remember why right now).
DanElam
Enthusiast
I have to agree that the Viper isn't a daily driver, although a 98 is going to be a lot better than say a 94. It still is terrible (bordering on unsafe) in the rain. But it does great as a back-up car, so maybe you want to consider something fun like an MG, Triumph, or Miata. You can use those as your daily driver and use the Viper when they break.
You can drive the Viper a lot though. Particularly when I first had it I drove it a lot and, while the car is harder to drive than a C5 (or C6 in all fairness), I didn't have any problems with it.
As for insurance, that was a concern for me as well. When I called USAA, the Viper was actually cheaper than a Mercedes SL-600, so it turns out that Vipers aren't as bad as you think. One reason why Viper insurances rates are relatively low: you can't steal 'em and chop em up and hope to get away with it. You can steal Corvettes and Hondas all day long and know there is a black market for parts.
You can drive the Viper a lot though. Particularly when I first had it I drove it a lot and, while the car is harder to drive than a C5 (or C6 in all fairness), I didn't have any problems with it.
As for insurance, that was a concern for me as well. When I called USAA, the Viper was actually cheaper than a Mercedes SL-600, so it turns out that Vipers aren't as bad as you think. One reason why Viper insurances rates are relatively low: you can't steal 'em and chop em up and hope to get away with it. You can steal Corvettes and Hondas all day long and know there is a black market for parts.
slaughterj
Enthusiast
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JusSumFastGi:
Daily drive the Viper? Wow that don't sound practical. Anyone do that?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>There's not reason not to - 11k miles in 5 months for me!
Daily drive the Viper? Wow that don't sound practical. Anyone do that?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>There's not reason not to - 11k miles in 5 months for me!
SapphireGTS
Enthusiast
I had a C5 as well. My insurance went down also when I got the Viper(I have no idea why). Im not going to say, but Im not that old and dont exactly have the best driving record. As for the gas mileage. In the city it is HORRIBLE. On the freeway I get about 20 MPG which is pretty darn good. I use mine as a dialy driver and is AS comfortable as my C5. The C5 was a little cushier but not much.
I put about 1000 miles a month on mine and am not sick of it at all. Just wish it had cruuise control.
My 3 cents.
I put about 1000 miles a month on mine and am not sick of it at all. Just wish it had cruuise control.
My 3 cents.
KenH
Enthusiast
JusSumFastGi,
I have never owned a corvette, although I looked into the '02 Z06 before buying my '01 GTS. In hindsight, I absolutely made the right decision and have never looked back. I like driving a unique car and Corvettes are just too common for my taste. My Viper is a daily driver and I live in Portland OR, land of rain and moss. I went from AWD to the Viper and I was dreading the rain, but I have been driving in it for the last couple of weeks and the Viper is doing just fine on the Pilots. I am actually fairly amazed at how well it sticks to the wet payment and wonder what all the fuss is about. Then again, we get enough rain to keep the streets clean without a lot of oil build-up etc.
I find it comfortable to drive, but it can be somewhat of a tiring car as it seems like you always have to be on the alert and can't really just zone out. People do seem to do stupid things around you, apparently because they are spending too much time checking out the Viper and not enough time paying attention to what they should be doing, like driving.
It does elevate you to a certain celebrity status. Whether the extra attention is good or bad depends on your personality. Get used to spending extra time in parking lots accepting compliments on the car. I personally have been impressed at how positive the attention always is. And unlike most cars which seem to attract a certain type of crowd, the Viper seems to please everyone, whether they are young, old, male, female, American V8 power lover, ricer, you name it. It's got to be the ultimate across-the-board crowd pleaser. A lot of them probably don't even know what they are looking at, but they know it is cool, may never have seen one in person before and they like it! And personally, I can never have enough beautiful young ladies hanging out of their cars telling me how much they LOVE it... unless of course my wife is with me.
--- Ken
'01 GTS
I have never owned a corvette, although I looked into the '02 Z06 before buying my '01 GTS. In hindsight, I absolutely made the right decision and have never looked back. I like driving a unique car and Corvettes are just too common for my taste. My Viper is a daily driver and I live in Portland OR, land of rain and moss. I went from AWD to the Viper and I was dreading the rain, but I have been driving in it for the last couple of weeks and the Viper is doing just fine on the Pilots. I am actually fairly amazed at how well it sticks to the wet payment and wonder what all the fuss is about. Then again, we get enough rain to keep the streets clean without a lot of oil build-up etc.
I find it comfortable to drive, but it can be somewhat of a tiring car as it seems like you always have to be on the alert and can't really just zone out. People do seem to do stupid things around you, apparently because they are spending too much time checking out the Viper and not enough time paying attention to what they should be doing, like driving.
It does elevate you to a certain celebrity status. Whether the extra attention is good or bad depends on your personality. Get used to spending extra time in parking lots accepting compliments on the car. I personally have been impressed at how positive the attention always is. And unlike most cars which seem to attract a certain type of crowd, the Viper seems to please everyone, whether they are young, old, male, female, American V8 power lover, ricer, you name it. It's got to be the ultimate across-the-board crowd pleaser. A lot of them probably don't even know what they are looking at, but they know it is cool, may never have seen one in person before and they like it! And personally, I can never have enough beautiful young ladies hanging out of their cars telling me how much they LOVE it... unless of course my wife is with me.
--- Ken
'01 GTS
