VIPER OWNERS PLEASE READ!!!!( seriously looking into getting a viper)

[sween]

my dad is seriously looking to get a viper. after talking to him for years to get one now hes actually looking for one (gen 1 1993-1996, price range 30k-35k), but he has alot of questions.

first of all, he WILL use it for a daily driver. he is very worried that something might happen to it because I believe gen 1s dont have door locks. Gen 1 daily drivers what do you do since theres no door locks when you park it?

second of all, since he will be using it as a daily driver (he has a 30 min. drive to work) he is worrried that he will wear out the clutch with all the stop and go traffic. does that usually happen? what do you guys do if it does happen?

thank you for your time

 

[BLUESNAKE367]

I will chime in and try to help...

You stated 93 to 96, but you stated gen 1, which is the RT/10 1992-1995? the GTS came out in 96 with a 50hp increase and a hard top(coupe), the RT/10 was still available but in GEN 11 form...

Daily driver?? there are some guys hear that swear by them, but I have never owned a GEN 1 (one day though)..and my present GEN 11 & 111 are not daily drivers, but a daily 30 minute commute should be no problem in a RT/10, a clutch is a clutch no matter what you drive in stop and go traffic they are a pain in the leg, as far as locks go, well locks would not matter because the early RT/10s had zip up windows, but most were driven as verts only..

This ia a start, and hopefully someone with hands on RT/10 ownership will fill in the blanks I have left...

Good luck,hope you find the Viper that is right for your Dad...

 

[DodgeViper01]

Good to hear. The Gen I's can be a little hard as daily drivers but if you are willing to make the commitment, then it should not be a problem. The real big problem with it being a daily driver is the fact that the hardtop is not always waterproof, lack of ABS, no airbags, no outside door handles, and no power steering. These are things that should be taken into consideration.

As for the door lock situation, that is where you are going to run into a problem. If the parking situation at the office is not secure, it would be very easy for someone to steal the car. Regardless how secure it is, it is still a possibility. Would I want to take this chance? Probably not, but if you really want you can have an aftermarket alarm system installed. That will solve that issue.

Lastly, the clutch is not really a problem. The life of these things are up to 50,000+ miles. A fellow member on here just changed his at 42,000 and I must say, it was beaten on pretty hard; driven in NYC and drag raced quite often.

If you have any other questions, I would be happy to help.

 

[trainville]

Think of it like having a Jeep CJ-5 (as far as locks go). Items inside are prone to theft. They do have factory "alarms" that help, but I've seen a lot with aftermarket alarms installed. Other than the security issue and weather-related issues of a roadster, they make GREAT daily drivers.

 

[SuperSaiks]

install door poppers, aftermarket hardtop and sliding lockable side windows.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

100,000+ miles on my stock clutch.

I've left the top off my 98 RT/10 parked at malls, office, theaters, restaurants, anywhere and have not had a problem since I bought it seven years ago. Admittedly, I try to be smart where I park it. Keep it in high visibility mostly.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Items inside are prone to theft.

I forgot. I had a ballcap sitting in the passenger's seat once and somebody stole it.

 

[SylvanSRT]

there are lockable side windows available and gen I cars did have power steering

 

[DodgeViper01]

there are lockable side windows available and gen I cars did have power steering

Are you sure? I was always told that they didn't.

 

[sween]

thank you everyone who has responded!!! this has been VERY helpful!! please if you guys have any more comments to make PLEASE make them!!! thank you guys again !

I will chime in and try to help...

You stated 93 to 96, but you stated gen 1, which is the RT/10 1992-1995? the GTS came out in 96 with a 50hp increase and a hard top(coupe), the RT/10 was still available but in GEN 11 form...

Daily driver?? there are some guys hear that swear by them, but I have never owned a GEN 1 (one day though)..and my present GEN 11 & 111 are not daily drivers, but a daily 30 minute commute should be no problem in a RT/10, a clutch is a clutch no matter what you drive in stop and go traffic they are a pain in the leg, as far as locks go, well locks would not matter because the early RT/10s had zip up windows, but most were driven as verts only..

This ia a start, and hopefully someone with hands on RT/10 ownership will fill in the blanks I have left...

Good luck,hope you find the Viper that is right for your Dad...

btw by 1996 I meant the gen 1.5 rt-10s (the special color combos, white with blue stripes, black with silver etc.)

 

[Viperguynick]

Keith, the Gen I's do have power steering. I remember the day Jeff's PS line broke on his '92 during our Mystery Cruise. Caused a lot of smoke, and broke some nerves that day, but no fire, no damage. Now, how much that Power steering assists, that is a different issue

Nick

 

[Nuck]

It wouldn't be my choice for a commuter car. A Gen 2 car with a hard top is closer, from a security standpoint. For a 30 minute drive to work my choice would be a C5 Vette.I had a Z06 and it did this very well. A $35000 vette might still be on warranty, have a properly sealing roof, no cockpit heat issues, much lower cost per mile to operate. You can get them in hardtop, targa, or full convertible.
To most people a Gen 1 Viper is a weekend car.

 

[AZTVR]

As far as security goes, I'd recommend a hidden fuel pump cutoff switch.
(Actually, it should only switch power to the fuel pump relay. Don't switch the higher current that is actually supplied to the fuel pump through a switch.)

 

[Midwest Muscle]

If given a choice between using a Gen I as a daily driver, or driving a Vette, I'd opt for the Vette. I can't imagine using my GTS as a daily driver, and it is somewhere up the scale from a Gen I.

Maybe I'm not ********* enough!

Mike M

 

[Randy]

I used a '95 RT/10 (*with* power steering, like all the others) as a daily driver for 7 years and 70k miles. With that said, I did have another car (RX-7 convertable) that I used when it rained, more to do with not wanting to wash the Viper that much more as well as concern about other people's driving in the rain. I never bought the hard top, although I had one on order for a while in '97, then cancelled the order when I decided I didn't like the attachment method (you have to remove the sport pad to install the Gen I hard top). The only real change you absolutely have to make is to buy lockable windows - I loved the Northwind windows, but I've heard second-hand that they are no longer made, and I sold mine to a fellow local club member when I got rid of the Gen I and got the Gen II (that I currently drive almost every day now).

It does take a bit of dedication to use a Gen I as a daily driver. Howwver, if you come from a motorcycling background as I do, a Gen I Viper is a lot less of a hardship than a bike, and I don't have to put the @$@%$@%@% helmet on.

 

[Warfang]

If you really look around you can find a gen2 for just a bit more than that (under 40k). My gts is a halftime driver, but I can't imagine driving it everyday. I almost have to plan out my drive beginning of the day to figure out what car I'm going to take. Especially in the bay area, the streets and weather are unpredictable. It doesn't help my gts is dropped, so I have fears of bottoming out all the time, especially on the hills in san francisco.

It can be done, but it will take some getting used to. I'd still recommend a gen2 though. Either way... looking forward for you to be officially part of the family.

 

[DodgeViper01]

Keith, the Gen I's do have power steering. I remember the day Jeff's PS line broke on his '92 during our Mystery Cruise. Caused a lot of smoke, and broke some nerves that day, but no fire, no damage. Now, how much that Power steering assists, that is a different issue

Nick

Like they say, you learn something new everyday. Thanks for letting me know! I feel horrible since I only learned this now. LOL

 

[ViperJames]

IF your dad is going to buy a Gen 1 for a daily driver, he is definitely going to want a custom hardtop with better windows....The stock soft-top and silly zipper windows are not going to work for a daily driver...That is going to be an expense....for a daily driver I would rather have a GEN 2 with real windows, try to find one with mileage in great condition, a 97 or 98 should sell for mid to high 30's with a lot of miles....Good luck