I'm looking to buy a Viper and could use some help. I am debating on a 1996 GTS Coupe vs. a 2000 GTS Coupe. Also wondering if I should go ACR or not. The prices on the '96 and '00 are the same....2000 has 17k miles and 1996 has 10k miles. Are the '96 GTS's more collectible? Or, should I go with the newer car? Thanks!
Which Viper to buy?
- Thread starter Brian D
- Start date
DEVILDOG
VCA Member North TX
'96 hands down! 1st year for GTS, B/W and forged internals!
sween
Enthusiast
I would go with 2000 because i love the color combo, but you cant go wrong with the 1996! 
syclone1157
Enthusiast
96' all the way! It is a rare car among rare cars. I believe that it will continue to hold its value, if not gain some.
I would go 96' versus a 2000, no doubt. As for ACR, I wouldn't spend the extra cash unless you absolutely must have the wheels because those are expensive to replace. Shocks are very stiff for street driving anyway. Get the 96' and you'll have a great platform on which to add power-adders.
V10SpeedLuvr
Enthusiast
i say go with the 96! Forged internals, lower miles and its more of a collector's car
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
What do you plan to do with it? The 96 might be a bit more collectable.
Brian GTS
Enthusiast
I have a 97 and an 01. As long as color isn't a factor, defintiely go with the 96! As others have said, you have the forged pistons as well as the lumpier cam. Honestly, I enjoy driving my 97 more than the 01. The 97 just feels racier and more responsive. But, I love the color combo of the 01 ...bumble bee! Good luck.
The 2000 has 18" wheels. That makes a difference in the appearance of the car. Compare the two from profile or look at the 98 and earlier cars and 99 and later cars in the image gallery of this site. 96 is obviously more collectible but so far all these cars are still depreciating. If you are looking at a 2000 then check one year newer for the ABS cars. I prefer 99 or newer because of those bigger wheels. I would buy a 99 over a similar 2000 for the forged internals. Tough to find a deal on an 01 GTS though. I don't know what shape the 10 year old rubber on the 96 would be. I imagine it would be brittle enough that the tires would require replacement. Of course the 2000 with 17k can't have much life left in the rubber either. There is a 98 GTS in the VCA classifieds with only 6000 miles on it and still a little bit of warranty left. Not a collectible year but a good comparison as a driver for your 96 as far as price goes.
V 10 MAFIA
Enthusiast
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From a collectability standpoint. Hands down the 96 GTS will hold its value better than a 2000 GTS. I think the 96 may even be starting to appreciate. I recently noticed in Dupont registry that a 96 GTS still seems to be the most desirable based on the number ads and the prices people are trying to get for them now. The 96 has definitely established itself as an Icon in the sports car industry.
If you had to do the next one better than a 96 GTS it would have to be a 96 R/T 10 (if you can find one).
If you had to do the next one better than a 96 GTS it would have to be a 96 R/T 10 (if you can find one).
Thanks for the response....the guy with the 2000 is trying to entice me for about $50k. I have 2 (1996's) ...one w/11k and the other with 2800 miles. $52,500 and $58,500. Might go with one of these in the long run. Is there a bad Viper to buy anyway?
Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder
Enthusiast
Have purchased: 96RT, 97GTS, 98GT2, 99ACR, 2003 SRT.
Go for the newest year and enjoy the improvements. Except if you are in love with a specific color.
Go for the newest year and enjoy the improvements. Except if you are in love with a specific color.
Andrew/USPWR
Enthusiast
Thanks for the response. The 2000 ACR is beautiful (silver car with stripes). The 1996 is obviously blue/white. I just don't want to overpay.
__________________________________________________
2000 GTS hands down. Unless your a collector?
How much? Maybe I'll take the Steel Gray myself!
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2000 GTS hands down. Unless your a collector?
How much? Maybe I'll take the Steel Gray myself!
Gerald Levin
Viper Owner
Hmmm, 96 vs. 00? FACT: The 96 has actually appreciated over the last 3 years. Both nice looking cars.....I wonder what I would do?
bloose
Viper Owner
As a recent purchaser...
I decided that Sapphire and Graphite (both 1 year colors I believe) were my two favorite colors, and I wanted stripes.
I also decided that I wanted to track the car occasionally and went for the ACR since it had the extras, and there wasn't that much of a premium over a GTS
I decided I wanted ABS since I was going to drive it on the street more than the track, however many people here say ABS is only useful in the rain which my car won't be experiencing.
I decided a cream puff (post 1999) was acceptable since I wasn't likely to modify the car to the extent that forged internals were required. If I did, even a nice Roe setup doesn't require forged, however I think I'd like to stay NA, as my Mustang is already blown.
Personally i viewed the 2000 as the least desireable year for me, as it gave up the forged internals, and also doesn't have ABS, even though there were some good colors that year.
Interestingly I've found that an ACR with stripes isn't that much more expensive than a GTS without stripes if you look around. That's a $13,000 difference in the original price of the car.
I also looked for 2 years religiously on ebay, cars.com, autotrader, and the VCA classifieds to watch pricing and research what I wanted. Ultimately I decided on a 10K mile 2001 Sapphire ACR with Stripes that I picked up for $54K, a very highly regarded combination that seems to be very popular color around here. I should also mention that while I looked all over the country and was willing to buy from 2000 miles away for the right car, the one I ultimately found was only 35 miles from where I live. Not bad for a car that is 1 of 49 copies.
Hope that helps
I decided that Sapphire and Graphite (both 1 year colors I believe) were my two favorite colors, and I wanted stripes.
I also decided that I wanted to track the car occasionally and went for the ACR since it had the extras, and there wasn't that much of a premium over a GTS
I decided I wanted ABS since I was going to drive it on the street more than the track, however many people here say ABS is only useful in the rain which my car won't be experiencing.
I decided a cream puff (post 1999) was acceptable since I wasn't likely to modify the car to the extent that forged internals were required. If I did, even a nice Roe setup doesn't require forged, however I think I'd like to stay NA, as my Mustang is already blown.
Personally i viewed the 2000 as the least desireable year for me, as it gave up the forged internals, and also doesn't have ABS, even though there were some good colors that year.
Interestingly I've found that an ACR with stripes isn't that much more expensive than a GTS without stripes if you look around. That's a $13,000 difference in the original price of the car.
I also looked for 2 years religiously on ebay, cars.com, autotrader, and the VCA classifieds to watch pricing and research what I wanted. Ultimately I decided on a 10K mile 2001 Sapphire ACR with Stripes that I picked up for $54K, a very highly regarded combination that seems to be very popular color around here. I should also mention that while I looked all over the country and was willing to buy from 2000 miles away for the right car, the one I ultimately found was only 35 miles from where I live. Not bad for a car that is 1 of 49 copies.
Hope that helps
DodgeViper01
Enthusiast
Good job going with Sapphire. A truly rare color indeed, and it looks amazing. I was looking at Graphite as well but did not seem to have the same love for it as I did with the Sapphire. Once I saw the sapphire I was in love. Just did not have that feeling with Graphite.
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
If you're planning on mods then miles and collectability is less of an issue. Get the newer one.
Andrew/USPWR
Enthusiast
I had planned to put ABS into my 2000 GTS and never did. I'm a big ABS fan and the 2001 Sapphire ACR with Stripes would be one of the best over all Vipers IMO. But that Steel Gray is the greatest color IMO.
Of course I'm a little bias
Of course I'm a little bias
PatentLaw
Enthusiast
Back to the original question in the thread. Between those two specific cars, the 96 carries more weight on the resale. It is a very close call though with the ACR. Both are great color combinations. Bloose's analysis, in my opinion, does hold some very valid points, except for the stripes on the car. My bias is seen below.
DodgeViper01
Enthusiast
I had planned to put ABS into my 2000 GTS and never did. I'm a big ABS fan and the 2001 Sapphire ACR with Stripes would be one of the best over all Vipers IMO. But that Steel Gray is the greatest color IMO.
Of course I'm a little bias
I agree. ABS was a huge factor for me as well. You never know until the day that you need it. It is worth the extra few dollars. Plus sapphire isnt a bad color but I may be a little biased.
syclone1157
Enthusiast
How much are are they asking for both of these cars?
cobraman484
Enthusiast
Check out the 00 ACR,if it's located in Reading there was someone looking at it a couple of months ago and there are some posts on here about it.
Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder
Enthusiast
2003 SRT10 is the best of the ones I have owned.
Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder
Enthusiast
IMO every Viper enthusiast should read the Viper Buyers Guide by Maurice Liang. It is a must for potential buyers who want to know what they are buying and the differences between each year.
http://www.viperclub.org/menus/index_market_book.htm
http://www.viperclub.org/menus/index_market_book.htm
Lee00blacksilverGTS
Enthusiast
No one knows what ultimate collectibility on these cars will be. But history has shown that the more rare the car (less of them produced or still around) is the ultimate factor. Putting aside the forged piston and ABS issue which is relavent only to how YOU will use the car or mod it, the ultimate rarity and collectibailty of these cars will be based on how many they made of that color combinbation. An ACR with stripes in a particular color could be as low as 10 or so, I think 6 of the red/silvers were made. How many blue/white cars were made in 96/97? Look it up, might surprise you. But ultimately you should consider the pistons and the ABS based on what you want to do with the car. If you are not going to track the car or heavily mod it pick the color you like the most. As much as I like the blue/white and would like to add one someday, I think ANY ACR with under 40 or so made in a particular color will be much more collectible some day. Creampuff or not.
Dakota Viper Collector
Enthusiast
Buy the 1996! That is my favorite (can't you tell, I have 2 of them).
I located another 1996 but would be interested to hear if others have any more insight? The 2000 steel grey ACR (1 of 46) is priced at $54,900 (negotiable) and is local. It has 17,000 miles. The 1996 GTS's are as follows: 11k miles ($52,500), 2800 miles ($58,500) and 7200 miles ($53,000 local). The 2 local cars are the 2000 GTS and the 1996 GTS (7200 miles for $53,000). Not sure about the documentation of these cars...does it matter? Meaning, the original window stocker, etc.
The feedback I am receiving is really helpful. I am very anxoius to buy but don't want to make an impulse purchase. Thanks!
The feedback I am receiving is really helpful. I am very anxoius to buy but don't want to make an impulse purchase. Thanks!
