Why so many Vipers have accidents in history?

[chrisd0729]

I'm shopping for an early GTS and finding a number have accidents in their history.... some pretty serious wrecks. Is it because so many people honestly get in over their head and can't control the car or, are that many people actually racing them and having some accidents?

Traditionally, I would always shy away from a car that was in an accident however, I'm passing up too many Vipers and curious to see if accidents are just part of the deal with these cars. I'm even more surprised to see how little the accidents are affecting the values as compared to a non-accident car.

Main reason I'm asking is, I usually swap in and out of cars too fast and would probably have the Viper for 2 years or so and then sell it. Just trying to protect my investment and make sure I don't have an issue selling it down the road due to accidents on the carfax.

thanks in advance,

 

[FrankBarba]

I have a GTS. Original owner, 8 K miles. All Documentations, Service History...ect..ect.
Email / PMyour buying price.

 

[plumcrazy]

the torque is much more than most are used to. people think they know what they are doing and soon as you do that in a viper, you get bit

 

[Stugots879]

the torque is much more than most are used to. people think they know what they are doing and soon as you do that in a viper, you get bit

What plumcrazy said + no traction control.

 

[DrumrBoy]

It could also be a function of how expensive they are to repair (or at least used to be expensive to repair)....even minor car-meets-stop-sign problems ended up being reported because Insurance money was required for the fix. I'm just speculating here but It seems reasonable.....the street GTS I now have Is an example of that....previous owner hit curb and carfax decided to list HIS accident three years after I bought the car!!!!

 

[AZTVR]

A viper attracts a certain type of personality which can not resist pushing the right most pedal down abruptly, and repeatedly, before learning the consequences. Even for those that are acceleration-savvy occasionally there comes a time when there is a reversion to one's teenage persona that happens before you can take back control. Add in some rain, or poor tires or slippery road at that location, and you can induce a high pucker factor moment.


_________________________________________________
Jim – ‘02 GTS ACR gray/silver -- sold – ( enthusiastic custodian for 8 years )

 

[chrisd0729]

The one I'm looking at had side swiped a guard rail and his repair was $12k. We have the repair bill and pics to support actual damage which looks to be body panels only.

Does the accident on a Viper's carfax affect the resale like it does in other cars? If a no-accident car is $38k, what's the discount I should assume due to an accident on the carfax?

 

[Vipermann1]

Honestly, part of it the Repair shops always inflate the damage.
For example: On a 1999 Viper Rt/10 which a friend owns, he damaged only the driver's side-sill. While making a left hand turn, he hit the center divide curb. Damage was only to side sill, and exhause. The repair show recommend "Sanding the frame near the drivers side door, and reapplying epoxy (the black stuff on the frame)". Now the carfax generally shows "Frame Damage" on a small repair.

Best thing is to ask "show me pictures of the damage" and the repair bill as proof.

 

[chrisd0729]

Yep, definitely agree with proof by pics and repair bill. I do have bill and waiting on pics now. Sounds similar to your buddy as it's mostly cosmetic panels and frame isn't even mentioned.

My biggest question is, does an accident in history affect value of a Viper less than say a Corvette because Vipers seem to be so much more prone to having accidents in their history?

Honestly, part of it the Repair shops always inflate the damage.
For example: On a 1999 Viper Rt/10 which a friend owns, he damaged only the driver's side-sill. While making a left hand turn, he hit the center divide curb. Damage was only to side sill, and exhause. The repair show recommend "Sanding the frame near the drivers side door, and reapplying epoxy (the black stuff on the frame)". Now the carfax generally shows "Frame Damage" on a small repair.

Best thing is to ask "show me pictures of the damage" and the repair bill as proof.

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Old tires, cold tires and inexperience are the main reasons. Just because there is tread left does not mean they are still good.

 

[AZTVR]

My biggest question is, does an accident in history affect value of a Viper less than say a Corvette because Vipers seem to be so much more prone to having accidents in their history?

No, not less than a Vette, IMHO. I would say that many folks looking for Vipers want a one or two owner , low mileage, no stories car. People tend to want to steer clear of a car that has had an accident because they don't want to bother getting the car inspected, and are worried about the same attitude in prospective buyers on subsequent sale. However, with the Gen 2 becoming affordable for younger guys, I think that accident repair stigma won't be so bad; but, will still affect price. If price is right, and a reputable body shop says the car is good, then I see no reason not to buy it. Others will say, wait for a no stories car; but, you can't spend your life waiting for the perfect car. And, you may not want a car so good that you are inhibited in using it for the performance that it was intended for.

_________________________________________________
Jim – ‘02 GTS ACR gray/silver -- sold – ( enthusiastic custodian for 8 years )

 

[MoparMap]

Quality of repair likely has a lot to do with it. Since it's a high end car it's typically either going to have a total crap fix or a really nice one. I'd figure lots of shops won't want to work on them, so the ones that do either specialize in cars like them or take anything they can get. Some of the accident cars are probably nicer when fixed than they were before the accident.

Personal inspection is really the key in any car buying situation. What you are willing to put up with is the ultimate question and will be different for everyone. I planned to drive my car all the time, so I didn't mind something a little rough around the edges. There was the typical broken trim on the top of the door panels, some scratches here and there, etc., but that was fine with me for what I wanted to do with the car. I have to say, after 72k miles on the clock on my 04 (30k of those myself), it has really worn well and doesn't look much different from the day I bought it.

 

[Sybil TF]

People can't drive. It's that simple.

 

[gb66gth]

People can't drive. It's that simple.

That's not always the case.
A few years back, I was making a left from the outside lane of a double left turn lane when the dill hole on the inside does not maintain his lane and grazed the front of my car. It did not bent any metal or break any plastic but the paint was scraped and the insurance had to pay to repaint the nose and fender. Now, technically that counts as an accident but the car is still 100%.

 

[Fangs10]

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to drive it, enjoy it then don't be looking for a perfect trailer queen. After buying mine and knowing what I know now, I bought mine to drive and enjoy not put 100 miles on it a year, I would be open to a salvage title rebuild as long as it was done by someone with experience such as X2. I'll leave the comment "investment" alone because even though they maintain their value pretty good cars are not a good investment.

Buy one, drive it and enjoy it.

 

[Nsane1]

I think what you can learn from this is to take a driving course (NARRA, etc.). These cars (no traction control, no ABS) are a beast, but VERY rewarding in the right hands.

 

[daveg]

Old tires, cold tires and inexperience are the main reasons. Just because there is tread left does not mean they are still good.

^^^^^^ This.

 

[CWhiteRun]

Here is one that looks great. Has a previous salvage title, but if it was repaired correctly, would make a great driver. At $23,000, seems cheap too.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161421242344?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

 

[daveg]

His reserve Is 29k

 

[Free2go]

Repeatedly searching the Viper's limit on a public roadway equals death or salvage title...hence the fun of ownership.