Viper

The Viper.

I have fantasized about owning this car since 1993. It is, perhaps, the coolest car ever made in my lifetime on this planet. It was Dodge's (Chrysler's) "berkeley the rulebook--go have fun" car. No door handles, windows, ABS, traction control, or roof for the first generation. Just a HUGE engine, lots of rubber, and an exhaust system that could double as a skillet.

Prices are coming into the affordable range right now for the very first years of the RT/10 (my favorites!). Has anyone here driven one? What is it like to own one? If I buy one, it will likely be my only car (other than track slave, Miata). Can I live with something like this every day? I'm not worried about the insane-o difficulty of replacing the gas tank (seriously, how many of us have had to do that to a car?). But is it drivable?

I'm not really looking for Craigslist ads or recommendations on which ones to buy now--still not quite ready for one--but almost! Just for some discussion. Of course, Craigslist ads can add flavor to the discussion!

YESSS! First year Viper owners are way more epic that Corvette owners.

it IS raw power.

The Corvette is a great car. It's smooth, has pretty neat-o sports car technology, and Chevrolet made a million of them. But I think I like the Viper because it is insane-in-the-membrane-fast and makes no attempt whatsoever to do anything to please its occupants in any other respect.

Here's another question... would you feel like a douche driving it? I know why I'd buy one: I like the way it looks and I like what it does. But I think everybody around me would think I bought it to show off and be a jackass.

Yes, you would look like a douche...No, you would not care.

Yes, you are a creature, No, you will not have any comforts in a Viper.

confuZion3 wrote: If I buy one, it will likely be my only car (other than track slave, Miata). Can I live with something like this every day?

Uh... Gas mileage is AWFUL. Not much storage space.

So, yes, you can drive it everyday.

I can't find it now, but somewhere out there there is a clip of Jeremy Clarkson reviewing the (then new) original Viper. He said all you have room for is your toothbrush, which you will need to clean the bugs out of your teeth. Or something like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BePe0ueyx0o

This is the new car, but I think its a fine piece of news reporting anyway. 'specially when he sets the sills on fire.

Here is the old one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMp_o9-0I_g

I love that video. "You are driving an open top car, use caution." Closed door "No." Burns out

confuZion3 wrote: If I buy one, it will likely be my only car (other than track slave, Miata). Can I live with something like this every day?

I would think you would need to be very comitted, or need to be committed. Have you actually seen one of these in person? Much smaller in person than they look on your computer screen. I guess if you live in some perfect climate where the air is an even 70 degrees year round and it never rains, and you never have a need to bring anything home from a store, it will probably work out great.

Man now I want a 1st gen viper all over again

I think they're bitchin. I used to DD a motorcycle. Summer, winter, whenever. I don't need any damn creature comforts.

Vipers are also very hot, literally. The heat absolutely pours out from the side vents and into the interior. Even with the AC on it boiling in there. I have more time in the 2nd gen car, so my observation is mostly on that one. it drove basically like a big Miata, except for the shifter which felt like one from a '60's sedan, big and clumsy. The handling was awesome though, if you can stand the heat!

I DD a Buell Lightning now. (It's a motorcycle). It's air-cooled, the engine is wedged tightly between two large framerails, and I ride accross Manhattan every day now during rush hour. It's berkeleying HOT. Sometimes it rains. I think I might be with Cotton here.

I don't know... in a lot of ways, it would be like trying to daily drive any exotic. It would be fun once in awhile, but always? I see a couple of Vipers (both GTS coupe versions) on a regular basis during the warmer months (one at the office building next to us), so it obviously can be done. I definitely wouldn't want to drive one during the winter/snow...

What would worry me more than fuel costs would be insurance costs... but in a few years, the early ones will qualify for classic car insurance...

But if you currently DD a motorcycle, you may be hardcore enough to pull it off... but in that case, why bother with a Viper? Get a Seven.

Yeah, I posted a similar question. I too grew up with the Viper and eagerly watch the prices fall and fall. The thing that people had warned me against was the insurance. Replacing that front clamshell hood is 5-figures. My favorite is the GTS, in blue/white or just straight up black.

JeepinMatt wrote: My favorite is the GTS, in blue/white or just straight up black.

Mmmmm, I agree. Unfortuantely, those seem to have been holding prices much stronger than all of the red RT/10 cars.

Just for giggles, I did a CL for SoFla. First 100 listings for "Viper" yielded only 5 cars.

Ian F wrote: I don't know... in a lot of ways, it would be like trying to daily drive any exotic. It would be fun once in awhile, but always? I see a couple of Vipers (both GTS coupe versions) on a regular basis during the warmer months (one at the office building next to us), so it obviously can be done. I definitely wouldn't want to drive one during the winter/snow... What would worry me more than fuel costs would be insurance costs... but in a few years, the early ones will qualify for classic car insurance... But if you currently DD a motorcycle, you may be hardcore enough to pull it off... but in that case, why bother with a Viper? Get a Seven.

My 87 944T is on a classic/collectible policy. The insurance is stupid cheap... as in less than 200 a year for an agreed upon value full coverage policy. Requirements are must be stored in a locked garage (at home), you have to own other vehicles on a standard policy, and less than (I think) 7k a year. Requirements vary by Ins company though. I'd need to talk with my agent, but I'm almost positive a Viper would qualify for that type of policy.

Yeah, it depends on the company. I believe Hagerty's rule is 25 years old with exceptions on an as-needed basis. A Viper may qualify if you call.

Ian F wrote: I don't know... in a lot of ways, it would be like trying to daily drive any exotic. It would be fun once in awhile, but always? I see a couple of Vipers (both GTS coupe versions) on a regular basis during the warmer months (one at the office building next to us), so it obviously can be done. I definitely wouldn't want to drive one during the winter/snow...

I daily drive my Gen III, I am in California and the weather is always perfect so thats a factor but they are very easy to get along with. ~8K miles for me.

Gas mileage is not to bad ~13mpg or so mixed driving, insurance runs for me ~1400$ now full 500/500 coverage with umbrella. Guy at the office daily drives a SL65, up the street at the house a Gallardo coupe, three houses up a 575. It can be done.

Never driven one, but I too lust after them. A buddy who has spent some time behind the wheel of one at an autocross told me it was awesome. He went into it expecting a big clumsy ill handling car, though one with ample power. He said the reality was that it drove like a really powerful Miata. Pretty high praise.

I have more experience with wrenching than driving. The only driving I have done is just across town on some side streets. The torque will make it impossible not to grin like an idiot when you apply a fair amount of throttle from a stop light.

I swapped a head at Mid Ohio on the V10 not having ever turned a wrench on a Viper before...so that was cool. Used parts are expensive, I wouldn't even want to know about used (I'm thinking engines and bodywork and such).

They're built very much like a factory race car. I've never seen a more racecar-like factory car.

A powerful miata is a good analogy, I think. They go, stop, and turn really well.

I've never worked on anything but a coupe...fwiw.

I'd definitely own one if the circumstances permitted. NOT, however, as a daily driver. This is a driving experience car...not one to sit in traffic with. That would get old.

Clem

They recently made a list of the top 10 most expensive cars to insure:

http://www.nitrobahn.com/news/insure-com-lists-most-least-expensive-2010-vehicles-to-insure/

More then a 911 turbo Carrera!

Hagerty will insure newer cars that are exotics or limited production. They specifically used the Viper as an example.

I autocrossed a Viper back in '95 or during some testing. I remember it feeling smaller than it is. I also don't remember a dead pedal, though.

As far as insurance, yes, call some collector policy writers. I have three cars on a collector car policy, and the prices are very fair.