Viper Question?
Discussion
What is Viper ownership like from the point of view of running costs, servicing, insurance and mpg.
What are the service intervals, I own a C5 Corvette at the mo, but am fed up with always upgrading cars for a newer model etc and hence losing thousands.
In my opinion the new Viper does not look as good as the original, so changing up to the newer model would not be an issue.
Also what is the ground clearance like, lots of speed bumps where i live.
How much would i expect to pay for a 99 car.
How tractable is the engine, is it nice going around at a leisurely pace or not
Anyone know of any for sale?
thx
>>> Edited by V8 ETE on Friday 6th August 14:03
What are the service intervals, I own a C5 Corvette at the mo, but am fed up with always upgrading cars for a newer model etc and hence losing thousands.
In my opinion the new Viper does not look as good as the original, so changing up to the newer model would not be an issue.
Also what is the ground clearance like, lots of speed bumps where i live.
How much would i expect to pay for a 99 car.
How tractable is the engine, is it nice going around at a leisurely pace or not
Anyone know of any for sale?
thx
>>> Edited by V8 ETE on Friday 6th August 14:03
Love mine and do use it as a daily drive however,
It has no ABS or traction control not the most roomy of interiors and is even with a stock exhaust noisey.
The ride is harsh almost race car like its skittish in the dry and nearly dangerous in the wet due to the 335 rear tyres.................
But I love it it turns heads you can leave it any where without damage for most kids its the ultimate play station car.
It cheap to run gives me 24-26 mpg (UK) on a run and costs me £240 once a year for a service.
It has no ABS or traction control not the most roomy of interiors and is even with a stock exhaust noisey.
The ride is harsh almost race car like its skittish in the dry and nearly dangerous in the wet due to the 335 rear tyres.................
But I love it it turns heads you can leave it any where without damage for most kids its the ultimate play station car.
It cheap to run gives me 24-26 mpg (UK) on a run and costs me £240 once a year for a service.
viper paul said:
But I love it it turns heads you can leave it any where without damage for most kids its the ultimate play station car.
I agree!!!
They should have had ABS from the beginning. Anyone seen that vid of the Viper against the F355 on a mountain and the Viper falls down a cliff due to the wheels locking up?
>> Edited by z064life on Friday 6th August 15:07
With my viper and the girlfriend’s vette I can probably field some of these questions. The C5 being a stock 2002 and viper being stock 97 gts with the exception of smooth tubes K&N and corsa cat back. The Viper is a harder car to live with as it is noisier with the corsa than the tame sound of a stock C5 exhaust, obviously there are more creature comforts in the vette so if you stop at starbucks on your way in to work you wont have anywhere to put your coffee, and forget about your favourite CD in the viper as the stock system is awful, but then the real sound comes from those speakers on the hood. Also there is no HUD, active handling traction control or even ABS on older cars so if you find yourself using these on the vette forget about the viper as it will bite. It was when I realised that I rarely needed active handling or ABS on the vette that I decided to get the viper rather than a vette of my own.
Fuel economy is a little worse on the viper and I think affected more by driving hard. Both can return good ish (relative) mileage on the motorway if you take it easy, but hard driving in the twisties the viper seems to drink more than the vette would. The ground clearance is also a little lower but you should be ok over legal speed bumps so long as you creep over them, but you should be used to that, slowing down and speeding up for speed bumps is a pain in both cars if you have a stick shift but the clutch, breaks and steering in the viper are a little heavier.
Servicing is about the same although its probably a bit easier to work on the viper yourself than the vette as it is not as complex and most things are easily accessible in the engine bay, ie no problems changing all 10 plugs and if brought in the US they will only cost you about a £1 each so stock up on your hols. If you like creature comforts and a car that will straighten you out if you get it sideways you need a corvette or if you want that and you have more money than sense and like to pose like one of the crowd then get a Porsche. If you want an involved drive with no driver aids then the viper is for you. You will also get looked at more then in the other two and photo’s taken all the time when you stop for fuel
>> Edited by viperdave on Friday 6th August 20:41
Fuel economy is a little worse on the viper and I think affected more by driving hard. Both can return good ish (relative) mileage on the motorway if you take it easy, but hard driving in the twisties the viper seems to drink more than the vette would. The ground clearance is also a little lower but you should be ok over legal speed bumps so long as you creep over them, but you should be used to that, slowing down and speeding up for speed bumps is a pain in both cars if you have a stick shift but the clutch, breaks and steering in the viper are a little heavier.
Servicing is about the same although its probably a bit easier to work on the viper yourself than the vette as it is not as complex and most things are easily accessible in the engine bay, ie no problems changing all 10 plugs and if brought in the US they will only cost you about a £1 each so stock up on your hols. If you like creature comforts and a car that will straighten you out if you get it sideways you need a corvette or if you want that and you have more money than sense and like to pose like one of the crowd then get a Porsche. If you want an involved drive with no driver aids then the viper is for you. You will also get looked at more then in the other two and photo’s taken all the time when you stop for fuel
>> Edited by viperdave on Friday 6th August 20:41
I am just on the point of picking up a low miler blue/white '97 GTS (tomorrow); and would echo the sentiments of the last reply. I have driven porsches and TVR Cerberas in the past. The Viper is a standout car, and i bought it so I would keep it (well at least try)- but without thinking its depreciation is so awful that it leaves you with a sick feeling in your stomach; the running costs appear to be manageable (but I'll wait and see as to what my own experience is going to be). I go to the US quite a bit, so can bring back stuff. But I am really looking forward to learning about it - when I took it out on a test drive - it just seemed such fun to drive, a real occassion..whereas there are so many porsches on the road now..both old and new and across the marque range. I didnt have time to track the porsche so it was losing its point to me..so hence going for the Viper (as its fantastic to own and use).
woolfie
woolfie
Just to add, I had my photo taken by a guy hanging out the passenger window at 70 in lane 3 of the M3 tonight.
That is the reaction you get with a viper.
Ps you may want to change up if/when they bring out a new coupe if it’s anything like the Comp coup. So that might have blown your theory although the GTS/RT 10 will always be special.
Woolfie good luck for tomorrow and welcome to the club. Take it easy for a while and learn the car, at least its hot out so the tyres should stick better.
That is the reaction you get with a viper.
Ps you may want to change up if/when they bring out a new coupe if it’s anything like the Comp coup. So that might have blown your theory although the GTS/RT 10 will always be special.
Woolfie good luck for tomorrow and welcome to the club. Take it easy for a while and learn the car, at least its hot out so the tyres should stick better.
Exactly what I was going to say. I'd wait for the SRT10 coupe which will hopefully be made. If it has the same basic shape as the Competition Coupe and not the SEMA SRT10 then you will likely love it for the menacing looks. It will have so much road presence and will scream "Get the 
out of my way!".
A thread on viperalley, made by a Dodge dealership employee, has revealed that a coupe will not be revealed in 05 at any events or VOI.
out of my way!". A thread on viperalley, made by a Dodge dealership employee, has revealed that a coupe will not be revealed in 05 at any events or VOI.
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