What are Vipers like to own / run compared to other American

[Corv99]

Just wondering how they compare?

Heard stories they are very expensive to run in comparison to mustang and vetted, and sourcing parts are very difficult ... They seem good value to buy for mid / late 2000 models.. But maybe ownership over number of years is a lot of cost..

Lovely cars mind! But do seem quite rare, hence the question, and I guess also because of that getting parts quickly may be an issue.

Cheers

[ViperDave]

Own a C5 vette (12yrs), 97 viper (11yrs), 09 viper(3yrs) and have owned a 99 camaro(12yrs).

Wouldn't really say there is significant difference between them in costs. Yeah the vipers may use a little more fuel and 10L of oil at oil change rather than 7L for the vette. But the vette uses dexcool coolant which is like hens teeth in the uk and you pay a lot for it when you find it. The viper gts just uses 3year green coolant from any halfords.

Parts for vipers are a breeze if you know where to look. this is a good place to start http://www.driveviper.co.uk/support_crew.html Chuck and most of the vendors can have a part on your doorstep just as quickly as some of the mainstream euro-box dealers.

End of the day though, leave a viper fairly standard or with minor mods and they are pretty much bullet proof.

Edited by ViperDave on Friday 11th April 10:46

[Corv99]

Cheers Dave... PM inbound..

[oxam]

well there is something called the viper tax - normal parts cost more and any performance parts cost much more and are harder to find than let's say mustang parts (I have a 2006 GT as a daily driver). but if you plan to run a stock car it's all pretty reasonable (apart from the mpg but who cares about that when you buy an 8l v10???)

there are few things which usually go wrong so it's worth buying a car which has been already sorted

[Dr-Bob]

Great cars.. And if you know the right people and trusted vendors parts are easy....

[Corv99]

oxam said:

well there is something called the viper tax - normal parts cost more and any performance parts cost much more and are harder to find than let's say mustang parts (I have a 2006 GT as a daily driver). but if you plan to run a stock car it's all pretty reasonable (apart from the mpg but who cares about that when you buy an 8l v10???)

there are few things which usually go wrong so it's worth buying a car which has been already sorted

Thanks Ox

What sort of things go wrong typically?

[zubair]

viper seem to be very reliable almost bullet p[roof compare to most high performance sports cars if you buy the right one there are hardly any service costs apart from an oil change and your fuel bill even the fuel consumption is quite good compare to others the only big bills are modifications which most viper owners end up doing when they buy a standard car

[fatboy18]

Tyres.....Bloody expensive!

Oil, well yes 8 ltrs or 10 ltrs depending on which oil pan is fitted.

Stock Viper brake pads Gen II cars have a single piston Brembo calliper at the rear and 4 piston Brembo callipers up front, Same brake pads as a Ford focus, Renault Laguna, so down to your local euro car parts for those, dirt cheap, the better friction material you want the more you pay

Fuel, its a Toy not exactly a daily driver
Measure it in 'Smiles per Gallon' LOTS.
When I take my car out I treat it as if im going for a meal out, fill up the tank approx. £75.00

A meal out with the other half, bottle of wine etc is around the same price.....So drive the car instead

Ever see another one on the road........No!

Parts hard to get hold of? RUBBISH.
Yes most of out stuff is imported but its no big deal.
www.partsrack.com
www.viperpartsofamerica.com
Tators Garage
ebay
eurocar parts for things like serpentine belts brake pads.
our own car club websites with supporting vendors.
Viper parts larry, second hand parts,
Xvipers salvage parts.

If you know one end of a spanner from the other they are also easy to work on, and if you do get in trouble with mechanical issues the wealth of knowledge on the Viper forums is fantastic and 9 times out of 10 someone will offer to give you a hand if needed.

I have also found that you get invited to a hell of a lot of events with cars many times a higher price than the Vipers and there is great respect.

Best TOY I have ever bought.

Just go and Drive one.

[oxam]

Corv99 said:

Thanks Ox

What sort of things go wrong typically?

couple of things usually being done as prevention. you can leave them as they are but there many reports on them going wrong. also the parts are available from the states and are not expensive

- power steering pump bracket
- power steering pump pulley
- pinning the crank pulley
- rear toe in brackets
- sorting out the wiring for the radiator fan relays

if you plan to track your car you will need baffles in the oil pan (or risk an oil starvation) - very easy job as the pan comes down in 10 min (no subframe in the way)

also stainless steel brake lines would make sense, brake upgrades (plenty of options there), lowering stiffer springs.

it really depends what you want from the car. apart from the things mentioned above the vipers are super reliable, the only major issue I had in 4 years was the clutch slave cylinder - unfortunately it's a gearbox out job. all in took me 4 hours so not the end of the world and the parts were 150 GBP from the states

I really think you shall go and buy that black one the exhaust might sound a bit dull as the stock one is a bit disappointing, but hey couple of easy mods and it could sound as awesome as this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbsAJsBizWo (mine sounds like that and I just love it)


at the end my 2 cents - I go to the states 4-5 times a year and always rent a corvette, I also drive a mustang as a daily. The Viper is the least practical one, the most agricultural and also the hardest to live on a daily basis with. However it's the one that puts the biggest grin on my face, it's the one that gets the most thumbs ups and gets noticed all the time and it will be a classic.

[Corv99]

Thanks Ox

I would leave std apart maybe Exhaust air intake etc , and here this is a weekened car so as long as in ball park roughly as my C5 that's fine..
If I can find someone to offer me a ride in one I fear it may be done deal!! It's a lovely piece of kit, if it goes in my garage, again om stuffed !!!

[oxam]

If you are near london be my guest

[Corv99]

North east mate, but thanks for the offer much appreciated .
In fact I may still take you up on it sometime! :-)

[Corv99]

Has anyone bought one from Europe .... As in getting a car checked out by 3rd party .. Sort of AA check , check history etc and then shipped over... Without going out to see it in person, thinking from a garage ?

[fatboy18]

Corv99 said:

Has anyone bought one from Europe .... As in getting a car checked out by 3rd party .. Sort of AA check , check history etc and then shipped over... Without going out to see it in person, thinking from a garage ?

Where are you looking in Europe? There are Viper owners in Germany, Sweden, France, Switzerland. Some members are in the VOA, so if your serious on a car someone might know of it and check it out for you.

http://driveviper.com/forums/forums/26-European-Re...

French site: http://www.viperpassion.com/forum/index.php?sid=27...

[Corv99]

Thanks fat boy..
I've been looking on a European sarch site, just out of interest for now, I'm about to sell my bike, to go into my 'fund'
Then next will be the car.. And some saving which is underway.
Then I'm in position to hopefully look at what I get next, Z06 was top of the list, but as this is not a physically big as I thought, and it seems running not as bad , I need to look into it.
Part of that is to check out these things, get a ride in one hopefully..

The Europe question was whether there were maybe companies who would go to car if it's in a dealer , do full check over, check numbers, car fax , hpi etc so at least you know you have a legit car then it's a case of shipping over, flying out etc is all well and good, but I don't really know what I'm looking for etc, so would rather budget for this to be done by someone who knows what they're doing ... Seems sensible?

There seems to be a following in Italy for sine reason, few vettes there too..

Edited by Corv99 on Monday 21st April 18:57

[Banjo Man]

Slightly off topic, but still Viper related. I own a right hand drive Gen II GTS. It's the one that was for sale at Sterling Performance in Middlesex earlier this year. Metalic burnt orange in colour with soem grey stripes. There seems very little history on it, but I was able to part ex my Cobra replca for it so took a punt/risk. Does anybody know anything about it? It's HPI clear but it was a cat II claim 10 years ago due to (water) flooding I was told. It's still easy to find via a google search so you can see it. I wrote to that conversion place in Australia, but no reply yet, as I sort of thought they might have done the conversion. I'm based in Wiltshire near Devizes if anybody lives near by. The kettle is awlays on! Cheers for any help. Andy.

[ViperDave]

Banjo Man said:

Slightly off topic, but still Viper related. I own a right hand drive Gen II GTS. It's the one that was for sale at Sterling Performance in Middlesex earlier this year. Metalic burnt orange in colour with soem grey stripes. There seems very little history on it, but I was able to part ex my Cobra replca for it so took a punt/risk. Does anybody know anything about it? It's HPI clear but it was a cat II claim 10 years ago due to (water) flooding I was told. It's still easy to find via a google search so you can see it. I wrote to that conversion place in Australia, but no reply yet, as I sort of thought they might have done the conversion. I'm based in Wiltshire near Devizes if anybody lives near by. The kettle is awlays on! Cheers for any help. Andy.

Welcome to the viper fold, there is plenty of history on that car and it very much divides opinion so be prepared. Before it starts though i would like to welcome you and encourage you to join the VOA or even just come along to some events, you and your car are more than welcome.

Ps you may want to start a new thread for this one.

[ViperDave]

The highlights though are

It started life as a yellow RT 10.
It went to Australia for what was a very good RHD conversion.
It came to the UK for the Chrysler MD
It was stolen from the Chrysler MD, (i cant remember which order he had them wrecked in)
It was set fire to. I can only assume the water damage was from the fire brigade
It was salvaged by John Hazard
It was rebuilt as a GTS, painted orange and had a new interior fitted to replace the burnt out one and is like marmite to viper fans.
It has had A LOT of money spent on it over its life and often seen for sale with many arguments on the rebuild and value.

There are threads on here with its history that don't paint the car or viper owners in a good light so i wont link to them.

Again I hope this is a more positive discussion on the car and repeat You and the car are very welcome and I would love to see the car again at a meet with its new owner.

Edited by ViperDave on Wednesday 23 April 15:02

[Banjo Man]

Thanks very much - I think! I was sort of prepared for that reply, sort of. Not sure I will get much sleep tonight. I knew it had "history" and it's good to find out a bit more about it. I will try and track down some previous threads. I have joined the Viper Owners club and will also be at the Wilton Supercar event this year. I do like the car, it has found a home with me, but interior/dash/door cards need some loving/replacing. But it looks good, and goes like stink! Know anybody who is very good at interiors? Thanks again, appreciated. I will start a new thread too.

[fatboy18]

Welcome to Viper ownership Banjo man

I too went from a Cobra to a Viper and have never looked back

Now please don't take this the wrong way but you better brace yourself if you find the pics of the burnt out car!

Look forward to meeting you sometime, Be sure to check out the events page on the VOA UK section or UK website