Thoughts on this...

[GruFFnuTT]

Hi all,

I met a few of the Viper Forum at Le Mans (Team Langoustine site) last year (and the year before that) and I sat in a couple of their cars; Pete's racer and a lovely red one with a crazy splitter up front parked under its own tent!!! Having consumed several thousand stubbies that weekend and losing 'the rev off' to Pete and his bolts of flame, I vowed I'd get one... Maybe...
Having sold my Monaro VXR last summer to hunt for a supercharged one with big power, I've found myself checking out the Vipers again, but they are usually way out of my price range. I have just seen a 1999 Viper in the classifieds and it's in my favourite colour 'black'.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/d...

I was just wondering what you guys think of it?
I've never looked at one to buy, I've never driven one and I've done no research... Yet.
YES... I am impulsive when I see a good looking car and I know I'd be having to fund quite a bit more than my big power Monaro, but then... It's a Viper!!!
Just want to make sure I don't miss out on 'Viper ownership' before committing to another Monaro.

Cheers guys

Edited by GruFFnuTT on Friday 11th April 23:32

[oxam]

seems like a bargain to me, actually much cheaper than buying and importing the same car in the US at the moment. being 1999 it has the forged pistons and the lumpy 708 cam so if one day you need more power you can just bolt on a supercharger (paxton or twin screw) or twin turbo it...looking at 700 at wheels on a stock engine.

looks like a totally stock car (stock exhaust and stock intake tubes), would be worth checking the VIN and running a carfax report in the states, just to make sure it has never been damaged there.

[GruFFnuTT]

Wow, it already has forged internals!? I had no clue... That's great, thanks for that.
I'll certainly consider the checks nearer the time.
I've not been excited about a car in yonks!!!

[GruFFnuTT]

It's sold. I was too late... Argh!!!

[zubair]

It's sold. I was too late DONT YOU LIKE THE LOOK OF THE VIPER GTS?

[GruFFnuTT]

Show me one in my budget and I'll buy it!!!

[GruFFnuTT]

A couple of days on from my initial disappointment and I'm still 'sick as a dog' over it!!!

The only other car potentially in my budget is a mint Gen 1 in yellow. This car is not actually too far away from where I live, but it's not quite the Gen 2 I've missed out on. Having researched some cars in the States, I'm realising how much of a bargain it would have been.

There's also a white Hennessey Gen 1 on Cars&Classics which has some bold power claims from a N/A engine. I would have been aiming for 600Bhp out of the Monaro with a charger...

I'm worried I'll be spending my summer searching for a car rather than enjoying the various motoring meets, as I don't suppose they come up for sale very often. I don't ever recall seeing one being driven on the British roads. That's something I would have remembered for sure.

Is this the so called 'Viper Bug'?
I really, really, really, really, really want one!!!
I 've even got the missus on side

[Dr-Bob]

Cheap Viper....

Not suprised it sold fast at that price..
Yes looks like you have the bug....

[GruFFnuTT]

Haha, I've lost interest in all the other cars I was considering:
Superchargered Monaro/VXR8
Dodge Challenger
Corvette C6 (modded)
Camaro...

Looks like I'll have to be patient and attack the classifieds daily.
One good thing is, that I'm now focused on a car that I've always wanted but which I thought would be unattainable. (Still got to measure the garage yet to be 100%)

Are there any Viper owners in Hampshire?
I've never seen one at any of the local meets or even Goodwood!!! Plenty of Zondas and Veyrons! Yawn!

[Ginja]

I take mine to Goodwood loads. Last year after the SuperCar Sunday breakfast club I was delighted to be followed almost to home by one of the veyrons

[Corv99]

Yes gruff I'm in similar position, need to sit in one, ride in one etc.. In theory should fit in my garage too, but need to double check, then it maybe doom time!

[GruFFnuTT]

Ginja said:

I take mine to Goodwood loads. Last year after the SuperCar Sunday breakfast club I was delighted to be followed almost to home by one of the veyrons

Ah, I didn't make it to Supercar Sunday last year which will explain me missing your car! Damn!
Always a good turnout though, love it!!!
I'll have to keep an eye out for the Vipers this year.
I'm also having a break from Le Mans this year, so I'll miss a good opportunity to chat to the Viper gang that show up every year. It's always good walking past a whole row of Vipers...

[GruFFnuTT]

Corv99 said:

Yes gruff I'm in similar position, need to sit in one, ride in one etc.. In theory should fit in my garage too, but need to double check, then it maybe doom time!

Hi Corv,

Yeah, I saw your post that you were interested in Viper ownership too.
I wonder how many other people are Viper shopping? Hopefully not that many.
I'm calling 'dibs' on the black ones!!!
Do you have any idea what car you're after?
I'd always liked the GTS models, but since I've been looking I've found the roadsters much more appealing.
A Gen2 with the forged internals and the aggressive styling cues is what I'd be after, although tbh I'm really not that fussy.
I can feel my budget going out of the window at this rate.
It certainly is 'Doom Time'!!! Haha

[Viper_Larry]

At the risk of advertising (but I've been here long enough!) mine is currently for sale:

http://www.dmscars.com/cars/index.php?content=view...

[Dr-Bob]

Another very good and well known Viper.....

[ViperDave]

As I only have about 12 months of available garaging left I guess my GTS will be up for sale soon as well.

Its in Hampshire btw.

[Corv99]

GruFFnuTT said:

Hi Corv,

Yeah, I saw your post that you were interested in Viper ownership too.
I wonder how many other people are Viper shopping? Hopefully not that many.
I'm calling 'dibs' on the black ones!!!
Do you have any idea what car you're after?
I'd always liked the GTS models, but since I've been looking I've found the roadsters much more appealing.
A Gen2 with the forged internals and the aggressive styling cues is what I'd be after, although tbh I'm really not that fussy.
I can feel my budget going out of the window at this rate.
It certainly is 'Doom Time'!!! Haha

Yes I need to get out in one, but I will be doomed after that I'm pretty sure..

This is my for keeps car , for a while anyway, so will stretch... I was up for getting a Z06 , still a maybe, but these are similar size, so garage fit works, then will look at both carefully..
I like convertibles, so the viper would be the circa 05 model, and like the look of these, I know earlier ones are more desirable , and they hold there price, but prefer look of the middle model range , as the newest one is way too pricy..
Colour, would be black ( sorry!) silver, that rusty colour which I quite like, both would do some black detailing.. Going to leave pretty std and enjoy it..

But selling my motorbike, which is progressing and need to shift my car too before anything! I don't really want to be without any car, but may have too, then it's a waiting game... Also it seems that prices are high in the states? Which is bizarre

[Leatherman]

You forgot to metion Graham that there is no way on earth you would be selling
if it was not for the fact that you now live overseas.

Viper_Larry said:

At the risk of advertising (but I've been here long enough!) mine is currently for sale:

http://www.dmscars.com/cars/index.php?content=view...

[ViperDave]

Corv99 said:

Also it seems that prices are high in the states? Which is bizarre

Its more the prices in the UK are depressed for a few reasons,

1) there is such a small market their value is judged on the last one sold.
2) dealers don't want them so any trade in or quick sale is cheap
3) due to 2 go to 1
4) the dollar is stronger than it was in the past, so its more expensive to import than it used to be, but that hasn't fully filtered into the price of cars already in the UK due to 1 and 2.

WRT 4 though there aren't many new imports going on, however there are a few going out to the EU, so the UK pool is getting smaller. Then add in the Gen 1 and 2 are starting to take on classic and desirable status especially as there will never be a new viper built to the original brute force and KISS approach.

Until the next desperate seller comes along i don't see prices falling much, Maybe further increases.

[Corv99]

ViperDave said:

Its more the prices in the UK are depressed for a few reasons,

1) there is such a small market their value is judged on the last one sold.
2) dealers don't want them so any trade in or quick sale is cheap
3) due to 2 go to 1
4) the dollar is stronger than it was in the past, so its more expensive to import than it used to be, but that hasn't fully filtered into the price of cars already in the UK due to 1 and 2.

WRT 4 though there aren't many new imports going on, however there are a few going out to the EU, so the UK pool is getting smaller. Then add in the Gen 1 and 2 are starting to take on classic and desirable status especially as there will never be a new viper built to the original brute force and KISS approach.

Until the next desperate seller comes along i don't see prices falling much, Maybe further increases.

Interesting stuff! It's a shame in one way but to be fair puts them in reach for me..... Just!
Only think it obviously rules out importing one.. Just a waiting game for the right one to come up...
And as long as support and parts are easy to get ......