my first dodge viper

my first dodge viper

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Discussion

makser

Original Poster:

57 posts

153 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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When he opened the garage I felt that my 12 year long wait for a gen one viper was over .From every angle the car looked both magnificent and ridiculous in the extreme .All the creature comforts of a gin house but the presence of an automotive behemoth !! Why couldn't I have been born with more common sense . ? Had that been the case I would now have an SL 55 AMG
I would be able to park the SL in the garage WITHOUT having to remove the roof and windows in order to then do a dukes of hazard to exit the bloody thing .On summer days the SL and suchlike would go like stink and the roof and practically everything else would retract automatically and im sure theres a button for a cocktail cabinet too !! However when I had parted with my cash and driven north from Birmingham the answers to all my questions were laid bare !! Yes ... I was and am ...not a full shilling but after two hours driving the most outrageous and fun car that has arguably ever been built I pray that my sanity...or distinct lack of it stays exactly as it is .!! The dodge viper is truly an automotive icon and I applaud the eccentrics who designed and built the brute in the first place . Im glad that the human race is capable of producing such madness and long may they exist .!!

Ginja

1,018 posts

200 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Congratulations! You made the right choice, I drove an sl55 prior to buying my viper, was very dull, no noise and a huge running cost. I even looked at the sl65 but the viper is strangely a much more sensible choice.

I also had the same problem with the garage. My solution was to fix a anchor point in the garage floor and use a hand rope pulley to pull the car into the garage. This had the benefit of being able to align the car perfectly and with no risk to the car at all. Sounds mad and looked quirky but worked for me smile

I know it's been mentioned but always remember to be careful with the go pedal, especially in the colder months, I was told to pretend that there was an egg between my foot and the pedal - you don't wanna break the egg!

Good luck,

Mark

Dr-Bob

6,629 posts

259 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Congratulations! !!!!

Some say its not a car but an obsession. ..

makser

Original Poster:

57 posts

153 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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MMM ,The rope pulley system does sound interesting .In which part of the country are you .I would like to see this bit of kit in action if possible .

altoplanohombre

254 posts

144 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Green with envy - well done - Never fancied the Merc. My Monaro is now just 'run-in' at 102k and I'm also on the look out for a change....subject to budget!!

Ginja

1,018 posts

200 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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makser said:
MMM ,The rope pulley system does sound interesting .In which part of the country are you .I would like to see this bit of kit in action if possible .
It was interesting, and I did it for 4 years but we moved not too long ago when we finally found a house we could afford with a nice big side-by-side double garage so I no longer use the pulley. It was simply just a solid anchor ( eBay) a pulley ( eBay) and I used a 1 ton or similar fabric lifting strap to attach the pulley to the car without any damage. I will hazard that my driveway and garage were basically flat so the effort on all of this kit was minimal.


makser

Original Poster:

57 posts

153 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
MMM ok I get the idea .My drive however is an uphill gradient so maybe theres more to it because of that .I will soldier on with my method for now .I may even snip some of the concrete out in a tyre track format so the car just sits in the tracks .It wont be coming out that much anyway .I just like knowing that the outrage is there ! I didn't realise that sl55 mercs were that much trouble .German engineering indeed !!

Viper

10,005 posts

272 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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taking the roof off and window out is such a chore on a RT, why not bolt an electric winch to the front of your garage and pull it for the last few feet

makser

Original Poster:

57 posts

153 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Well i will suss something out in time .Im just happy to own it for now .The difference between the viper and almost any of the 100 or so cars ive owned is that when you take a viper out it feels like an event .That was the reason I bought it .Im sure that in time viper prices and in particular early examples will only go up in price .Cases in point are e-type jags and the rs 500 .They have both rocketed in price in the last 10 years .

fatboy18

18,930 posts

210 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Congratulations on your new Toy smile

You have owned 100 cars! Bloody hell, thats some record!

You have hit the Nail right on the head, The Viper is an Event. smile


Come and Join the Fun on the VOA smile

The price debate is an interesting subject, It amazes me what people will pay for some American Classic cars, yet when it comes to Vipers many people who visit these forums just think the prices asked are too high!

A brand new aluminium V10 Lamborghini designed Engine, New designed Gearbox, in a Car that Handles and peanuts running cost compared to many european sports Supercars. Whats not to like?

Oh yea its LHD rolleyes





Edited by fatboy18 on Tuesday 21st October 17:54

makser

Original Poster:

57 posts

153 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Well you seem to be a big viper fan fatboy .Mine being the 1994 Chrysler viper rather than a dodge viper .Heres the question - Whats the difference between the two ?

fatboy18

18,930 posts

210 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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1994? Gen 1 RT/10 Thought they were all Dodge Vipers then?
Gen II Vipers were imported into Europe in 1997
Is your Speedo in MPH?
Have a look at the Build sticker inside the Drivers door and Check the Vin number against this guide.
http://www.theviperregistry.org/vin.php

http://www.theviperregistry.org/mdh.php

From the Wicki
"The car was also exported to Europe, where it was rebadged as a Chrysler, and sold under this marque from 1997 to 2003. European models had a detuned version of the Viper V10."

Im sure the Doc and Neil will chime in, they know more about it than I do smile

Hopefully will see you out and about at some events smile

Edited by fatboy18 on Wednesday 22 October 21:30

makser

Original Poster:

57 posts

153 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Thanks for the input fatboy .Im determined to find out all I can about these cars .I will be checking those leads that you have given me to find out more .Perhaps a show or two next year will get me introduced to the clan .

fatboy18

18,930 posts

210 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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If it says Chrysler on the rear bumper someone may have re-badged it? Or might be a later Gen II bumper, which would explain things?

Dr-Bob

6,629 posts

259 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Gen1 vipers were bought into the country via Chrysler and badged Chrysler. .
Vin will give you all the info you need

1B=Dodge USA
1C=Export Chrysler

10th digit determines year ..