Discussion
most of the viper well known branded mods really transform the car for the better, potential owners don't have that knowledge but most here wouldn't worry at all buying a modified viper, in fact it would be a bonus.
If look at Graham's GTS, you couldn't get a more stock viper and that also took a fair while to move. As the cars are ageing they have seemed harder to sell over the last few years although the price point hasn't really moved much
If look at Graham's GTS, you couldn't get a more stock viper and that also took a fair while to move. As the cars are ageing they have seemed harder to sell over the last few years although the price point hasn't really moved much
Edited by Viper on Saturday 15th August 17:42
As already said mods to a car are personnel and some mods that are touted in magazines forums and by manufacturers don't live up to expectations. A lowered and six plus hundred horse power viper is hell of a machine but on the crap roads we drive on with humps pot holes ect can be a pain. I went for a stock rt10 so if I wanted to mod it I could I had the stock suspension rebuilt and new springs to stock spec and still have to treat humps with respect. If I was looking to do a lot of track days then I would get a modded viper so it's horses for courses I suppose.
Interesting question, here is my take as someone who flirted with the idea of a viper or vette before spending most of 50k on a 997 turbo
If prices are to rise from today's levels economics says demand needs to increase (assuming supply fairly static) so for me the car has to become attractive to the general car enthusiast not just the yank car enthusiast. That's the likes of me!
So what put me off, and please don't take this as a criticism of the Viper as I have never driven one but they always make me smile when I see one. I am no expert and don't purport to be one, so I am sure there are strong counter-arguments to my impressions but that is not really the point,
LHD - yes it puts me off, especially when combined with big size and huge power and allegedly unruly handling
Handling - a contentious subject and I am sure mods can improve, but every review says they can be a bit of a handful (of course any high power RWD can be) but the word agricultural gets bandied about a lot. I prefer a bit of finesse rather than Clarkson tail out smoking, and the UK is often damp so I suspect many of those horses get spun away.
Image - I like these cars, they look great and are fun, I imagine the owners are good guys not spoilt a holes, however driving a Viper is a very look-at-me affair. Fine for a weekend blast, a bit tiring when doing the weekly shop.
One car - which brings me in to this, many of the people with 40-50k to spend on a sports car live in London where owning two cars is a pain, that diminishs the buyer pool a fair amount
Interior - it's a bit poor to be honest, a personal thing but it's where I spend all my time driving and I am used to Germanic quality plastics and leathers
Feel free to respond but as I said I like them, and enjoy seeing them on the road, but I think prices won't rise significantly because of some of the factors I mention
If prices are to rise from today's levels economics says demand needs to increase (assuming supply fairly static) so for me the car has to become attractive to the general car enthusiast not just the yank car enthusiast. That's the likes of me!
So what put me off, and please don't take this as a criticism of the Viper as I have never driven one but they always make me smile when I see one. I am no expert and don't purport to be one, so I am sure there are strong counter-arguments to my impressions but that is not really the point,
LHD - yes it puts me off, especially when combined with big size and huge power and allegedly unruly handling
Handling - a contentious subject and I am sure mods can improve, but every review says they can be a bit of a handful (of course any high power RWD can be) but the word agricultural gets bandied about a lot. I prefer a bit of finesse rather than Clarkson tail out smoking, and the UK is often damp so I suspect many of those horses get spun away.
Image - I like these cars, they look great and are fun, I imagine the owners are good guys not spoilt a holes, however driving a Viper is a very look-at-me affair. Fine for a weekend blast, a bit tiring when doing the weekly shop.
One car - which brings me in to this, many of the people with 40-50k to spend on a sports car live in London where owning two cars is a pain, that diminishs the buyer pool a fair amount
Interior - it's a bit poor to be honest, a personal thing but it's where I spend all my time driving and I am used to Germanic quality plastics and leathers
Feel free to respond but as I said I like them, and enjoy seeing them on the road, but I think prices won't rise significantly because of some of the factors I mention
Edited by Adam B on Sunday 16th August 13:11
Just to Relay any speculation, none of this is applying to MY car, it's NOT for sale and Is very unlikely it ever will be 
Its Just that there seem to be a Few STOCK vipers out there And one or two modded ones, but the cars don't ever seem to go up in Value?
I pulled out an old Classic American Magazine from 2005 which has a Gen II Black RT/10 for sale and a Red GTS both being advertised for around 30K That was 2005! its now 2015 and the prices are stuck in the same place!
I just find it odd
Mustangs in that magazine (at that time) could be had for a quarter of the price they are now!
Its Just that there seem to be a Few STOCK vipers out there And one or two modded ones, but the cars don't ever seem to go up in Value?
I pulled out an old Classic American Magazine from 2005 which has a Gen II Black RT/10 for sale and a Red GTS both being advertised for around 30K That was 2005! its now 2015 and the prices are stuck in the same place!
I just find it odd
Mustangs in that magazine (at that time) could be had for a quarter of the price they are now! Adam B said:
Interesting question, here is my take as someone who flirted with the idea of a viper or vette before spending most of 50k on a 997 turbo
If prices are to rise from today's levels economics says demand needs to increase (assuming supply fairly static) so for me the car has to become attractive to the general car enthusiast not just the yank car enthusiast. That's the likes of me!
So what put me off, and please don't take this as a criticism of the Viper as I have never driven one but they always make me smile when I see one. I am no expert and don't purport to be one, so I am sure there are strong counter-arguments to my impressions but that is not really the point,
LHD - yes it puts me off, especially when combined with big size and huge power and allegedly unruly handling
Handling - a contentious subject and I am sure mods can improve, but every review says they can be a bit of a handful (of course any high power RWD can be) but the word agricultural gets bandied about a lot. I prefer a bit of finesse rather than Clarkson tail out smoking, and the UK is often damp so I suspect many of those horses get spun away.
Image - I like these cars, they look great and are fun, I imagine the owners are good guys not split a holes, however driving a Viper is a very look-at-me affair. Fine for a weekend blast, a bit tiring when doing the weekly shop.
One car - which brings me in to this, many of the people with 40-50k to spend on a sports car live in London where owning two cars is a pain, that diminishes the buyer pool a fair amount
Interior - it's a bit poor to be honest, a personal thing but it's where I spend all my time driving and I am used to Germanic quality plastics and leathers
Feel free to respond but as I said I like them, and enjoy seeing them on the road, but I think prices won't rise significantly because of some of the factors I mention
Great post Adam B, thank you for the input. If prices are to rise from today's levels economics says demand needs to increase (assuming supply fairly static) so for me the car has to become attractive to the general car enthusiast not just the yank car enthusiast. That's the likes of me!
So what put me off, and please don't take this as a criticism of the Viper as I have never driven one but they always make me smile when I see one. I am no expert and don't purport to be one, so I am sure there are strong counter-arguments to my impressions but that is not really the point,
LHD - yes it puts me off, especially when combined with big size and huge power and allegedly unruly handling
Handling - a contentious subject and I am sure mods can improve, but every review says they can be a bit of a handful (of course any high power RWD can be) but the word agricultural gets bandied about a lot. I prefer a bit of finesse rather than Clarkson tail out smoking, and the UK is often damp so I suspect many of those horses get spun away.
Image - I like these cars, they look great and are fun, I imagine the owners are good guys not split a holes, however driving a Viper is a very look-at-me affair. Fine for a weekend blast, a bit tiring when doing the weekly shop.
One car - which brings me in to this, many of the people with 40-50k to spend on a sports car live in London where owning two cars is a pain, that diminishes the buyer pool a fair amount
Interior - it's a bit poor to be honest, a personal thing but it's where I spend all my time driving and I am used to Germanic quality plastics and leathers
Feel free to respond but as I said I like them, and enjoy seeing them on the road, but I think prices won't rise significantly because of some of the factors I mention
I noticed you said you flirted with the idea and mentioned 40-50k, I take it that you may of been looking at a later Gen 3 or 4 model Viper?
You are right about the damp roads and loosing horses, this is for two reasons, First being the torque to these things, second being the width of the rear rubber, the cars can brake traction very quickly in standing water!
Interiors, yes that's a given too, All American cars lack the finesse of a Merc or European Supercar.
But you can make them much better with a few aftermarket add ons
(depending on your taste).You really should get yourself in one of these for a test drive, it will put a big grin on your face like no other car
Thanks fatboy - from memory I was looking to spend 35ish on a GTS in a more subtle grey/black colour, with reasonable miles ( rather than spend a premium on a low miler, can't imagine that engine gets too stressed at 8 litres and 380bhp)
As you say I am sure mods can improve things, and a yank car enthusiast will know what to look for, but, like the Porsche, most unknowledgeable people want to buy unmodded.
Would love to have a crack in one though, on a sunny day on familiar roads
As you say I am sure mods can improve things, and a yank car enthusiast will know what to look for, but, like the Porsche, most unknowledgeable people want to buy unmodded.
Would love to have a crack in one though, on a sunny day on familiar roads
Edited by Adam B on Sunday 16th August 13:51
Seriously, there are a few about so you really should take one out for a test drive (sunny day)
Mine is modded and lowered and suspension is set up for the track so it would not be a fair test drive in mine.
But the Grin it puts on my face within a couple of hundred yards of driving it is worth every penny
But as you say, its not a daily driver, just a great toy.
Mine is modded and lowered and suspension is set up for the track so it would not be a fair test drive in mine.
But the Grin it puts on my face within a couple of hundred yards of driving it is worth every penny
But as you say, its not a daily driver, just a great toy.
A great discussion and interesting points. Paying £35k+, many car owners want comfort, performance, road handling,etc. and.......servicing/back-up, not much of that for vipers around the UK, so I understand why people buy Porsches etc.
I bought my viper because AAS, based in Newcastle, are locally available to service mine.
I bought my viper because AAS, based in Newcastle, are locally available to service mine.
Edited by altoplanohombre on Monday 17th August 15:31
I might be a little slow on the uptake but does this belong to anyone on here?
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C638389#
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C638389#
Adam B said:
That rear spoiler is quite something. Gilding the lily is the politest comment I could make
Yes, that spoiler bolts onto the car Via the rear licence frame bolts, you then have two thin stainless lines that hook under the rear window (hatchback) weather strip. The good thing about it is you can remove it from the car with no damage to paintwork Its just a bolt on.That particular wing is made by Autoform (who specialise in aftermarket Viper mouldings)
http://www.autoformgroup.com/index.php?option=com_...
Rear wings make very good tea trays at car meets somewhere to put your sandwiches and glass of champagne
Edited by fatboy18 on Wednesday 19th August 08:32
fatboy18 said:
Yes, that spoiler bolts onto the car Via the rear licence frame bolts, you then have two thin stainless lines that hook under the rear window (hatchback) weather strip. The good thing about it is you can remove it from the car with no damage to paintwork Its just a bolt on.
Good to know, are they considered desirable in Viper circles? Very much a no from me so surprised it wasn't removed and sold separately - but I appreciate I am not up on the general views on such things. There again I prefer Vipers without stripes which is probably blasphemy Its just a bolt on. Edited by Adam B on Wednesday 19th August 22:32
Adam B said:
fatboy18 said:
Yes, that spoiler bolts onto the car Via the rear licence frame bolts, you then have two thin stainless lines that hook under the rear window (hatchback) weather strip. The good thing about it is you can remove it from the car with no damage to paintwork Its just a bolt on.
Good to know, are they considered desirable in Viper circles? Very much a no from me so surprised it wasn't removed and sold separately - but I appreciate I am not up on the general views on such things. There again I prefer Vipers without stripes which is probably blasphemy Its just a bolt on. You have to remember that when many of these parts were being first produced Gen II GTS-Rs were racing at Daytona and of course there was the Le mans 24hrs and the American Le mans series.
Lots of owners at the time wanted the race car look, these parts have been available for over 15 years, (which is pretty good for a small aftermarket parts company dedicated to making parts for these cars).
As for desirability, well I will leave that question open, we all like different things
Nothing wrong with a Viper Without Stripes
Some owners put Vinyl stripes on that can be removed Mine are a sprayed on factory option at an extra $2.500 (at time of purchase, 1 of 55 produced with the Red / Silver colour option)
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