Viper ownership advice
Discussion
Chaps,
Next year, I'll hopefully be in the position to buy a Viper. It's my dream car, something I've wanted since they came out when I was an impressionable 8 year old. I'll almost certainly be looking at an early RT/10.
Now - something like this should obviously be bought with heart over head, but what are they actually like to own? I live on the South Coast - near Portsmouth - are there any specialists near me? Are parts easy to come by, or even outrageously overpriced? I know early ones aren't getting any younger, but I'd hate to have a trivial failure become 6 months off-road whilst a tricky to find part was sourced or even saved furiously for. Likewise - are general consumables (tyres, brakes etc) awkward to get. Are they reliable if cared for?
Any advice gratefully received. I'd like to walk into this with my eyes open!
Next year, I'll hopefully be in the position to buy a Viper. It's my dream car, something I've wanted since they came out when I was an impressionable 8 year old. I'll almost certainly be looking at an early RT/10.
Now - something like this should obviously be bought with heart over head, but what are they actually like to own? I live on the South Coast - near Portsmouth - are there any specialists near me? Are parts easy to come by, or even outrageously overpriced? I know early ones aren't getting any younger, but I'd hate to have a trivial failure become 6 months off-road whilst a tricky to find part was sourced or even saved furiously for. Likewise - are general consumables (tyres, brakes etc) awkward to get. Are they reliable if cared for?
Any advice gratefully received. I'd like to walk into this with my eyes open!
Hi,
In a nutshell, the cars are very solid, easy to work on and most parts are readily available. This is nearly a 25 year old car though so there are some exceptions. There are not many specialist dealers with knowledge of the cars but many of the club members are very hands on and the cars are not particularly complex either. Many of the cars in the UK are known by the club so if you ask before you buy someone should be able to give you an insight or give you pointers to look for. Parts are easily found in the US, through many Europe friendly specialists and they are now also manufacturing some of the harder to find parts. Some of the fluids need a bit of hunting down (coolant for example), but its not really a big deal. I've had mine 10 years now and yet to replace any pads or discs, just fluids regularly, a recored radiator, reverse light switch, coolant temp sender, air con regass, plugs, battery, and probably a few other bits I've forgotten.
Take a look on the US VOA site to see some of the discussions there (actually I note a thread along exactly the same lines as yours: https://driveviper.com/forums/threads/17058-Tips-f...
Good luck!
In a nutshell, the cars are very solid, easy to work on and most parts are readily available. This is nearly a 25 year old car though so there are some exceptions. There are not many specialist dealers with knowledge of the cars but many of the club members are very hands on and the cars are not particularly complex either. Many of the cars in the UK are known by the club so if you ask before you buy someone should be able to give you an insight or give you pointers to look for. Parts are easily found in the US, through many Europe friendly specialists and they are now also manufacturing some of the harder to find parts. Some of the fluids need a bit of hunting down (coolant for example), but its not really a big deal. I've had mine 10 years now and yet to replace any pads or discs, just fluids regularly, a recored radiator, reverse light switch, coolant temp sender, air con regass, plugs, battery, and probably a few other bits I've forgotten.
Take a look on the US VOA site to see some of the discussions there (actually I note a thread along exactly the same lines as yours: https://driveviper.com/forums/threads/17058-Tips-f...
Good luck!
I'm in a similar position, I'm currently selling a house and am hoping post sale to buy an RT/10 Viper in a couple of months time, it was also my dream car as a 12 year old when it first came out and I'm surprised I could ever feasibly afford one. Seems to me like they are the most exotic car available at the budget and being so simple electronically/mechanically seem a much better proposition than pretty much anything with similar performance/rarity. My main worry is where to source tyres from.
Ginja said:
viper2day]inja said:
Hi,
I've had mine 10 years now and yet to replace any pads or discs,
WOW !!!!! your not driving it right !!! LOL
Or... there is the alternative view that I am indeed driving it very considerately! I've had mine 10 years now and yet to replace any pads or discs,
WOW !!!!! your not driving it right !!! LOL
Lots of engine braking in a V10. 
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