Prospective Viper Owner - Need Info

[transio]

Hi everyone! This is my first post here.

I'm a prospective buyer for a 1997-2000 GTS. I'm looking for a mid-mileage car (20-40k or so) to use as a daily driver. Essentially, what I want to know is:

1. What am I looking at in terms of maintenance costs on a monthly basis, assuming 1000 miles per month?
2. What sort of trouble signs should I look for that could lead to expensive problems in the future?
3. Anything else...

Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge!

- Steve

[ViperJoe]

Here is what I used:

Used Viper Questions:

General:
1.Year?
2. Price?
3. Mileage?
4. Clean title?
5. VIN #?
6. Existing lien?
7. In service date?

Equipment:
1. Stock / original, or minor / moderate modifications (K&N filters, smooth tubes)
(headers, hi-flow cats, cat-back system, or more?) Rear wing?
2. Exterior and Interior Color? (Body stripes - painted or vinyl) Interior mods?
3. Nature of radio / CD player (stock, single in-dash, trunk player, etc.)?
4. Soft-top, hardtop, or both? Condition of each
5. Bag for soft-top?
6. Bikini top and bag
7. Tonneau cover? Side windows? (Gen1)
8. Car cover?
9. Existing Factory warranty / extended warranty (or provide after-market warranty)?

Condition:
1. General overall condition (any nicks, chips, scratches, window cracks, etc.)?
2. Involved in an accident(s), damaged, repainted, (telltale signs) etc.?
3. Condition under front bumper / front lip spoiler?
4. Condition of top(s)? (Soft-top sagging? Exterior condition?) Scratches on sport bar? Sport Bar cap missing?
5. How maintained? Records? (One owner? How many and how long) Documentation / Paperwork? DOCUMENTATION AND HISTORY of maintenance and sale(s) / owner(s)
6. Leather condition? (Split/cracked/worn?)
7. Tire condition? Brand/Size (Reasonable tread?)
8. Wheels (condition, nicks, curb rash?) Stock wheels for the particular year or aftermarket
9. Carpet / Floor mats condition?
10. Smoker / non-smoker?
11. Nitrous or other power adder used?
12. Used for track events (strip, track, Viper Days and autocross)?
13. Condition of the rocker panels (top and underside, chips, yellowing, sandblasted)
14. Condition of inside the door / rocker area
15. Scrapes under front bumper / spoiler?
16. Bottomed out?
17. 998 / 999 recall work done (if applicable) and done CORRECTLY. Documented?
18. Head gaskets (Gen1) Documentation?
19. Hood alignment (symmetrical?) Any hairline cracks? Hinges keep hood up?
20. Doors close well (no drooping / sagging-bad hinges)

1. What dealer was the Viper originally or last purchased from?
2. What is the current mileage?
3. Is it still under factory warranty? (what was the "in service" date?) Extended warranty?
4. Is the original window sticker available?
5. Do you have any of the original sales documentation?
6. What type of maintenance and / or repairs have been done to the car? (Records?)
7. Who performed / performs the repairs / maintenance?
8. When was the last service performed and what did it entail?
9. Does it have the stock radio?
10. Is there ANY curb rash on ANY of the wheels?
11. Has the car been driven in the rain? (cleanliness of the underside and wheelwells)
12. Are there equal gaps at the bottom sides of the hood, where the hood sides meet the top of the rocker panel? (just behind the front wheels) Pictures?
13. Are there equal gaps at the front "leading edge" sides of the hood where it meets the front bumper? (outermost front edge, towards the rear of the headlights) Pictures?
14. Are there ANY scrapes to the front spoiler? (under the car, black lip spoiler)
15. Are there ANY scrapes to the front facia? (body colored front end, underneath)
16. Under the front of the car, have the leading or front portion of the front frame rails been scraped / bottomed out?
17. Are there any scratches, dents, scrapes to the inside door jambs (black painted areas)?
18. Are there any scrapes, dings, chips, etc to the rocker panel sides OR their undersides?
19. Does the A/C blow cold?
20. Do all switches and accessories operate properly?
21. Are there any fine cracks or surface spider-webbing cracks in / on the hood?
22. Will the hood stay up on its own?
23. Are the side bolsters of the seats (drivers in particular) showing any wear?
24. Do the doors close cleanly and flush and open without "dropping down" / sagging when opening? (sign of weak hinges)
25. Is the Viper garage kept?
26. Why are you selling?
27. What is your age?
28. What major city are you near?

[ViperJoe]

Server not responding problems........

Sorry for the dupes!

[ViperJoe]

Sorry.........dupe.

Edited

[big-n-italian]

i personally dont think there is a simple answer to your question Steve.

a viper is like any other car, it requires maintenance, and unexpected things can and do happen. unfortunately, it is probably going to cost you more in labor and materials for repairs, compared to a honda accord for instance. doing your own wrenching work does help alot, but you will still pay a premium for parts.

if you are looking for a car with some mileage, you will have to financially prepare for "issues" as you would any other car. some cars are very well maintained with that kind of mileage, and some are not.

i would recommend finding a potential car, and then have someone look it over for you. each car will be different, so look it over and analyze the condition, and then determine what has been done and what needs done. the VCA has members scattered all over the country, and i am sure someone would be willing to look at a car for you.

also, if i remember right, there is a book out there somewhere that covers buying a used viper...?? this would be another good resource. my 0.02.

[R/T 10der]

Transio: Thought you were looking for a Yellow or Black Prowler under $24,000 or cheeper. Have you changed your mind since the 11th of Oct. post on P.O.A.? The Yellow one that responded to your post at $25,000 was a great deal with a warranty and a well taken care of car and could be driven for a while until you save up to make the engine and trans swap. Could even sell the old drive train out of it for at least $6,000 to $8,000. I know you were looking for one with a blown engine or bad trans and none were out there. Viper cars are a lot more dollars but if you check the classified adds again were you posted on Prowler on Line there is one for $31,000. White car with custom paint from a guy that just lost his job...If your a cash buyer I think you can pick it up cheaper. Either car you buy will be a blast, I know I have one of each.... Good Luck in the Hunt...

[transio]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies!

That is a very detailed list of things to look for. Thank you.

Regarding maintenance... I was looking for an estimate from long-term Viper owners on what the cost is to maintain the car, like:

1. What are scheduled service and other maintenance costs?
2. How likely is a high-mileage Viper to have engine problems?
3. How expensive is it to fix relative to other cars (like an Accord)?
4. Viper mechanics? Do I need to find someone who specializes in these cars, should I go to a Dodge dealership, or what?
5. What can I expect to pay per hour for their service?

Essentially, I'm trying to put together an idea of what will be the actual cost of owning a Viper and using it as a daily driver. I have a good idea of vehicle cost and insurance cost... no clue about maintenance, though.

Thanks again for the help!

[transio]

R/T 10der - I am, indeed, also considering a Prowler to do a V8 swap. I'm also considering a C6 Vette, C5 Z06, or Lotus Elise. I spoke to the owner of the $25.5k Prowler. I also bid on his eBay auction. Unfortunately, he does have some issues with his car, including missing front bumpers and a tear in the top. Considering that he's 2500 miles from me, the car would realistically cost me $27k to get to Miami. I'd be better off waiting to find something local. There are plenty of Prowlers in SoFla, after all.

[ViperJoe]

Well..... Viper parts both factory and aftermarket normally come with a sometimes HEFTY Viper TAX!

Otherwise how you drive and the preventative maintenance you perform will have a direct impact on maintenance / repair costs.
For the most part, take care of it and it is pretty much bullitproof, just a few quirks. Many Vipers are used as daily drivers with 80k+ miles.

[KHitman]

ViperJoe... That was an awesome list above. I am definately going to use it in my search next month. A lot of things I didn't even think about...