[elcapo]

I've been fascinated by Vipers for years, and now that my other car has been ruled "too slow" after playing in a parking lot with my buddy's new Z06 I am going to have to upgrade.

After lurking the boards here for a few weeks, I've completely decided that I'll be moving ahead with buying a car in the next couple of months. My real question is that I'm not sure if there are any good reasons to buy one year over another.

Let's say I'm infatuated with the idea of owning a Blue and White GTS, and my options are 96-98 (is that correct?). Are there any advantage from one year to another?

Additionally, I was wondering if there was anyone in the Seattle area who I could possibly meet up with and buy dinner (of course you may have to put up with my endless questions about your experiences with the beast). We've got lots of Vipers up here in Redmond, WA due to all the Microsoft folks, but unfortunately I don't know anyone here who owns one of them!

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[REDSLED]

Blue & white GTS were only made in 96 & 97. Good luck with your search.

 

[C O D Y]

If you can make the drive to Vancouver, WA I'll meet up with ya.

 

[elcapo]

I am in Portland now and again, so I may just take you up on that offer.

Thanks!

 

[slaughterj]

A 98 Viper gets you the following over a 96-97:
an upgraded fan module (late 98s)
a reduced weight exhaust manifold (saves about 25 lbs in weight)
an alarm override (can be very useful - better than disconnecting "battery" cables)
and silver as a color option /images/graemlins/wink

 

[Silver Snake]

Silver is a great color! /images/graemlins/thumbs2
However, I would really love to have a blue/white GTS!
There is just something to be said about them. I have not
seen too many Vipers, but out of the dozen or so that I
have seen, I have only seen one blue/white.

Mark
/images/graemlins/smiles

 

[elcapo]

Re: Looking to buy a 96-97 GTS soon...

I've always been fairly attached to the Blue and White color scheme myself. As a matter of fact there is a B/W 96' GTS with 3700 miles in really good shape for sale about 3 miles from my house. My problem with it, is that I would be paying a bit extra for the low miles and then I'd end up using it as a daily driver. The car is for sale for $55k, and I know I can get them for less than that with a few more miles.

 

[BAD68GTO]

Re: Looking to buy a 96-97 GTS soon...

$55K is a good deal I think if it is a cherry. I called Bill Pemberton from Woodhouse Viper(800-889-1893)and asked what he had in stock after seeing all their positive posts here on the boards. I ended up with a black (silver stripes) 2000 GTS despite me REALLY looking at the blue with white stripe GTS car before. I choose the GTS for the look as well as less rain leaks. Just got to watch the GTS's front end driving as the car sits about 3.5" off the ground in the front!

Mine had 9,100 miles and I use mine as a daily driver, and is close to hitting 12,000 in only 4 months of ownership. Give someone a few bucks to check the car out on the Alley and or a Viper dealer if you choose not to buy from a top place like Woodhouse or Tator, as you could get burned BAD on a wreck or similar. I bought mine over the phone site unseen based on a dealer's reputation, and I love the car. You will be pleased once you get a good car, so welcome to the Alley in advance. Please take your time getting the right snake unless you are filthy rich like some of the members on here that it will not matter if you blow $55K the first time on the wrong car. :twocents:

 

[elcapo]

Re: Looking to buy a 96-97 GTS soon...

I don't doubt that $55K is a good deal if the car is in fact cherry. My only concern would be spending the extra $5k to get a low milage car, when I'm just going to put daily driver miles on it once I get it. I could always spend that $5k on some of the upgrades that I'm planning.

I'm thinking that I should continue looking for a couple of months (it's all rainy here right now anyway!) until I find a deal I just can't pass up.

I'm sure not rich, but I'm working on it! I will checkout Woodhouse, since you recommended it.

Thanks for the advice, and if anything else pops into your head just let me know! I'm always looking to learn more before a purchase.

 

[BAD68GTO]

Re: Looking to buy a 96-97 GTS soon...

Hi again Jeff! Some thoughts for you:

Well, the front part of the GTS will be scratched from driving, and some front covers will be repainted and some others will not. Don't let that scare you away from a car (mine had only 9,000 miles and was repainted to make the car PERFECT before I purchased it). Other stuff that I noticed in the real world and on Viper Alley is that just that if the Vipers have mods, that doesn't mean the Viper was beat to snot like most other cars that have mods.

There is also the 96-99, 00+ cast verses forged piston cream puff debate, so don't let that scare you either from getting your dream car. 01 and newer have ABS, and a bunch of other information I can throw at you that you may or may not already know. Anyhow, the GTS is a great car, and as a daily driver it is GREAT except the lack of "real" trunk space. You can only take the car on short trips because of lack of space for any large luggage, so that is a bit of a bummer from the driver aspect. In the rain it is pretty decent despite the wide tires, maybe better than my old 96 Vette. Regardless, the Viper GTS is just a great car and as long as you get a good one (beware of (Florida especially!) rental cars and such, wrecks and the obvious stuff) you will be extremely pleased I'm sure. Plus, you will have a wonderful support crew on the Alley should you need to ask questions-this has been a GREAT resource for me personally! Good luck, and post if you need anything, I don't know a ton, but there are a lot of folks on here that know a lot more than me regarding Vipers! Gary

PS: I just rated you Jeff, so now you have a rating.