The Original Viper: I need to have one !

"Luc - The Acadian Oppo" (luc5) 10/11/2014 at 10:47 • Filed to: None

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Ok hear me out. I know the OG viper is not considered a great car. It has no traction control,no cruise,no roof and not even any side windows so why do I want one so bad you may ask? Well just look at it! It is a pure masterpiece, one of the prettiest cars to ever come out of Detroit. The 8.0L V10 produces 400HP & 450lb/ft of torque while that may not sound like much by todays standards back in 1992 it was almost unheard of, should I mention that it weights in at only 3200lbs (about the same as a modern VW Golf). The asking price in my area is around 30K Canadian and I'm sure with the proper negotiating I could probably snag a good one for around 27K.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is for sale locally with only 16,500 miles on the clock in gorgeous condition.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

So I was thinking I could get myself a cheap runabout for daily driving something like a Kia Rio and have the snake as my toy. I could have both for under 40K and I could comfortably afford to spend that much.

I'm not in a situation for it right now with my house just about done, but in 8-10 months it could be totally feasible.

see the Clarkson review of it here(neck scarf included):

JasonStern911 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 00:09

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95% of the time, you'd be happier with a 996. and possibly more than that as a lot of the time that you would be stuck driving a Kia, you could still use the 996.

1337HPMustang > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 00:09

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that car is hideous, but in a countach sort of way, so I respect the fact you think it's pretty.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 00:11

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I may have to snag that from under your nose, my brother's childhood favorite car was a Dodge Viper.

wabbalosthiskey > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 00:15

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They look neat but are pretty bad cars. You sit sideways, everything about their construction is super cheap. From a practical standpoint, they are rather hard to work on and everything is very expensive. It's not really fair to compare one at $30k to a "normal" car at $30k and think oh, i could just get this instead.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 00:15

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I'm just gonna leave this here:

I have this hanging on my wall. I framed the whole magazine.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > JasonStern911 10/10/2014 at 00:16

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This is my current daily beater. I've driven the Kia and it's better than this in every way. I have a nicer car than this but if you are just booting back and forth to work there is no point of taking the good car, any car will get the job done. I respect the idea of a porsche but I'd buy a 964 before a 996 any day.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 10/10/2014 at 00:17

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Go ahead This one will be sold before I get around to it. It was my favorite car as a kid too. I was 8 when it came out and it's been love ever since.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > 1337HPMustang 10/10/2014 at 00:19

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I agree it's so ugly that it's great, the Countach is exactly the same it's not pretty but it just does it for us anyway. There is no other Lambo I'd rather own.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 10/10/2014 at 00:20

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SWEET! that would look awesome in the garage next to it.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 00:23

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On the back is a chevy like a rock ad. It was quite the conundrum on which side to have facing outward.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > wabbalosthiskey 10/10/2014 at 00:26

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oh I know it's downfalls. I'd only drive it a couple thousand miles a year so maintenance should be a non issue since these are super simple as in there is next to nothing to go wrong with them.

As a Toy car I'd rather have a 20year old Viper than a 2015 V6 Mustang which is about all you could get in the same price range.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 10/10/2014 at 00:27

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I'm pretty sure you picked the right side to have facing out.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 00:29

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I think I chose well too

Conan > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 02:56

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Viper yes, Kia no.

Old-Busted-Hotness > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 06:58

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When the Viper came out, a local Dodge dealer kept his allotment of one car, and stored it at our shop. We put it on display because why not. So here's this completely outrageous beast sitting there looking like red death on wheels. One of the detailers from the Honda shop came in, takes a long look at it and finally says: "Damn! That is BAD! You got two six-an-a-halfs RIGHT THERE!" Cuz, you know, the stereo is the best part of a Viper? I guess?

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 07:56

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Great idea :) a lot of people don't seem to get the Viper, but I think you do.

The point in it is that it has everything that it actually needs to be a ludicrously fast and nothing that it doesn't.

"Do you need traction control to go fast? No."

"Do you need cruise control to go fast? No."

"Do you need side windows to go fast? No."

"Right, it doesn't need any of them."

If you want a Viper, get a Viper. I don't usually bother listening to people who say 'but you'd be happier in 'x' car'. I want whichever car I want, not a car that is similar to a car I want :)

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 08:18

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"I know the OG viper is not considered a great car."

Who are these insane people who claim it is not a great car?

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Old-Busted-Hotness 10/10/2014 at 08:26

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considering that there is no windows and roof and the side pipes are essentially right next to your head I see no real purpose of a viper having a radio at all.

505Turbeaux > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 08:29

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Good deal. I have driven them before and it isn't my cup of tea, but if it is yours you should totally go for it!

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 10/10/2014 at 08:32

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I tend to ignore those people too. What can you possibly get that is better than a Viper? nothing thats what! Vipers are awesome plain and simple if the others can't get the point than thats their problem.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Conan 10/10/2014 at 08:33

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For a cheap car the Kia is suprisingly good. It is much quieter than the competition and quite zippy.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > 505Turbeaux 10/10/2014 at 08:34

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Awesome! may I ask what you did not like about it.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 08:38

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ur nuts, thats the best looking gen, yea not the most powerful any more but there are always engine swaps

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 08:38

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If you look at it purely objectively there are tons of cars that are better than the 1st gen Viper, but that's not the way to do it.

Is there any car that you want more than a 1st gen Viper (for a given price)?

That's the way to do it :)

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/10/2014 at 08:39

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it's plenty fast enough. I can afford to loose my license again.And yes it is definitely the best looking ones.

Old-Busted-Hotness > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 08:41

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I hear ya. The only reason it's there is so you can hear your own obituary as you slowly bleed out. This car will murder you in your sleep.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 10/10/2014 at 08:42

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That makes perfect sense! and your right for 25-30K on a toy car I can't think of a better way to spend my money and if I keep it for long enough I could probably make money on it.

505Turbeaux > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 08:44

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It literally scared the shit out of me stomping on it. And it drives like a truck, and looks like a giant phallus driving down the road. But that is totally my take on it. Just too ostentatious for me, too loud, too raw

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Old-Busted-Hotness 10/10/2014 at 08:44

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Then the car is perfect!

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > 505Turbeaux 10/10/2014 at 08:45

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It sounds like the perfect car for me. Too loud & Too Raw = Too Perfect!

505Turbeaux > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 08:49

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haha yeah, I like to roll in something that gets attention, but in a totally different way. One of the greatest joys of the world of cars is, there is something for everyone! (and sometimes, something for noone)

Sn210 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 08:49

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The first gen Viper is definitely on my automitive bucket list. It's so raw and the Viper has surely reached icon status, it would be so cool to own one.

6cyl > JasonStern911 10/10/2014 at 09:06

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Until anything brakes inside the 996 motor/trans (and something will) and you are forced to sell it because your budget was $40k

BJ > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 09:13

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I know the Rio would be a step up for your daily driver, but why bother getting rid of the 323 until it's properly rotted out or unfixable?

Every month you have the 323 but don't have a loan payment to make on a Rio, put $200 in a high-interest savings account. By the time the 323 dies, you'll have enough of a down-payment to make your Kia payments equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee.

EDIT: Just to be clear, I totally think you should get the Viper. But keep the 323.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > BJ 10/10/2014 at 09:38

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I don't plan on ever getting rid of the 323 but if in the middle of winter the 323 doesn't start I need a backup plan. I live in the boonies and I can't take a taxi to work(it would cost more than what I make in a day). The rio wouldn't get used a whole lot other than road trips and if the 323 dies. The piece of mind to me is worth the $200/month.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Sn210 10/10/2014 at 09:40

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I completely agree and give it another 5-10 years and they will start going up in value again I'm sure.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > 6cyl 10/10/2014 at 09:43

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I agree once that bearing in the motor fails(and it will all 996 are like that) the car is worthless. I'd buy the more reliable 964 before a 996 that's for damn sure. The 996 is the worst of all 911's.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > 505Turbeaux 10/10/2014 at 09:49

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Wise words old man. I'm sure that french wagon turns the heads of people wondering what the hell it is. It's awesome isn't it? Do you get many people asking you about it? oh and that old BMW bike is golden!

Conan > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 10:27

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You have other choices and even some excellent ones we don't get. Don't go for the beigeness!

505Turbeaux > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 11:04

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oh I can go nowhere with either of those without people stopping me!

nermal > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 12:21

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I went searching for them and found this, a 1 owner 2000 GTS with 130k (!) miles on it for $30k.

Linky

According to the Autocheck, it was only crashed once as well. I'd like to meet the guy that owned this...

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > nermal 10/10/2014 at 12:45

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WOWZERS! that's pretty high miles for a viper. It must of been the guys daily driver to do ~10,000 miles a year. I'd rather spend 30K on a mint first gen RT/10 than a high miles crashed GTS. But it's a gorgeous car regardless.

nermal > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/10/2014 at 12:52

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As with most things, you're probably better off in the middle ground. Find one that's not too high mileage but not too low, as both can cause issues. Good maintenance records and as few owners as possible.

ViperGuy21 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 10/11/2014 at 11:27

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It's a terrible car by consumer reports kind of review. It's the best kind a car by car and driving enthusiast kind of review

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > ViperGuy21 10/11/2014 at 11:29

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Therefore, consumer reports is insane.

ViperGuy21 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/11/2014 at 11:30

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Reading this story and some of your comments, I love you for getting the Viper!!!!! You are a great man

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > ViperGuy21 10/11/2014 at 11:34

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AWESOME! I'm glad you agree.

ViperGuy21 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 10/12/2014 at 02:07

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It only seems like they are with cars though...

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > ViperGuy21 10/12/2014 at 06:46

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My family has a subscription, and the writing quality has gone from decent to dreadful in the last year. Their writing about everything is clickbaity and almost like they're trying to be a tabloid that talks about blenders and vacuums instead of celebrities.

ViperGuy21 > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 10/12/2014 at 13:18

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My dad has a subscription, but I never read it so I wouldn't know

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > ViperGuy21 10/12/2014 at 14:59

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Yeah, it was really in the last year that they went downhill. You probably want to continue not reading. It should now be called Consumerism-Toyota Reports.

TheCraigy > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/13/2014 at 16:52

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The speakers in between the seats actually allow it to be pretty audible.

TheCraigy > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/13/2014 at 16:56

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IMO you should go for a GTS and just daily drive that.

I know that gas, tires, etc. are more expensive on a Viper, but it doesn't seem like you'd be saving any money having to pay a second cash price, second insurance, second taxes, second maintenance, etc. And frankly driving a Kia when you don't have to sounds pretty terrible, but perhaps it would make the viper more special.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > TheCraigy 10/13/2014 at 20:39

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The viper in 2 feet of snow would only be so so. but I like were your head is at.

TheCraigy > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/14/2014 at 09:42

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You snow people.... Hmm...

Well the heater in the RT/10 will melt your feet off, and the sidepipes will burn your legs, if that helps any. :D

JasonStern911 > 6cyl 10/14/2014 at 23:31

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That's just hearsay. The motor in the Turbos is nearly bulletproof and the IMS bearing problem that affects a small percentage of the non-turbos can be prevented by upgrading to a bearing from LN Engineering.

JasonStern911 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 10/14/2014 at 23:31

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Let's keep in perspective that you're praising the build quality of a 90s Dodge.

6cyl > JasonStern911 10/15/2014 at 10:31

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Good luck with that. If I was given a 996 I would drive it for a week and sell it.