Would you drive a Viper ACR 2200 Miles Straight?

"Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube" (boosted-2k)
10/12/2016 at 10:53 • Filed to: None

So this is my first post. I’ve been ghost following these blogs for awhile and love the content. I figured I would post up one of my own experiences.

I located a 2000 Viper ACR online in Kentucky (I live in California) and was itching to pick it up. I spoke to the 65 year old man that owned it and told him I would fly out and drive it back as long as the car was as described and had no major issues. He told me I was crazy and that I should have it transported instead. On the second phone call to the seller he actually hung up on me stating that he thought I was a scammer because nobody in their right mind would drive that far.

My reasoning was this:
1) Although a rare car (Only 34 made for 2000, and about 5 in this color combo) it is still a car and I am buying it to enjoy it, not stare at it in the garage.

2) I also felt uneasy handing the keys over to whatever car carrier company I would have found and pray that there would be no damages on the car when it arrived in LA.

3) This was a private sale which the car was paid in full (by yours truly) even though I put insurance on it when purchased I could only imagine the insurance company would try to default on a claim if it went missing, etc until the car was fully registered in CA.

No flat tires, no mechanical issues, just a smile ear to ear in one of the most ruthless (so everyone says) American muscle cars ever made.

I ended up going on whim, booked my flight, bought the car on a Thursday afternoon and was back in LA by Saturday morning on one of the most epic 2200 mile drives I have ever had on historic route 66!

Anyways whats your take on this? Would you have done it?

DISCUSSION (38)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 10:57

Absoforkinglutely

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 10:57

As someone who works in car sales, I have gotten a few “i live cross country but I’m gonna fly out to you and drive this car home!”

Most recently an Aston Martin is being driven home from my place in NJ to Tenn.

S65 > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 10:59

How jarring is the suspension?

Tareim - V8 powered > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 10:59

I think driving straight for 100 miles would get boring eventually let alone 2200 miles, throw in some turns every now and then and sure I’d do it

notsomethingstructural > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:01

How the hell was it registered? Did you get in-transit permits for all those states?

HammerheadFistpunch > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:02

C’mon man, be serious, where are you going to find 2200 miles of straight road.

Kinja'd!!!

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
10/12/2016 at 11:03

Definitely not uncommon! I’ve done it multiple times with other vehicles but this was the first time in vehicle with a reputation for not having many creature comforts!

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:03

I definitely would.

Sounds like the old guy selling it may have been the Viper equivalent of those old Corvette guys. You know, the ones who only drive their cars on the most perfect of days to park at C&C, with all the other Tommy Bahama clad old men, and then proceed to shine their pristine never-driven-hard automatic convertible C5 with a diaper made of the finest Eastern silks. Basically, it’s just a status symbol to be shown off and never used for its actual intent.

Also, I hope you will be providing us with a post about your adventure, filled with some great pictures of your newly acquired Viper as you two crossed the country together!

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > S65
10/12/2016 at 11:04

Depends what you are use to honestly! I’ve always had modified cars since I was 16 so I was right at home with the OEM Koni suspension with 12k front and 14k rear spring rates. My 607whp s2000 had a similar ride with the Buddy Club Coilovers.

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
10/12/2016 at 11:05

Fwaaaark yeah!

Noah - Now with more boost. > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:05

That’s epic and I’m jealous!

EL_ULY > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:06

Welcome to OPPO!

If I had an ACR I would indeed.

When you get a chance, give LaLD a quick look as well :]

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > Noah - Now with more boost.
10/12/2016 at 11:07

Thank you sir! Was definitely a fun experience!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > HammerheadFistpunch
10/12/2016 at 11:08

Manitoba. Or North Dakota.

Though it’s not actually 2200 miles it feels damn close. It counts in my books.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:09

Yep the classic east to west coast roadtrip in an american car is on my bucket list, maybe the next time I change jobs, I’ll do it if I have the time/cash!

KeedyT > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:10

Hell yes! (and welcome!) Though not that far (yet), I’ve done similar stunts plenty of times and enjoyed the hell out of each one of them.

I’ve had pleasure of driving a “normal” RT-10 but not an ACR, that said, I can’t imagine it’s a whole lot more punishing than about that distance in a ‘67 VW Bus, which was entertaining in a VERY different way. :-)

MUSASHI66 > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:10

I flew from Denver to Salt Lake City with my buddy for my Abarth and we drove back the same day in one shot. Way less miles in a much more forgiving car I’d say, so your experience is pretty cool.

I wouldn’t mind hearing some details about the trip though.

McMike > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:11

I would have done the same thing.

I assume you have more photos coming, right?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:14

I totally would have done that. Because Viper road trip.

getFuckedHerb > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:15

Hell yes! Flew in and drove my Corvette home from South Carolina to South Dakota.

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > KeedyT
10/12/2016 at 11:19

Definitely both bring their fun in different ways! One thing that I had to watch out for was speed traps. Travelling that far I was bound to go through numerous. Every time I would get a death stare by state troopers and luckily I faired out with no tickets...somehow...

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:24

The furthest I’ve gone for a car was a flight to Chicago and then driving back to Minneapolis in my S600. I wish the distance would have been longer... Either way welcome to oppo ! Stay out of the basement and don’t feed scoob after midnight.

$kaycog > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:28

Welcome, new victim friend!

KeedyT > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:29

That wasn’t a problem in the bus ;-)

Matt Nichelson > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:42

Welcome! This is good Oppo right here. The last 3 cars I bought were all out of state and I drove all of them home, though none were as far as yours. It’s a good way to see how the car will do imo.

Also, good luck to your wife with the business venture. Hope it works out for yall.

jasmits > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:44

Yes. That sounds amazing.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 11:51

I’ve driven farther in sketchier cars. From about age 3, we lived about 9 hours (~550 miles) away from family and we would make the trip every few years. Once I left for college, I moved about that same distance away, so made the drive many times per year. It’s a trend we’ve kept most of my life. Now we live over 600 miles from both my mom and my in-laws.

I’ve taken a number of driving trips, but the most epic was a trip out to the west coast, up the coast to Washington, then back to the central U.S., hitting many of the major national parks along the way. We put over 4,600 miles on an old Subaru GL wagon in a single trip.

So, to answer your question, yes, I would do it!

Takuro Spirit > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 12:17

Very nice. I’ve been wanting to do the whole “Fly In, Drive Home” adventure someday. It’s pretty much a necessity living in the rust belt. Cars up here suck. Would fly down south to drive home in my dream car.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 12:42

Hell to the yes!!! You do know, we are going to need a nice review of the car as well as a more in depth story of the drive home right?

I did Rt 66 last year in my SRT, such an epic drive I would do it again in a heart beat. 6600 miles in 2 weeks, so much fun.

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
10/12/2016 at 12:48

Yes sir I’ll definitely post more! That is a lot of driving you did! 2200 miles in two days was ridiculous though and I wouldn’t recommend squeezing it that much driving by yourself as I did :D

Brian Silvestro > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 13:39

sick

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 15:16

Yea, a co-driver would have been a good idea. How is the ACR over a regular GTS? Also, if you plan on keeping it for awhile here is a good site with some recommended upgrades.

http://www.motoiq.com/Projects/Dodge/ViperGTS.aspx

Stephenson Valve Gear > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 17:08

Buy a Valentine V1 and DO IT!

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
10/12/2016 at 17:14

The ACR is just a more aggressive setup. Its a claimed 10hp more with the factory K&N & Smooth tube intakes (Although moto IQ found 30hp on their dyno test). Suspension is nearly double the spring rates of a GTS. Plus the forged lightweight BBS wheels compared to standard GTS wheels.

The car is just more “hardcore” than a GTS:

- No windshield wipers or washer fluid from factory
- No A/C from factory (Add on option which mine has)
- No stereo from factory (Add on option which mine has)
- BBS Forged wheels
- Point racing harness
- Koni Coilovers are stock on 99-early 00 model ACR

I’ve seen MotoIQ’s posts and like the work they have done!

CaptDale - is secretly British > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/12/2016 at 18:51

I would DD that beautiful beast.

Nauraushaun > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/13/2016 at 03:12

I like to think I’d have done it, if I had the time. I thought about it once when I was looking at a car in Queensland (the far north for me). But it would’ve cost just as much to truck it down, and wouldn’t have taken 3 days. I probably would have taken the truck.

That was only a 300ZX though.

I need to know more about the trip!

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/13/2016 at 07:52

Glad you’ve been following MotoIQ’s posts, I would love a Gen 2 and now know exactly what needs to be done to them.

Your car doesn’t have windshield wipers? I’m amazed they were allowed to sell a car without them. Guess a nice coat of Aquapel / RainX and you’re good to go, but who drives this in the rain anyways.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
10/13/2016 at 17:20

Yes, if you let me.

Well done, sir!