Scott_in_fl
12-30-2016, 08:19 AM
Long time VCA member and prior Gen III owner. Just joined back up on the new site because thinking about getting into a Gen V. The Gen V seems to address all of the deficiencies from the prior gens that I cared about -- interior finish, cabin heat, overall build quality, ride.
But, I'm now caught between a GT or an ACR-E.
I'm no car collector, but I am likely to hold onto this for quite awhile. Indeed, I've been closely monitoring the Viper market for a few years and the FCA announcements about their plans to shut it down. I knew that I would wait until the final year to grab something. So, now is the time.
Obviously, the ACR is the collectible item. But, it's way too obnoxious and impractical for regular street use in my neck of the woods (Boca Raton, South Florida). I could pull it off in Indiana (where I went to school in Bloomington), or somewhere similar, but it's not going to work in a metro area.
Thus, the GT makes more sense. I've kept garage queens plenty of times before (in fact, my Gen III became one -- which is primarily why I sold it), but find that I get much more pleasure from driving the cars on a regular basis. My office is 5 mins from the house, and now I try to drive my '16 Z06 on a daily basis -- it's terrific. The problem is that it's not special -- either in the way that it looks (and it looks really good, but there are many out there), or in the way that it drives (and it drives really nice for a street, but it does not feel anything like a Viper, which feel much more like piloting a real race car).
I've had this crazy thought about purchasing a '17 ACR-E but removing some of the wild aero for regular street driving if I could easily put the aero back on for car events, or when I go to sell it. I don't really see me tracking the car, because (a) that doesn't really float my boat after having raced motorcycles for 20 years - I've had my speed fix and now cars all feel a bit, how do I say it nicely, boring on the track; and (b) I know I'll want to keep it as pristine as possible, not only because I like my cars always looking great and I'm anal about that stuff, but also to preserve its value.
Is this crazy? Is anyone else doing this -- i.e. removing all of the special ACRE parts and putting them in mothballs until you go to sell the car? I realize that I would likely have to add a TA spoiler to the rear and probably remove the dive planes in order to keep the car somewhat balanced, but I'm handy and feel confident that I could accomplish this without causing damage.
I assume there would be some holes on the decklid that I'd have to find a nice way of plugging.
We're looking at a difference in price of about $115k for the GT, to $140k for the ACRE. But, the way I see it, the ACRE is really the bargain for the extra $25k, what with all the additional carbon, brakes, etc. that you get with it. Plus, I think in the long run it makes sense to have it (if I keep it 5-10 years, or more). The GT likely depreciates, while the ACRE could likely appreciate.
Thoughts?
But, I'm now caught between a GT or an ACR-E.
I'm no car collector, but I am likely to hold onto this for quite awhile. Indeed, I've been closely monitoring the Viper market for a few years and the FCA announcements about their plans to shut it down. I knew that I would wait until the final year to grab something. So, now is the time.
Obviously, the ACR is the collectible item. But, it's way too obnoxious and impractical for regular street use in my neck of the woods (Boca Raton, South Florida). I could pull it off in Indiana (where I went to school in Bloomington), or somewhere similar, but it's not going to work in a metro area.
Thus, the GT makes more sense. I've kept garage queens plenty of times before (in fact, my Gen III became one -- which is primarily why I sold it), but find that I get much more pleasure from driving the cars on a regular basis. My office is 5 mins from the house, and now I try to drive my '16 Z06 on a daily basis -- it's terrific. The problem is that it's not special -- either in the way that it looks (and it looks really good, but there are many out there), or in the way that it drives (and it drives really nice for a street, but it does not feel anything like a Viper, which feel much more like piloting a real race car).
I've had this crazy thought about purchasing a '17 ACR-E but removing some of the wild aero for regular street driving if I could easily put the aero back on for car events, or when I go to sell it. I don't really see me tracking the car, because (a) that doesn't really float my boat after having raced motorcycles for 20 years - I've had my speed fix and now cars all feel a bit, how do I say it nicely, boring on the track; and (b) I know I'll want to keep it as pristine as possible, not only because I like my cars always looking great and I'm anal about that stuff, but also to preserve its value.
Is this crazy? Is anyone else doing this -- i.e. removing all of the special ACRE parts and putting them in mothballs until you go to sell the car? I realize that I would likely have to add a TA spoiler to the rear and probably remove the dive planes in order to keep the car somewhat balanced, but I'm handy and feel confident that I could accomplish this without causing damage.
I assume there would be some holes on the decklid that I'd have to find a nice way of plugging.
We're looking at a difference in price of about $115k for the GT, to $140k for the ACRE. But, the way I see it, the ACRE is really the bargain for the extra $25k, what with all the additional carbon, brakes, etc. that you get with it. Plus, I think in the long run it makes sense to have it (if I keep it 5-10 years, or more). The GT likely depreciates, while the ACRE could likely appreciate.
Thoughts?