Viper vs. Corvette question

[2tapshooter]

In the near future, I'am going to purchase a Viper. One question I'm always asked when questioned, "why do I want a Viper, rather then a Corvette?" That's a great question since there was a record sales of a 1967 L88 Corvette, at $3.2 million. My question as a future Viper owner is, " why haven't Vipers, kept up with Corvettes, at auctions, and sales?"
Can anyone help me?

[Newport Viper]

Corvettes started in what 1953?

Vipers in 1992....

Common sense...

[2tapshooter]

Well I guess to ask a valid question, only means someone will always be a smart ass.

[KickinAssphault]

Maybe because in 1967, Vipers didn't exist. You're comparing apples to oranges if you try comparing a car produced 46 years ago with a production run of 20 versus a modern car with production numbers in the thousands. Also, many people buy cars today for the sole purpose of keeping them pristine in the hopes of a valuable collectible some day; yet that is counter productive when a lot of people do that. I'm pretty sure there weren't very many people at all thinking in 1967, "wow this car will one day be worth $3.2 million." Sure, there are a lot of other factors involved, but it's really not that big of a stretch to get this, right?

[johniew398]

If your reasoning for buy a Viper is for a future investment, I wouldn't buy one. Then again, unless you buy a Vette that is already a collectible I wouldn't buy a Vette either.

I switched to Vipers after owning Vettes for 27 years because Vettes are everywhere. You will see a Vette just about anytime you go for a drive where I live but there are only five Vipers in this region and in 15 years I can count the # of times I've seen another Viper here on one hand. Not to mention they are just a bad-ass car, not for the masses.

[2tapshooter]

Yeah. I guess. My real question should of been, given Corvettes in 1993 and Vipers of the same age and production years of Corvettes and Vipers, do they run neck and neck as far as value, or does one hold its value more then the other?

[2tapshooter]

No not at all, I'm not buying a Viper based on resale alone, it was just a question. Like you, I'm tired of seeing Corvettes. Like original Cobras, to own a Viper places you in a class by itself. I have always loved everything about Vipers. And I'm sure that one day, owning a Viper will be even more of an exclusive club.

[2tapshooter]

I'am trying to do my home work as far as buy a Viper. I was told that there are years that a person should stay away from. Can anyone tell me what years or models that it?

[KickinAssphault]

No car today is going to go up in value. Few cars are going to hold their value. This is especially true if you plan on putting miles on the car. Unless you've got #1-5 of a short production run year, and you keep it garaged 100% of the time with no miles on it; then you're going to see a decline in value. Saying that; what does it really matter? Do you plan on driving and enjoying your car? Are you going to track it? Take it on cruises? Do you plan on any mods? If you answer yes to any of these, expect anything you buy to decrease in value. Any mods you do will yield a horrible return when you try to sell; so that certainly doesn't matter.

What's the point in buying such an aggressive car that is meant to be driven; hard, if you're worried about future value. Drive it like you stole it. If you're worried about resale; and getting back out of it what you put in it; it's probably too big of an investment and isn't the right car for you. I'm not saying that to be rude. I'm saying that because there's truth to it. Good luck.

EDIT: Now that I see you other posts, I understand you're not worried about resale exclusively, but I think my post still sums it up pretty well.

[2tapshooter]

What about the years to stay away from?

[Ohiotj]

I don't know of any years to really stay away from. Just need to look at what you price range is and go from there.

[Schen]

I've been told yellow Vipers are slower. I've been in a few, haven't really seen a difference.

--RS

[2tapshooter]

Kickin, do you know of any years to stay away from ?

[Coloviper]

I think you answered your own question. If you are tired of seeing corvettes everywhere, you will tire of seeing it in your garage as well. Vipers in great original shape have held in depreciation at a much better rate overall that most Corvettes of the same vintage.

Out the gate, the Viper drops more, but after a few years they are the same, add on a few more years and the Viper has a better rate.

As far as ones to stay away from 2007, 2011 and 2012 were really bad years.:stickmen_burningsti

[Schen]

But seriously, Vipers are a limited production hand built car, Corvette's are not no matter how you slice it. A 93' C4 isn't going to sell for the same price as a 92' RT/10. Vipers can be had for as low as $30k but a C4 could be had under or around $10k. Unless it's a ZR1, I wouldn't hold your breath.

--RS

[Coloviper]

Seriously, there have been no bad years.......I mean bad enough to stay away from. Comes down to what you want. In reality if you want a future collectible, right now it is pretty much known that all 1992s and the 1998 GT2 LeMans tribute car are collectible and always will be.

[2tapshooter]

That's good. Are their Vipers that have more HP or Torque then others?

[2tapshooter]

I want a Viper that has great HP and Torque. But let me ask, with all the weight in the front of the car, how do they handle?

[KickinAssphault]

It really just depends on what you want to do with the car. Are you going to keep your car stock and make it a daily driver(ish), or do you want to eventually make gobs of HP and torque; like in the 1000+ HP range? If you're looking at the Gen II's (1996-2002), then if you want to supercharge/turbocharge/NOS you'll want to stay with the 1996-1999 as they had forged pistons which will allow much more HP before you have to start beefing up a lot of stuff. But if you like the idea of anti-lock brakes, then that's a 2001-2002 option, but you lose the forged pistons and some other stuff.

You're asking a complex question, and it's good that you're thinking about it and asking; but it would simply be easier if you told us why you're buying a viper, what you're going to do to it, and do with it. Also, what's your price range? Do you have enough disposable income to properly upkeep a Viper as again I think that might make a huge difference in which ones to stay away from.

This is a very simplified answer and there are others here far more qualified to speak of certain year models than me. I have a 97 GTS. I have the Blue/White which is much faster than the other colors. I get an extra 50 HP from the white stripes. ;) But if you'll specify more what your goals are, and what you plan on doing with it (driving style), others will chime in, I'm sure.

[2tapshooter]

I owe you an apology. I took your response wrong.

[Coloviper]

92-95 are 400 hp
96 RT/10 are 415 hp
96-02 GTS and 97-02 RT/10 are 450 hp
98 GT2 and 99-02 ACR are 460 hp
03-06 all are 505 hp
08-10 all are 600 hp
13-14 (present) are 640 hp

Torque has gone up accordingly from mid 400s to 600 over those years as well. Any year has more than enough torque to have fun.just compare torque figures to Corvette during this time. Should make it easier to take off the bow tie!

[Bitten]

I'am trying to do my home work as far as buy a Viper. I was told that there are years that a person should stay away from. Can anyone tell me what years or models that it?

That is a question that every Viper and Vette owner will answer differently, based on their likes, dislikes and experiences. Don't buy any car for investment purposes. They always depreciate and in a bad economy even the most pristine car looses value like a rock.

Corvette has a huge number of production cars per year, therefore there is a huge fan base. They also have a large museum with lots of events per year and it is across the street from the factory, which you can tour. So Corvette has a long history and huge fan base.

Viper hasn't been around long. They have very low production numbers per year and so the fan base is smaller. No museum and a limited number of scheduled events through a single organization until this year.

I have owned 2 Corvettes and 3 Vipers, if you go out and buy a new ZR1 or Z06 it looks just like the base model Corvette to the average person. So most people don'tknow that you spent 100k on the ZR1. The Viper on the other hand is like driving a space ship. People loose their minds. They quit thinking about what the are doing, take pictures of you, get in accidents because they are distracted looking at your car. Yes all this has happened to me while driving the Vipers and NEVER in my Z06. The Vipers don't have very visible badging, so when your on the road, other drivers are trying to figure out what your driving. I have even had men ask if I would marry them.

Then lets look at the performance. The Viper Gen 3 and 4 cars are absolutely dangerous. They will kill you in a heartbeat. So much power and no traction control equals a freakin hairy ride. You will never get that in a Corvette. The Corvettes in the same genre have traction control and are very tame compared to the same year Vipers. The new Viper has all the nannies, but you can still tell its a Viper.

I tell people that I could set my Corvette on fire in the mall parking lot and the Viper will still get more attention. Some times the attention is actually scary. If you want a great car with great performance that a lot of people in your town also own, then get a Corvette. If you want a car that makes people stop in their tracks and turn their heads, that is also a great performance car. A car that requires a skilled driver because the car is so edgy that will kill you if you don't pay attention, then buy a Viper.

I sold my Z06, 2 Gen 3 Vipers and a Mustang GT to buy my new Gen 5 Viper. I won't ever go back. This car has every thing that performance enthusiast and car nut could ever want.

Hope this answers your question. If you really want an amazing car, then buy a Viper. That said, I still have plenty of Corvette friends and I am a member of the Corvette Museum. I also wouldn't rule out a 427 Corvette Vert in the future as an addition because it is a beautiful car.

[2tapshooter]

I would like to get a Viper that I can drive around town, take to Car Shows, and then again take my wife a go on a road trip. I think to have a car like this, it would be great to take everywhere. But I do like to keep my cars and trucks in great shape mechanically, and spotless.

[ACRucrazy]

One day in the future, 90s and 2000s Vipers will bring more money than 90s and 2000s Vettes at the auction. It's bound to happen. The Viper has the makings of a classic from day 1.

[2tapshooter]

Thank you very much for that information. Pretty much what I thought and what I was looking for. Everything you said, fits my wants completely.

[2tapshooter]

The very postings everyone is saying, is getting me more and more excited.

[Bitten]

92-95 are 400 hp
96 RT/10 are 415 hp
96-02 GTS and 97-02 RT/10 are 450 hp
98 GT2 and 99-02 ACR are 460 hp
03-06 all are 505 hp
08-10 all are 600 hp
13-14 (present) are 640 hp

Torque has gone up accordingly from mid 400s to 600 over those years as well. Any year has more than enough torque to have fun.just compare torque figures to Corvette during this time. Should make it easier to take off the bow tie!

06 was actually rated at 510 HP but it wasn't any faster than the rest of the Gen 3 cars that I know of, most people don't realize this unless they have a 2006.

[Steve M]

06 was actually rated at 510 HP but it wasn't any faster than the rest of the Gen 3 cars that I know of, most people don't realize this unless they have a 2006.

That's the year the SAE horsepower measurement standard changed.

[ViperSmith]

What is a 1992 Corvette worth compared to a 1992 Viper?

[Coloviper]

Did not know about 06 HP change and funny thing is my first Viper was a 06' Coupe. Ha! Ha!

[Leslie]

If your reasoning for buy a Viper is for a future investment, I wouldn't buy one. Then again, unless you buy a Vette that is already a collectible I wouldn't buy a Vette either.

I switched to Vipers after owning Vettes for 27 years because Vettes are everywhere. You will see a Vette just about anytime you go for a drive where I live but there are only five Vipers in this region and in 15 years I can count the # of times I've seen another Viper here on one hand. Not to mention they are just a bad-ass car, not for the masses.

what he said!

I have had 6 vettes, you see them everywhere! I love the body style of the Viper, it's very unique.

[Sybil TF]

what he said!

I have had 6 vettes, you see them everywhere! I love the body style of the Viper, it's very unique. Yep,for me it's all about image and standing out from the crowd.:cool: I can't drive worth a darn but I blew by a C6 corvette today and the look on his face was priceless.

[Leslie]

Yep,for me it's all about image and standing out from the crowd.:cool: I can't drive worth a darn but I blew by a C6 corvette today and the look on his face was priceless.

hahaaa! love it!

[slitherv10]

If you had to ask this question in the first place then I say, to truly appreciate the Viper, you need to buy a Vette first. Otherwise you will never know why this is the best car in the world bar NONE!!

[Space Truckin]

Yep,for me it's all about image and standing out from the crowd.:cool: I can't drive worth a darn but I blew by a C6 corvette today and the look on his face was priceless.


If you had to ask this question in the first place then I say, to truly appreciate the Viper, you need to buy a Vette first. Otherwise you will never know why this is the best car in the world bar NONE!!

:t1236:

Nothing wrong at all w the ZR1 or Z06, it's just they blend in with all the stock/ base model Corvettes (which you see EVERYWHERE). The ZR1/ Z06's are totally different animals than a standard/ base Vette, but in the end NONE of them are a VIPER :car-smiley-003:

[DreadLox]

Bitten, well put (referring to your page 1 post)! Vipers need to be driven, I've stomped on my Gen IV and have almost regretted it... A few times! You need to learn the car well and be a DRIVER... Of course what am I going on about? BITTEN, she put it perfectly. But sometimes those are the reasons people do not want the viper, they are scared of it. Viper all the way :)

And yes people will be jealous of you

[Bitten]

Bitten, well put (referring to your page 1 post)! Vipers need to be driven, I've stomped on my Gen IV and have almost regretted it... A few times! You need to learn the car well and be a DRIVER... Of course what am I going on about? BITTEN, she put it perfectly. But sometimes those are the reasons people do not want the viper, they are scared of it. Viper all the way :)


My husband is the Viper guy at his dealership. He sold 4 of 6 2006 cars and 6 cars in 2008 (small dealer) and 3 of the 6 2006 cars were totaled and one of his customers died. 1 of the 2008 cars was recently totaled. The guy was in a vert and passed through a barbed wire fence, backwards

I have lost control once on the track and thankfully ended up with a woodchuck (Viper Days) a pissed off instructor and a muddy car. I can tell you I didn't get back on the track that weekend. The Gen 3 cars are scary. I loved them, but you must have respect for them and you need some seat time.

There is nothing like them and Leslie can tell you that. She is a brave woman for tracking them!!! For anyone considering these cars, you need to spend some time with professionals at a track and learn your car. That is the biggest difference between the Viper and the Vette.

And yes people will be jealous, don't leave your car anywhere you can't see it.

[GhostStalker27]

Troll (I'm pretty sure he's trolling), I suggest you go look at some local corvettes. Then go look at a viper (you'll be lucky to find one near you). At that point you'll need no more convincing.

As far as future resale value. It won't even be close - for every 1 viper there are like 40 corvettes. Value comes in a 1 - 2 punch - desire and limited quantity. All those kids from the 90s and 2000s that dreamt about the viper are gonna hit their mid life crisis some day and/or finally have the means to buy one (and want it badly, especially if you have the particular one they always dreamed of). High demand and low quantity = perfect receipt for value:).. Vettes = dime a dozen (don't get me wrong I love me a z06 and zr1) but it's just not the same.

[Chorps]

Outside of the Gen V (I haven't driven it yet), I'd have to say the easiest Viper to drive is the Gen IV ACR.

Super sticky tires and a whole ton of downforce make it very friendly and inviting to go fast. Just watch the tire temperatures and don't let the rear end get too loose. Probably the hardest is the Gen III with old run flats, since they don't grip very well and can be hard as rocks.

[daveg]

Another important thing to ask yourself is how much can you spend without putting yourself in the poor house and do you want a Vert or GTS.. Once that is answered, we can go from there!

[Jack's GTS]

I have owned over 30 Corvettes in my time. I still have a 68 427 Coupe SURVIVOR. My 97 GTS Viper is AWESOME. It is in a different class.

[Newport Viper]

Troll (I'm pretty sure he's trolling)

That's why I gave him the warm welcome ;)

[Bill Pemberton]

ACRucrazy has a very valid point, and some respected automotive collector specialists would tend to agree. The gentleman who runs Russo and Steele Auctions has often commented that the Viper
will likely be a stellar performer in future Auctions. Part of it is due to the special nature of the car, a handbuilt American Supercar, but it is also a numbers game. Relatively few have ever been
built. In response to ColoViper I would very politely disagree that the Viper takes a bigger drop than the Vette initially. Percentage wise the Vette has taken a bigger plunge over the last ten years
as GM has commonly done huge rebates ( we also have a GM Store ) and plummeted their resale value. There have been instances with the Viper also , but at present the older Vipers are staying steady or have actually seen
a small increase in value over the last year or two ( verified by Bank values even more than just the increase in sales prices).

Keep in mind that fewer than 30,000 Vipers have ever been built , and there are actually times that there were that many Vettes built in a single year.

[Coloviper]

Understood Bill and I am not one to enter that argument with you as you are there living it, I am just casual observer looking from the outside, but from the outside, it sure looks like the specialty Vettes, the Z06 and ZR1, versus Vipers of late, it doesn't seem to be the same percentage drop out the gate. The Viper seems to drop more those first few years. After a few more years, they seem to be the same depreciation and after about 6 total years from Point of Sale, the Vipers seem to start to stabilize and do better overall as opposed to the Z06 and ZR1. Z06 and ZR1 seem to continue to fall after that.

I would not compare a regular Vette to the Viper as that is not apples to apples IMHO. Taking all vettes into account, I would absolutely agree with your position and points 100%. That was really what I was trying to say and with my 06' Coupe I had from new, that was in fact what I saw. Took a 20% Factory-Back discount on my 2006 Coupe for me to buy it new and for it to sell to me in late 2006. That was a brand new car with 13 miles on it. After six years, that 06' car stabilized and has still been worth $50k to $65k ever since. I sold it in 2012 and made out okay, but those first few years from a price versus MRSP, it was brutal. Did not see the same with Z06 and especially not ZR1 at the time. That car has stabilized where as the Vettes seem to keep falling. I agree that some Vipers that are appreciating now (a little).

Either or, I think in the end we can both agree that the Viper is going to do the best overall the long run. Aside from the small production numbers, a lot have been written off in accidents, crushers, pimped out paintjobs, etc. That number is quite a bit lower for what is out there. I would hazard a guess that 15% of that 30,000 number are already gone forever. That might even be low. It is still a good car to have, if you want to own it for the long haul.

[Sybil TF]

Friend of my husband paid $ 47,000 for a 2007 ZO6 vette a couple years ago with 27,000 miles. I paid $35,000 for a 96 GTS with 27,000 miles( he wanted $39,000 but not from me lol) 11 year difference and his will depreciate and mine will at least stay the same.

Dude ran the vette a little to hard and now something is wrong with the valves. Geeze.......

[GhostStalker27]

Corvettes started in what 1953?

Vipers in 1992....

Common sense...


That's why I gave him the warm welcome ;)

haha yea that made me laugh, the thread should have ended there

[slitherv10]

When you get someone asking you which car should I buy, which one is better?...I smell a troll as well. It's like my 16 year old son asking me what car he thinks he should get for his first car.

The internet is a handy tool. The questions he is asking seem childish to say the least. They could all have been answered by doing some research and common sense as Newport put it at the start of this thread, which, I agree should have ended there.
Everyone is always willing to help out someone with advice, but, in this case it just smells too fishy.

Corvette guy trying to stir the pot if you ask me.:web_driver:

[Newport Viper]

haha yea that made me laugh, the thread should have ended there

I try ;)

http://www.theviperstore.com/images/Info_Vette_Prodution.jpg

Viper Production numbers: As of 12/2001:

Dodge Produced 13,891 Vipers

Chevrolet Produced 244,581 Corvettes

Dodge just completed 25,000 Viper (from 1992 to Feb 2008)


These guys have it at 1,370,759 Vettes at the end of 2013 pretty exclusive car if you ask me.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette

[Joel]

Yes, a 1968 427 Corvette survivor just sold last weekend for $700,000. It had only 12,000 miles but I was shocked at the price. I don't think we'll see that for Vipers but maybe...


I have owned over 30 Corvettes in my time. I still have a 68 427 Coupe SURVIVOR. My 97 GTS Viper is AWESOME. It is in a different class.

[Steve M]

Friend of my husband paid $ 47,000 for a 2007 ZO6 vette a couple years ago with 27,000 miles. I paid $35,000 for a 96 GTS with 27,000 miles( he wanted $39,000 but not from me lol) 11 year difference and his will depreciate and mine will at least stay the same.

Dude ran the vette a little to hard and now something is wrong with the valves. Geeze.......

Valve guide wear on the LS7 is fairly common...if I ever owned one, pulling the heads and having them gone over would be my first priority, especially if I planned on beating on it, which I would.

[Sybil TF]

Yes, a 1968 427 Corvette survivor just sold last weekend for $700,000. It had only 12,000 miles but I was shocked at the price. I don't think we'll see that for Vipers but maybe...
46 year old car with low miles. Wonder what a 96GTS with low miles will go for in 2042? If the world hasn't ended yet.

- - - Updated - - -

[GhostStalker27]

Yes, a 1968 427 Corvette survivor just sold last weekend for $700,000. It had only 12,000 miles but I was shocked at the price. I don't think we'll see that for Vipers but maybe...

Can't say for sure, but we shouldn't be comparing a 68 427 to anything. The fake question that was originally asked should be and I believe is about the future values of todays corvettes and vipers. And it's pretty safe to say that vipers will hold more value than a vette.

[Jack's GTS]

It has to be an L88 to go for that much. I believe that only 80 1968 L88'S were produced.

[crackleking]

I have a 98 rt in metallic silver. They only made 127 of them. I have 6,000 miles on mine. I would be happy with half that price, 350,000. lol.

[slitherv10]

It has to be an L88 to go for that much. I believe that only 80 1968 L88'S were produced.

But I think, if it was the same car I remember, that is the only one left that they know of.

[Troublemaker]

As strange as it may sound, I think some cars from the 60s and 70s and might actually reappear soon. It's an interesting time as the parents of a soldier that didn't make it back home from Vietnam are hitting a pretty late stage in their lives and cars they couldn't bear to part with for all these years will slowly start to cheap back into the market. Barn finds already seem to be picking up and hopefully some of these lost treasures will be seen again.

To the OP, buy the Vette, you'll love it.

[Whitemamba]

But seriously, Vipers are a limited production hand built car, Corvette's are not no matter how you slice it. A 93' C4 isn't going to sell for the same price as a 92' RT/10. Vipers can be had for as low as $30k but a C4 could be had under or around $10k. Unless it's a ZR1, I wouldn't hold your breath.

--RS

This is so true. All you have to do is look on Ebay to get a good idea for same year comparison. And for an even better idea just look at an 06 Z06 which can be had for around $46k versus an 06 Viper Coupe which can be had for $56k average. And it will only get worse for the Vette as these cars get older. Take for example a 2000 Vette Coupe, which average around $16k versus the 2000 Viper coupe which averages about $42k.

And if you want or need more proof, here are some articles that discuss the Viper as a collectible.

http://autos.aol.com/article/cars-from-the-last-decade-could-be-collectible-if-you-buy-the/

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=1102275

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/ehmk45jjkl/srt-viper/

[Granger73]

The Vettes have the advantage of the NCRS commitment to the legacy of the Vette. Not so much with the VCA. We'll have to wait and see with VOA. I realize the vast majority of the members are not here for that purpose. I totally understand that. But the value of the Vettes would be minimal without the NCRS commitment IMHO.

[kabooz321]

first day on this forum and damn. you guys are a tough crowd!

[Firecheck]

Amen

[GhostStalker27]

first day on this forum and damn. you guys are a tough crowd!


lol, I'll say this last thing about the Viper and Vette debate. I drive around in my dad's corvette - no1 cares, maybe a few try to race me. I drive around in my Viper... and people hang out there windows taking videos and pictures, people wave, people speed up/slow down to drive next to me, people follow me, people honk - Never mind when I stop to get gas.

That being said, I like both cars very much. The vette has a long and great heritage, I would like to own a vette some day. But the ridiculous amount of attention the Viper gets is the #1 reason it will hold it's value better than a vette.

[Boba Fett]

If your reasoning for buy a Viper is for a future investment, I wouldn't buy one. Then again, unless you buy a Vette that is already a collectible I wouldn't buy a Vette either.

I switched to Vipers after owning Vettes for 27 years because Vettes are everywhere. You will see a Vette just about anytime you go for a drive where I live but there are only five Vipers in this region and in 15 years I can count the # of times I've seen another Viper here on one hand. Not to mention they are just a bad-ass car, not for the masses.
agree completely-just came out of a C6ZR1 and into a TA :dude3:

:t1236:

Nothing wrong at all w the ZR1 or Z06, it's just they blend in with all the stock/ base model Corvettes (which you see EVERYWHERE). The ZR1/ Z06's are totally different animals than a standard/ base Vette, but in the end NONE of them are a VIPER :car-smiley-003:

very true