Picked up my 02 Graphite Gray

[thetalonguy]

Well it finally happened, I picked up my 2002 Viper GTS Stripped Graphite Gray yesterday. It was everything I was expecting and much, much more.

I just want to first give a shout out to BrentsGTS on the forums. He's a great guy and has a great car. If he decides to sell it, then someone is in for a treat.

A couple of weeks ago I came across an Ebay ad for this car from a local used car dealer. At first I dismissed it, since the price seemed a bit high (usual LI premium). After a great deal fell through from a local, private seller who suddenly stopped returning my calls. I was bummed out that day and was hell bent on physically checking out a Viper. I went to the used car lot, and there she was, sitting right smack in the front for the world to see.

I walked in with no intention of purchasing the car. I told myself, whatever they offer, say no. I was probably there for a half hour and had 3 salesman trying to work me over. As I was finally walking out, they blurted out a very reasonable number and I still said no. Well I went back 2 days later and put a deposit down agreed to purchase contingently upon passing a PPI.

The car ended up needing some ABS sensor replaced and was in need of a door hinge adjustment. Everything else came back excellent (tires have about 65% and are 3 years old). It spent a few days at the mechanic and everything was fixed.

Well I finally picked her up yesterday. This was the first time that I had actually drove a viper and was nervous to take her home. I drove her cautiously for my long 7 mile journey home. I got out, shook out the shakes, made some cockpit adjustments and took her back out. Within 5 minutes, I felt like I had been driving her my whole life. It's just an amazing car and experience. It actually reminds me of driving my Talon due to the heavier clutch pedal and complete rawness of the drive. I also thought the suspension would be less forgiving, but is comparable to the stiffness of my Mazda.

She certainly turns a lot of heads, including the local PD . I actually lined up against a new Ferrari at one point and the driver ended up looking over at me and gave me the thumbs up.

Well enough blabber, here are some pics!

Can anyone tell what exhaust this is from the pics? Also, in the last pic, there is something that looks like a microphone on the dash. I'm guessing that hooks up to the head unit for calls? From what I can see, the car is bone stock except for exhaust, short shifter and Stereo system.

[ACRucrazy]

Congrats! My favorite color 2nd Gen!

[C.J]

Looks great, congrats! That is my daughter's favorite color combo.

Where is the mystery object on the dash?

[v10enomous]

Congrats ! Nice find 7 miles away.

[thetalonguy]

Oops, sorry forgot to post the mystery object.

Thanks guys...Initially I was only looking at 96-99's, but I certainly fell in love with the color combo.

[BlknBlu]

Nice car and it has Corsa exhaust.

Welcome
Bruce

[gerch85]

My favorite color combination. Looks great!

[Sybil TF]

Beautiful car!

[Anonymous]

Another viper in NY! Welcome.

[Ohiotj]

Sweet ride.

[AZTVR]

That's the best color combo for a Gen 2 for sure. I always felt like I was escorting a super model around, from the number of looks it gets ! The Corsa exhaust is the best upgrade for it, also, so that it sounds like it looks.

You have very good taste in cars !

I would add that tasteful aftermarket wheels will really add to the look. Those wide spoke wheels never did do it for me. That is one reason why I was attracted to the ACR when I bought mine back before aftermarket wheels were so plentiful.

[cobraken]

My favorite Viper/color combination. In part because I bought a new one as my first Viper so long ago. Wish she was still with us.

55675568

[sparkrn]

If it's corsa, the word corsa is inscribed on top of both tips at the ends. If there is no drone in the cockpit then it probably is corsa. Cool car, the stripes rock on the grey cars

[thetalonguy]

Thanks All!

It has certainly been getting the looks. I really, really lucked out in getting this color combo that was available so close to me.

Thanks for the info on the exhaust. It sounds great and there is no drone. It really only gets loud when you jam on the gas.

Very excited and hope to get to meet some of the locals this Summer.

[AZTVR]

If it's corsa, the word corsa is inscribed on top of both tips at the ends. If there is no drone in the cockpit then it probably is corsa. Cool car, the stripes rock on the grey cars

My Corsa system did not have the word Corsa or any other identifying marking on it. (Purchased used 2006.)

[DaveW]

Betcha looking at it through a window or garage door now! Been doing so for the past 10 years!!!:dude3:

Beautiful car/color combo:dancingman:

[Matt Houston]

Gorgeous color combo! Congrats!!!

[ICPREY]

Congrats on the great looking car!

[AbsolutHank]

Thats a hot car man...congrats!

[Vprbite]

Corsa exhaust is THE BEST SOUNDING exhaust in my opinion, especially on a Gen II. I had high flows and Corsa catback and it sounded amazing. Perfect. No drone, only loud when you want it to be. I loved it.

Yes that is absolutely the microphone for phone calls. You may be able to use it being that you have rear exhaust and the corsa isnt overly loud but when I had my Gen 2, I found that I had to use a Bluetooth earpiece and even then it was usually just to say "hey I'll call you back in a bit."

Turn On the Bluetooth on your phone, have it search (or it may pull up the stereo automatically), press to connect, it will probably ask you to put in a code. (Note, the car needs to be on or at least keys to the on position so the stereo is getting power. The stereo needs to be on. Usually it just needs to be on, not necessarily in the phone function. Though in HU that I have had you can put it in phone mode and dial using the remote control or going through your contact list on the HU and pressing enter or whatever button is like select or enter. Sometimes it's the big round dial that you push as an enter function.) Generally the standard code is 0000, or 9999, or 1111. In my experience it's always been the nines or zeros, but I know ones are an option. For security reasons you can change it but You need to log in first. Let me know how it works it for you.

--Jeff

[Rosie]

Congratulations on your new Viper!!! Very nice color choice. I was looking for a silver or metallic gray at first but we found a 97 GTS, solid red up in Maine and love it! Thery're all nice looking; best of luck!
Rusty

[thetalonguy]

Corsa exhaust is THE BEST SOUNDING exhaust in my opinion, especially on a Gen II. I had high flows and Corsa catback and it sounded amazing. Perfect. No drone, only loud when you want it to be. I loved it.

Yes that is absolutely the microphone for phone calls. You may be able to use it being that you have rear exhaust and the corsa isnt overly loud but when I had my Gen 2, I found that I had to use a Bluetooth earpiece and even then it was usually just to say "hey I'll call you back in a bit."

Turn On the Bluetooth on your phone, have it search (or it may pull up the stereo automatically), press to connect, it will probably ask you to put in a code. (Note, the car needs to be on or at least keys to the on position so the stereo is getting power. The stereo needs to be on. Usually it just needs to be on, not necessarily in the phone function. Though in HU that I have had you can put it in phone mode and dial using the remote control or going through your contact list on the HU and pressing enter or whatever button is like select or enter. Sometimes it's the big round dial that you push as an enter function.) Generally the standard code is 0000, or 9999, or 1111. In my experience it's always been the nines or zeros, but I know ones are an option. For security reasons you can change it but You need to log in first. Let me know how it works it for you.

--Jeff

Absolutely, I love this exhaust. It sounds amazing without being obnoxious.

Thanks a million for the info on the BT. I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why it wouldn't pair up. Now that's paired up, I just need to figure out how to do presets, play music from my playlist and use Pandora. I can't see how one would take conference calls in the Viper, but I guess to each, their own. I'm just annoyed that the head unit doesn't have physical buttons to change the radio station. Oh well, if that's the worst thing, then I guess I'm doing pretty damn well.


Congratulations on your new Viper!!! Very nice color choice. I was looking for a silver or metallic gray at first but we found a 97 GTS, solid red up in Maine and love it! Thery're all nice looking; best of luck!
Rusty

Thanks, you're right. Everyone Viper looks good, except for maybe the Dolphin Viper. I wasn't even hunting a specific color down. BTW, I love that sunblocker in your windshield. Perfect!

Here are some more pics that I took today.

[FrgMstr]

Yes that is absolutely the microphone for phone calls. You may be able to use it being that you have rear exhaust and the corsa isnt overly loud but when I had my Gen 2, I found that I had to use a Bluetooth earpiece and even then it was usually just to say "hey I'll call you back in a bit."

Yep, mic. Nearly worthless in a Viper.

[Vprbite]

Hey Talon. Welcome and I am so glad I was able to help you. I think you will find the Bluetooth is better than trying to answer the actual phone and put it to your ear while driving (DANGEROUS!!!!) you will probably just press the answer button and tell people you will call them back. It should display the contact on the head unit so you can decide if you want to answer or not based on that.

I have some good news for you though. You said you weren't thrilled with way the HU works. Well, since the previous owner did the hard work and installed the aftermarket stereo with the Bluetooth module, you should be able to slide in pretty much any other aftermarket unit you like. Basically, all aftermarket stereos require a "harness" sort of thing to mate up with the stock system, and the GTS could be a little tricky too. Way trickier than my various generation Ram pickups and trickier than the gen 3 I currently have which has a more standard sort of setup. So find one you like on Crutchfield or if there is a stereo shop that you know or trust (either way, stay there and watch them do the install, don't leave it) and it should be easy to pop one in that you like. A lot of shops do free install or super cheap install fee if you buy the unit there. (again, should be a simple install) My personal opinion, since the real stereo on these things is located under the hood, I think you will be happy with pretty much any decent brand, especially considering you don't have a big aftermarket system anyway. Just get an interface that you like that has a good iPod hookup or good preset buttons you like, whatever you find easy to use. You can get a really respectable HU for 175 to 300 bucks I would say. I like pioneer and have always used them. Alpine is great. I am not crazy about Sony but I don't think there is anything wrong with them, they just don't light my fire. Stay away from Jensen, daewoo, ya know, cheap-o walmart brand type of stuff.

And of course as always, talk to your fellow club members.

Welcome and congrats on your beautiful Viper. I am so glad I was able to help.

One other piece of advice, put a bigger memory card in your phone to hold all the girls' phone numbers you are gonna get.

[Helo Steve]

Congrats on a beautiful and relatively rare color! Had I not been able to find my first choice, this was next on the list.