Ready to get bit.... need some advice

[RdyPlr1]

After Seven years in the corvette community, and $28,000 in mods to my c6Z, I'm on the hunt for a Gen5 Viper. The car will be a second vehicle, tracked about 6-12 times per year, and driven around town few times per week. I'm looking at a 2014 to 2016 in the $78 - $84 range. Can you tell me what I should be concerned with, are there any major recalls on these cars. Any changes from the 13 -14 models to the 15-16 years?

[Terminator02]

The search button would be a good place to start. I'm not sure how you figured out a budget without knowing anything of recalls or differences between models and model years?

[ViperSmith]

You should be able to get something solid for that price range for '14/'15.

Look for the R28 and R29 recalls for '13/'14/'15

For sanity sake if you aren't going to mod I'd ask the dealer to verify the PCM milage agrees with the odometer milage.

[Special Ed]

The search button would be a good place to start. I'm not sure how you figured out a budget without knowing anything of recalls or differences between models and model years?

Probably because he knows how much he has to spend.

[Terminator02]

Probably because he knows how much he has to spend.

thats irrelevant. It's like calling up an insurance company asking for a quote without telling them the car you have. Fortunately for him, without knowing problems, recalls, cost of ownership,etc he luckily named a correct price range for this vehicle....on the surface.

Sorry for being harsh but if I'm going to buy say a used huracan, I want to have a big armamentarium of knowledge before I list what I'm spending and asking for tips what to look out for. But that's just me.

[BRACR]

Good suggestions by Viper Smith and good point by Special Ed

[Terminator02]

OP I'll assume you aren't a troll and answer but when you asked if there are differences between 13/14 and 15 and 16 it threw me a nice red flag as that's the exact year changes occurred.

13/14 640hp. 15/16 645hp and addition of GT model, TA 2.0 GTC 1 of 1 and ACR. You say you do so,e tracking. Given your budget I'd try to find the best TA you can or go for a 13/14/15 SRT with tack pack or GT. The GT is a very solid midrange solution as it has two mode suspension and stop tech brakes.

[RdyPlr1]

You should be able to get something solid for that price range for '14/'15.

Look for the R28 and R29 recalls for '13/'14/'15

For sanity sake if you aren't going to mod I'd ask the dealer to verify the PCM milage agrees with the odometer milage.

I will be modding.. thats a great idea anyway. R28 29? is the oil consumption, I'm assuming some folks had engine failures?

[zee]

Get a TA. Perfect blend for street and track. I'm not biased or anything...

[RdyPlr1]

OP I'll assume you aren't a troll and answer but when you asked if there are differences between 13/14 and 15 and 16 it threw me a nice red flag as that's the exact year changes occurred.

13/14 640hp. 15/16 645hp and addition of GT model, TA 2.0 GTC 1 of 1 and ACR. You say you do so,e tracking. Given your budget I'd try to find the best TA you can or go for a 13/14/15 SRT with tack pack or GT. The GT is a very solid midrange solution as it has two mode suspension and stop tech brakes.

I've actually done a good amount of research, but I like to hear from people who actually own the vehicle. SO the GT gets stop tech, is this considered an upgrade from Brembo? Does the gt and or TA get a tire size increase, or just a different compound?
I notice you have stage II , which is cam, heads? what exhaust are you running. Does your car see any road courses?

[ViperSmith]

I will be modding.. thats a great idea anyway. R28 29? is the oil consumption, I'm assuming some folks had engine failures?

R29 is for oil consumption
R28 is engine failures

[swexlin]

Calipers are Brembo on all. Some cars (like mine) have StopTechs rotors, some (like the TAs) have Brembo rotors. Both are lighter than the standard rotor.

[RdyPlr1]

Get a TA. Perfect blend for street and track. I'm not biased or anything...

Are you running road courses? Why did you buy the TA over the base, or GT gts models? What tires did your car come with originally, do you like them?

[RdyPlr1]

R29 is for oil consumption
R28 is engine failures

yes, I've been seeing Vipers on the less expensive side getting excited... and after running a carfax I see R28 oil consumption. Most of the vehicles I've seen with this issue are the 13 models..

[Terminator02]

I've actually done a good amount of research, but I like to hear from people who actually own the vehicle. SO the GT gets stop tech, is this considered an upgrade from Brembo? Does the gt and or TA get a tire size increase, or just a different compound?
I notice you have stage II , which is cam, heads? what exhaust are you running. Does your car see any road courses?

The GT basically gets what the base car had plus the track pack option. It's two piece stop tech which is a huge upgrade from stock. The TA brakes are slightly different in that the pads are thicker and more suited for the track. The tire sizes are the same except the TA comes standard with Corsa so they are stickier than the stock GT. The TA and GT both get two mode bilstein suspension with the push of a button but the TA is more tuned.

I am going to be tracking my car as there is a new track in Michigan just minutes away from me. If you plan to do any tracking I feel you can do so with any gen V viper and have great results but obviously the ACR is the best at it. However with your budget, I would agree with Zee and go TA. I had a 15 GT and the only things I miss are the 18 speakers (which You can diy upgrade for cheap) and the interior alcantara inserts on the seats, door panels and under the glove box. The TA aero is useful, tires are better, brakes are better, aero is aesthetically pleasing and the TA is going to hold value a fair bit better than the base SRT, GT and GTS.

I have the VE Arrow stage ll which is both a heads and cam upgrade. The exhaust is a titanium catback from VE with no cats. If you join the Facebook voa site I have a few clips of the car. It sounds great and you will love it because you are coming from a modded vette. It's expensive but definitely a great way to safely increase natural output by at least 100hp. Dick winkles who has been part of every viper engine worked really hard at tuning the package.

[swexlin]

Most of us with R28 passed. I have a 13 Track Pack, plus full leather seats, IMO a nice upgrade. No adjustable suspension though.

[ViperSmith]

yes, I've been seeing Vipers on the less expensive side getting excited... and after running a carfax I see R28 oil consumption. Most of the vehicles I've seen with this issue are the 13 models..

Don't let R28 dissuade you into skipping one, it really isn't an indicator of anything as it turns out.

[Pappy]

After Seven years in the corvette community, and $28,000 in mods to my c6Z, I'm on the hunt for a Gen5 Viper. The car will be a second vehicle, tracked about 6-12 times per year, and driven around town few times per week. I'm looking at a 2014 to 2016 in the $78 - $84 range. Can you tell me what I should be concerned with, are there any major recalls on these cars. Any changes from the 13 -14 models to the 15-16 years?

After reading your first post, I am still wondering if your emphasis is on track performance or cruising. If your $28K in C6Z mods was for performance (on track), then you will be missing the boat by not spending the extra bucks on an ACR. You will end up spending the difference to make performance mods if you don't. I've been a Corvette guy all my life, but I bought an ACR-E for the suspension and aero - period. I still have a great C6Z/Z07 car, but horsepower and (especially) aero mods would drive that $90K car to well over the ACR's price to be competitive. I like the StopTechs I have (and still do) run on track cars, but the CCBs are in a league all their own. If you aren't that serious about being competitive on track, then you could save the bucks with a GTC or TA, or as some on this forum have suggested, buy a used Lambo or P-car - drive in comfort and look the part. Since you came from the C6Z community you already know the drill about engine issues (LS7 valve train) and (lack of) manufacturer support - apparently no different at FCA. My answer was to put a spare set of blueprinted LS7 heads on the shelf and keep track of valve train tolerances. They have collected a lot of dust. LOL Good luck with your purchase.

Pappy

Viper n Vette 9.jpg

[RdyPlr1]

The GT basically gets what the base car had plus the track pack option. It's two piece stop tech which is a huge upgrade from stock. The TA brakes are slightly different in that the pads are thicker and more suited for the track. The tire sizes are the same except the TA comes standard with Corsa so they are stickier than the stock GT. The TA and GT both get two mode bilstein suspension with the push of a button but the TA is more tuned.

I am going to be tracking my car as there is a new track in Michigan just minutes away from me. If you plan to do any tracking I feel you can do so with any gen V viper and have great results but obviously the ACR is the best at it. However with your budget, I would agree with Zee and go TA. I had a 15 GT and the only things I miss are the 18 speakers (which You can diy upgrade for cheap) and the interior alcantara inserts on the seats, door panels and under the glove box. The TA aero is useful, tires are better, brakes are better, aero is aesthetically pleasing and the TA is going to hold value a fair bit better than the base SRT, GT and GTS.

I have the VE Arrow stage ll which is both a heads and cam upgrade. The exhaust is a titanium catback from VE with no cats. If you join the Facebook voa site I have a few clips of the car. It sounds great and you will love it because you are coming from a modded vette. It's expensive but definitely a great way to safely increase natural output by at least 100hp. Dick winkles who has been part of every viper engine worked really hard at tuning the package.

Great info ... Can you send a link to your car, couldn't find on FB? Did Dick program the arrow tunes?

[RdyPlr1]

After reading your first post, I am still wondering if your emphasis is on track performance or cruising. If your $28K in C6Z mods was for performance (on track), then you will be missing the boat by not spending the extra bucks on an ACR. You will end up spending the difference to make performance mods if you don't. I've been a Corvette guy all my life, but I bought an ACR-E for the suspension and aero - period. I still have a great C6Z/Z07 car, but horsepower and (especially) aero mods would drive that $90K car to well over the ACR's price to be competitive. I like the StopTechs I have (and still do) run on track cars, but the CCBs are in a league all their own. If you aren't that serious about being competitive on track, then you could save the bucks with a GTC or TA, or as some on this forum have suggested, buy a used Lambo or P-car - drive in comfort and look the part. Since you came from the C6Z community you already know the drill about engine issues (LS7 valve train) and (lack of) manufacturer support - apparently no different at FCA. My answer was to put a spare set of blueprinted heads on the shelf and keep track of valve train tolerances. They have collected a lot of dust. LOL Good luck with your purchase.

Pappy

Viper n Vette 9.jpg

I love the ACR, and i hear you on spending the difference on upgrading a TA or GT... However.. that money spent on upgrades is much easier to hide from the wifey then saying I spent 135k on the car . The car will see 6-12 track days per year, and brakes are always a big issue on track.. and yes, my Valve guides were done on the Z06 when i did my head cam upgrade.

[Terminator02]

Great info ... Can you send a link to your car, couldn't find on FB? Did Dick program the arrow tunes?

Type viper owners of America in fb. It's an open public group of about 3500. Sorry don't have YouTube or anything with this car,mits relatively new to me. The Arrow tune I do believe was tuned by dick but there are many other players involved that got the package to where it is.

Another forum member who makes tons of videos just got back into a viper and plans to do a heads and cam upgrade. I'd recommend getting any good condition gen V with aero already attached with the bilstein suspension already there. You pay a premium buying used TA they held values really well. ACR is basically msrp at this point. I think the sweet spot for you is a no stories GT or SRT track pack. You will have plenty of mod money.

One thing is you alluded to being able to swing the ACR but it's easier to justify to wifey a smaller purchase then mod. I would strongly figure out a way to swing for the ACR if you can. Better resale, perfect car from the factory. I don't even have the ACR so I'm not in a biased position. It's worth the money if you can swing it from the gate. However, pending no ACRE, I would just up the budget a bit and get into a used TAcfollowed by a GT. Actually Andy Wheeler has a completely build and top notch GT with suspension upgrades and the full stage ll for sale in our classifieds. you would be good to go!

[Bruce H.]

I love the ACR, and i hear you on spending the difference on upgrading a TA or GT... However.. that money spent on upgrades is much easier to hide from the wifey then saying I spent 135k on the car . The car will see 6-12 track days per year, and brakes are always a big issue on track.. and yes, my Valve guides were done on the Z06 when i did my head cam upgrade.

My model research ended up focusing on the track durability of the three levels of brakes used on the different models. That's the key difference that separates the models as far as one's ability to run lengthy and aggressive sessions, along with the advanced aero providing additional high speed stability which is standard on the TA. That aero can also be added to other models. The TA was strongly recommended to me based on my level of experience and type of track use, and based on my experience with the TA brakes I would not be happy with anything less. Even with their higher thermal capacity I still needed to upgrade the brake fluid which helped, but it took this year's upgrade to Castrol SRF to get them to where they needed to be.

The TA has a number of other differences, some cosmetic, some performance related, and some like standard Corsa performance tires and the light weight Sindewinder 2 wheels that could be installed on any model. I will say that I absolutely love the ballistic nylon seats for both track and long distance touring, the 2 mode damper valving provides a comfortable ride in "street" mode and great track performance in either mode, and the carbon fiber X brace and rear fascia are pretty cool. The TA is retaining value well and should into the future, it's a used car bargain for it's recently eclipsed Production Car Track Record performance, and if that's not good enough for you then I think you're going to have a real problem with your wife!

Welcome to the forum, and good luck with your decision!

[Special Ed]

Get a TA. Perfect blend for street and track. I'm not biased or anything...

Zee why don't you pm him a price. Aren't you selling yours?

[FLATOUT]

My 15 GT which is our ViperExchange shop car is available for sale. Probably the most documented, sorted, and monitored heads and cam gen V on the planet. Id be happy to discuss the car, send me an email awheeler@viperexchange.com

Andy

[RdyPlr1]

Part of the fun for me, as it was with my vet is building and modding myself.. plus most people think their modded cars are worth WAY more then they really are. Before i sold my z06 I sold off lots of the high performance parts as I knew I was going to take a huge hit on the money I spent for modifications. With your posted times, I have to believe you've spent over $15,000