What would you do ACR vs TA decision

[commandomatt]

You laugh like I am well off base but quite honestly I was trying to be polite. Yes the ACR-E is the better track car but who knows who will be buying what in the new few years. The Gen V ACR is the best performing car but that hasn't always translated to the most valuable with viper collectors. There are PLENTY MORE ACR-E cars to buy than TA 1.0 and especially 2.0 cars. The TA is iconic as well, has a story, has a following and generally has a more accessible and pleasing aesthetic to many buyers. In the next few years after vipers are no longer produced, they will be harder to get and likely sell for more. Down the road, iconic low mileage mint examples will probably fetch much more. Only the limited edition ACR-E cars will outprice the TA cars but common ACR and ACR-E cars likely won't.

Hmmmm......everything is just a little bit different on 'Planet TA'

[Snakebit10]

The ACR will be worth MUCH more money down the road. I think this car will be similar to the Ford GT at some point.
But the TA 2.0 with Calvo's heads/cams would not only get you faster lap times than the ACR, but would be a much better street car. Best of both worlds.

The P1 had more down force and almost 260+hp more than the ACR-E yet it lost to the ACR-E by about 2 secs at Laguna. So I would think your statement would be heavily influenced by the track you are running both on.

[A C R]

several track days ACR-E few track days mostly street driving TA 2 I really like my TA 2

[Dman]

I'm not as much thinking about increased value or collectability, I'm going to drive the thing as I do all of my cars, so the value focus for me is the depreciation hit. Which the ACR would already have. So it's like if I did a resale in 4 years, I believe the ACR will value our better than the new TA, just common sense, regardless of how rare the TA 2.0's are, they're not the King, and they're not as known, and it'd be new so I'd take the new car bath no matter what. But ..

The TA, with slicks, was 2 secs behind the ACRE pace at Laguna, that's fine for me, I'm not racing. So many people get wrapped around 2-3 secs of lap time for a car they may never track let alone wheel to wheel race, the latter really being the main reason to care about 2-3 secs. On a track day, to me the focus is on how fun the car is to track, to go fast, flex skill, and feel relatively confident and enjoying the car ... most won't enjoy that experience any less at a 2 sec per 2 mile lap slower pace, lol.

I guess I've never had a special model, so part of me wants that baddest of the bad, the ACR, while the right solution would certainly be, for me ownership enjoyment, to do the TA 2.0, the best track viper with street compromises. I guess it's whether I make a semi smart decision, or a completely emotional one.

[bkrone]

I guess I've never had a special model, so part of me wants that baddest of the bad, the ACR, while the right solution would certainly be, for me ownership enjoyment, to do the TA 2.0, the best track viper with street compromises. I guess it's whether I make a semi smart decision, or a completely emotional one.

I went emotional and just bought the ACR-E. I had the same exact debate in my head. At the end of the day the reason I was buying was to get a GenV in a color I wanted with no stripes. I looked at my offer I was getting and it just made more sense to spend the extra bit and get the ACR-E even though the TA2.0 would have been the smarter decision for every day driving.

[ChevyChad]

Always fun spending someone else's money lol... But I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that if it were me in your situation, I'd take the TA given all the circumstances you listed. Heck, why not just look for a slightly used TA with low miles and desired build dates and skip out on the initial depreciation hit? Sounds to me like you are leaning towards the TA anyway. At the end of the day its your money and your decision. Good luck on the process. Sounds like a blonde vs brunette decision to me. Cant really make a wrong choice

[apeas2]

I'm doing a TA 2.0. Much for useful all around.

[ViperDC]

Hmmmm......everything is just a little bit different on 'Planet TA'

Lol indeed it is. Love when the word "iconic" gets thrown around constantly these days. There is nothing iconic about a TA. It was only made after the ZR1 beat the regular gen V at Laguna Seca, so it came on the scene and barely snatched the record from the old platform Corvette. Its record was promptly destroyed by the ACR. The ACR is the big boy, last of the breed, record setting car and will always sell for more money than a TA. It's like someone with a Gen IV aero coupe saying it will be worth more than a Gen IV ACR. Not happening.

That's not to say the TA isn't a great car, before anyone flies off the handle. It's the Viper I'd buy.

[EZ 2B Green]

I struggled with this decision myself. Crazy as it sounds, I ended up buying a GTC with Advanced Aero. When I considered an ACR, all I was thinking of was how to make it more livable on the street as that was its primary use. It was the desire to have the "badest" Viper ever built. It then dawned on me that the ACR was not for me and I thought maybe a TA 2.0. Unfortunately, (in my opinion) the ACR has made this car obsolete. Nothing against the owners of these, or the cars themselves, but they appear to be an intermediate step on the way to the ACR. I figured I would forever be answering the question, "Why didn't you get an ACR?". I say get the Viper that best fits its intended purpose. That's what I did and I have no regrets.

I'm not sure I agree with your depreciation theory on the ACR's. You may be 100% accurate but I also think there is a chance that in the short term, ACRs may depreciate normally. I'm thinking this because I believe there are a lot of armchair racers out there that ordered ACRs who will find out the hard way that the car is not for them. These folks will want to sell relatively new ACRs while new GW ACRs wait for new homes. My .02.

[ViperGeorge]

My 2015 TA 2.0 is really a great car. Good on the track and a nice drive around town. Good compromise. On the other hand I do want an ACR-E and will get one at some point. It will be my track car but I will drive it on the road too. When that happens my TA will go. The reason I would do this is that I am fortunate enough to have two other Vipers, an 08 convertible for top down cruising and a 14 GTS for a more comfortable ride with a bit more class.

When I finally land an ACR I'll decide if a trade or sale of my TA makes more sense. Stay tuned.

[Terminator02]

Lol indeed it is. Love when the word "iconic" gets thrown around constantly these days. There is nothing iconic about a TA. It was only made after the ZR1 beat the regular gen V at Laguna Seca, so it came on the scene and barely snatched the record from the old platform Corvette. Its record was promptly destroyed by the ACR. The ACR is the big boy, last of the breed, record setting car and will always sell for more money than a TA. It's like someone with a Gen IV aero coupe saying it will be worth more than a Gen IV ACR. Not happening.

That's not to say the TA isn't a great car, before anyone flies off the handle. It's the Viper I'd buy.

Your logic is probably partially why you continue to be the fan on the sidelines and not behind the wheel. What surprises me most about you is that you want a TA yet find every post and thread and bash anyone who values the car. You completely undermined its story and why it came to existence yet you personally want one? Crazy. Again, cars value is not soley based on speed and mag records.Actually, the irony is you continue to prove my point. You go rave about the ACR and it will be worth the most yet you will ultimately buy the TA. The amount of people that want a TA is already proving to exceed demand and this has been pointed out by vendors on here and other experts and you help prove the point which I find interesting.

Do you realize how many people would love a low mile 1992 gen l, 1996 BW, 2001 sapphire, 2002 FE ACR, GTSR, and so many others. Some are based on rarity, some purely color, some a combination of factors. Vipers tend to garner followings. Some people will only buy a blue and white 1996 because the stripe goes through the license plate whereas in the 97 it doesn't. The reasons certain vipers go for more sometimes come down to those interesting peculiarities. Period.

Back to the thread. DMan, I see this pretty simple. I think if you are fighting for logic to buy an ACR then just go for the TA.
You said you are buying to drive, to not worry about resale and to be an all around viper. The ACR isn't your car then. You astutely looked at the lap times of Laguna Seca with the viper on slicks so I think it's more evidence of you defending against an ACR purchase.

You just have to get the car that absolutely "sings to you" right down to the color and little nuances. There are so many awesome options out there but I think your search shouldn't include the ACR because you aren't really showing too much interest in one at this time.

[Bruce H.]

Gotta love the Ignore List...especially when somebody quotes somebody on it and you're reminded what a wonderful thing it truly is

[J TNT]

Gotta love the Ignore List...especially when somebody quotes somebody on it and you're reminded what a wonderful thing it truly is

Too funny !

[yellowmz3]

Traded in my TA 2.0 for an ACR E. Absolutely no regrets and actually VERY happy I did

[Dman]

Traded in my TA 2.0 for an ACR E. Absolutely no regrets and actually VERY happy I did

Interesting. How do you compare them, ride, getting around (clearance issues), etc? Thx.

[Arizona Vipers]

The P1 had more down force and almost 260+hp more than the ACR-E yet it lost to the ACR-E by about 2 secs at Laguna. So I would think your statement would be heavily influenced by the track you are running both on.

I consistently run faster times in my 2013 with 580 rwhp which weighs about 200 lbs less than my 540rwhp ACR. Same tracks that I run, my '13 is a little faster. When I get the '13 back from Calvo with 700rwhp it's not even going to be close. That being said, I'm sure there are ACR drivers out there that could beat my '13 on the same tracks. We will find out at Viper Tracks in March!

[Arizona Vipers]

You laugh like I am well off base but quite honestly I was trying to be polite. Yes the ACR-E is the better track car but who knows who will be buying what in the new few years. The Gen V ACR is the best performing car but that hasn't always translated to the most valuable with viper collectors. There are PLENTY MORE ACR-E cars to buy than TA 1.0 and especially 2.0 cars. The TA is iconic as well, has a story, has a following and generally has a more accessible and pleasing aesthetic to many buyers. In the next few years after vipers are no longer produced, they will be harder to get and likely sell for more. Down the road, iconic low mileage mint examples will probably fetch much more. Only the limited edition ACR-E cars will outprice the TA cars but common ACR and ACR-E cars likely won't.

That's like saying a highly optioned Mustang in a factory freak rare color will be worth more than a GT500KR. The king of the hill is always worth the most. It's not even a close call between TA's and ACR's as far as future value goes. "rarity" doesn't matter. You can find ultra rare cars (a brown Challenger with a 318 and some weird 8 track option that makes it rare will never be worth more than the most popular color/optioned Hemi Cuda)
Again if you think the TA's will be worth more money than ACR-E's in the future, please let me know when you think this will happen? 2018? 2020? 2025? 2030? 2050?

[Terminator02]

That's like saying a highly optioned Mustang in a factory freak rare color will be worth more than a GT500KR. The king of the hill is always worth the most. It's not even a close call between TA's and ACR's as far as future value goes. "rarity" doesn't matter. You can find ultra rare cars (a brown Challenger with a 318 and some weird 8 track option that makes it rare will never be worth more than the most popular color/optioned Hemi Cuda)
Again if you think the TA's will be worth more money than ACR-E's in the future, please let me know when you think this will happen? 2018? 2020? 2025? 2030? 2050?

I disagree. When production has ended and everyone has gotten one and the used market starts to become the place to get your viper I would say the TA will be having a higher value retention. So a 105k 2014 TA (15k applied) will sell closer to its msrp than the ACRE outside of the special editions. Vipers have never been hard to get unless they were very limited edition so it will be easy to get an acre and they made plenty of them. So their value retention should be lower than the TA models. Many collectors have said this not just me but I'd rather not derail the thread as you clearly stated you disagree.

[ViperDC]

Your logic is probably partially why you continue to be the fan on the sidelines and not behind the wheel. What surprises me most about you is that you want a TA yet find every post and thread and bash anyone who values the car. You completely undermined its story and why it came to existence yet you personally want one? Crazy. Again, cars value is not soley based on speed and mag records.Actually, the irony is you continue to prove my point. You go rave about the ACR and it will be worth the most yet you will ultimately buy the TA. The amount of people that want a TA is already proving to exceed demand and this has been pointed out by vendors on here and other experts and you help prove the point which I find interesting.

Do you realize how many people would love a low mile 1992 gen l, 1996 BW, 2001 sapphire, 2002 FE ACR, GTSR, and so many others. Some are based on rarity, some purely color, some a combination of factors. Vipers tend to garner followings. Some people will only buy a blue and white 1996 because the stripe goes through the license plate whereas in the 97 it doesn't. The reasons certain vipers go for more sometimes come down to those interesting peculiarities. Period.

Back to the thread. DMan, I see this pretty simple. I think if you are fighting for logic to buy an ACR then just go for the TA.
You said you are buying to drive, to not worry about resale and to be an all around viper. The ACR isn't your car then. You astutely looked at the lap times of Laguna Seca with the viper on slicks so I think it's more evidence of you defending against an ACR purchase.

You just have to get the car that absolutely "sings to you" right down to the color and little nuances. There are so many awesome options out there but I think your search shouldn't include the ACR because you aren't really showing too much interest in one at this time.

I figured you'd get defensive. Unfortunately, facts are facts. The TA was a rushed effort to beat the C6 ZR1, nothing iconic about it. When you juxtapose it with the ACR, which set records all over the world as the final result of 25 years of Viper engineering, the difference is clear. You're simply high if you think TAs are going to be worth more than ACRs down the line, not that it matters much anyway as only an idiot would buy a Viper as a long term investment - this has been proven time and time again. Ask all the guys with the "iconic" blue and white coupes they stuck away only to be unable to even get close to the car's original msrp 20 years on.

Save me the comments about streetability blah blah, Viper owners are a unique bunch that want fast, badass, uncompromising cars. It's been like that since day 1. The ACR speaks to the core Viper contingent more than any other model and that's why they will hold their value better down the road. The ACR injected interest back into this car.

You sound like vette owners that bragged and bragged about lap times until the ACR crapped on them and then the convo switched to "oh mine rides better and i can take it on long trips" lol

[yellowmz3]

Dman, with factory settings AND extreme front splitter I have better clearance than my TA had. Crazy, right? Mine is a 1of1 and I purposely got insulation... so ride quality... pretty much the same as well.

[ViperJon]

Lol.......arguing about Viper future values "down the road".
That's one long damn road seeing as 25 years later the original's are worth peanuts relatively speaking.

[BlknBlu]

Cars less than 2 years old and debates on values of these awesome machines. Will see everyone on Whats My Car Worth next season. No one, I mean no one can predict the value of a new car, we can only hope and speculate. If New cars become HEMI Cudas then investors would buy them all up.

Enjoy whatever you own.

Bruce

[Dman]

Dman, with factory settings AND extreme front splitter I have better clearance than my TA had. Crazy, right? Mine is a 1of1 and I purposely got insulation... so ride quality... pretty much the same as well.

Thanks!! That's great feedback. Based on info I've seen so far, the ACR will only be just under .5 inches less clearance than my GT500 splitter, and I drive that everywhere and have kissed the road with it only 1 time, barely, so this all is optimistic.

I'm looking at ACRs that aren't 1 of 1s, they'd be preferred, but harder to find at this time. I'd do carpet, dynomat, and upgrade the stereo, as well as seat lowering - my bonding projects once in the garage. I'm starting to think ACRE and do just a remote HP tune and maybe exhaust and see how it goes. That may be enough. If not, I can always upgrade power in the future while the above hold me over well.

I think if I had an irresistible 2.0 in front of me, I'd make the smarter choice. Really leaning toward treating myself with the ACR, almost figuring, how bad of a decision could that be, lol.

[Dman]

Cars less than 2 years old and debates on values of these awesome machines. Will see everyone on Whats My Car Worth next season. No one, I mean no one can predict the value of a new car, we can only hope and speculate. If New cars become HEMI Cudas then investors would buy them all up.

Enjoy whatever you own.

Bruce

I know right. Who cares. I've owned too many vipers for too many years for anyone to convince me these are collectibles, and I'm buy for the same reason I've bought every car, to play with and enjoy. When I talk value, it's about depreciation over the first say 3 yrs, which the lightly used ACR wins in spades.

[darbgnik]

I figured you'd get defensive. Unfortunately, facts are facts. The TA was a rushed effort to beat the C6 ZR1, nothing iconic about it. When you juxtapose it with the ACR, which set records all over the world as the final result of 25 years of Viper engineering, the difference is clear. You're simply high if you think TAs are going to be worth more than ACRs down the line, not that it matters much anyway as only an idiot would buy a Viper as a long term investment - this has been proven time and time again. Ask all the guys with the "iconic" blue and white coupes they stuck away only to be unable to even get close to the car's original msrp 20 years on.

Save me the comments about streetability blah blah, Viper owners are a unique bunch that want fast, badass, uncompromising cars. It's been like that since day 1. The ACR speaks to the core Viper contingent more than any other model and that's why they will hold their value better down the road. The ACR injected interest back into this car.

You sound like vette owners that bragged and bragged about lap times until the ACR crapped on them and then the convo switched to "oh mine rides better and i can take it on long trips" lol

Well, the ACR technically only broke lap records all over America, not the world, as that's where they ran it.

Although I do believe it would set records elsewhere if they decided to bring it across the pond.

But, this is the first time I have read the word juxtapose on these boards used correctly, so that's a win!

This thread is funny. And I'm not helping, but then again it was off the rails before I posted anyway. Sorry Dman!