The VIPER TAX

[Dajerseyviper]

So I was looking for a sports bar pad grommet part #OQX23DX9AB and was told by a few vendors they couldnt get it, the ones that could wanted $27 each plus shipping. They claimed the "viper tax" was high on this simple small piece of plastic part. Well I found the part from a local distributor called Concord-Parts for $15.35 each and ordered 2 for the price of 1 from a Viper Specialist shop. Then it dawned on me, the ones screwing us viper owners with this imaginary Viper tax, are these self proclaimed viper specialty shops that are marking up and price gouging simple everyday dodge part. Its sickening.. I cant fathom how a generic parts distributor was able to locate and provide me with this part for less than a place that sells nothing but Viper parts. It really makes me sick and pretty angry.

You would figure this nonsense would have stopped by now.

[firefighter196]

I had the pleasure of rebuilding the top end of my engine this winter, so i wanted ti fill it with new oil and filter and then dump it after a few mins of running. I went to Dodge and asked for 2 viper oil filters, they only had one at $27 but then the parts guys says this is the same filter without Viper written on it and it was $7. Both filters had all the same stampings same threads and same size. Why do they have to stick it to us? Another situation is when i bought the clutch cylinder unit that attached to the clutch pedal and has a resoivor with it. I paid $123 not a bad price, that was in 2014. I went back with my bill for easy ordering to get another one for my buddies car the price was $327 they had no explanation but to say Chysler can update there pricing at any time.

[dave6666]

Another snowflake crybaby thread over $15. Good god do you whine about everything?

And the irony of the why aren't values going up threads. Can this get any dumber... lol

[Bill Pemberton]

Depending on the year of the Viper ( 2006 on back ) there are a couple of filters , but the only one you should be using says Viper on it and ends in the number 36. But will admit it should not be 27 dollars, but more like 12-15. Designed for the car and the cheap one was replaced by it many years ago and highly recommended by the Engineers to be used for Vipers.

[13COBRA]

Viper specialty shops aren't necessarily the ones doing it. They have to buy their parts to sell as well.

I just had to replace the trunk lid release button on my Gen IV ACR. I'm wanting to say the part was a couple hundred dollars...but I got lucky and found a thread on here showing that it was the same release as a Caravan. So I ordered a Caravan one for $29.

Anything to do with the drivetrain, I would only use true 'Viper' parts (even if they cost a little more), just my opinion.

[Coloviper]

Is there a way a cross part spreadsheet that can be created so others others don't suffer in silence. Example is the caravan item above. That type of thing is extremely important going forth. There are a ton of examples of the exact same thing but other parts.

[13COBRA]

Is there a way a cross part spreadsheet that can be created so others others don't suffer in silence. Example is the caravan item above. That type of thing is extremely important going forth. There are a ton of examples of the exact same thing but other parts.

I have never seen a spreadsheet...but a quick Google search will pull up threads from people in the past replacing the same thing you are.

It would take quite some time to compile a spreadsheet. The best way I can see is if there was a sticky on here, and all members contributed and one person kept the list up-to-date.

[Destructo]

There's a sticky thread at viperclub.org with number of parts that cross reference to other models. I think it's mostly gen II parts.

[plumcrazy]

tom did a spreadsheet i think back in the day

[SlowPoke McGee]

Sounds like slave6666 is suffering from classic Stockholm Syndrome lol

For the rest of us that don't want to bend over and hand the lube to the parts shops with a smile on our face, this spreadsheet idea sounds fantastic. Something proactive the community can do to fight back.

[Patentlaw]

Maybe I am having some comprehension problems........

You are complaining about the price of a part that you got from a general parts distributor for less money that a "viper specialty" shop. So in other words, you are complaining that some people have higher prices than others. Isn't this a normal event in every day life? Not every place that I shop at has the "low price". That is why you shop. Maybe this parts distributor had a bunch of the parts laying around and just wanted to liquidate the inventory and you are the only one who has ever asked for the part. They said just unload it.

I also don't begrudge someone for making a living. They charge what the market bears.

I know that lots of people want to get down on Dave6666. Honestly, this sounds like a typical Jersey person who just wants everything given to them and complains when it is not. So you had to shop for a part. Oh, the horror of that. Make a Federal case of it. Typical Narcissist.

[13COBRA]

lol

[Steve-Indy]

As Bill Pemberton stated, you want the Viper specific oil filter for your Viper.

Gen's I, II, and III require part number 05037836AB ...do not use the AA version !!!

Gen's IV and V require part number 05038041AA.

[Dajerseyviper]

Maybe I am having some comprehension problems........

You are complaining about the price of a part that you got from a general parts distributor for less money that a "viper specialty" shop. So in other words, you are complaining that some people have higher prices than others. Isn't this a normal event in every day life? Not every place that I shop at has the "low price". That is why you shop. Maybe this parts distributor had a bunch of the parts laying around and just wanted to liquidate the inventory and you are the only one who has ever asked for the part. They said just unload it.

I also don't begrudge someone for making a living. They charge what the market bears.

I know that lots of people want to get down on Dave6666. Honestly, this sounds like a typical Jersey person who just wants everything given to them and complains when it is not. So you had to shop for a part. Oh, the horror of that. Make a Federal case of it. Typical Narcissist.

Or, I just dont feel like being taken advantage of after paying the highest tolls and highest property taxes in the country...If you're content overpaying for stuff because the Viper Experts say you have to, then that's your business. Ill be enjoying my $11 saving on each part and buy at least 3 cups of NJ coffee and maybe drive 2 exits on the Turnpike with it..

[ViperSRT]

I made a mental note here that most that are complaining are enthusiasts and not members. Hmmm. Guess that is another viper tax.

[Steve-Indy]

Dajerseyviper, at the end of the day, it's your Viper to do with as you wish.

That said, the engineers responsible for developing you Viper engine gathered some data along the way that convinced them to have a filter designed and produced specifically for the Viper. Here is a little insight from that group as written in a "member only restricted area" of another forum:
"We worked with many of the filter suppliers to get the best features. Some fell out for various performance reasons but we ended up developing the current SRT filters with one of the mainstream manufacturers (it is different than their commercial offerings - or at least was when we developed it). The high flow oil pumps in our large engines (Viper is the biggest) can overpower the internal relief valve. When this valve opens it allows some of the high pressure dirty oil to bypass the filter element in order to keep the filter from being damaged. The SRT filters do indeed have a higher differential bypass valve to make sure all the oil delivered to your powerplant is clean. The housing is slightly thicker than many of the brands out there to handle the pressure but is not the thickest. The real thick ones failed our development testing (fractured at the crimped flange). The media used was one of the latest synthetics that allowed very fine filtration, more debris capacity, and much lower restriction than our standard Mopar filter (and just about every other filter out there). The final result was clean oil to your Snake, all the time, with more pressure to the internals where it is needed. I would fully recommend using this filter in your beast, I do in mine. Hope this info helps."

[AZTVR]

Its sickening..

It really makes me sick

I have to admit that imagining a grown man getting sick over this issue is a bit amusing. The post sounds the same as someone complaining about the outrageous price markup for an epipen that might save his child's life.

[MH60M]

OP......don't look up spark plugs. It'll ruin your day.

[Granger73]

Many years ago I had a split window coupe with an aftermarket shifter. Didn't want to spend the money for the correct one, but one year at Carlisle a well know vendor had one setting on his table. I asked him how much he wanted tor it and he gave me a price that was a little higher than market price. I pretended that I was really surprised at the high price and he looked me straight in the eye and said, "Don't forget boy. That's a Corvette you got there not a Chevette." Point well taken.

[Patentlaw]

Let's see......you drove your car to get the part instead of having it delivered to your door. There is a cost to that. You took time looking for the part. There is a cost to that. So what did you gain?

Unless your normal employment is at the dollar store, where everything is at the lowest price possible, you also live by the people who shop or frequent your establishment. You don't complain about it then that people used your services and paid a little more.

You just begrudge others for making a living. You never even considered that convenience has value to others.

When you look at it, your problems are very small. Wars, disease, economic uncertainty. You have one of the nicest cars on the planet.

**** NOTE ******

If you had started the thread like this.......

Hey everyone, I wanted to pass along a great place to save everyone some money. It is place XYZ........ People would have been thankful.

INSTEAD

You complained about others servicing the Viper community.

Instead of a positive thread, you made it negative.

May you continue to have incredible luck in your life concerned about the small things in life. Happy Easter.

[mackzilla]

I made a mental note here that most that are complaining are enthusiasts and not members. Hmmm. Guess that is another viper tax.

[luc]

Viper tax is a reality. The same part that goes on a bunch of different brands/models, such as the "skip shift eliminator" is almost always twice the price if you get it for a Viper instead of a Camaro
As for the stupid comment that most peoples that complain are not member but rather enthusiast, what point are you trying to make????? That enthusiasts are smarted that members???
I have owned my 00GTS since when I bought it new back in 2000 and frankly I don't need to be a "member" to enjoy my snake
Ownership is way more rewarding than membership
and, BTW, Dajerseyviper is 100% right

[Rich Detert]

Ohh the Viper Tax is a reality. LOL

I needed to get a jack assembly for my ACR as it was missing when I got the car last year.

Online searches (ebay, etc) and the average price was $150 and up plus shipping for a Viper Jack Assembly (jack, lug wrench and vinyl case).

I started searching for factory part numbers.

It turns out that they exact same jack assembly was also used in the PT Cruiser.

The cost of PT Cruiser jack assembly cost on ebay?
$19 with shipping included and it looked brand new.

You should never buy anything for a Viper without researching it first.

[City]

You should never buy anything without researching it first.

I took your comment further.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Ohh the Viper Tax is a reality. LOL

I needed to get a jack assembly for my ACR as it was missing when I got the car last year.

Online searches (ebay, etc) and the average price was $150 and up plus shipping for a Viper Jack Assembly (jack, lug wrench and vinyl case).

I started searching for factory part numbers.

It turns out that they exact same jack assembly was also used in the PT Cruiser.

The cost of PT Cruiser jack assembly cost on ebay?
$19 with shipping included and it looked brand new.

You should never buy anything for a Viper without researching it first.

lol mine is missing too! Note taken!