I'm new to the Viper Forum. I'm in the market for a fun weekend/car show cruiser for summer months and the Dodge Viper is on my list of potential ownership. I'd like to familiarize myself with the car and the different generations so I can make an educated buy. I currently have a 2011 Audi S5, Love this car, not an issue in the Ohio snow and it's comfortable, well maintained daily driver. Car still shits n gets but I want something I can go to the local cruise in's with and turn some heads.

Potential cars are:

Dodge Viper (open to gen 2 and 3)
2003-2004 Mustang Cobra (best modern classic muscle car in my opinion)
2005 Ferrari F430
Nissan GT-R (2012+)

Weird list I know but I'm finding Viper is in my budget more so than some of the other cars but hey, who knows. My biggest dilemma(s) is the Cobra, sick car, looks great, goes fast but 26-32k for a 'Mustang' isn't sitting well! I've found a few vipers I like so I'm leaning this way. The Ferrari is very much in the cards I just can't seem to narrow down a price line and let's be honest its a little scary buying an Italian Supercar. Nissan has a great product I love everything about the GT-R but I would need to drive it year round to justify a 65k+ price tag, which is do-able considering it is AWD and a good pair of snow tires will do me just fine. This brings us to the Viper. I see some models below 30k and in low mile good condition which leads me to believe that if I can keep my Audi and buy a Viper for less than say 35k I can make her a garage queen and only pull it out on weekends/track days/cruises. I've also noticed that Dodge is pretty easy to work on, you're not paying a huge difference in parts like on say a Ferrari or shit, even my Audi I feel a "European tax" on parts. Speaking of, Nissan brake jobs are in excess of 5k and these people don't bat an eye at it. Anyway...

I look forward to knowledge gained and thank you for allowing me to join!

-Thomas