Viper Owner Wanna Bee

[coolbreeze]

Hi Everyone,
Newbie Viper enthusiast.
I am considering a Viper as my weekend car and trying to decide what year is the best bang for the buck.
I read an article a few years ago about a Viper event where they had some of the Dodge Engineers attending with their personal cars.
Each of the engineers had the same "GEN" of Viper (not brand new) and said they thought it was the best years.
I am looking to see if there are any stand out years (Gens) that can be recommended.
Thank you.
cb

[BlknBlu]

Welcome to the site. I would spend some time reading through the various forums on here and do some intial homework as to what car is best for you. Each Viper has it's own unique proerties and querks along with small issues for the most part, Verts, Coupes, Open tops, Winged cars, Budget, parts availability. etc..... You will get 500 different answers on what car is best. The best car is the one the well informed owner decides to purchase.

Good Luck

Bruce

[daveg]

Only you can decide what the best year for you is.. As stated, read... Good luck with your quest.

[Bill W]

It’s difficult to offer help without knowing what gen Viper you want.

[Gen5snake]

You'll have to try to test drive each gen that interests you to really know. I initially loved the Gen 2's until I test drove one. It was a tough fit for me. The car looks incredible in person, but just couldn't fit well. So, after testing a Gen 5, I was sold. Just took me a while to find the right one...patience paid off.

[Leanmass]

What did you end up buying ?

[jjgoat]

I just got a Gen IV a few months back, I wish I had done this long ago!! I had a '99 Corvette, '08 Corvette Z06 and '14 Stingray Z51 before it and for whatever reason I like this the best already. Just a totally different experience. That said, I didn't drive anything else before deciding on the Gen IV. It was just the look and the exaxt color I wanted.

[ky13]

Welcome to the forum! My favorite, in order: 5, 3, 4, 2, 1

[SilverACR]

I choose the G4 ACR over the G5TA because I liked the way I sat in the 4 better. The G4 felt more raw and meaner than the G5. I like the G1-3 but wanted the stock power the 4s and 5 have. They are all special cars and have their good and bad points.

If I could buy all in order it would be as follows. G3 comp coup, G4 ACRX, G5 ACR extreme, G4 ACR, G5 TA 2.0, G5 TA 1.0, G2 GTSR, G2 ACR, G5 ACR, any G4, any G5, any G2, any G3, G1. It’s not that I don’t love the G1 something has to be last on the list.

Specific cars #1 is the silver black G4 ring car

[str5010]

The original article to which the OP was referring which makes note that a number of the engineering/executive staff they interviewed owned Gen IV Vipers:

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/how-...ts-horsepower/

[City]

The original article to which the OP was referring which makes note that a number of the engineering/executive staff they interviewed owned Gen IV Vipers:

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/how-...ts-horsepower/

Thanks for that! Great article explaining the engine progression basics through each generation. I have to keep the link on our site.

[ViperRyan]

Welcome to the forum!! Ultimately your budget is going to play a large factor in the Viper you choose and are able to get, I didn't see you mention that. How much you plan to drive it, where you live etc, also plays into the decision. If you're looking to drive the car more often then the weekends then Gen 3/4/5 might be more suitable for that, and a better daily driver. If you're strictly looking for a weekend car to drive, have the power, and enjoy, I would say a GenII would be a great fit.

I personally love the GenII GTS, I think it's the best looking Viper, period. Most people think of the GenII when they hear "Viper". GenII GTS was so good in fact that the GenV was designed after it. GenII's are the closest to what the car was intend to be, imho, back in the beginning. Raw, unapologetic, hot, brutal, unforgiving, and made a statement everywhere it went. All those reasons and more are why I love my GenII GTS and won't part with it. I hope to get a GenV ACR at some point, but until then I love my GTS.