High-Mileage Vipers

[Schen]

I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts are on high-mileage Vipers. What are some things that you should be looking for? (Other than the typical things like tires for example) Would you be ok with buying a Viper that's been driven over 20k miles?

--RS

[ACRucrazy]

20k miles is nothing. I plan on putting more than that on mine.

[99RT10]

I have almost 55K miles on my 99. I plan to put on 100K on it before I tear into it.

[Getnlwr]

I bought my 08 with 20K on it.

[Schen]

Cool, the only reason I ask is I THINK I'm starting to make my way up the hill for this 13 year Viperless journey to finally end. (Not 100% sure just yet, still gotta check some things but 2014 is looking positive)

I actually drove my friend Mark's car back at VOI 12 for roughly 100+ miles and boy, did I ever fall in love with that car. I've never felt so in tune with a car in such a short amount of time and it had ~50k miles on the clock. I even did some autocross and drove back home to MD with some NY Viper owners in the rain.

--RS

[plumcrazy]

i sold my 98 with about 58K miles. it was perfect and its killing me not to buy it back now. 60K miles on a 15 year old car is nothing, its the years that you need to worry about, not miles

[herbbone]

Mine has about 48k. I don't think that is high milage. It's no fun if you don't drive it.

[Thawk97]

Mine is over 50k - hoping she goes strong for a long time after. I'm more concerned with time than miles - mostly because of part costs/availability.

[Leslie]

No problem with high mileage Vipers at all!

I havn't even gotten 1 mile on my ACR yet

As soon as this snow is gone I am gonna drive it like I stole it!

[dodgefever]

I have close to 89K on my '99 GTS. A car that only has 20K to 90K on it is nothing to worry about. That's low miles by any car standard. People in the Viper community like the low mileage cars but somehow that has gotten turned into anything with over 10K or 15K miles is ruined. As Chrysler crushing those school cars should prove to folks... these are just cars. I admit they are highly collectable, rare cars... but just a mechanical car none the less. That means that one with 20K, 50K, 75K, or 100K is not something to avoid like the plague. There are items that you should worry about FAR more than mileage. Even if its a 2K mile 1996 B&W GTS, it still has almost 20 year old brake lines, rubber hoses, plastic interior, seized metal clamps, aluminum radiator, electric switches, etc. These are items that TIME kills, not miles. I believe that when looking for a Viper, the price will reflect the mileage because the average Viper is a low mileage car. That means you can get a killer deal on a "high" mileage Viper by saving a few thousand dollars over a low mileage car, but you will still have no more mechanical issues than one with "low" miles. There will be one HUGE advantage though, you will drive and enjoy the car, while that car with only 2K miles is a 3300LB garage floor paper weight with the rubber, plastic, electronic, and door seals aging at the same rate as yours.

[Viktimize]

Maintenance isn't something I would worry about. But I wouldn't buy a high mileage car strictly due to the resale. Sure I get a cheaper car to begin with, but when it comes time to sell it's not the price I'm concerned about, it's the fact that I am now selling to a very niche market of people. Most people shopping for these cars won't even look at a high mile car.

[Schen]

I have close to 89K on my '99 GTS. A car that only has 20K to 90K on it is nothing to worry about. That's low miles by any car standard. People in the Viper community like the low mileage cars but somehow that has gotten turned into anything with over 10K or 15K miles is ruined. As Chrysler crushing those school cars should prove to folks... these are just cars. I admit they are highly collectable, rare cars... but just a mechanical car none the less. That means that one with 20K, 50K, 75K, or 100K is not something to avoid like the plague. There are items that you should worry about FAR more than mileage. Even if its a 2K mile 1996 B&W GTS, it still has almost 20 year old brake lines, rubber hoses, plastic interior, seized metal clamps, aluminum radiator, electric switches, etc. These are items that TIME kills, not miles. I believe that when looking for a Viper, the price will reflect the mileage because the average Viper is a low mileage car. That means you can get a killer deal on a "high" mileage Viper by saving a few thousand dollars over a low mileage car, but you will still have no more mechanical issues than one with "low" miles. There will be one HUGE advantage though, you will drive and enjoy the car, while that car with only 2K miles is a 3300LB garage floor paper weight with the rubber, plastic, electronic, and door seals aging at the same rate as yours.

It's not that, that's not what I had in mind at all! There's a certain view, a certain presence that comes with the car or any of it's kind as being rare since it is an exotic, no doubt, but I wanted to know how often does Viper nation drive their cars. I know how bullet proof that V10 is, there's a guy in upstate NY with a green RT/10 with well over 120k miles. I appreciate your input and it's exactly what I wanted to hear (or read)!

My current car is a daily driver, but I've never kept it just limited to point A-to-B driving. It's been up and down the east coast several times, been to plenty of race tracks, car shows, etc. I bought it was 14k miles and 6 years later, I'm creeping up on 70k but I firmly plan on keeping it for a long time. I've always kept on it's maintenance, sourced any issues or TSBs. Being mechanically inclined helps too.

I was curious more about Viper with xx,xxx miles for low to mid-30's vs Viper with x,xxx for mid-40's to 50's. Would it be worth it to wait. Your post clearly points out that I'm more a driver than a collector but I still like that aspect while having fun. I think that's why I've always liked the car to begin with. It's a brute, blue collar exotic.

--RS

[swexlin]

I have close to 89K on my '99 GTS. A car that only has 20K to 90K on it is nothing to worry about. That's low miles by any car standard. People in the Viper community like the low mileage cars but somehow that has gotten turned into anything with over 10K or 15K miles is ruined. As Chrysler crushing those school cars should prove to folks... these are just cars. I admit they are highly collectable, rare cars... but just a mechanical car none the less. That means that one with 20K, 50K, 75K, or 100K is not something to avoid like the plague. There are items that you should worry about FAR more than mileage. Even if its a 2K mile 1996 B&W GTS, it still has almost 20 year old brake lines, rubber hoses, plastic interior, seized metal clamps, aluminum radiator, electric switches, etc. These are items that TIME kills, not miles. I believe that when looking for a Viper, the price will reflect the mileage because the average Viper is a low mileage car. That means you can get a killer deal on a "high" mileage Viper by saving a few thousand dollars over a low mileage car, but you will still have no more mechanical issues than one with "low" miles. There will be one HUGE advantage though, you will drive and enjoy the car, while that car with only 2K miles is a 3300LB garage floor paper weight with the rubber, plastic, electronic, and door seals aging at the same rate as yours.

I bought my 2003 four years ago with 23,000,I now have 31 and change. Driven cars will have less of the issues above, as fluids and parts are regularly uses. Low mile cars, cars that sit most of their lives, tend to have more issues.

[randd]

More the type of usage than the mileage, that would concern me. 20 miles up the 1/4 strip would bother me more than 60,000 miles highway cruising. My car will never see a dragstrip, but I can see 40-50K miles after 3 years of highway driving.

[LATAMUD]

I have about 55k on my 03. I swapped in an 08 oil pan and swing arm, not necessary but peace of mind for my gen3.

[Sybil TF]

I looked at a couple high mile ones and they looked rode hard and put away wet so I bought one with 27,000 miles.

[Rare Snake]

I haven't even sat in my '01 GTS since December, but last fall I just rolled past 50K. On average, I'm putting on about 7K every summer so far. Maybe it's just me, but still consider it low miles for its age, even though (some) people think that may be high for a Viper. Like some have already said, it's a car. Maintain it, and fix it when it breaks, and you will be very happy with it. I still trust its reliability every bit as much as my 2012 Hyundai Slowster daily driver. Resale value was a concern at first, but that wore off quick. I'm not too concerned about what it will be worth "some day". The more I drive it, the more I love it, and I can't put a resale value on that.

[VRYALT3R3D]

I would consider that low mileage

[Loud]

96 GTS with 102K [24k when I got it]. I track it [haven't been able to in the last couple years], don't drag race, long drives, daily drive, basically, I just enjoy it. Usually drive around 10-12 k in the 6 months I get to drive it.

No issues than the usual maintenance.

[MtnBiker]

I looked at a couple high mile ones and they looked rode hard and put away wet so I bought one with 27,000 miles.

hahaha. How would you know what that's like Sybil?

[Bitten]

I bought a Yellow 05 vert last March. It had 33k on it. The only problems we had were more age related than mileage related. It needed tires, oil and steering fluid lines, window guide and a few other things.

[Bitten]

More the type of usage than the mileage, that would concern me. 20 miles up the 1/4 strip would bother me more than 60,000 miles highway cruising. My car will never see a dragstrip, but I can see 40-50K miles after 3 years of highway driving.

Come on! Let's go to the drag strip!! Your car is lighter than mine. Hehe. You might beat me

Hey we have the New Orleans get together on Sat March 22nd. Take a day off, we are going cart racing at NOLA track and then cruising to Biloxi for lunch.

Msg me if you want details.

[2red2fast]

Almost 130,00 miles on a 2000 GTS, for sale, at Roanoke Dealership in Illinois

[Detroit Muscle]

Well put dodgefever, I currently have 20K on my 05, and I love driving it.

[Canuck]

Just as some reassurance about years for Viper when you are buying:

I am driving a 1992 Viper every spring/summer/fall. (Currently 10K miles). Gave it an extra run around tonight as a memorial to some of the 1992 prototypes that alas are sadly getting crushed soon.

So far, just the tires & battery, and some fluids got swapped from when it rolled off the factory floor. Well built, reliable. I have the replacement headgaskets that will go on eventually (was thinking that if anything failed, I could fix both things at once, but nothing ever does). Overall couldn't really ask for a better-built vehicle. Congrats to Team Viper.