Considering a Gen I or II

[St Pete Viper ACR E]

Hey there,

I'm already a viper fan with a Gen V that I don't drive very much for the moment but I'm thinking of a Gen 1 or II to purchase possibly in rougher shape that I can bring back and drive more often. I've owned a TVR Tuscan so I'm used to rolling coffins with no ABS / Air bags but I'm wondering if you could point me in the right direction.

In no particular order, which Gen / model would be best for:

1. Fun to drive factor
2. Overall cost of ownership (maintenance & insurance)
3. Ease of repairs
4. Ultimately exclusivity / collectibility

Budget roughly $30k thanks.

[lane_viper]

I always lusted for a Gen 2 GTS, and was able to make my dream happen last year with a 96.

The original Gen 1's are cool though, but as you know they will be RT/10 s only. If your Gen V is a coupe this might not be an issue for you.

My 96 was a little rough when I got it and I've had fun working on it and getting it up to snuff. Needed radiator, transmission work, Hoses, tires, new gaskets, and valve covers painted.

Parts availability seems a lot better on Gen 2, but they are hard to find at ~$30k, especially GTS. Gen 1's seem to be much easier to find at your budget.

If it matters, there's the performance differences, as the Gen 2's have an uptick it HP.

1.Car is a blast to drive. IMO it has the appeal of a really good handling, old school muscle car. Big engines, big tires, no nannies. A really raw/unfiltered car.
2.Insurance and maint hasn't really been any more than my other cars, in my experience. I do own a E60 M5 though, so I have a different perspective. LOL.
3.My GTS has been really easy to work on. I've done everything myself that it's needed minus tires, of course. The forum is full of How too's and I've been able to find a service manual to help also.
4.All Vipers are rare. I know I see a lot more RTs than GTS's in Gen 1 and Gen 2s. 96 GTS's and final edition GTS's, and the really early RT/10s will be the most collectible, IMO. With low miles of course.

Good luck with your search.

[St Pete Viper ACR E]

I always lusted for a Gen 2 GTS, and was able to make my dream happen last year with a 96.

The original Gen 1's are cool though, but as you know they will be RT/10 s only. If your Gen V is a coupe this might not be an issue for you.

My 96 was a little rough when I got it and I've had fun working on it and getting it up to snuff. Needed radiator, transmission work, Hoses, tires, new gaskets, and valve covers painted.

Parts availability seems a lot better on Gen 2, but they are hard to find at ~$30k, especially GTS. Gen 1's seem to be much easier to find at your budget.

If it matters, there's the performance differences, as the Gen 2's have an uptick it HP.

1.Car is a blast to drive. IMO it has the appeal of a really good handling, old school muscle car. Big engines, big tires, no nannies. A really raw/unfiltered car.
2.Insurance and maint hasn't really been any more than my other cars, in my experience. I do own a E60 M5 though, so I have a different perspective. LOL.
3.My GTS has been really easy to work on. I've done everything myself that it's needed minus tires, of course. The forum is full of How too's and I've been able to find a service manual to help also.
4.All Vipers are rare. I know I see a lot more RTs than GTS's in Gen 1 and Gen 2s. 96 GTS's and final edition GTS's, and the really early RT/10s will be the most collectible, IMO. With low miles of course.

Good luck with your search.

That is fantastic advice!

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Does a removable top appeal? G1 RT Nice contrast to your G5 .. esp if U R in FL?

G1 are Cheap Now......be sure G1 head gaskets are replaced or budgeted.

[RedTanRT/10]

With a $30k budget it will be hard to find a decent G2 coupe so you would need to go RT/10

A G2 RT is better in the first 3 of your criteria and I assume no real difference in insurance costs

More creature comforts, more power, more features and better parts availability and/or better prices

Collectibility at that price point is the side pipe G1 but that is irrelevant unless you sell in 20 years

I have owned a 94 since 96. The G2 is a better more advanced RT/10

Good luck! Mike

[Horsepower junkie]

Own 94 R/T 10 and 97 GTS. Both great cars. Gotta tell ya on a sunny Sunday I always prefer the R?

Own 94 R/T10 and 97 GTS great cars. Contrary to most on a sunny day I prefer taking out the R/T 10. Open top, low end torque, roar of the side pipes. GTS has 50 more hp but only at top end. Pulls harder and longer at high rpms. GTS gets more looks and more comments but cannot go wrong with either one.

[Bill W]

1. Fun to drive factor: I've never driven a GTS but they are basically the same car with a different body style. It's a "drivers" car for sure. Lots of fun. The Gen ll has an upgraded suspension and more hp and tq (450 hp. 480 tq.) The Gen ll RT has the same power as the first GTS (1996).

2. Overall cost of ownership (maintenance & insurance): The insurance on my '02 RT is less than I pay for my 2014 CVO Harley. Not a factor at all.

3. Ease of repairs: American made, hand-built muscle car. Other than the clamshell hood getting in the way, repairs are fairly simple.

4. Ultimate exclusivity / collectibility: All Vipers are rare. Less than 32,000 built in 25 years of production. There were more than 38,000 corvettes built in 1969 alone. My RT/10 gets head-turns, thumbs up and horn beeps everywhere it goes. In my opinion, the RT/10 has the most unique body style of all Vipers...or any other car for that matter.

Budget roughly $30k thanks: Would be challenging to find a decent Gen ll in that price range, but they're out there.

[St Pete Viper ACR E]

Does a removable top appeal? G1 RT Nice contrast to your G5 .. esp if U R in FL?

G1 are Cheap Now......be sure G1 head gaskets are replaced or budgeted.

Yes it does, I am leaning to a R/T.. thanks!

[St Pete Viper ACR E]

1. Fun to drive factor: I've never driven a GTS but they are basically the same car with a different body style. It's a "drivers" car for sure. Lots of fun. The Gen ll has an upgraded suspension and more hp and tq (450 hp. 480 tq.) The Gen ll RT has the same power as the first GTS (1996).

2. Overall cost of ownership (maintenance & insurance): The insurance on my '02 RT is less than I pay for my 2014 CVO Harley. Not a factor at all.

3. Ease of repairs: American made, hand-built muscle car. Other than the clamshell hood getting in the way, repairs are fairly simple.

4. Ultimate exclusivity / collectibility: All Vipers are rare. Less than 32,000 built in 25 years of production. There were more than 38,000 corvettes built in 1969 alone. My RT/10 gets head-turns, thumbs up and horn beeps everywhere it goes. In my opinion, the RT/10 has the most unique body style of all Vipers...or any other car for that matter.

Budget roughly $30k thanks: Would be challenging to find a decent Gen ll in that price range, but they're out there.

Great summary and yes I am looking for something that would need some TLC...

[Desert Venom Racer]

Following up with Bill's comments, the upgraded suspension and 50 more HP were a really big deal back when the Gen II first came out. The performance differential (road course lap times) was very significant for in stock configuration, so significant that Gen 1 cars were not competitive with Gen II cars. In Viper Days, we had to establish different car classes so that the Gen I did not have to compete against the Gen II. While my street driving preference will always be the Gen 2 RT 10, the GTS is far superior on the track.

[VOI9]

If you already have a Gen V coupe, then the open-air experience of a roadster Gen I or II would seem to be a nice addition to your collection. I have a 95 RT/10 since new. It's great fun on a nice day. The A/C works great on hot days and the heater works great on cool days. I don't track it and 400HP is plenty on public roads. Realistically, even later Vipers with 450HP, 500HP and beyond are dwarfed by the current horsepower wars of 600 to 800HP at "reasonable" prices. $30K will be tough to find that does not need more money, parts and time put into it. You might have the time and money but parts are getting hard to find, although JonB is a magician coming up with parts. The "real" side windows starting with the Gen I.5 roadsters in 96 (I think) are nice to have compared with the side curtains of the 95 and earlier. As far as collectability goes, you might want to check out the Hagerty Insurance website. You log in and then you can plug in the type of car you are interested in and they produce a five year chart on values so you can see the ups and downs of the market. They insure the cars and they have a team of analysts that track prices sold at auctions and what they are insuring cars for. Anyway, it's a data point. Good luck!

[99RT10]

Yes it does, I am leaning to a R/T.. thanks!

Check PMs.

[St Pete Viper ACR E]

For example this one?

Can anybody educate me on what is good and bad on this one:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8483990312834/

[Ross L]

For example this one?

Can anybody educate me on what is good and bad on this one:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8483990312834/

Looks good in pics! Drilled rotors a nice touch. Would need more detailed pics though. Changing the dash would be an easy fix. Need a car fax. Any paint work? LOTS more pics needed and a talk with the owner

[Desert Venom Racer]

Nice looking car. Would definitely want to look under the engine hood and also underneath the car. Someone from our Florida chapter must know the history on this car.