The reality of owning a Viper need your advice

[captainjerky]

Hey everyone,

I've come to the place in life where I am going to be able to buy a fun, completely discretionary, something-for-me, car. I've had a few loud and fast cars over the years, but small kids and family stuff required me to set that sort of thing aside for a few years. I've always been into old muscle cars, and I'd spent a year and half seriously looking only to suffer disappointment. That market is overpriced and full of rusted out hoopties that would require years of restoration. These days, everyone with a rusty El Camino thinks their car is worth $75,000.
It brought me to the realization that I should aim higher, frankly. I've always lusted after Vipers, and 2013+ models are dipping into the low 80K range.
Short version, I can justify that expense now and still put the kids through college.
Now, the hard part. A Challenger Hellcat is roughly similar in price and was the first thing I seriously considered. First, the obvious; yes, these are completely different cars for completely different uses. Second, I am asking all of you Viper owners for some reality checks on the drive.
I still have kids in the house, and as a car guy, I love to take others with me on joyrides. I think spreading the love of everything automotive is part of the 'responsibility' of people who own unique and fun cars. The 2 seats of a Viper limit those options.
I can maybe get to an open track day at Road America once a summer, but the majority of my time with a fun car will be cruising around town, making up reasons to run errands, and taking the occasional back country road tour around the county.
I see pros and cons for both vehicles; the Hellcat is more of the Grand Touring persuasion, whereas the Viper is more about feeling the drive and having that true driving experience.
So, I'm asking everyone who owns a Viper (and who has perhaps driven a big-engined Challenger?):
What do you use your car for?
Do you drive it enough to make it worth it?
Is it aggravating to have to just grumble down the highway at 70?
Did the dream of owning one live up to the experience?
How many speeding tickets do you have? :-)

I hope you see what I'm getting at. The realization that I can do this was recent, so I'm not a member of any clubs, nor do I know somebody who owns one, so I'm hoping folks with some miles on the clock can tell me what the ownership experience has been like. This is something I realize I can and should do, but am a little worried I wouldn't get enough use out of it to justify the expense.

Thank you for your time!
Ryan

[BLUVENM]

I have been enamored with the Viper since inception and didn't get serious about wanting to own one until about 5-6 years ago. I was thinking of a Gen 4 but ended up with a Gen V, which I purchased in January of this year.
With the help of my brother in-law, who owns a Dodge Dealership, we found an awesome 13 LE with 8600 miles in Las Vegas. We ensured that all recalls had been applied, the title was clean and carfax was clean.
Living in the Northeast, she came off the carrier and immediately went into storage at the dealership until March. Before taking the car out, I had all fluids flushed (brake, rear diff, coolant, and oil) and had the battery replaced.
I am a Mopar guy and own a '09 Challenger SRT8, '12 300 SRT8, and '14 Jeep GC so I am very familiar with Uconnect and the switch gear in the Viper.
From the time that I first hit the start button, I have been amazed at the power and technology underfoot.
I only take the Viper out on nice sunny days and usually for cruise-ins, shows, or rally with other high-end vehicles.
I am excited to get her out on a track (NYS Safety Track near by, Lime Rock, or Watkins Glenn) for some fun laps but need a new set of shoes (expecting $1600).
Is it worth it? OMG YES!!! Not only is this one of the best looking vehicles on the street, the handling and power make it so much fun to drive. If the car wasn't enough, I have met some really great salt of the earth folks who love cars like I do.
At my very first rally with other Vipers, 488s, 570s, GTS, Vettes etc, we all got carried away on the highway and I unfortunately was ticketed for 87 in a 65 but have yet to appear in court due to Covid. Lets just say that we may have been travelling a bit north of that number...just a bit.
I have yet to drive the highways at 70, I typically set my cruise for 78 and have not been pulled over in any of my vehicles.
Does it have warts? It does but doesn't every vehicle regardless of price. The rocker panel will definitely burn the back of your leg after a long drive but having that side exhaust is music to my ears. It is definitely loud in and out of the cabin. The stereo is sweet though, if you don't want to listen to the engine growl. My horn did not work so I had to replace the airbag ($500) because it is integrated with the horn pad. There is wind noise coming from my driver side window due to the "flag" in the front corner of the window and I may replace it. There is also some clunky sound coming from the hatch and I heard that can be eliminated by using larger rubber stops.
All that said, this truly is an amazing vehicle and it has without a doubt lived up to my every expectation. I have never driven anything like it and do not regret shelling out the coin for it.
In fact, I am thinking of buying an early Gen to "bomb around in".
I hope you decide to pull the trigger and have the time of your life.
Good Luck
Dan

- When a friend learned I was going to buy a Viper he tried to convince me to buy a Tesla. He obviously isn't a car guy and didn't understand what a Viper was. I explained that a Tesla is a CAR, a Viper is an EXPERIENCE!

[SNKEBIT]

Where you at in Wisc? Maybe get together with someone to ride or drive one, maybe you won't like it at all. Maybe it'll make you run to the want ads!!!! lol

You really can't describe the "Viper experience", you have to "feel" it for yourself. Nothing like it. IT"S AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[captainjerky]

Hey there folks,
Thanks for the info BLUVENM; It's exactly what I was hoping to hear. For SNKEBIT, I live halfway between Milwaukee and Madison. I see there's a car show/drive-in in Elkhorn on June 20th with a couple Vipers signed up already. I suppose heading there is my next move.
I have a nice nest egg set aside for a car but what with the coronapocalypse I'll probably have to sit on it this summer just in case my job is affected. Not likely, but it would be hard to explain to the wife if I dropped that cash and suddenly my job was in jeopardy.
Takes a little pressure off, honestly, and lets me bring a bigger bag of money to a purchase when the time comes.

[Camfab]

Here's my advice. I think both cars are awesome myself, I've been eyeing a Redeye for some time, but it'll likely not come to fruition as I've been thinking of selling the Viper for other reasons, but I digress. If you buy the Viper, you will love it, AND here's the best part, If you decide to sell it for the Hellcat, you'll likely loose a few grand. From an enjoyment standpoint it'll be worth every penny. I'm guessing you'd buy a new Hellcat, if that was to come to fruition. My guess is that you'd loose a boatload of cash on the Hellcat if you changed your mind and decided to get the Viper. Something to think about over the coming year. I think you'll have a blast either way.

[BLUVENM]

Camfab hit the nail on the head from a financial angle. I know today I could sell my Viper for $5-10K more than I bought it for in January. A buddy of mine owns a Sublime Green Hellcat and it has power out the rear. The sublime green is an incredible color and the car sounds nasty. The Hellcat would be a great family driver car... take it to the mall or for groceries and while it is an exceptional car, the steering and suspension (in any mode) are NO comparison to the Viper. The Viper is just a world of difference away and you will definitely feel the difference as soon as you pull out of the driveway. The Hellcat will most likely take the Viper in a straight line but that isn't why you purchase a Viper. It truly is a special experience that you will never regret.
I was lucky enough to have purchased mine in January, just before COVID struck. The stock market was right and I was in a position to make it happen. If I had waited another couple of weeks I, like you, probably wouldn't have pulled the trigger just yet.
I hope you get the opportunity to experience the Viper up close and get out in one. Heck, get your wife behind the wheel and she will beg you to get it. My wife (who owns the 09 Challenger SRT8) LOVES the Viper. She can definitely attest to the huge difference between the Viper and Challenger.

[Caldermw]

Here's my perspective. Viper ownership is an experience. For me, it's an enormously positive experience but if you spend some time reading other posts on this forum you will see some complaining about the cars as well. Nothing in life is perfect so that is to be expected, and candidly, a bad experience with a car would surely sour the Viper memories. I do not drive mine nearly enough, but each time I get behind the wheel I am reminded why I bought my car (sight unseen, three years ago, I should add). I've driven several Hellcats (including a heavily-modified version w/ 1000+ HP at the wheels) and they are great in their own right. If you prefer interior space, the riding height of a prototypical passenger car, the sound of supercharger whine, and a back seat...all with absurd amounts of horsepower and torque, then the Hellcat is for you. That vehicle will also allow you to remain relatively anonymous while driving it, as very few people care enough about Hellcats to stop and ask your permission to take a picture with it or to pop the hood.

On the other hand, the Viper is nearly impossible to park anywhere without at least one person taking a picture of it, asking you how much horsepower it has, what year it is, whether you have tracked it, what it's like to drive, and why Dodge stopped making such an awesome car. More Corvettes are made in an average year than Vipers were made in 25 years. So there are not many Vipers out there comparatively speaking. I embrace opportunities to let strangers get to know a bit about the car; I think it is my obligation as a loyal Viper enthusiast. I routinely pop the hood, start it up and give it some revs for their social media accounts, and answer questions for people about the car. That is what devout stewardship for a car one loves is all about.

Perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of Viper ownership is the VOA and its regional chapters. This group is an incredible resource and asset to Viper ownership. I am in the Western Reserve, for example, and our membership is awesome. My sense is that you will find similarly-wonderful experiences and people in the other VOA chapters as well. I consider my fellow WR VOA members to be personal friends of mine and their company at our local events makes owning the car that much more pleasurable. We do weekend trips to vineyards, historical sites, lakes, rivers, you name it...all trips include tons of laughs, plenty of time behind the wheel of our beloved snakes, and irreplaceable camaraderie. I could go on and on and on but suffice it to say that I am a "Viper person" and if you want my vote, I say DO IT!! I'm happy to talk with you on the phone too. Shoot me a message on here and I'll give you my personal cell number. Good luck and enjoy the journey.

[captainjerky]

Hey, thanks again for all the replies. I used to have a 1996 Impala SS and the owners had that same pride that you Viper folks seem to. It's a great feeling to know there are people out there as excited about the car as myself!
And the financial angle is very valid as well. Let someone else take the depreciation on the car and I can get it for the cost of a new Hellcat which, as you've all noted, will only decline in value, whereas the Viper will always have value if I need a kidney transplant or something. :-)
I appreciate all the in-depth thoughts! Thanks again!

[1BADV10]

If you find one you like and you can afford it then buy it. A Viper was on my bucket list for years and I finally got the chance to buy one a few years ago. I sold it last year but I will never regret buying it and enjoying it for a while, it's definitely a unique experience. I sold it for two reasons, first I live a decent distance away from a good Viper tech and they are getting hard to find. Vipers break just like any other car. Secondly I was super picky about the car and like my other muscle cars in the garage It demanded nice weather conditions, hard to travel with as I would never park overnight outside a motel, no winter driving, so it spent waaay too much time in the garage and life's too short for that shit. Sold it and bought a new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, that's a toy that can be enjoyed year-a-round, rain or shine, off road and back roads or highways, and easy to get in and out of....my only regret is I should have bought the Jeep 30 years ago! Buy the Viper if you can, even if it's for a short time they are awesome to drive and own and be part of a rare group of people who own those beasts. Like I said I will never regret buying one, it just didn't work out long term for me.

[dodgefever]

I have owned my Viper for 14 years and it now has 105K miles on it so you can certainly say I drive it often. I also currently own a Scat Pack Challenger 6.4L and have had other SRT products. They are totally different driving experiences, yet similar driving experiences. Similar in that both cars will make you the center of attention (often unwanted). Every cell phone on the highway comes out for both cars. This becomes irritating when they ride your quarter panel for miles. Both cars get crazy attention at gas stations (don't be in a hurry). Both cars merit waves from similar cars. Both cars will leave a smile on your face and a smile from just being behind the wheel. You will park at your destination and turn to look at either car. Both cars will be a constant source of guys from 18 to 80 wanting to test their testosterone level against your car. You simply can't pass a Mustang without them wanting to show you what a piece of S*** your Dodge is. Most people in a performance car will rev the engine at you but most just want to hear your car rev, not race.
Now, the difference. The main difference in driving experience is what your goal and destination are. If you are looking to burn some adrenalin and scream along back roads, it's definitely the Viper you want. If you have some tension in your life and want therapy, get the Viper. If you want to take multiple people in your family somewhere and want to enjoy the trip, then the Hellcat is your choice. I just took a trip to Western Carolina which is a 9 hour trip for me and the Challenger was an easy choice for the drive. It was fun, comfortable, got 26MPG, and could easily get away from idiots on the highway. The downside was my destination was the Tail of the Dragon (https://tailofthedragon.com) and it was a scary experience in the Challenger. In the Viper it is a blast.

[captainjerky]

Thanks again for the replies. My biggest concern was always whether I would get enough use out of it to justify the cost. Sounds like everyone is pretty much on the same page: buy it, haha.
I already have a family car, so I guess I've probably answered most of my own questions here; the point being this is a life experience I need to sign up for. :-)
I really appreciate all the time everyone took in adding replies. Thanks for your time!
I'll just have to lurk until I find the right car now...

[ellowviper]

I've had my GTS since 2005...so 15 yrs. Still get a thrill every time I drive it. At this point, I figure its cash value to me is pretty much depreciated so I don't worry about residual resale or having a garage queen that must be in impeccable condition. But I do keep all my vehicles in top running condition and take care of my stuff I drive. All it costs to own at this point is $50/yr registration and $1000 per year insurance...so I keep it since it is a bit of an enigma in today's PC society.