Hello everyone from Newcastle

[Dex]

Hi all,
Dave from Newcastle here
Just thought I would say hello, been around on pistonheads on a few threads on Vipers etc, and short version of my story Been vette owner for 14 yrs or so, currently got a 99 C5 Convertible, with a few mods, next car Is going to be my keeper for some time, so will hunt out a nice, low mileage one.. Was considering a C6 Z06 , then found out Vipers are same dimensions roughly, so if I can get a Z In the garage ( yet to try!) then this may do the trick, and has chucked a V10 spanner in the works

And as a current owner of a corvette know what getting parts, work done can be like, but trying to Weigh up cost differences as much as possible.. MPG not bothered, it’s a second car, and if that bothered me Why would I buy an 8ltr car!!
Its things like costs for some items below versus my current corvette I’m looking into to, and I believe some of you have had both?

> Insurance
> General service ( oils etc)
> Tyres
> Clutch replacement
> Brakes & disks

Anything else relevant really.. ??

I have a local guy who services the vette, and he’s great ( also makes custom exhausts which is a bonus !!)
Now going to ask if he’s interested in servicing etc.. he had an SRT10 truck in, and he seemed to be having loads of problems with It, and it was there for ages, trying to get parts etc for it… I don’t know the full story on it, may have been the owner Holding things up, it was a rebuild it looked like! So if he can do things that would be great for that side.. I do remember him Saying parts were and issue and expensive etc… but doubt he used club resources and contacts which obviously helps.. And a few guys have said lot of parts are normal prices, or not much more..

So I’m considering even to import if when I’m ready none are available here, my prefer is a convertible Gen 3 as I like the look of them (maybe a coupe… but still prefer the look of the vert) and keep fairly standard..

I may look to even import from US for right car ..but would need to do this through an agent, someone to check numbers / history etc independent check type of thing
And ship over, SVA etc
Or from Europe similar thing with checks if you can do this?? There seems to be one or two around in Italy, Spain, Germany etc

Will have a fairly strict budget to work too, think circa £30k or so…
bit of saving to be done ( underway)
sell my motorbike ( going on Saturday!)
then my car to shift…........ not sure when to do This really as I don’t really want to be without of a car at all to play with, but may have to do this in the end to be ready for next one

The plan to for final decision get a ride ( or drive) in....

C6 Z06 ( more or less sorted)
Viper (TBC)
Shelby Mustang ( curve ball this, but sorted as well, and why not)


Also vette club has fair showing up in the NE of England,which has always been nice and very useful... I know Vipers are much rarer, are there any members up in the North End of country, or Scotland? Or I work in Cheshire during the week too..
Be great to get access to one, or I’m going to have to get to a gathering.. Which I will do anyway..

There is supposed to be a super charged yellow one up here apparently??? Been seen on some occasions ( maybe an urban myth!)

Thanks
Dave

[Nine Ball]

Hello Dave,

I visit Newcastle 3-4 times a year, due to work (oil industry). Might be there late May again. Beautiful city, I really enjoy my visits.

Viper is a bit smaller than a Corvette, so garage should be fine. They are actually easier to work on compared to the C6Z06, especially anything drivetrain/transmission related. Vipers are simple to dismantle and put back together again, easier than any car I've owned. Even spark plug changes are wide open, without any clearance issues. Cars would probably be cheaper here in the USA, especially convertibles. The coupes hold their value better, as there are fewer of them built. You might try getting with a large dealership like Tomball Dodge (outskirts of Houston, TX) to locate and ship a car out of of the Port of Houston. Pretty common to see this, as it is the major import/export port down south.

Tony

[Dex]

Great Tony.. Thanks a lot for that .. Much appreciated
I will look into that, I think there is some sales tax in certain states to consider? Not 100% but sure I've seen that..... And that's before we get smacked down here with HM tax bandits!! But that could be a good option, as the history should be ok from a good dealer, there are companies who collect from ports and ship...

Let me know when your next in Newcastle , if I'm around we might sneak in a beer!

[Fatboy 18]

Hello Dave, only just seen this thread!

Dave our UK website tech Guru put together this service list a while back.
http://www.driveviper.co.uk/viper_service_info.html

My experience has only been related to Gen 1 and II Vipers, so I'm not really able to give you much advice on the later models.

I did import my car from the USA. I had never done anything like that before in my life, but with the help of Viper members both sides of the pond the whole experience was Awesome.

Tires are the biggest expense, If you go the import route and have a bit of spare cash I would grab a couple of extra sets of tyres to put in the container, (you will be glad you did).
I know the later gen cars were originally fitted with 19" wheels and run flat tyres, there was a lot of controversy over these tyres and many Viper owners changed them. The nick name was 'Run craps'

If you look on the UK Viper website there are a few of us who have imported our cars from the USA, we used a company called Kingstown Shipping who are part of the Towergate Group. If you contact the shipping company they are very helpful and will explain the whole process.

I found my car being sold privately in the Viper Club classifieds. After contacting the owner I asked if he would allow the car to be test driven and inspected. My car was in Northern California, so I contacted Some local Viper owners Via the forum to go and check the car over for me. The reports all came back fine and the owner was known to the club. Now this was a bonus but a UK member was nearby on Vacation and also offered to inspect the car for me, Dave sent me back many,many detailed pictures of the car, there was glitch, the car would not start due to having a flat battery. This was resolved when The owner then posted a video on YouTube of the car starting up from cold and a short clip of the car going up and down the street, I WAS HOOKED!



I also Got a CarFax report on the car to check owners etc. Everything checked out fine so I sent my monies via a international bank transfer.
The owner of the car could not have been more helpful and to save me the costs of shipping the car from his home to the docks, he delivered it for me and then took detailed pictures of the condition of the car and the mileage recorded.

So that's my story

Another place that does good deals on tyres in the UK is Costco, they stock Michelin tyres and have 20% offers twice a year, they will not have the tyres in stock but you will be able to order them at the discounted price.

You will need to allow in your costing's (if you decide to import) MOT, DVLA registration (allocated number plate), IVA test (I think) Like an MOT but more detailed. Contact Viper Dave, he will be able to explain the in's and out's on this matter.

As for insurance, Many of us use Competition Car insurance biased in Milton Keynes. They recognise the VOA and give us a club discount.

[Dex]

Hi fat boy!
Thanks a lot for that... Good idea asking forum guys to look at car!..

On run flats , I had some on my old vette wheels and when I changed them to new wheels I sold them on, when the guy checked them with tyres off they had lots of tiny cracks! Just years of pounding!!!

Great info.. Are there any gen 3 members north if country, Cheshire / Wales area or Scotland do you know?

[Dex]

One more thing on parts this guy is off the vette forum, there's a dodge section...
Any use to anyone?
Rockauto

http://www.rockauto.co.uk/index.php

[Fatboy 18]

One more thing on parts this guy is off the vette forum, there's a dodge section...
Any use to anyone?
Rockauto

http://www.rockauto.co.uk/index.php

seem to be some odd items there? I have never used them.

I get all my parts Direct from the USA, its easy, Just email Jonb Partsrack or Tators Garage for most of your Viper needs, I also use Mark at Ipsco for Billet products.

As for your other question on Gen 3 owners, there might be one or two in your direction but sadly I don't know of any. The nearest owner I can think of is in the Midlands. Bauer Millet in Manchester might know of something floating around so would be worth a call. (they may have sold one or two to those Football guys)

[Dex]

seem to be some odd items there? I have never used them.

I get all my parts Direct from the USA, its easy, Just email Jonb Partsrack or Tators Garage for most of your Viper needs, I also use Mark at Ipsco for Billet products.

As for your other question on Gen 3 owners, there might be one or two in your direction but sadly I don't know of any. The nearest owner I can think of is in the Midlands. Bauer Millet in Manchester might know of something floating around so would be worth a call. (they may have sold one or two to those Football guys)

Will do, actually had a few chats with the MD there on vettes, he's on piston heads quite a bit, good idea.. I should have gone to view that yellow one in Mansfield ! Probably could have got a drive too!

Midlands might be ok for me, I work a few days in Nantwich in Cheshire , which is not a million miles away..

[C.J]

Hi Dex, I've used Rock Auto before and they have been fine. No problems with orders or shipping.

[Dex]

Hey CJ
Yes the vette guys over here seem to use him...


Fat boy : nice video mate! That's really cool of the guy

[Fatboy 18]

The deal was done right there!

[AZTVR]

Good idea asking forum guys to look at car!..

Also, unless you buy from one of the several highly respected dealers known here, it is a very good idea to get a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) by a known, good, Viper tech. There are quite a few around the country who have a solid history of skill, knowledge, integrity. When you locate a car, I suggest you post here to locate such a tech. The folks here know "the best." Buying a Viper in specific places around the country that have easy access to these guys would make it a very safe bet, IMHO.

[Fatboy 18]

What I can tell you is since I purchased my car prices in the USA for these cars have GONE UP Yet people in the UK are trying to force the prices down Well, they can try

[Dex]

Also, unless you buy from one of the several highly respected dealers known here, it is a very good idea to get a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) by a known, good, Viper tech. There are quite a few around the country who have a solid history of skill, knowledge, integrity. When you locate a car, I suggest you post here to locate such a tech. The folks here know "the best." Buying a Viper in specific places around the country that have easy access to these guys would make it a very safe bet, IMHO.

Thanks mate, wise words indeed..

Fat boy there are some good prices in Europe, which are tempting... Italy particularly.. They must go up again at some point.
Difficulty is finding a euro company for the cheques, and not sure how you'd safely purchase either ! Although some are in garage forecourts so legit businesses

[8.4L 154]

We have a support crew page on our website with lots of links to companies that make owning a viper in the UK much easier, http://www.driveviper.co.uk/support_crew.html NONE of these company's have paid anything to be put on that page, they are there because someone in the club (mostly me loll) has used them and had good experience, but on that page you can buy your car, ship it, insure it, and get parts to fix it. Anyone in the club is welcome to and i would encourage them to let me know of other companies we can add. That page is our page not the vendors. On the other hand if one of them is giving problems let me know too, may not drop them based on one report (two sides to a story and all that) but if there is a theme then bye bye.

Ps any vendors wanting to offer us discounts etc are welcome to get in touch too, if your already on the page I can add the info, if not we will look into it and maybe add a sponsored section or see of someone will recommend you for promotion to the main listing.

[8.4L 154]

Bruce has a Gen3 FE up north somewhere, he runs a fish restaurant somewhere between Birmingham and Manchester, Been there once on the NVR, but i just followed the viper in front and have no clue where we went. So if you like fish you could try them all and see if you can find one who's owner has a viper, Bruce however isn't an active club member unfortunately, but when i met him he seemed like a good bloke so I'm sure after a nice meal and a chat he'd at least let you gawk at it in the car park.

[Dex]

Bruce has a Gen3 FE up north somewhere, he runs a fish restaurant somewhere between Birmingham and Manchester, Been there once on the NVR, but i just followed the viper in front and have no clue where we went. So if you like fish you could try them all and see if you can find one who's owner has a viper, Bruce however isn't an active club member unfortunately, but when i met him he seemed like a good bloke so I'm sure after a nice meal and a chat he'd at least let you gawk at it in the car park.

Thanks Dave... Sounds like a good challenge working through all the restaurants ! Ha ha..
I really dropped a bollock with that yellow one.. Should have taken the opportunity to go check it out !

[MAMBA]

Hi Dex

Believe it or not you were close about the supercharged viper, I am 2 miles from you! you might recognise this location, she's white though.

J

[MAMBA]

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[MAMBA]

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[Fatboy 18]

Welcome to the VOA Forums MAMBA

[Dex]

Mamba! Are you serious?
I can't believe it.. I need to come find you?

[MAMBA]

Hi Dex
The video is my car going past Washington services with the wife in pursuit in a 500 bhp range rover, she didn't have a chance.
Am I right in saying your are in Jarrow next to the school?

[Dex]

Ha ha yes recognised the location.....Well there's not a lot that would keep up to be fair!!

No I'm up next to the Newcastle racecourse ..

[MAMBA]

Dex do you know about these local cruises?
http://www.northeaststreetrodclub.co.uk/when-where/
I will have the viper out next week once I get her MOTed.