I currently have a Gen III and would love to own a Gen IV. A few years ago I saw a 2008 Viper Red with White racing stripes and the red and black interior at a local dealership with less than 900 miles on it and I fell in love...that is my dream Viper and if I had $80k at the time, it would have been mine lol. Despite the prices dropping quite a bit since then, being in grad school and working part-time at the moment means I will probably have to wait a few years before I can think about trading up to a Gen IV. What I love about the Gen IV is the extra 100 horsepower, 202 mph top speed for a roadster, and more aggressive hood (I read the Gen IV also helps reduce the cabin heat, but that honestly doesn't bother me since I'm rarely in bumper-to-bumper traffic).

I know a lot of you currently own multiple Vipers or have owned several Vipers so to Gen IV owners who also own or have owned a Gen III, is the Gen IV really worth the extra $20k+? I suppose I could get a Gen IV hood for my Gen III so that would solve that problem in the looks department, but is the extra 100 hp really worth it? Do you think within the next 5-10 years the Gen IV will drop down into the $30k range where I could pick one up while keeping my Gen III?

Thanks for your advise!

-Derek