Your thoughts on a 20,000 mile car

[Wild Bill]

Ok- Car Fax came back clean (thanks!), Ran VIN-came back clean.

It is a 1998 RT/10 with 20,000 miles but no hard top. No price quote yet and I am waiting on pictures. If I proceed I will have a Viper tech look it over.

A higher mileage car is more prone to paint nicks and chips but what other items should I be sure to look at? Can the tech tell anything about the condition of the clutch (without a tear down)?

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated!.

Bill
(is this the one )

 

[pdmracing]

I have 32k & runs awesome. I have a ferrari dino with 157k & runs better than most all the way to 8k redline!. If properly maintained, I d rather have a driver than a garage queen.

 

[SUN RA KAT]

Have a Viper Tech give the car a good looky-see. I don't think 20,000 miles on a 4+ year old Viper is too many miles if it was taken care of. Seeing how much fun it is to drive these things, I suspect 4 winters prevented even more miles from being put on it.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

My 98 RT/10 is coming up on 60K. Slight oil leak around the timing cover. I haven't noticed any clutch problems yet.

 

[NCVCA]

track it.

 

[Vreracing]

I guess one way to think of it, it made it to 20K with out any major problems.

I'd try to find the service records.

If its clean I wouldn't worry.

My car got a few rattles in it in the first year with extreme temperature changes. After that it has not changed appreciably. It has 25K miles on it and is a 98GTS. Still drives like a dream.

 

[ceieio]

I wouldn't sweat 20K. It is all about the car and it's care. What would you think if you ran across a 4 year old SUV with "only" 20K on it? Most people would be pumped!

 

[onerareviper]

Personally, I would prefer 20K than 3K on a 1998. IMO, letting a car sit for extended periods and not allowing the parts to move and stay lubricated is much worse than a few miles (20K is nothing). VIPERS ARE DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN, NOT PARKED!

My .02

 

[genXgts]

While shockingly low miles makes for impressive ads, for those in the know that plan to drive the car more than a tank of gas or 2 per year, miles (in moderation) are a good thing.

Might need a freshening up at that mileage, fluids, tires, pads, etc., but nothing major. Clutches rarely go that early from what I have read, and even then are not much to change, $500 bucks if you pay someone to do it. I wouldn't let that sway the purchase of the car or not.

I envy Vipers that get driven as it means their owners are enjoying them, what a novel idea!!!haha, Slaughter and Chuck come to mind.......

Good luck,

 

[slaughterj]

I envy Vipers that get driven as it means their owners are enjoying them, what a novel idea!!!haha, Slaughter and Chuck come to mind.......

D@mn straight! Drive it!

To Wild Bill, in addition to fluids, etc., it might need new plugs (some will say plug wires as well, but I don't believe that).

 

[GR8_ASP]

I have about 33-34K (Haven't looked at the odometer in a few months) on my RT/10 and no major problems. Only normal maintenance in the past 3 or 4 years (fluids, brakes, etc.). Changed the clutch this winter but it wasn't really necessary as there was quite a bit of life left in it. I say drive it. That's what they were intended for.