Viper purchase went bad

[Rizzo]

Hey guys. So I found what I thought was going to be a great 05 SRT with 5700 miles on it. I went back and forth with the dealer in Port Coquitlam and flew out with cheque in hand yesterday morning. ( I live just east of Regina Sk ), The carfax was clean, car proof was clean and I talked to another dealer that had seen it and he even thought it looked great. The car was out front and looked amazing when I got to it.....until I started to look closer. First I checked out the front bumper and it looked too good. Not a stone chip or scuff anywhere. Repainted? Yep. Looked inside the grills and the idiots hadnt even taken the masking tape off the inside that they used to cover the overspray. My spidy senses started to tingle so I went in to search mode. Found the drivers side front fender had been taped off and repainted. Drivers inside door jamb had overspray so door had been repainted, hood..repainted.... drivers side back fender...repainted...back bumper...repainted...right side rear fender...repainted...passenger door..repainted.. The only panel I couldnt find that wasnt obvioulsy painted was the front passenger side fender and by the time I had gotten to that fender I was so pissed that the AS% hole let me fly all the way out to Vancouver that I was going to choke him. He played stupid and felt bad and tried to give me a "great deal" on another car. Before I lost my temper and threw him through his plate glass window I left the dealership sans Viper and had to book another flight home. In case any of you are thinking about buying the nice black Viper at Bay City Kia stay away. There is a story on it and its been in a major accident somewhere and the somehow does not show up on Carfax etc. Just thought I would warn anyone thinking about buying this car or anything else from these to crooks to stay away.

 

[supersnake]

Sorry about your Luck, I know of a 2006 VOI9 Coupe in Red Deer with 900 Kms on it and no stories, If interested it is at Northwest Motors, 403-346-2035 ask for Graham.

 

[Chrissss]

I still cannot understand this undying faith in carfax/carcheck. They are not worth the paper they are written on. A car can and very well may have had serious damage and it won't be on carfax. Once again, carfax only can report what is reported to them. If a car has had major damage, and is it fixed by a local repair, it won't be on carfax. Even a great deal of dealerships will not report to carfax. Even carfax's guarantee states it is only responsible for what is reported to them. I honestly think I have seen more cars with clean carfaxes that have in fact had damage than not.

Carfax is an indicator and nothing more. In no case should a clean carfax be taken as an absolute. I'm glad you didn't trust the carfax and looked close at the car instead of being disappointed afterwards.

 

[RTTTTed]

You didn't pay for an independant inspection? You didn't call the regional President and ask for a Coq phone number to ask one of the VCA guys to check it out for you? Eliems seems like an awesome guy and I think he would have been happy to do that for a VCA guy.

I've commited to buy a Paxton GTS in Phoenix and the famous "Eddie Martin" is doing an inspection on it tomorrow before I buy tickets and go hand over the cash. It also helps if you find another car or two in the area in case the original choice isn't what you were told or "feels" wrong.

Sorry about your happenstance. I drove from Chicago to Ringgold Georgia in a (choke,puke) Kia and back again because the 01 ACR that was the best deal shook at 70 and the steering wheel went crazy at 80mph. Ringgold said, "It must need a wheel alignment." ***? The owners B/w Roe car was really sweet, but had 53,000 miles and was the same price. Went back to Pekin and bought the nicest 98 GTS I've ever seen instead. The owner wouldn't let me test drive it (after flying 2500 miles) because "there are a couple puddles her and there on the road". Bought that car.

Ted

 

[plumcrazy]

carfax is a joke. yet people put sooo much faith into it............

 

[PDCjonny]

It's just one tool of many that should be used in checking out any car.

 

[ViperGTS]

Checking out a car in person is a must.
Especially, if it is a VIPER!

I checked 3 RT/10 (2002's) in the US over the last year and I found out that all three had a problem - but only by checking them out in person!
Looking underneath a car and talking to the owner/seller can open your eyes.

I think that at least 1/3 of all Viper have seen an incident and s o m e sellers are not honest and don't tell you before.

 

[Mopar Boy]

Sorry to hear that. Just be glad you found it all before you purchased!

 

[Rizzo]

You didn't pay for an independant inspection? You didn't call the regional President and ask for a Coq phone number to ask one of the VCA guys to check it out for you? Eliems seems like an awesome guy and I think he would have been happy to do that for a VCA guy.

I've commited to buy a Paxton GTS in Phoenix and the famous "Eddie Martin" is doing an inspection on it tomorrow before I buy tickets and go hand over the cash. It also helps if you find another car or two in the area in case the original choice isn't what you were told or "feels" wrong.

Sorry about your happenstance. I drove from Chicago to Ringgold Georgia in a (choke,puke) Kia and back again because the 01 ACR that was the best deal shook at 70 and the steering wheel went crazy at 80mph. Ringgold said, "It must need a wheel alignment." ***? The owners B/w Roe car was really sweet, but had 53,000 miles and was the same price. Went back to Pekin and bought the nicest 98 GTS I've ever seen instead. The owner wouldn't let me test drive it (after flying 2500 miles) because "there are a couple puddles her and there on the road". Bought that car.

Ted

I thought about getting someone to go check it out and even looked on here to see if there was an active member in the Vancouver area but then I thought about it. There are a lot of Viper owners who do not know what to look for either. Unless you have some type of experience with body work it can very hard to check for repaint etc. Then the guy that checks it out feels bad because he maybe misses something and tells me its great and then I fly in and find the damage myself. Its a lot to ask of someone so I thought I would just check it out myself. I asled all the right questions but you cant do anything about a dealer that flat out lies. I straight out asked him if it had ever had any paint repairs. He said no. There were no stories with the car. It was PERFECT. When I got there and showed them the damn masking tape on the front bumper they admitted that they had in fact repainted the front bumper but that was it. Nothing else. The owner ( Marco ) still tried to play stupid and said he had no idea his guys painted the bumper. He was an idiot and got cought in a lie and then went and hid in his office and had one of his sales flunkies try to sell me a Porsche that was perfect...HAHAHAHAHAHA.. IT HAD BEEN REPAINTED !!!!... Idiots. And about the carfax.. I know very well that it is only a tool but it gives you an idea that at least there were no major insurance claims against the car. Hence the reason I would not give them a deposit until I saw the car. Lesson leared. My brother lives in Vancouver so at least I got to have a short visit with him.

 

[Brian GTS]

Good thing you went to see the car yourself. Just think if you would have taken their word and bought sight unseen!!!

 

[fireball]

Major Bummer!

I got your call while I was at live theatre. I texted back to the same number you called from.

That just totally *****!

Don't worry - there's a really good car out there for you. Just take your time, you'll find it.

Greg

 

[Fatboy 18]

The right car is out there for you, just not that one

Ive been where you are and its very frustrating.

Keep looking

 

[RTTTTed]

What are you looking for??? How about an 802rwhp 2001 Viper GTS ACR??? Perfect shape. I have a few thing to perfect and painting the bottom the front bumper is one of them, but not from an accident.

Ted

 

[JBW1997]

I thought you sold that car, RTTTTed?

 

[Mopar Boy]

What are you looking for??? How about an 802rwhp 2001 Viper GTS ACR??? Perfect shape. I have a few thing to perfect and painting the bottom the front bumper is one of them, but not from an accident.

Ted

Huh? You have two Vipers?

Man you just confuzled me.

 

[Rizzo]

Sorry about your Luck, I know of a 2006 VOI9 Coupe in Red Deer with 900 Kms on it and no stories, If interested it is at Northwest Motors, 403-346-2035 ask for Graham.

I called about that one. Sounds very nice but the prices was too high for me. Thanks for the info though.

 

[Rizzo]

What are you looking for??? How about an 802rwhp 2001 Viper GTS ACR??? Perfect shape. I have a few thing to perfect and painting the bottom the front bumper is one of them, but not from an accident.

Ted

I really miss having a top that goes down so I want to try a Gen 3 or 4 vert.

 

[plumcrazy]

but it gives you an idea that at least there were no major insurance claims against the car.

this is NOT true

 

[RTTTTed]

I'm on my way o buy another sc'd GTS. Don't want to write on THIS thread about it.

Ted

 

[VPR RACR]

So, the previous owner traded his Viper in for s Kia?

 

[Asp Man]

So, the previous owner traded his Viper in for s Kia?

By the sounds of it, the kia dealer probably picked it up at the auction and figured on a splash job and to flip it for a quick buck. Hopefully no one gets taken in on this car, and Rizzo has done a service to the community by raising the flag on this car. Though I know it's of little comfort to him.

Looks like Willowbrook has a few, have you talked to them?

 

[JonB]

There is a story on it and its been in a major accident somewhere and the somehow does not show up on Carfax etc. Just thought I would warn anyone thinking about buying this car or anything else from these to crooks to stay away.

I don't know about the etc., but more than half the totalled cars we buy have a totally clean C-Fax.... even months or years after the wreck. I have posted it dozens of times: no information means exactly that.

Sorry for your lost time, I hope you find a good car.

 

[balance]

Ottawa customer recently picked up 2008 from us with only 2,000km. (BC car) for under $70,000. We decline to purchase most Vipers as they have questionable history - 2008 orange coupe w/ aero pkg. currently making the 'rounds. (serviced here but repossession with high km.)

 

[Martin]

Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't it be best to just buy a car from someone on this site who's got some history and maybe knows a few people in the club? I know I sure wouldn't want to sell a storied car on this site without disclosing everything up-front - word gets out quick... The prices in the classifieds mostly seem fair, and even if they're a few bucks more than Autotrader or EBay unknowns, it's cheaper than getting a storied car.

 

[HSSSSSS]

I really miss having a top that goes down so I want to try a Gen 3 or 4 vert.

White with blue stripes '06 for sale in Blackfalds. 5 Min. from Red Deer. It was on the Drumheller run on Western Canada Event last summer. PM if you want a phone no.

 

[Darbgnik]

White with blue stripes '06 for sale in Blackfalds. 5 Min. from Red Deer. It was on the Drumheller run on Western Canada Event last summer. PM if you want a phone no.

Is that GREECE's car? If so, that's in spectacular shape.

 

[johniew398]

I think this would have been my first clue to stay away, "Bay City Kia?"

Who buys a Viper at a Kia dealership????

 

[HSSSSSS]

Is that GREECE's car? If so, that's in spectacular shape.

Yes it is. He is worried about his boy wanting to drive it (he just got his license). I guess "NO that is off limits" does not work for him.

 

[Rizzo]

I actually talked ot the owner of Willowbrook and he saw the Viper I was going out to see. He said he was even considering buying it. He did tell me that he not do a real close up inspection of the car but that it looked really good. It looked great when I pulled up to it too but once I did the close up inspection is when the flaws started to show up.

There are a few forum member cars I have checked in to and am currently seriously interested in one in particular. We'll see what happens.

Worse case is I drive my 98 again which is never a bad thing. I cant wait for the roads to clear up a bit and get it out of storage. Another week or 2 and it should be home.

PS. Thanks for the info on the white SRT in Red Deer but I'm not looking for a white one. Just not my favorite color for a Viper.

 

[HSSSSSS]

You said you had called on the '06 VOI 9 in Red Deer which is White with blue. It is not my color either. There is a very nice 900 HP '05 in our classifieds. Being Yellow is a bonus.