Did I buy a ****?

blackandblue01

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I originally had a 96 gts, Sold it bought the wife a new house. Bought an 01 gts. I keep reading all these posts about, poor water pumps, can only handle 5psi of boost, non forged internals, etc. etc. Begining to think I have messed up by saving a few dollars by buying this model. I did get it cheap with the intentions of a repaint and some tuning. What do you guys think?
 

eucharistos

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in terms of "refinement" of the gen II's, late '01's and '02's are cream of the crop. :2tu:

on a going on 10 yr old car, really how bad is having to put on a new water pump, p/s bracket and pulley. and 5psi is well in the safe zone for the "creampuffs", if you are not going fi, you got one of the best 2 yrs imo.

enjoy your ride bro,

:drive:
 

GTLaser

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Sounds like you need to do some research about vipers in general..... But in short yes you are correct.
 

maxdaddy

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OK,Up to a 95 have week head gaskets, 96's-? have bad casting on the blocks,(ie recalls)2000 have no forged interals but better blocks, no abs, then 2001- 2002, has abs, but has no forged internals, The shame thing is on a Viper sight you think you bought a ****! Dont watch the news either, you will not wake up tommorrow.
 

speedracervr4

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Do you plan on doing forced induction? Is it a clean title? If you don't plan on going FI ,then I don't think its a ****. The water pump isn't that hard to change. Just be thankful you have a Viper.
 
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blackandblue01

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Ok so **** is harsh, but I did get the answer I was looking for, I love these cars soooooooooo much. I have been so sick after selling my 96, Title is clean, Car is in good shape, Needs alot of detail work and some tlc. It is in great hands now and will be pampered from now on. thanks guys
 

whitebluevipe

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"Ok so **** is harsh, but I did get the answer I was looking for, I love these cars soooooooooo much". for loving these cars soooo much you sure don't seem to know much about them.
 

kcobean

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Ok so **** is harsh, but I did get the answer I was looking for, I love these cars soooooooooo much. I have been so sick after selling my 96, Title is clean, Car is in good shape, Needs alot of detail work and some tlc. It is in great hands now and will be pampered from now on. thanks guys

'01 is fine!!! I had an '01 up until about 7 months ago. You got ABS, which is great to have in these cars. If ya just gotta have boost and a couple of pounds won't do it for you, a piston change isn't a huge deal.

Water pumps come and go...change to a non-silicon based coolant if it hasn't been done already, and drive it til it leaks or the pump goes....who cares!

Starting off your relationship with your new car feeling like it's a **** over such little things is no way to go....enjoy it!
 

Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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Sounds to me like you bought a kick asp Viper. It always amazes me how folks start talking about the 2000 to 2002 as not having forged internals ------------------well, hello, neither do the 2003 to 2010s ,yet it seldom ever comes up in a discussion.

If one is unbiased they can rattle off stuff about porous oil pans, steering rack recalls, transmission noise ,water pumps, gaskets, and on and on, but guess the years ---many are for Gen IIs, and Gen Is.

The reality is that Vipers have a very good record over the years, fewer recalls than a Corvette, and some of the perceptions out there are frankly perpetuated by folks who are enamored by the car they own.

The fastest stock Gen II Viper ever run was a red , 2000, RT-10 run at Englishtown, at 11.7, so what does that say. Good PR by the Forged Horseman and others made folks forget that the 99 was rumored to have PCM changes, extra weight , and it was the slowest Viper yet. Today it is a highly sought after year -- we buy based on what we hear, even when it is not always accurate.

What this all boils down to, is every year Viper may have some minor quirk, but it is a piece of machinery, yet the main thing is they are so much better than virtually all their competition. You don't have a **** , you have a ****ttt kickin beast that is fantastic. Only two years of ABS within the 11 year Gen1 and Gen II build timeframe, makes me think you have something quite special!

Enjoy your Snake just like you did your 96.:headbang: I have had a 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004,2005,2006 and a 2008. All have been like the first girls I kissed, love them all, but right now the wife/mistress is the 2008 and it is my favorite. Am I fickle, no, I am just a typical owner, and keep that in mind when you ask a broad question ---most will find fault in your lady , cuz they think theirs is cuter,ha,ha.

Bill Pemberton
 

Dom426h

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"Ok so **** is harsh, but I did get the answer I was looking for, I love these cars soooooooooo much". for loving these cars soooo much you sure don't seem to know much about them.

I was thinking the same thing:)

----------------------------------------------------

What color are you planning on painting the ****?
Tell us more about it and yourself. Any mods done to it yet?
Where are you located? Update your profile under UserCP(top left corner):2tu:
 

Matt M PA

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Nice job Bill! Can I have an "Amen"?

I am so tired of reading smack about the "creampuff" 2000 and later Gen IIs. (I seem to also remember that when the 2000s first hit that Viper Days penalized them.)

You even see this nonsense in Viper for sale listings.
 

Paul Hawker

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The pistons in your Viper were of a newer, high tech material. They were superior in almost all regards except for supercharged or turboed applications.

Enjoy your new snake.
 

01sapphirebob

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I've got an '01 myself and love the thing to death.

CIMG0464.JPG
 

viperdrummer

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92, 95, 00 ,05, 06 ,09, 10= 100,000 + miles =DIY oil changes + 1 or 2 minor annoyances (of late paint/seats)
No, none, nada powertrain work.

Even though it is a sports car, in terms of reliabilty (knock on wood) I would put these 7 Vipers (don't really drive the 92-collector car) against any Honda (6) I have bought my wife and kids. Better than my Vettes, much better than my BMWs; better than my Caddies.

Assuming I knew its history, I would not hesitate to buy any Gen Viper and drive it across country .
 
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blackandblue01

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It is sapphire blue with black stripes, Has headers not real sure who made them, in the process of installing random tech high flow cats. thanks to john at parts rack. Finishing out with a borla cat back. Going to repaint the car next year probably a combo of gts blue and black. Has 19" 3 piece wheels polished lip with black centers. They are rough, I really like them so will probably have them refinished. The tires were a *** of cash so the wheels will have to wait. As far as my lack of education about the cars, well I am no viper einstein but I was focused on my 96 at the time. I finally got the thumbs up again from the boss and jumped like a banded cat at the opportunity to put a snake back in my garage.
 

IEATVETS

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Great post Bill. So much hypes about 00' and newer Vipers not having forged internals I am sick of hearing about it, you hit the nail on the head!
Why is it nobody ever talks about Gen 3-4 not having forged internals, just 00'-02's?
 

WANTED

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Just a fyi , abs saved my life with my 2002 rt/10. i was able to steer it when out of
control. the car died but i lived. my answer is no you did not buy a ****.
 

Bobpantax

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When I first saw the title of this thread I did not give a s**t and was going to dump the thread. But then I was moved to action by the fact that it says "Enthusiast" after your handle. If you want an expert opinion from VCA members who have experience on **** buying I think that you need to cough up the coin and join the club. After that you will have access to the secret, encrypted data involving all ***** subjects pertaining to Vipers.

Make sure you clean that turkey out very well. If you had trouble knowing if something as big as a Viper was a ****, you might miss one in the turkey.
 

kcobean

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Ahhh, Matt, but since the Gen III was designed way before the Vette, the proper term would be the Vette looks " Viperish!":2tu:

Don't confuse the poor new guy with facts Bill....He's busy being, as you put it " enamored by the car he owns". :lmao::lmao::lmao:

Seriously though, I was looking at some side-by-side shots of the two cars from similar angles and it's true, the lines, the rake of the body from nose to rear....very similar. The Viper is WAY more elegant, IMO, but then that's just me being enamored with the car I own. :rolaugh::lmao:
 
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