Finally got my new Viper

HobokenViper

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So, I can still remember buying Motor Trend Magazine as a kid and seeing pics of the old Viper concept car in the late 80's, and then sometime in late 1992 when I was about 12 years old, I went to the local Dodge dealer with my parents to buy our first Dodge Caravan, and there it was, a brand new red Dodge Viper RT/10. I fell in love and couldn't believe how expensive it was at the time at over $50,000! It seemed like an absolute fortune to me at the time, and I thought it would be a dream that I would never realize. It was THE car that took my love for cars to the next level to the point of being obsessed with everything about cars, but especially Vipers. I swore to work very hard in school and at work and one day get myself one...

Fast forward 20 years, I'm now 33 years old, married with a beautiful 8 month old baby boy at home, and somehow finally pulled off getting my first Viper, a 2008 vert in GTS Blue with Silver stripes (1 of 9 in this color combo as I understand), with only 1,900 miles on it when I bought it. Funny thing is, I wasn't actually in the market to get one when this whole thing started going down, but when my cousin bought himself a 2011 Camaro SS, and another good friend bought a 2007 Porsche Carrera 4S, I found myself getting a real itch to step into something a bit more loud, mean, and exotic than my black 2008 Audi TT 3.2 (a car that I thoroughly enjoyed owning and driving). I randomly found a couple local Vipers online at Autotrader.com and Cars.com, but didn't think I could actually pull off buying one for myself, however I still wanted to test drive them and go take a look regardless. After a beautiful red one with white stripes was sold the day before I was supposed to go see it, I found a gorgeous blue/silver one not 30 miles from where I lived, and it was the only one like it in the country. Went to check it out at the seller's house (they were such nice people and clearly took extra special care of it), and took it for a great test drive where I had this huge stupid smile plastered onto my face that I couldn't wipe off. That smile stayed with me for the next few weeks and I couldn't help but to start negotiating with the seller within a week of my test drive. Only problem was that I still had HUGE negotiations to be done with my wife who wanted no part of me getting a new car that was even remotely like the Viper. When I showed her pictures of it and played sounds of the exhaust, boy did she hate everything about it!!! This was going to be mission impossible, and I actually gave up on buying the car at least a couple times..... Well, all in all it took 4 months of negotiations with the seller of the car and 3 much more difficult months of negotiating with my wife, but somehow I finally made it happen and took delivery of my new Viper in the end of August, and my wife now likes the car, but still HATES how loud it is. Now I can't wait until my son is old enough to where I am able to take him for his first drive in the car with me, but that's quite a few years away still......

I have to admit that I have had a huge smile on my face since I picked it up, and have been thoroughly enjoying the car since I got it. It has a nice home in my building's garage blocked in by our other car and is always covered up by a great CoverKing cover that I bought. I find that just knowing that I actually own my lifelong dream car is enough to put a huge smile on my face, even if I had a crummy day at work. I have to admit though that although I've owned many sports cars in the past that I felt comfortable exploiting the limits of on the road, I have real fear of doing the same with the Viper so far as I recognize that I don't yet possess the skills to take this car even near its limits. I also see this car as the first real car of my future collection, yet one that I also do want to enjoy driving. I keep the car perfectly clean, polished, and waxed to the point that the paint looks like glass, and I'm installing the Invisashield vinyl coating on it next weekend to protect the front and side sills from any chips or road rash. Any advice anyone on here has for a new owner like me is greatly appreciated, especially advice on where I might be able to attend a racing school where they teach you how to drive on a Viper or very comparable car...?

This is my first post on this site, and I'm really happy to now finally be a member of the Viper community. For now I have a picture of my car as my profile picture, but I'll post more pics of it when I figure out how to do that.....
 

tbsviper

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New Viper

Nice story and welcome to a the Great Viper Community. Lots of good people here from posers to racers who can offer you sound advice. I suspect you are in NJ so maybe the locals can help you out with performance driving school. In Ohio we have Mid Ohio race track and Pitt International Race Complex across the border in PA where you can get instruction and safely learn the capability of the Viper commensurate with your skill. I hope to see you around in the future. Again, congratulations!
 

Jog

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Agreed!!..That's one of the best color combos Dodge has to offer..And the bonus is " It's a Convertible!! "....SICK!!... ;)
 

Allan

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The SRT Track experience is worth doing, even though you would have to pay to do it. Their season is about over I think, so, next year maybe. -although they haven't been using Vipers for a while now, you can still learn a little. Get with some of your local club members and track, and find a good instructor to help you learn how to drive the car. The instructor needs to be familiar with Vipers or similar (rear drive high power monster car) not a miata dude. It costs less to pay for some 'how-to' advice then it does to try and learn on your own. -don't ask how I know. .....Congrats on the car,.....watch out for the cops. :nono:
 
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HobokenViper

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Thanks everyone! I'm sure all of you understand the amazing feeling when you first get your first Viper, and I don't think I will lose it anytime soon. Took my wife to a friend's wedding this past Saturday in the car and it was a great drive (and of course I didn't let the valet touch my car! Haha) and she actually enjoyed it.

We live in Hoboken, NJ and I keep my car there, but we spend many weekends up at my in-laws' house in Bedford, NY in Westchester County. Missed entering my car in the Scarsdale Concours d'Elegance a couple weeks ago, but the judges and board members invited me to be in the show next year as they had every exotic except a Viper there. I'm sure I'll see you at some events in the Westchester/Northern NJ area in 2013. I'll probably be a frequent flyer at the weekly Saturday night shows at Whiskey Cafe in Lyndhurst, NJ, and definitely let me know when there are other car shows worth checking out that you are going to in the area and I'm sure I'll go.
 

v10enomous

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Some of what you can look forward to...

Pocono Fall Cruise 2 weeks ago...


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Whiskey Cafe this past Summer...

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Thanks everyone! I'm sure all of you understand the amazing feeling when you first get your first Viper, and I don't think I will lose it anytime soon. Took my wife to a friend's wedding this past Saturday in the car and it was a great drive (and of course I didn't let the valet touch my car! Haha) and she actually enjoyed it.

We live in Hoboken, NJ and I keep my car there, but we spend many weekends up at my in-laws' house in Bedford, NY in Westchester County. Missed entering my car in the Scarsdale Concours d'Elegance a couple weeks ago, but the judges and board members invited me to be in the show next year as they had every exotic except a Viper there. I'm sure I'll see you at some events in the Westchester/Northern NJ area in 2013. I'll probably be a frequent flyer at the weekly Saturday night shows at Whiskey Cafe in Lyndhurst, NJ, and definitely let me know when there are other car shows worth checking out that you are going to in the area and I'm sure I'll go.
 

VYPR BYT 94

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I've owned many sports cars in the past that I felt comfortable exploiting the limits of on the road, I have real fear of doing the same with the Viper so far as I recognize that I don't yet possess the skills to take this car even near its limits.

Please don't... not on the road. Good suggestions above on the tracks.:1up:

Do you realize you used the word "smile" like 4 or 5 times in your 1st post? :lmao2:
Don't worry.... we all can relate! :D:D:D:D
My face was sore the first week.

Congratz!
Mike
 
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HobokenViper

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Some of what you can look forward to...

Pocono Fall Cruise 2 weeks ago...


You must be registered for see images attach



Whiskey Cafe this past Summer...

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Great pics! Sorry I missed the Pocono Fall Cruise, and knew about the Whiskey Cafe but got my car too late in the season. Really looking forward to all of this next year! Or whatever my very tolerant wife lets me actually go to..... Haha!
 
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HobokenViper

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Please don't... not on the road. Good suggestions above on the tracks.:1up:

Do you realize you used the word "smile" like 4 or 5 times in your 1st post? :lmao2:
Don't worry.... we all can relate! :D:D:D:D
My face was sore the first week.

Congratz!
Mike

Don't worry, I couldn't agree more. When I talk about pushing the limits, I just mean having a little bit of spirited fun punching it a little or taking a highway ramp a bit faster than normal. I couldn't be further from one of those maniacs that races people on highways and drives very dangerously. With the Viper you have nothing at all to prove to anyone since the car can beat almost anything short of a Veyron or an Aventador, and being a bit reckless with it can cost you a wrecked car or even a trip to the hospital if you are lucky. I have enormous respect for the car and just want to be the best driver I can be with it. I've had 2 Audi TT's in the past with AWD, a Nissan 350Z, and an old Camaro as the first car I ever bought myself with no traction control and guess which one I had my only accident with? That bad experience with the Camaro makes me overly cautious with the Viper, especially since I've waited 20 years for it and want to keep it pristine and pampered forever. The other cars made you feel like a superhero with their AWD or traction control systems and were far from pure driving experiences, although still fun.

Did I say smile 5 times? I should have said it 20 times! Haha! I find myself going out of my way to stop in my garage to see the car after work or offering to run a quick couple of errands for my wife just to give the car some exercise. It's the most exciting thing I've ever owned by far, and boy do you get a TON of attention in it, not always attention you want though.....;)
 

VYPR BYT 94

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... I find myself going out of my way to stop in my garage to see the car after work ...

:lmao: - reminds me; Every night for 2 weeks after buying it I would always go out in the garage and flip the light switch to get a quick looksey before going to bed.
My wife would always laugh at me and say "yep, it's still there!"
Mike
 

v10enomous

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How lame:rolleyes: Me too:lmao:

:lmao: - reminds me; Every night for 2 weeks after buying it I would always go out in the garage and flip the light switch to get a quick looksey before going to bed.
My wife would always laugh at me and say "yep, it's still there!"
Mike
 

ohlarikd

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Is this the NJ car that was on eBay all summer? I was looking at it over an over, beautiful! It was in Mahwah I think? He kept coming down and down in price, so I think you eventually got a good deal.

I went to college in Hoboken (Stevens). Where the heck do you park the Viper?!?
 
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HobokenViper

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Is this the NJ car that was on eBay all summer? I was looking at it over an over, beautiful! It was in Mahwah I think? He kept coming down and down in price, so I think you eventually got a good deal.

I went to college in Hoboken (Stevens). Where the heck do you park the Viper?!?

Yup, this is that exact car! I know he had it on ebay, but i found it on Cars.com. He had the car on the market for almost a year, but only got seriously motivated to sell it this summer. The seller only really ever drove the car to and from car shows and won many trophies and awards with it. He only drove it about 400 miles the past couple of years and it was still essentially a new car. I took a big gamble by allowing negotiations to go on for about 4 months because a car this nice with this very rare color combo should have sold quickly, but by doing that I was able to strike a GREAT deal a LOT less than what he originally was asking for it. That was truly the only way I was going to buy the car, if I felt that I got a good enough deal... I guess i really have to thank my wife for killing the deal several times which is partially what made negotiations take as long as it did, and got me as good of a deal as i did. The seller and his wife were really the nicest people to deal with as well.

Small world that you went to Stevens! I actually live in the big apt building between the W Hotel and Stevens Institute and the park. I keep both of my cars on the top floor of the 3 level garage in my building in tandem spots. The guy next to me has a Mercedes McLaren SLR and there are lots of other nice "toys" that people keep in that garage, so I know I'm safe from scratches and dings. The ONLY way to park in Hoboken without getting your car beaten to pieces is by getting a reserved spot in a garage like mine. It's not cheap, but its well worth every penny and also half the price of keeping a car in a Manhattan garage. Looking forward to buying a house in the burbs in a couple years with a large climate controlled garage.....
 

ohlarikd

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Yup, this is that exact car! I know he had it on ebay, but i found it on Cars.com. He had the car on the market for almost a year, but only got seriously motivated to sell it this summer. The seller only really ever drove the car to and from car shows and won many trophies and awards with it. He only drove it about 400 miles the past couple of years and it was still essentially a new car. I took a big gamble by allowing negotiations to go on for about 4 months because a car this nice with this very rare color combo should have sold quickly, but by doing that I was able to strike a GREAT deal a LOT less than what he originally was asking for it. That was truly the only way I was going to buy the car, if I felt that I got a good enough deal... I guess i really have to thank my wife for killing the deal several times which is partially what made negotiations take as long as it did, and got me as good of a deal as i did. The seller and his wife were really the nicest people to deal with as well.

Small world that you went to Stevens! I actually live in the big apt building between the W Hotel and Stevens Institute and the park. I keep both of my cars on the top floor of the 3 level garage in my building in tandem spots. The guy next to me has a Mercedes McLaren SLR and there are lots of other nice "toys" that people keep in that garage, so I know I'm safe from scratches and dings. The ONLY way to park in Hoboken without getting your car beaten to pieces is by getting a reserved spot in a garage like mine. It's not cheap, but its well worth every penny and also half the price of keeping a car in a Manhattan garage. Looking forward to buying a house in the burbs in a couple years with a large climate controlled garage.....

Great! Glad to hear its local then, maybe I will see it at a car show! I would love to see that color combo and one of the cars that 'could have been'. I ended up with an 05 with 860 miles on it, from Queens NY.

I guess you work in the city then, and walk to the PATH? Popular choice - the city is ridicuous for living.

Not too easy to drive that car in that area, but I bet people in Hoboken know your car by now. I was in Stevens (when you were 12.... uhg) in 91/92 when I saw the Viper at the NYC Car Show at Javits. Took me a little longer than you to get one, but I got it! I live out in west central Jersey now, Hunterdon County, in the trees and farms - a bit different from Hoboken. Hoboken is an AWESOME town.
 

A1998

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Hoboken! Nice car and great color :2tu: Know what you're talking about when it comes to the 'Wife" deals. Been there many times. SO here's a little secret. Just go ahead and buy it the first time! This will save many arguments. You know she going to argue against anything you want to buy, so buy and just have that ONE argument and get it over with!
You missed out on 4 great months of driving. Congrats :headbang:
 

herbbone

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Beautiful looking car. Welcome. Hope you can get together with the Pa/WV, NY and NJ clubs for some events. We seem to overlap which is alot of fun. Enjoy!!
Mark
 
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HobokenViper

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Great! Glad to hear its local then, maybe I will see it at a car show! I would love to see that color combo and one of the cars that 'could have been'. I ended up with an 05 with 860 miles on it, from Queens NY.

I guess you work in the city then, and walk to the PATH? Popular choice - the city is ridicuous for living.

Not too easy to drive that car in that area, but I bet people in Hoboken know your car by now. I was in Stevens (when you were 12.... uhg) in 91/92 when I saw the Viper at the NYC Car Show at Javits. Took me a little longer than you to get one, but I got it! I live out in west central Jersey now, Hunterdon County, in the trees and farms - a bit different from Hoboken. Hoboken is an AWESOME town.

What color did you end up with? Sounds like you got a great deal on a basically brand new car too!

Yes, I work in the city as a commercial real estate broker and take the bus in every day from Washington Street. Used to take the PATH train, but got sick of being sweaty and disgusting by the time I got to work, not to mention feeling like a sardine crammed into an overpacked train standing up. The bus is great and I get a comfortable seat every day and read the paper and relax on the way in.

I think the people in town know my car VERY well already and are probably getting sick of seeing and hearing it too. Haha! Its amazing how many people in town own and drive exotics especially when you consider how Hoboken wasn't the great town that it now is until only the last decade or so. I see at least one or two different Feraris and Lamborghinis each day in town, an occasional Aston Martin, and tons of Porsches, but NEVER another Viper!!!!! i have to admit that it feels great knowing that I have a car that is as good or even better than many of them, yet I spent a small fraction of what those guys probably spent to buy their cars, not to mention the fact that the Viper is clearly much rarer than any of those.

I'll be joining you in the country before long, but probably heading up to the area where my wife grew up in Westchester or Connecticut even though I'm really a Jersey guy. At least it will make for some much more enjoyable drives on the twisty country roads and open highways!

Best of luck with your new car as well! Post pics if you can.

To A1998: I thought of doing that too, but then realized that would open up Pandora's box where she could just go out and buy whatever she wanted whenever she wants too without talking to me first, and we'd be broke in less than 6 months... Haha!
 

CaptainDavid

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Congratulations,

What a beauty, there are not many colors I like as well as yours. Track Car/Show Car, that very hard to pull off. Need to start investing in many many rolls of racing tape, and a windshield cover is recommended. Join the SCCA, its cheap and if they have PDX events in your area, free instruction...Also get used to this term Motul 600 brake fluid. ( absolutely required).
Warning, Vipers are brutal but in a wonderful and addictive way. learn to be careful especially 2nd gear....IMHO the average driver can't drive a Viper to the store for a cookie....Good, no Great Luck. :drive:
 
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HobokenViper

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Congratulations,

What a beauty, there are not many colors I like as well as yours. Track Car/Show Car, that very hard to pull off. Need to start investing in many many rolls of racing tape, and a windshield cover is recommended. Join the SCCA, its cheap and if they have PDX events in your area, free instruction...Also get used to this term Motul 600 brake fluid. ( absolutely required).
Warning, Vipers are brutal but in a wonderful and addictive way. learn to be careful especially 2nd gear....IMHO the average driver can't drive a Viper to the store for a cookie....Good, no Great Luck. :drive:

Definitely NOT planning to track this Viper, but would consider getting another one in coupe form with more miles and a lower price in whatever color to track and enjoy more in that way. I'm hoping to take driving classes at a course somewhere in the country where they teach on Vipers or Corvettes (preferably Vipers). I only want to do that to better learn the dynamics of my car and to become an even better driver than I already am. Otherwise this Viper is mainly a show car and for pleasure drives, and the plan is to keep it in perfect condition so in 30 years it will be like it was in a time capsule right from the dealer. I plan to get a Corvette Z06 and/or Lotus Exige 240 as a toy daily driver and Track car in a couple short years after I finally buy a house. I don't think I have a chance in hell at getting my wife's approval to get another toy until we have a house.....
 

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