2002 Final Edition GTS

markk · Sep 18, 2010

Any comments on the '02 FE GTS? I can't believe I just missed this one:
Details of Used 2002 Dodge Viper, Naperville, IL - Yahoo! Autos

I have received some *** about the '95 and '96 models I was considering, so now I'm looking at the FE GTS. Would appreciate thoughts from others.

big-n-italian · Sep 18, 2010

looks like a nice car. the rims gotta go though.

markk · Sep 19, 2010

Anyone in the Houston area know any history on this car:
2002 DODGE VIPER GTS
It is FE #136.

ViperGTS · Sep 19, 2010

Wing, canards, super ugly rims ... only 360 made ...

ViperGTS · Sep 19, 2010

The second one seems to be stock, even 9-10 years old tires are on the car... tinted windows.

TAXIMAN1 · Sep 19, 2010

ViperGTS said:
Wing, canards, super ugly rims ... are the reason(s) that car is priced, the way it is...

fixed it for ya.

go for the stock one. Looks MUCH cleaner

RTTTTed · Sep 19, 2010

The only stock vehicle I'd buy would be brand new and it wouldn't last a month before I fixed the Cats and the tune. I actually like the sound of the 2010 Vipers, but the phrase coined for the Gen 1 and carried through the Gen 2 was, "sounds like a UPS truck." Engineered exhaust, Hi-flow Cats fix the sound and turn the noise into sweet music. The byproduct of purchasing SS exhaust is that you only need to do it once and it'll outlast the car. Not a bad deal for only a few thousand dollars. After the Hiflow Cats you can removed the "Caution, sills may burn skin" decals as well.

Ted

Bandit400 · Sep 19, 2010

I have to concur. Those rims are horrible. Looks like they belong on a pimped out honda accord. Always better off picking up an unmollested car. This way you can mod just the way you like.

I love my FE #307

Good luck.

Bandit400

markk · Sep 20, 2010

Is there anyone in the Houston area willing to check this car out for me? It is at Collector Motors. They seem to only do appointments. PM me and I'll supply the person's contact info.

Thanks.

Matt M PA · Sep 20, 2010

Well guys....correct me if I am wrong...but the one in Houston appears to have had the fascia repainted. The stripes shouldn't go all the way down underneath...should they?

okloneranger · Sep 20, 2010

A minor point: The console appears to be cracked near the drivers seat bolster.

markk · Sep 20, 2010

Matt M said:
Well guys....correct me if I am wrong...but the one in Houston appears to have had the fascia repainted. The stripes shouldn't go all the way down underneath...should they?

Hmm, here is a pic from another car that shows a black "guard".
[media]http://images.cars.com/supersized/DMI/189408/102681.04.jpg[/media]

A couple people here own '02 FE's so we should be able to get a definitive answer.

RTTTTed · Sep 20, 2010

The stripes do not get painted on the chin spoiler (on my 3 GTSs).

Jimzviper · Sep 21, 2010

The big thing here is what do YOU think? 2002? 40k? approx. 5200 miles?.........for a GTS? Not bad. Offer 'em a little less. Then go out and buy some new rims. Get rid of the back muffler and run pipes straight out. Improves the sound. Spoilers are nice. There are or will be others like this one. Now is the time though.

ViperGTS · Sep 21, 2010

>>>...but the one in Houston appears to have had the fascia repainted...<<<

Looks repainted, yes. Stripes never go down all the way

markk · Sep 21, 2010

Jimzviper said:
The big thing here is what do YOU think? 2002? 40k? approx. 5200 miles?.........for a GTS? Not bad. Offer 'em a little less. Then go out and buy some new rims. Get rid of the back muffler and run pipes straight out. Improves the sound. Spoilers are nice. There are or will be others like this one. Now is the time though.

The one with 5200 miles was already sold. I was bummed I just missed it. The one in Houston has 24K miles and apparently was repainted.

I understand your point about what I think being important, but I need, and respect, the input from the experts here. I would not have realized the Houston car was repainted. I didn't notice what appears to be a crack on the console until okloneranger pointed it out. I don't want to plunk down my cash and then find out the price should have been lower due to x, y, and z.

From a "how the car looks" perspective and whether or not it speaks to me, yes, that part should be my decision. Having never had a Viper and having had limited exposure to them, I'm still working on deciding what is important to me.

In all, I really appreciate the fact that you (all) take the time to help newcomers like me. :2tu:

-Mark-

Brentt · Sep 21, 2010

Mark,

I looked into buying that same FE car in Houston two years ago before I bought #207. I know The car has been on Ebay multiple times. I talked to the seller by phone several times but I never
got that warm fuzzy feeling so I stayed away. I got the feeling the car was somehow being used as bait because when I showed a genuine interest in the car, I got the cold shoulder. It might be a great car, but I'd defintely have it checked out first,

Brent

markk · Sep 22, 2010

Brentt said:
I looked into buying that same FE car in Houston two years ago before I bought #207. I know The car has been on Ebay multiple times.

This is back on eBay again. I just talked to Alexis there about the paint. She is having her "paint guy" check it out. She said she has seen it both ways (painted all the way and not).

Does anyone have an FE where the paint goes all the way down the front? The best picture to see theirs is at:
[media]http://www.collectormotors.com/02gts/02.jpg[/media]

-Mark-

TAXIMAN1 · Sep 22, 2010

Front facia has absolutely been redone. But I'd say a solid 70% of all Gen2's have had this done. Even if the owner believes otherwise. Its not a terrible thing. As long as it was just from rock scrapes, and/or curb bumps

ViperGTS · Sep 22, 2010

Fresh from CAAP...in 2002!

You must be registered for see images

markk · Sep 22, 2010

TAXIMAN1 said:
Front facia has absolutely been redone.

I just received a call from Collector Motors in Houston. The mechanic has determined that the entire car was repainted by a previous owner. He doesn't find any indication of accidents, but suspects it was to address little issues (dings, etc) and they couldn't find a good blending point. They offered to paint the bottom red like it should be.

ViperGTS · Sep 22, 2010

Who repaints the whole car if there is NO big issue ... dings? Sounds fishy!
Have the car checked out by a person who knows Viper. Nothing more disturbing than finding out later that the car was involved in an accident

Total repainting is a ton of money, right? And no money for fresh rubber left ...

Brentt · Sep 22, 2010

Mark,

According to Dodge Viper Final Edition Registry the car went up for sale April 8th 2006 in Lubbock Texas with 22,000 miles. That means the car has been for sale for over four years. Why would a car dealer keep putting the same car on Ebay and paying the fees when the car never sells? Somethings fishy. I talked to Alexis two years ago and remember when I tried to get a firm price my calls were never returned.

ViperGTS · Sep 22, 2010

too many owners for my taste...
--------------------------------------------------
For sale -
???
Oct 03 in Marietta, GA, 17047 miles;
Apr 05, 19000 miles in West Palm Beach, FL.
Apr 08 with 2006 VCA Edition SRT-10 (Red /white stripes); 22,000 miles in Lubbock, TX.

markk · Sep 22, 2010

ViperGTS said:
too many owners for my taste...

According to the free autocheck report included in the eBay listing (currently active), it shows 3 calculated owners. Here is the info from Lubbock.
03/08/2006 LUBBOCK, TX Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
03/16/2006 LUBBOCK, TX 21,315 Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Title #:15210238782094139)(Lien Reported)
07/26/2007 LUBBOCK, TX Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

I'm moving on to another FE I found in New Mexico, but the guys voice mail is full and he isn't returning emails. Maybe he's on vacation somewhere, but seems odd to list a car for sale by owner and then disappear.
Details of Used 2002 Dodge Viper - Yahoo! Autos

There is also one in Florida with a dorky cell phone holder attached to the dash.
Dodge : Viper: eBay Motors (item 300469669513 end time Sep-25-10 09:28:53 PDT)

must...get...viper...soon... :crazy2:

ViperGTS · Sep 22, 2010

The first car has cruise control!

I searched 1.25 years for a good 2002 FE .... that "carbon fiber trim" looks funky next to the dorky cell phone holder...keep on searching!

Brentt · Sep 22, 2010

Yeah, Cruise control on a standard, How do you do that?
And what gives that second car 1300hp, the sticker on the side?

Finding a nice FE is tough. I spent two months sending emails and phone calls to the seller before I bought mine.

markk · Sep 22, 2010

Brentt said:
Yeah, Cruise control on a standard, How do you do that?

I had cruise control on my 1992 Saturn, which was a 5-speed manual. The cruise would disengage if you pressed the clutch.
BTW, with only 127HP, I had that up to 130MPH before the fuel shutoff kicked in. That was a fast 4-cylinder.

bigmack339 · Sep 22, 2010

markk said:
Anyone in the Houston area know any history on this car:
2002 DODGE VIPER GTS
It is FE #136.

That has been for FOREVER.

markk · Sep 23, 2010

Can someone tell me if the 2002 FE is supposed to have white lettering on the back? I don't see it on some others.

2002 Final Edition GTS

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