Help with Potential Viper Purchase

Hey all,

A few weeks ago I put up a post about making the switch from a GTS to an RT/10 and I think I'm going to do it. Though they are rare, I have found my dream car, a graphite RT with the Cognac interior. According to the registry, it's 1 of 23 made, so I'm keen on making the trade if it's a good car (not that I think the 1 in 23 makes it more valuable, it's more that if this car sells, then I might have to wait a while for another). It's had 2 previous owners, a father and his son, 9200 miles on the clock, and appears to be a good looking car. No accident history, supposedly no paintwork (difficult to prove), and from the photos (I know photos do not tell the whole story in the least), it appears to be in stellar condition. The pricing is at $46K, which is a bit high (compared to what I've seen) but I'm going to try and haggle.

My first question is: Is this mileage low enough that I'd have to look for gasket issues? According to CarFax (which is wrong some of the time), the car was driven 500 miles over the past year.

Second, would anyone be willing to run the VIN for me? I have a carfax but I know Chrysler sometimes has additional information. the VIN is 1B3ER65E42V100807.

Third, contrary to what I was told originally, the car is not all-original, and has an aftermarket exhaust. This is not an issue in the least (my current Viper has Belanger headers with a Borla exhaust) but I want to know what type of exhaust it has. I've attached a photo below.



The dealer claims its Corsa, but they don't look Corsa tips to me (not that I'm an expert in the least, I've just seen a few Gen IIs with Corsa setups and the tips looked very different on those). Does anyone have any ideas as to the exhaust type?

Thanks in advance for your help guys,
Johnny

Probably original tires too. there's you a $1200 negotiation angle.

Is it a 2002...that exhaust does not look like the Corsa on my 2001 RT/10. My pipes don't come together and then apart like your picture shows.

Not a Corsa exhaust like lifeisgood posted, looks more like B&B. B&B is good quality as well. I wouldn't worry about the mileage, but I would offer a few $k less.

There seems to be straight pipes with a cross over in the rear...hard to tell what kind of tips it has. You would have to take the side sills off to see if they changed the resonators and cats as well. If the rear is changed, I would guess the system is at least a cat back. Have you heard it run?

Wouldn't worry about the low miles And since you already have owned a Gen2 Viper, you have a big advantage over first time buyers when test driving it.

Are you trading in your GTS or selling it privately?

Graphite grey sure is a cool colour.....great choice

Anyways, post more pics and best of luck in getting a good deal on it! Just in time for Spring....

$46K seems about $10K too large.

The rear exhaust might be RandomTech. Theirs merges into one and then splits again.

You guys are great - always a wealth of useful information.

To answer your question LifeIsGood, the car is an 2002 Viper and exactly as you showed, it doesn't look anything like a Corsa setup. I remember looking at 2001 RT with a Corsa before buying my GTS and the whole set up looked different from the underside.

Also, uvbnbit, I think you're absolutely right, those definitely are the originals. I recognized the tread pattern on those tires right away, those are the runflat Michelin's that came with the later Gen II Vipers after they stopped using MXX3s. Is that tire with that tread pattern still manufactured? The only reason I ask is the dealer is insistent that they are new dealers, as "they have 8/32" of tread" and everytime I question him, he refuses to acknowledge the possiblity that they are old tires. Do they even make those runflats anymore?

Thanks again guys

I have Random Tech.

John_Cassels said:

Is that tire with that tread pattern still manufactured? The only reason I ask is the dealer is insistent that they are new dealers, as "they have 8/32" of tread" and everytime I question him, he refuses to acknowledge the possiblity that they are old tires. Do they even make those runflats anymore?

Thanks again guys

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Have him give you a picture of the tire "build date" and look it up.

Check tire date codes

46k is ridiculously overpriced

Check tire date codes

46k is ridiculously overpriced

I don't think ZP's came OE until '03? (rhyme not intended )

uvbnbit is correct...runflats (ZP) were the OEM tires on 2003-2006 Vipers.

Pilot Sport with the "C1" designation were the OEM tires on 1999-2002 Vipers.

Those almost look like "Megz" exhaust tips.

Is that the dealer's tag on the car pictured? If so, he's selling a steel gray one on ebay with less mileage for $36k. I don't understand him pricing this one $10k higher. The one on ebay also has the Corsa exhaust, so I would figure the salesman would know the difference...

$46K fir that car is ridiculous. Do not get caught in the color combo frenzy. obviously the dealer or who ever selling you the car has no clue about it. that is the first waning sign to run or to negotiate hard. you know you are going to need tires and on and so forth......that car should be in mid 30s. just my opinion. i am a dealer myself but what do i know?

I looked at the car last year at toy barn. He's been sitting on the car a while. The car had the usual scratches at the sports bar and one scratch near the rear driver side IIRC. Other than that it was absolutely beautiful in the color combo.

Also the site shows a very similar 2000 car that does appear to have new tires and a corsa. Maybe he's confused between the cars???

2000 is got to be steel grey

For those who are saying it is rediculously overpriced, you might want to check out Kelly's Blue Book. I know it is just a ballpark figure, but if you put in a 2002 RT10 with the stated mileage, then a retail price of $44500 comes up....Private Party sale is still $41k....not too sure where the Dealership is located. I just put in WA, since it is nearest to me. So if you can get the dealer to drop his price a bit, I don't think the deal is that bad if it is in mint condition.

KBB is a joke when it comes to our cars. Take the trade in price and subtract 5 Gs and that will give you an aggressive price. If you are buying without the care of resale, then sure, I guess price is just a detail. 46k is absolutely nuts.

I always say that a car is worth what you get for it. If someone is willing to pay $46k, then it's worth that price. Same goes for the GenV....if someone is willing to pay $10k for Stryker Red paint, then it is worth $10k....John was not asking for our opinions on price when he posted this thread. He was asking for exhaust info and for someone to run the VIN. He probably knows how much he would like to spend on the car and owning a GTS, I'm sure he knows how much it's worth.

Indy said:

I always say that a car is worth what you get for it. If someone is willing to pay $46k, then it's worth that price. Same goes for the GenV....if someone is willing to pay $10k for Stryker Red paint, then it is worth $10k....John was not asking for our opinions on price when he posted this thread. He was asking for exhaust info and for someone to run the VIN. He probably knows how much he would like to spend on the car and owning a GTS, I'm sure he knows how much it's worth.

Click to expand...

I agree that the value of something is what the market is willing to pay...but you can't base the market on a few sales. The reality is our cars is for a niche market. By him mentioning this statement alone makes us fellow Viper owners want to let him know that he definitely should try and haggle because that price is way too high:

"The pricing is at $46K, which is a bit high (compared to what I've seen) but I'm going to try and haggle."

Hey guys, thanks again for offering your insights guys. These clowns still aren't budging and as your said, don't seem to know much about Vipers. Beyond tires and the exhaust (not that I don't like it but I feel I can use it as an issue of negotiation), is there anything else you guys can think of as bargaining points? Thanks again, it's much appreciated.

John, you can play the "change all fluids card". If done correctly by a real Viper Tech...can run $900.00 to $1,500.00. Also, be sure that the A/C WORKS...may need service, could even need all of the "O" rings changed in A/C system if leaking.

Need more, call me....especially when the key fob does not work !!

Offer what you're willing to pay (keeping in mind new tires and fluids) and walk away. Continue your search. I doubt they will sell it for their asking price and might even consider your offer later down the road.

Salesman is probably reading this and is waiting for you
Offer 39k. settle for 42k tops. (all based on what we've read)

There are a couple of yellow ones for sale on ebay (not graphite with cognac) although some tend to dislike the cognac and prefer the grey interiors)but, that's personal preference. Those both have 18000 and 8000 miles on them at dealers and the 18000mile one has some mods like the Corsa,, filter etc....that one is 44,500 and the other 42500. So, those are great bargaining tools if that dealer is sticky on his price. I would tell him (even though you love it) , that the interior is not something you or the market prefers, but, you can overlook that if he can match or beat those prices. plus tell him that the mods actualy decreases the price and that you prefer pure stock. Those adds on ebay would be something I would hit him with.

Good luck with the sale....in the end, if you realy like the graphite color and cognac combo, then unfortunately its something you might have to pay extra for. For a few dollars, you do get what you want. that is what counts in the end.

Don't do it!!