next car purchase...

Lil bout myself...

Past performance cars

Supercharged 1998 v6 camaro
2004 H/C vette
1999 rt10 viper
2003 Viper
1991 supercharged nsx

Bout two years ago had major marital problems...pretty much sold everything to include my 550 rwhp cammed 2003 viper.

Well things are back on track and in the past two years I put away enough money to buy a gen3 for cash. I know for many here thats chump change but Im damn happy. Initially my plan was just to save 40k and get another gen3. Maybe 60k and get the cheapest gen4 I could find. But Im thinking that after all Ive been through that I should dream a lil bigger.

I have a 2010 kia as a dd and heres what Im considering.

2008 viper...at 65k this is a beautiful car and 600 hp is nothing to sneeze at. You cant go wrong but it just dosent seem like a major step up from my gen3.

2009 v8 audi r8.....90k and absolutely stunning...slow as hell and r tronic auto *****

2009 GTR... 60k and.god its ugly but my kids want me to get it. Good gas milage and has a back seat...

2006 Gallardo...Ive seen a few nice ones with 30k on the odometer for 100k....its a freaken Lambo...what else to really say? My only problem is I would feel like a poser. I feel like......If your driving any kind of Lambo then your job house ect should match. Im far from a millionaire.

2009 V10 audi r8......110k.....pretty much my dream car but out of my price range. I can swing it...but it will be hard.


I had narrowed my choices down to these...and low and behold I went on ebay the other day and there was a new 2014 black srt viper with the brown seats for 95k......dont get me wrong. Ive kwown how badass the genV viper is for quite some time. I just had no.idea you could get a 2014 for 95k..

This thing looked sinister in the pics! 640 freaking HP...sweet interior...My brain is telling me that Ive already bought three vipers in my life and its time to move on to the rear engined audi or lambo. But my hwart is telling my the viper visually and perforance wise blows the others away.

You genV owners are some lucky guys. Ill probally save for a few more months before I purchase. But the genV seems like the best bang for the buck out there right now

Awesome car, you will love it!!!!

Do it; from reviewing your past, you deserve it!

You couldn't go wrong from any of those cars you mentioned but I'm bias towards the Gen V.

Honestly, I did like the peace of mind of the vehicle being under warranty still. For that kind of change, it always makes me a bit nervous to drive something older (I mean that Gallardo is 8 years old now)

why not just get a used 2013 GenV srt in the 80's or a new GTS in the upper 90's? They are out there now, get the warranty, etc.

80 s for a 13 is insane. Are there still unsold 13s

I hope there will be another Viper in your future! If you plan to do lapping days, or find headroom a bit tight in the SRT, try a TA on for size. It's a very fine road car despite it's tweaks for the track, and may fit your budget if you can look and wait a bit.

Twister said:

80 s for a 13 is insane. Are there still unsold 13s

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I have a 13' for $85K. If interested Its on autotrader.

Your answer is a Porsche 911 Turbo S,you will be HAPPY...

Did you not read his situation at all? Why would you suggest a $150k+ car based upon what has been described?

FLL-B/W-GTS said:

Your answer is a Porsche 911 Turbo S,you will be HAPPY...

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LOL...You have to like FLL's consistancy though...Porsche there is no substitute.

05Commemorative said:

Did you not read his situation at all? Why would you suggest a $150k+ car based upon what has been described?

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You are missing $50,000

Might as well suggest and F12 while were at it.

Though I think it tends to be difficult with higher end cars, a test drive is usually always the best answer. Many people have loved the idea of certain cars only to be disappointed once they drive them. Granted probably just as many are willing to put up with "nuances" of certain vehicles just because they're so special to them.

I think the Viper is the best looking of all the ones you mentioned, but the Audis and GTR are probably more liveable for the majority of people out there. Personally I think the Audi is a little bland looking for being the high end car it is, but everyone has their tastes. The same goes for the GTR. They're cool cars no doubt, but to some degree in my eyes they're still just a beefed up Z car (not that I don't like Z cars). They don't have the same kind of presense and aggressive look that a Viper sports, but their perfomance is hard to deny. Lambos are cool because they've been kids' dream cars for ages, but I kind of agree with you on the poser thing. I've known some pretty cool Lambo owners, but they do tend to attract a certain type of person.

05Commemorative said:

Did you not read his situation at all? Why would you suggest a $150k+ car based upon what has been described?

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Because he is a trolling idiot.

Twister,

You live on a rain maker, get AWD so you can enjoy the car anywhere, any time even during a rain storm. Since you don't really have a season to know it's not going to rain, why would you want something that is sketchy in a big down pour, especially when you know it will be sunny again in 1 hour?

Get the Audi R8 with the V10....you can swing it, you only live once. Very exclusive, great looks and nice build quality. As a side note, I was at a 1/2 mile roll racing event and a guy showed up with an all black (even the side slash stripe) R8 and it was stunning. Getting it without the contrasting color side slash behind the door is something to think about. Made it look uber exotic.

If you don't care about driving in the rain, a used Gen 5 is going to definitely make a statement on the island and be cheaper to get into.

Porsche?.....about as exclusive as shopping at an ABC Store, lol.

Cheers,
George

Vipers aren't that bad in the rain assuming you have the right tires. Granted AWD is still the "A" answer for that question, but I've driven my 04 through absolute downpours on the highway with security on my SuperSports. Lately they've been getting a little scary from time to time, but I'm just about on the wear bars, so that likely has something to do with it.

I have a Gallardo and never realized I was a poser *********.
You know, that "certain type" of person. But I guess I don't prejudge a group of people by the car they own.

I've always found it interesting that so many Viper owners look down their noses at Vettes, Mustangs, Camaros etc as beneath their "status"
but everybody with a better car (Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche and exotics) are just poser jerks.

Ya never know,he just may come into some $$$$..I just told him what will make happy and totally fill his needs...

I love my Gen V & prices are pretty low right now for what you get with the car...plus dont the 14's have a rain mode???

Never liked p cars......even if I could swing the Porsche I just wouldnt enjoy the look of it.

The reason I say poser for the gallardo is because I feel yhat Im not there yet financially. Sure a used 95k gallardo is obtainable....but I'd want the rest of my life style to match my Lamborghini and I cant afford that. To me viper or r8 says half a mil or a lil more neighborhood. Gallardo says mil and up neunorhood.

Obviously not everyone feels y he ss me as me. My neiborhood has and aventador and 458 in the garage and is three houses down from me.

I saw a brand new 13 gets for 95k today on eBay. Good lord what the hell happened to genV prices. Im happy and sad at the same time.

R8 to me is stunning. Viper is probally the best looking of all the cars but to me audi r8 is the classiest of the bunch

Haha, I've noticed this as well. Very prevalent attitude.

ViperJon said:

I have a Gallardo and never realized I was a poser *********.
You know, that "certain type" of person. But I guess I don't prejudge a group of people by the car they own.

I've always found it interesting that so many Viper owners look down their noses at Vettes, Mustangs, Camaros etc as beneath their "status"
but everybody with a better car (Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche and exotics) are just poser jerks.

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What's this about the rain mode? Doesn't the GenV have traction control for that? Anyhow, I'm also disappoined and stoked that the GenV is coming down to my financial neighborhood. I just took a look at a dealership in Tacoma that had a Nissan and Dodge dealerships across the street from each other. One had 3 GTRs and the other one Gen V and both had deep discounts. The GTR started fading away pretty quickly whereas the heart was pumping on the Viper. I think with a little more patience on my part (saving) my butt will find a home in a new Viper again. I still like GTRs (a big part of why is that they have outrageous styling just like the Viper) but just sitting in them told me a lot. I didn't want to drive them because then I would probably end up doing something stupid at this point. Twister, the rise of the common man in a Viper is coming back.....hopefully Dodge won't die on us when we do. That won't make us posers, will it......?

I've had three vipers Viperbilliam..m..how in the world does gtr styling excite you? Its the most boring sports car I've personally seen. Big and boxy? Decent performance that was amazing back in 2009....

Twister said:

I've had three vipers Viperbilliam..m..how in the world does gtr styling excite you? Its the most boring sports car I've personally seen. Big and boxy? Decent performance that was amazing back in 2009....

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You seem to be pretty misinformed. First off, having owned two Vipers, I agree that the GT-R doesn't look as cool or sleek, especially in pictures. In person though, I get just as many, if not more thumbs up and stares in my GT-R as I do in my GTS. The GT-R looks like a Japanese muscle car, not an exotic. I don't think it's pretty either, and the designer himself said the car is not feminine, it's masculine; there's nothing **** about it, it's simply a blunt force tool Darth Vader would drive. But looks are subjective and no one can sell you on that.

I'm a huge Viper fan myself and will never ditch my GTS, but to deny the performance of the GT-R is just plain ignorant. "Decent performance"? Even a stock 2009 GT-R will destroy everything in your list. No offense but I can confidently say my lightly modded bolt-on GT-R will blow the doors off just about anything you've ever driven, both on the track and especially on the street. I've personally clocked my 0-60 time in 2.6 seconds consistently on stock street tires. Which, by the way, is the only thing holding back the numbers and performance figures by about 15%. All GT-R owners know this and the very first mod many do is upgrade the tires, the stockers are a joke, to meet acceptable all-weather standards for run flats without breaking the bank. With R888's my GT-R became an unbeatable street monster. It's destroyed an Aventador, MP4-12C, and a newer 911 Turbo-S. I've driven the latter two cars, an F430, Murcielago, a Gen5, and a few others. All I can say is that aside from the 12C, the GT-R is the most exciting car I've ever driven, and the fastest. I actually look forward to catching a red light, as do all GT-R owners. Don't knock it until you've experienced it in full force. And don't look at 2009's, stick with 2012+ which are more refined and you can pick one up for $70k+. All the other cars in your list are nice, but none will beat a stock 2012+ GT-R on the street or the track.

I thought he just said it was big, boxy and boring for a sports car. (sure I understand why you jumped on the first point about performance, but you agreed it is not good looking. I am interesting in why you say exciting to drive though. I have driven several and pretty much a point and click car, so wanted to better understand the exciting portion from your perspective.

klamathpro said:

You seem to be pretty misinformed. First off, having owned two Vipers, I agree that the GT-R doesn't look as cool or sleek, especially in pictures. In person though, I get just as many, if not more thumbs up and stares in my GT-R as I do in my GTS. The GT-R looks like a Japanese muscle car, not an exotic. I don't think it's pretty either, and the designer himself said the car is not feminine, it's masculine; there's nothing **** about it, it's simply a blunt force tool Darth Vader would drive. But looks are subjective and no one can sell you on that.

I'm a huge Viper fan myself and will never ditch my GTS, but to deny the performance of the GT-R is just plain ignorant. "Decent performance"? Even a stock 2009 GT-R will destroy everything in your list. No offense but I can confidently say my lightly modded bolt-on GT-R will blow the doors off just about anything you've ever driven, both on the track and especially on the street. I've personally clocked my 0-60 time in 2.6 seconds consistently on stock street tires. Which, by the way, is the only thing holding back the numbers and performance figures by about 15%. All GT-R owners know this and the very first mod many do is upgrade the tires, the stockers are a joke, to meet acceptable all-weather standards for run flats without breaking the bank. With R888's my GT-R became an unbeatable street monster. It's destroyed an Aventador, MP4-12C, and a newer 911 Turbo-S. I've driven the latter two cars, an F430, Murcielago, a Gen5, and a few others. All I can say is that aside from the 12C, the GT-R is the most exciting car I've ever driven, and the fastest. I actually look forward to catching a red light, as do all GT-R owners. Don't knock it until you've experienced it in full force. And don't look at 2009's, stick with 2012+ which are more refined and you can pick one up for $70k+. All the other cars in your list are nice, but none will beat a stock 2012+ GT-R on the street or the track.

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05Commemorative said:

I thought he just said it was big, boxy and boring for a sports car. (sure I understand why you jumped on the first point about performance, but you agreed it is not good looking. I am interesting in why you say exciting to drive though. I have driven several and pretty much a point and click car, so wanted to better understand the exciting portion from your perspective.

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Well you asked for it... I assume you must not have ever driven one on the track. A modded one on the street is an experience in itself. Did you use launch control? That's a rollercoaster ride in itself, modded or not. When you don't push the car, it's designed to give a plush and numb ride. Put it in all race mode and it comes alive. On the track and in the corners it's a very engaging and rewarding car to drive. It's not "point and click", it's more like "point and carve", or "point, shoot, and kill" with precision. I've said it in other posts but I'll repeat it: I find the paddle shifter to be just as engaging and require just as much concentration as a stick because of how insanely quick you have to be when shifting while pushing the car hard. No first-timer has ever really pushed the car to 10/10ths. The car allows almost anyone to push it to 8/10th's. But when you really push them all the way, they reward just as much, if not more than most good track cars. You really feel the suspension working in the hard corners, and the steering, contrary to what people say, gives adequate feedback. The connection to the road will never feel like a Viper, but it certainly doesn't feel disconnected. Drive a BMW, that's a disconnection. It's more on the lines with a Porsche 911 if I were to compare it to any car. But I could go on and on about it. Drive one ******* a track or drive a modded one on the street, you'll change your mind.

Unfortunately, you made the incorrect assumption. Drove all the examples on the track extremely hard and thus why I asked. The car is an technology wizard and allows for hiding so many mistakes, but pushed extremely hard I never sensed the excitement part you mention. Fast, yes for sure. Launch control is of no interest to a track guy but that was to my point and click comment. Again, technology wizard for sure, but I did not feel exciting and engaging part? I am glad you think so as you are the first I have spoken with to feel that way after a year of ownership. I have known four owners so far (owned 2009-2012's), all tracked them, all raved about them, all were very good drivers and all sold them after a year of ownership all for the same reason. They did not feel the car was rewarding after a year and felt they quickly able to get all they could out of the car. They switched to a Viper, ZR1 and other two were 911's and all happy for it. I think it's biggest pro (its amazing AWD system) is also its biggest con in that you can be in a corner and just mash it and it goes with little drama.

Again, fantastic performing car and amazing technology. From my experience though, from an excitement and joy to drive perspective, not very close with a Viper or a 911 on the track. Just goes to show folks can have different opinions and wants even with similar experiences.

klamathpro said:

Well you asked for it... I assume you must not have ever driven one on the track. A modded one on the street is an experience in itself. Did you use launch control? That's a rollercoaster ride in itself, modded or not. When you don't push the car, it's designed to give a plush and numb ride. Put it in all race mode and it comes alive. On the track and in the corners it's a very engaging and rewarding car to drive. It's not "point and click", it's more like "point and carve", or "point, shoot, and kill" with precision. I've said it in other posts but I'll repeat it: I find the paddle shifter to be just as engaging and require just as much concentration as a stick because of how insanely quick you have to be when shifting while pushing the car hard. No first-timer has ever really pushed the car to 10/10ths. The car allows almost anyone to push it to 8/10th's. But when you really push them all the way, they reward just as much, if not more than most good track cars. You really feel the suspension working in the hard corners, and the steering, contrary to what people say, gives adequate feedback. The connection to the road will never feel like a Viper, but it certainly doesn't feel disconnected. Drive a BMW, that's a disconnection. It's more on the lines with a Porsche 911 if I were to compare it to any car. But I could go on and on about it. Drive one ******* a track or drive a modded one on the street, you'll change your mind.

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I guess being able to destroy everyone else both on the street and on the track is not for everyone. I personally will never get rid of my GTS unless it was for a better Viper because I love the looks, and will only get rid of my GT-R for a much faster GT-R. I think owning both is like having the best of both worlds. But going from a modded GT-R to a 911 turbo or a ZR1 would be such a downgrade for me. I don't see how how either of those cars compare to even a lightly modded GT-R. 911's are tail heavy handfuls that I always see in my rear view mirror and ZR1's are plastic fantastics that can't touch me on the street. Things must be wack over in WA because around here many GT-R owners came from owning modded ZR-1's. The GT-R is like a rocket with and extra booster turned off at the factory. Once you turn that extra 200+HP on with a tune and minor bolt ons, the ride is insane and never get's old. Some folks are ok with 11 sec cars and it's more than enough power on the street and on the track for them, and I respect that. A couple of my friends can't ride with me because they say I make them wanna throw up when I drive it. It's not for everyone, but I personally can't go back to anything lesser after having owned a 9.9 sec street car that is killer on the track.

ViperJon said:

I have a Gallardo and never realized I was a poser *********.
You know, that "certain type" of person. But I guess I don't prejudge a group of people by the car they own.

I've always found it interesting that so many Viper owners look down their noses at Vettes, Mustangs, Camaros etc as beneath their "status"
but everybody with a better car (Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche and exotics) are just poser jerks.

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