96-99 GTS are the best models IMHO, as for $1000.00 to swap pistons "big deal" Its much more than that, I just sold my performance shop + dynojet center and still have the most current version of Alldata on my computer, Alldata gives us shop owners labor times for specific jobs, the job in question calls out for 32.5 hours to "just swap pistons" add to that figure the cost of pistons and rings $1100, engine overhaul gasket kit $300, coolant, oil, Freon, and costs to R+R the shortblock 32.5 hours $3000.00 or so labor. This simple job just cost you over $5,000.00 and you have to hope the guy who just dissasembled you motor put every bolt back in its proper place and torqued everything to the correct specs.ANd what about the post work drama? what if your motor starts knocking or something goes terribly wrong because the mechanic screwed something up? The shop would just say your car is modified and not under warranty due to abuse, its very possible you will have a few scratches under the hood too after all this work is complete. No thanks. I just bought my 97 GTS with 5,000 miles, I made the right move IMO. As for the RT10 being prettier than the GTS, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.. After all the threads I've read it seems nearly all Viper owners who switch models upgrade from the RT/10 to the GTS not the other way around. No comparison on looks IMO.