Buying a 1st Viper tips

[slaughterj]

Below I have pasted a list of tips (in order) for buying a first viper that I recently posted on a viper site off the top of my head - anyone got any additional suggestions/modifications to include?

Buying a 1st Viper tips:
1. Establish your financial range.
2. Determine what is affordable in that financial range.
3. Do the above by searching ebay, autotrader.com, cars.com, and especially the viper club sites, like here, viperclub.org's classifieds, and viperalley.
4. Contact your insurance company to get your insurance rates to confirm that the purchase will be affordable.
5. Determine any other limitations you might have, such as mileage, mods, and color.
6. When you find a car you are interested in, you will need to check the car out, and to do this, do the following:
a. first with a carfax report, a check of dealership records on the car, and whatever information the seller can provide you (including on maintenance).
b. then get the examined, either by yourself if it is near (and be sure to familiarize yourself with what needs to be looked at), or if it is at a distance, politely post (on all the viper forums) a general request for a viper owner in the area to check the car out for you.
7. Bargain on the price, and make sure ALL arrangements are clear before traveling to get the car, and if not previously personally inspected, make sure it is clear that the deal is contingent upon your final inspection.
8. Buy the car and make sure you call your insurance company before you go anywhere and get it covered!

 

[Wild Bill]

I have the same list and have also included have a Viper tech check the car over.

Bill

 

[BADVENOM]

I have the same list and have also included have a Viper tech check the car over.

Bill

Hey guys, you forgot one of the most important things on the check list when buying............" Extended Warrany"

adam

 

[Magicboy2]

This post really should be either a sticky, or linked to as an FAQ. Just my opinion.

-Matt
94 RT/10

 

[slaughterj]

This post really should be either a sticky, or linked to as an FAQ. Just my opinion.

-Matt
94 RT/10

I do wonder if we have the "sticky" capability on this site. Thanks for the positive response to my post though Actually, I'm taking this post, my "seminal fluids" post, and another post I will be putting up soon, and compiling a list & creating a link (and probably getting it on this site) of:
1. What to do when buying a viper (focusing on used)
2. What to do once you have your viper (focusing on basic "upgrades")
3. What basic maintenance info should you know (fluids, spark plugs/wires, PCV valve, fuel filter, etc.)

Just doing my part for Viper Nation

 

[MoparMan]

The info you're talking about posting would be awesome for newbies/lurkers like myself. Thank you for the info you've already posted.

I'm dying to sell my '69 Charger R/T SE so I can get my first Viper (want a GTS badly)!

Thanks to all for any info/pointers/help you can provide.

 

[slaughterj]

The info you're talking about posting would be awesome for newbies/lurkers like myself. Thank you for the info you've already posted.

I'm dying to sell my '69 Charger R/T SE so I can get my first Viper (want a GTS badly)!

Thanks to all for any info/pointers/help you can provide.

Hopefully the above will help for your current stage. Post any other questions you have, I'm no authority, just been collecting info for about 2 years now (when I first looked into buying).

 

[commoditybroker]

Will working with Bill P. help to skip a few steps in the latter phase??
i.e. VCA inspection, Viper Tech inspection, etc..


Maybe that could be the Cliff's Notes version. I know that the Bill P. route shown below will be my process.

1.) Determine your financial range
2.) Call Bill P.
3.) Get your Viper

Zach

 

[Magicboy2]

I must admit to going with Zach's methodology as well.

-Matt
'94 RT/10

 

[slaughterj]

Will working with Bill P. help to skip a few steps in the latter phase??
i.e. VCA inspection, Viper Tech inspection, etc..


Maybe that could be the Cliff's Notes version. I know that the Bill P. route shown below will be my process.

1.) Determine your financial range
2.) Call Bill P.
3.) Get your Viper

Zach

Yeah, if you want to go the easy route But this is for all the other buyers out there

 

[inVision]

What makes Bill P. so special?

 

[slaughterj]

What makes Bill P. so special?

He provides free sex to each customer.

 

[Magicboy2]

What makes Bill P. so special?

Do a search on Bill Pemberton, or on Woodhouse. Should answer your question.

 

[YellowSnake]

What makes Bill P. so special?

He provides free sex to each customer.

Interesting marketing strategy.

 

[YellowSnake]

I read some interesting information at http://www.vipercentral.com/buy/used/used.htm

In summary it said,

"When buyers are looking for used Vipers, they should look closely at three things including the mileage, condition, warranty status, and other. Many people think that buying a Viper is simular to buying any other production car, but it is not! A prospective buyer can save time and money by understanding warning flags before buying the vehicle.

I don't drive my Viper in the rain, but I typically will take it out a half dozen times a month to keep it running smooth and peppy. The mileage of the Vipers available on the used market vary dramatically; from the car collector who has had it stored since new, to the every day commuter. I drive my Viper about 3000 miles a year and store it in the garage during the wet seasons. The choice is yours, it may be a better investment to buy the low mileage car if you don't plan to drive it much, and you may get a better deal with a Viper that has been driven a bit more. Keep in mind that the Viper gets about 12 miles to a gallon, so make those trips count!

Be familiar with the condition of the prospective vehicle. I look at the rear tires, brake fluid, seat condition, door panels, side pipes, and rims. I found that squatting down at the rear of the car is the best way to check even wear for the tire condition. If you see uneven wear, keep in mind that new tires are about $1500 installed!

Dark brake fluid signals that the car may have been driven hard or at the track. The driver's seat and the carpet on the door (will turn fuzzy with age) with both show a lot of wear if the car has been entered and exited often. The Viper's side pipes stick out past the car and are prone to curb damage, and the rims are easy to check too.

Ensure that the VIN stamped on the car matches the registration. California residents, look under the hood on the drivers side to ensure that it is a California destination car (it will state California Emissions Standard if it is) if the car has less than 7500 miles, or else you will not be able to register it. Request having a dealer inspect the car, and review all service documents.

If you are buying a used Viper, buy a warranty. The Viper is a very expensive car to repair. Purchasing a car that has an extended warranty is very wise. Existing Chrysler warranties are only transferrable one time, so make sure that it is transferrable to you. If the car doesn't have a warranty, request that a Chrysler dealer provide you with a quote on one. I shouldn't be telling you, but there is a 100% markup on the warranties and you may have some room for getting a bargain. I got my $3000 warranty for $1500, so shop around.

Viper pricing is inline with mileage, condition, warranty status, and other elements like low production Vipers. The following Viper Registry Build information is from viperclub's web page."

 

[slaughterj]

Good to include, I knew I had seen that article somewhere before...

 

[commoditybroker]

What makes Bill P. so special?

He provides free sex to each customer.

FREE SEX! Bonus! I thought all I would get is an amazing Viper and great service...you can bet I never thought of "service" in that manner

Zach