Looking to buy my first SRT10

[cavmatt]

I am looking for an SRT10 03-05. This will be my first Viper. I see a couple in Bradenton Florida that look like they have low miles, but wondered if I should avoid cars kept in salt air climates. Any recommendations in terms of pre-purchase inspection specifics, warnings, etc.?

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/65b579ca-a3d5-480c-9f5d-8e496b1c44f1/

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/2c6c3923-3430-4373-ad1b-ab4de2aa1ee1/

Advice welcome.

 

[Viper Specialty]

Best advice I can give is get a PPI, and pay more for a better quality car. The parts are very expensive, things snowball quickly, and "deals" simply aren't. Where the cars come from ultimately makes no difference... just get a PPI. salt air and humidity isn't a thing if its not driven near the beach, washed, and stored inside. likewise... drive one in the salt and then store it like a *****, and its going to have more issues. Its the owners and their habits more than the location. Cars that look stellar on PPI, are the best bet, as you know they werent owned by someone who just doesnt care... and there are a LOT of those owners now. Modifications are hit or miss. The parts can be good quality, but if installed by a hack, they are more trouble than they are worth.

For value retention and standing out, assuming its to your taste, Mamba, Copperheads, and VCA editions tend to pull premiums, and look different than the run of the mill cars.

 

[cavmatt]

Thanks Dan

 

[MoparMap]

The Viper has some pretty stellar corrosion protection from the factory, at least from what I've seen driving mine in the midwest. I know I'm one of the crazy ones that will still drive mine in winter, at least when the roads are clear. I try to avoid getting a bunch of salt spray or anything on it if I can, but I've been under the car enough times working on stuff to be really impressed with how good everything holds up. I've barely ever seen a lick of rust on it and the aluminum control arms look basically new with just a wipe with a rag.

 

[kmagnuss]

There's no 'salt air' if you're further than a couple hundred yards from the beach. Salt doesn't evaporate into the air. If you come to the area you'll notice that NONE of the cars down here are rusty, unless they're from up north or terribly neglected.

 

[Money_pitviper]

I have a 06 coupe , limited edition that I'm contemplating letting go. I don't know where your located, or if you have already found one your interested in . I'm just north of tampa . If you want to talk more reach out .

 

[Dg2006na]

Check out p1 garage in Sanford, they currently have a gen 3 for sale, plus are the top rated viper shop around.

 

[cavmatt]

Best advice I can give is get a PPI, and pay more for a better quality car. The parts are very expensive, things snowball quickly, and "deals" simply aren't. Where the cars come from ultimately makes no difference... just get a PPI. salt air and humidity isn't a thing if its not driven near the beach, washed, and stored inside. likewise... drive one in the salt and then store it like a *****, and its going to have more issues. Its the owners and their habits more than the location. Cars that look stellar on PPI, are the best bet, as you know they werent owned by someone who just doesnt care... and there are a LOT of those owners now. Modifications are hit or miss. The parts can be good quality, but if installed by a hack, they are more trouble than they are worth.

For value retention and standing out, assuming its to your taste, Mamba, Copperheads, and VCA editions tend to pull premiums, and look different than the run of the mill cars.

Any knowledge of this car? It is also in Cape Coral, FL. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action?searchId=33d6e37e-4eb3-43c8-aff3-1876d651d7bd&zip=78738&distance=50&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d678&sourceContext=carGurusHomePageModel&sortDir=ASC&sortType=BEST_MATCH&makeModelTrimPaths=m24/d678&makeModelTrimPaths=m24&srpVariation=DEFAULT_SEARCH&isDeliveryEnabled=true&nonShippableBaseline=0&startYear=2003&endYear=2006#listing=419969437/NONE/NATIONWIDE_SHIPPING

 

[kmagnuss]

If you'd consider more of a 'driver', I'm going to be selling my 03' silver SRT10 with 65k miles on it. Cosmetically I'd give it a 8/10 but mechanically it's a 9/10 at least. I daily it about 50 miles, 3 or 4 days a week. Love the car but I have too many cars on my bucket list to try and not enough time. Going to sell it for under $40k.