Hang on - you gotta check these prices.
Anyone who pays $42+ for a 2002-or-older Viper isn't doing enough homework.
There are deals out there by people who need to get out from under these cars, and you can save a LOT of money (to help with things like registration, taxes, inspections, GAS...)
Now, if you're looking for Supercharged and ultra-low miles, like the blue-and-white posted above, then that's a fair price. But I picked up a 2000 GTS with a boat-load of goodies (racing brakes, racing exhaust, alum. flywheel, smooth tubes, etc) with 24K miles and STILL only paid $36K.
I know you guys don't like seeing the value of your cars drop, but that doesn't justify expecting someone to pay $6K more for something when they don't have to.
I think the BIGGEST piece of advice I can give for a first-time Viper buyer (or any specialty car for that matter) is to BE PATIENT. If you jump on the first deal you find, you're going to regret it. Even for as much time as I took, I still find myself wishing I had continued looking for the right color, and a 2001/02 with ABS brakes.
The second piece of advice I can give? Don't frown on buying a "stock" Viper - unmodified. You buy someone's modded car, you buy their modded problems. Second day of my Viper ownership experience, the check engine light came on. Now my 6-month-old Viper is in a garage in pieces because I'm trying to fix someone else's mistakes.
Last piece of advice? Ebay has the best prices. Now I know, we're not all very fond of Ebay - even myself. But I've searched every site out there. Cars.com, Edmunds.com, Auto Trader, ViperTrader.com... Ebay had consistently lower prices. The only pressure with Ebay is that you have a limited period of time to bid WHILE making arrangements to see the car, etc... It tends to make you feel rushed. Then again, until you fork over the cash, it's never too late.
Good luck. In the end, I'd still do it all over again!!
Jeff
