Speaking Of Untitled Vipers

[Johann]

I've become aware of a few unsold 2002 GTS's in my area and wonder how others on the forum feel about the value of them. I'm of the opinion that, even though they are brand new and carry a full warranty, they are still two year old cars and potential buyers will take a heavy hit on depreciation for that reason.
I'd like to hear opinions of fair prices, or better yet, recent experiences of purchasing a leftover '02. What kind of prices were paid?

 

[joe117]

Any two year old new car on the showroom floor is worth less than a current year car on the floor.

The fact that DC doesn't make a 2004 GTS doesn't mean anything. There are more than a few new GTSs to be had. They are not sitting in a showroom because they were easy to sell. The SRT is an option too.

So many 2002 used Vipers have almost no miles on them and are available for much less than the sticker price that the "new" 2002 shouldn't command nearly sticker price.

When you buy a new 2004 car, you take a hit as soon as you drive it off the lot. It becomes a used 2004.

Buy a new 2002 and you take a giant hit as soon as you drive it off the lot. It becomes a two year old used car with low miles.

IMO, a "new" 2002 should be worth a little more than the best low miles used 2002.

And by the way, I understand how price paid information would be very useful to you. The problem is that many people on the board think that telling the price paid for a car is some kind of personal information.
They won't help you.

 

[GTSREDDOG]

Hey Johann what are the colors of the 2002 GTS's you have found? Any SOLID yellow ones?

 

[BadVenm]

I bought a leftover new car.

I would have to agree with Joe117. If you can't buy it for around the best price plus zero to very little, of the lowest mile, nicest condition of the same year pre-titled car then your not gaining much. Original owner status and maybe an extra year of warranty, which both are worth something IMO.

My case was I paid about 2 grand more than that of the nicest lowest mile Blue and White I could find. With two exceptions - one car had 8k miles any they wanted in the 70's for it, and one with 1,100 miles they wanted 62k for it. Why pay more for a used when I could buy a new never titled for less?

I looked at it like, a Gold warranty would cost me at least 2 grand, so I'm getting a brand new car, full factory bumper to bumper warranty , I'm the original owner of record, the purchase paid my following years of VCA dues - new car purchase does that, it was a new 1997 in 2003, kind of a find IMO, it was the better choice for me, even though I might have been able to buy 2 grand cheeper.

I think it's slightly different in my case dealing with a 97 bought in 03 vs. an 02 bought in 03. It's not hard to be the original owner of an 02 in 03. It is kinda hard to become the original owner of a 97 in 03. That's worth something to me. Plus for me it was a Blue/White issue. Once I started looking at them I just had to have one, what better one to get than a new one?

But Joe is correct don't over pay for a leftover.

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

It would also qualify you for a certificate program if DC runs one again. It might be worth it for that alone if DC finally builds a coupe and runs a cert program.

 

[BadVenm]

It would also qualify you for a certificate program if DC runs one again. It might be worth it for that alone if DC finally builds a coupe and runs a cert program.

How cool, I didn't even think of that!!!!

Lee is not only the coiner of CAPSCLOW, (which I saw that in it's original post when you came up with it!) but also a bright light for those like me with a light bulb that doesn't always burn at full wattage!

 

[Johann]

I agree that a new '02 shouldn't bring that much more than a low-mile used '02, I just wish the dealers would get real and acknowledge that. The full warranty is a plus but the gas guzzler tax pretty much cancels that out.
The sales tax in my state is the same whether new or used so that's a push.

 

[joe117]

"gas guzzler tax", I forgot about that. There's one more reason not to go for a "new old" one unless the price is right.