I need a reality check...

Seriously, help me out here...

I know it's stupid, and for fuck's sake, it's a high-strung Chrysler product... but I keep looking at prices and availability on these, and I have to wonder... even if only for a second... "How much worse would this really be than my current daily driver?"

http://www.extremecarsales.com/1994viper.html

You could be this guy.

It's an 8.0-8.4L Magnum V10, which means it's got around 60Hp to the liter and is based on the LA platform: so it shares a lot of internal design with the 318 and 5.2, which have pretty great reputations for reliability. 60Hp/L is not terribly high strung, although 8+L anything is going to lose Jeremy Clarkson's Supercar Economy Challenge. And even though it's Magnum family, all the major parts are bespoke and don't work with anything else, so they don't get the normal cheap American parts factor.

You'll get to join me in my enjoyment of MOPAR electricals. We can still make fun of British cars, in fact, Lucas jokes are even more fun when you know your vehicle choice puts you exactly one step up from them. Likewise, I expect any Viper that costs $20k is going to squeak and rattle with the best of Chrysler's offerings (Ok, my Jeep isn't so bad in that regard).

There are lots of gripes about compromised driving position and the exhaust-through-the-doorsill always-on heater core design, but complaining about that stuff is for sissies.

I cannot think of a good reason not to do it, given that you are in the position where it is financially reasonable. Insurance might be a bitch, but I wouldn't expect much worse than for the Goat.

I'm not helping am I? It doesn't have traction control. You'll shoot your eye out.

There is no good reason not to buy a viper if you're of our disposition.

The only reason I don't have a Viper is because most banks don't like to loan 20 grand on a 20 year old car to someone a couple years better than 20.

There is no good reason not to buy a viper if you're of our disposition.

The only reason I don't have a Viper is because most banks don't like to loan 20 grand on a 20 year old car to someone a couple years better than 20.

I have a wife. Talking her into a Viper isn't really going to work, but I did manage to convince her that a Locost is a reasonable idea. My goal is similar stupid to mass ratio as a Viper.

I'm not helping am I?

No... not so much... Good info though.

Dammit...

gripes about compromised driving position

However, this is actually a bit of a concern in terms of using it as a daily. At my height, it's hard enough to find something I fit in, much less being comfortable in it. I figure it's probably fine, given it is American sized, but that's one of the reasons I bought the GTO over a Corvette. The thing is really damn comfy.

gripes about compromised driving position

However, this is actually a bit of a concern in terms of using it as a daily. At my height, it's hard enough to find something I fit in, much less being comfortable in it. I figure it's probably fine, given it is American sized, but that's one of the reasons I bought the GTO over a Corvette. The thing is really damn comfy.

First, I've never gotten to sit in one, so I have no idea how true it is, but I have not once seen a Viper described as "comfy." I could be horribly wrong about that, not that a less than luxurious seating position bothers me. I don't know that I can, in good conscience, tell you to sit in one and see how it feels. Passing around a bottle of 18 year Glenfiddich with the admonition to "just take a sip" is not politic at AA meetings.

I have been thinking about maintenance costs, and it would be a mixed bag. A quick google found this 6speedonline thread, I have no idea what that forum is like other than they are near the top of the google results for "dodge viper maintenance costs": http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/american-muscle/247061-dodge-viper-how-they-maint.html Also, an Edmund's Inside Line long term test: http://www.insideline.com/dodge/viper/2009/long-term-test-2009-dodge-viper-srt-10.html

It sounds like, if you leave it stock, the worst of it is going to be the 10 quarts of synthetic oil, (expensive) tire-roasting torque, and insurance. Oh, and gas. Lots and lots of gas.

This jives with my hunch from above. While major engine repairs are probably pretty expensive, that LA V8 lineage and ~60Hp/L really leaves it with a lot of headroom and reliability, not unlike my 4.0L. Likewise things like CV joints, half-shafts, A-arms and other bespoke parts are likely to come at a premium, but Chrysler probably way over designed them.

At the same time, things like spark plugs, fuses, HVAC components are all ChryCo partsbin specials, and therefore: cheap.

Finally, the transmission is a T-56 in the 92-07 models (according to Wikipedia), which also found its way into Corvettes and other high performance RWD vehicles (like your Goat). So, transmission overhaul might not be super cheap, but it isn't going to be smoking-hole-in-wallet-ferrari-death expensive.

Damnit. I need to stop looking at this stuff, or I'll talk myself into one.

Yeah... I don't need to worry about talking myself into one. Once I have my 50K I'll buy my late aughts Viper and move really close to work.

Do they make snow tires in 345/30R19?