Racer's Lounge - Am I insane? Thinking about selling my Viper and buying 03-04 Cobra...

I bought this 1997 Viper in October of last year, its a fun car and nets you instant "rock star" status but its honestly not as fast as I thought it would be and its really expensive to mod. Parts are very pricey. I have always liked the 03-04 Cobras and have always said I'd own one some day. I could sell my Viper for about $38K, buy a Cobra and have $$$ to spare. I've seen a couple modded ones for $25-$27K. I plan to keep my Z28, so this will be more of a "driver" than a race car. The downside is my Viper won't depreciate and might even go up, whereas the mustang will only depreciate. I also don't mind the attention the car gets, starts alot of conversations. I know that shouldn't matter but its kinda cool to have people stop and take pictures of your car when you drive it.

I guess I get bored easily. I hate the fact that only "car guys" can tell a Cobra from a V6 turd.

I can financially afford to buy one and keep my current toys but I don't have room and even I think it would be kind of ridiculous since I barely get to drive the cars I own now. I've always kept myself to a two "play car" limit.

I just can't decide.....

as much as I'd hate to say it, I'd say sell the Z. Oh man, I hope I don't get flamed for that one

edit: second thought, you've done a bit on the Z, so my opinion is not my favorite to be honest. Sorry for the no help

I've been thinking the exact opposite thing...except an SRT Viper for the C6 :)
I definitely get my fair share of comments on the car, all good. None asked if it was a V6 but got plenty of the is it a 5.0 thing

keep the viper

Post pics of the Viper. :)

To be honest i've never been a viper fan, they're cool and fast and make you an instant celebrity but they have lots of downsides too. I'd say sell it for a vette, or hold onto it until gas prices drop a little, you might be able to get more out of it. 8mpg cars are getting harder to sell these days.

I'd keep the viper.

I'd say get some nitrous for the viper and that'll get rid of your "its slow" feeling.


Although if you dump the Viper, keep in mind that even 5-10 years from now there will still be plenty of low mileage garage queens for you to choose from. In case you get the itch again.

I'd say get some nitrous for the viper and that'll get rid of your "its slow" feeling.


Although if you dump the Viper, keep in mind that even 5-10 years from now there will still be plenty of low mileage garage queens for you to choose from. In case you get the itch again.

At a higher cost.

To be honest i've never been a viper fan, they're cool and fast and make you an instant celebrity but they have lots of downsides too. I'd say sell it for a vette, or hold onto it until gas prices drop a little, you might be able to get more out of it. 8mpg cars are getting harder to sell these days.

true,but anyone thats in the market for a used viper isnt going to care about gas mileage or the price of gas:D

At a higher cost.

True, but I doubt you'll be paying more than 5-7k than what you will be paying today.

well if your selling it to get another "drivers" car then I would look into C5 Z06's of which you can find in great shape for around $25k and those are great daily drivers and get great gas mileage, and if its too slow for you they have lots of mod potential as Im sure you know. Cobras are nice but I think you would deffinantly miss the wow factor going from a viper. So what is it about the cobras you like so much?

Unless it's a whipple/kb, or turbo Cobra, keep the Viper.

true,but anyone thats in the market for a used viper isnt going to care about gas mileage or the price of gas:D

also true i suppose, though if you had the money for a viper why wouldn't you just get an aston martin or an older ferrari. w/e.

But yeah if my choice was between a viper and a cobra, i'd probably take the viper.

Viper hands down.

viper, cobra? dude what are you thinking?

Id keep the viper they are just badass and they handle

viper. the cobra is fast but when i see'em I still say just another mustang regardless of how fast it is

http://images.webkrafters.com/trinity/22800/97dodge22810-A.JPG
http://www.mustangforums.com/timeline/2004-ford-mustang/images/2004-Mustang-Cobra.jpg

You are insane.

yep. you are insane

Sell the viper and get a c6, or since all your cars are modern, go rock and old school chevy or old cady witha 454... if are you in the financial situation where you can have a few different cars of recent years, get a clasic, get something modern and fast to beat on, and have a DD. It only makes sense :)

keep the viper sam...but if you are deadset on getting a cobra, my buddy might be selling his soon...its a silver 04, only 22k miles, KB 2.6, solid axle with 3.73s and full front drag suspension, etc. He's had the car for 3 years, second owner, and only put about 4k miles on it since he owned it, has only had the blower on it for a year, he has an 06 GTO for a DD, so this car sits...and it runs on 110, but can be retuned for 93...on 110, the car made 608/587 on 21lbs...seems low, but it was spinning the drag radials on the dyno, tuner said the car is good for 640+rwhp, and it could be further modded with longtubes, blower cams, etc. current exhaust is stock manifolds, ORX, MAC catback. he'd ask around 30k...

Easy choice...keep the Viper.

You're out of your gosh damned tree. :D

Viper hands down.

:D:devil::D

If you want to get a balance for around $25,000 I'd say C5Zo6

Much better than a Cobra. :)

That being said.... I'd keep the Viper..... pimp. :pimp:

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4564/moparviper14ya2.jpg

I had a vette before the Viper, not interested in another.


Looks like I'll keep the Viper. Just need to make it faster.....

I had a vette before the Viper, not interested in another.


Looks like I'll keep the Viper. Just need to make it faster.....

bite the bullet, spend the cash for a twin turbo setup.

bite the bullet, spend the cash for a twin turbo setup.

Thats an expensive ass bullet.
H/C/E is always fun :)

I'd rather have the cobra personally, I flat out hate Dodge for the most part, but since you already have a Viper that would be a really big decision to make.

Quit worrying so much about how fast cars are. You should appreciate the Viper for what it is, not what it isn't. Cobras are a dime a dozen and there really is no comparison there. BTW, my '06 supercharged Viper pulls down 25 mpg on the highway, so I don't even have gas mileage to complain about.

trade a viper for a mustang? gay

trade a viper for a c5? also gay

bite the bullet, spend the cash for a twin turbo setup.


Trust me, I've been close. If my business keeps up this year I might do one this winter. Its so tempting......

Trust me, I've been close. If my business keeps up this year I might do one this winter. Its so tempting......

If you do happen to pick up a Cobra, go with a 4R70W (or some automatic)
and a turbo kit.

VIPER!!! much more rare snake than a cobra

Quit worrying so much about how fast cars are. You should appreciate the Viper for what it is, not what it isn't. Cobras are a dime a dozen and there really is no comparison there. BTW, my '06 supercharged Viper pulls down 25 mpg on the highway, so I don't even have gas mileage to complain about.


I know, I know. I'm just bored with it.

Honestly, I've been trying to buy my own happiness for years now. I've had more cars than most people my age, and most of them were very nice. I'm not really into anything else, which is good because I can't afford it! I love getting new stuff and that feeling of looking forward to something and searching for the right deal. Once I get it, I want it better, faster, etc. I haven't even touched the Viper in weeks because I've been driving the Z28. Its just so much faster, and thats what I really like. Power.

Not much else in life makes me happy, besides my son. Me and him cruise the cars and he tries to help me work on them (he's three). Besides him and my toys, the rest of my life kinda sucks for me. I'm self employed in a field that, while I seem to be good at, I don't enjoy much. Its all I've ever known so I'll stick with it, I have too many responsibilities in life to go and change careers and take risks. My wife and I fight constantly, my business partner is almost as responsible as my 3 year old son, and my health could be better. I've never had many friends, but the ones I had were good. I lost my best friend in the world to his bitch of a wife, we haven't done one thing together in several years. We talk on the phone once every few weeks. Dude was like my brother, and its all over.

Most things I've done in life I've done for the wrong reasons, and now I'm paying for it. So I buy cars, because its all I have so to speak.

If you read all that, I owe you a beer.

I know, I know. I'm just bored with it.

Honestly, I've been trying to buy my own happiness for years now. I've had more cars than most people my age, and most of them were very nice. I'm not really into anything else, which is good because I can't afford it! I love getting new stuff and that feeling of looking forward to something and searching for the right deal. Once I get it, I want it better, faster, etc. I haven't even touched the Viper in weeks because I've been driving the Z28. Its just so much faster, and thats what I really like. Power.

Not much else in life makes me happy, besides my son. Me and him cruise the cars and he tries to help me work on them (he's three). Besides him and my toys, the rest of my life kinda sucks for me. I'm self employed in a field that, while I seem to be good at, I don't enjoy much. Its all I've ever known so I'll stick with it, I have too many responsibilities in life to go and change careers and take risks. My wife and I fight constantly, my business partner is almost as responsible as my 3 year old son, and my health could be better. I've never had many friends, but the ones I had were good. I lost my best friend in the world to his bitch of a wife, we haven't done one thing together in several years. We talk on the phone once every few weeks. Dude was like my brother, and its all over.

Most things I've done in life I've done for the wrong reasons, and now I'm paying for it. So I buy cars, because its all I have so to speak.

If you read all that, I owe you a beer.


Fuck it man, I am buying you a beer next time we are both at Hoots.


...then I'll drag your ass in my TB :D (only applies if your in the Viper though...)

I know, I know. I'm just bored with it.

Honestly, I've been trying to buy my own happiness for years now. I've had more cars than most people my age, and most of them were very nice. I'm not really into anything else, which is good because I can't afford it! I love getting new stuff and that feeling of looking forward to something and searching for the right deal. Once I get it, I want it better, faster, etc. I haven't even touched the Viper in weeks because I've been driving the Z28. Its just so much faster, and thats what I really like. Power.

Not much else in life makes me happy, besides my son. Me and him cruise the cars and he tries to help me work on them (he's three). Besides him and my toys, the rest of my life kinda sucks for me. I'm self employed in a field that, while I seem to be good at, I don't enjoy much. Its all I've ever known so I'll stick with it, I have too many responsibilities in life to go and change careers and take risks. My wife and I fight constantly, my business partner is almost as responsible as my 3 year old son, and my health could be better. I've never had many friends, but the ones I had were good. I lost my best friend in the world to his bitch of a wife, we haven't done one thing together in several years. We talk on the phone once every few weeks. Dude was like my brother, and its all over.

Most things I've done in life I've done for the wrong reasons, and now I'm paying for it. So I buy cars, because its all I have so to speak.

If you read all that, I owe you a beer.

You owe me a beer!!! :cheers: Or, you could give ME the Viper (to solve your dellima), I'll give you my 01 Chevy 2500HD and we'll call it a deal and I'll even buy YOU the beer.
:D

Viper for sure.

hmm viper= automatic pussy and girls going crazy to ride, cobra= see them all the time, and girls like them but eh its just a mustang nothing special.

Hey, if you are bored with the Viper I can sell you some badass wheels for it. THAT will make it look way better. :pimp:

Viper or a '78 Ford Fairmont chassis? Let me think for a minuteyeahI'dkeeptheViper.

I know, I know. I'm just bored with it.

Honestly, I've been trying to buy my own happiness for years now. I've had more cars than most people my age, and most of them were very nice. I'm not really into anything else, which is good because I can't afford it! I love getting new stuff and that feeling of looking forward to something and searching for the right deal. Once I get it, I want it better, faster, etc. I haven't even touched the Viper in weeks because I've been driving the Z28. Its just so much faster, and thats what I really like. Power.

Not much else in life makes me happy, besides my son. Me and him cruise the cars and he tries to help me work on them (he's three). Besides him and my toys, the rest of my life kinda sucks for me. I'm self employed in a field that, while I seem to be good at, I don't enjoy much. Its all I've ever known so I'll stick with it, I have too many responsibilities in life to go and change careers and take risks. My wife and I fight constantly, my business partner is almost as responsible as my 3 year old son, and my health could be better. I've never had many friends, but the ones I had were good. I lost my best friend in the world to his bitch of a wife, we haven't done one thing together in several years. We talk on the phone once every few weeks. Dude was like my brother, and its all over.

Most things I've done in life I've done for the wrong reasons, and now I'm paying for it. So I buy cars, because its all I have so to speak.

If you read all that, I owe you a beer.

What kind of business do you have?

The Viper should hold its value more I think

The viper will always hold is value better!


You want to go fast, buy a 1000cc bike

The viper will always hold is value better!


You want to go fast, buy a 1000cc bike


I am actually looking into a bike. I've never rode one, but I'm gonna learn on a 'Busa. Should be interesting.

What kind of business do you have?

HVAC.

Hey, if you are bored with the Viper I can sell you some badass wheels for it. THAT will make it look way better. :pimp:


I like your Viper, lets trade. Mines red, and we all know red is faster. I'll even throw in a couple hundred bucks.:D

I like your Viper, lets trade. Mines red, and we all know red is faster. I'll even throw in a couple hundred bucks.:D

This man sounds legit, do it Nineball.

I'm self employed in a field that, while I seem to be good at, I don't enjoy much. Its all I've ever known so I'll stick with it,
, I owe you a beer.nothing wrong with that at all. i was doing the self employment thing for a while. for that length of time i made more money and had way more free time and was soo much happier than when i worked for someone else. however i sort of got bored and put out a resume and took a good offer . however ill tell you this much. these last few weeks of working under someone elses stipulations,rules,guidlines and timetables have reminded me quickly why i left reg jobs in the first place. :bang:

I've always been self employed, aside from a couple BS jobs as a kid. I've never worked for anyone else, and have a feeling it would suck. The idea of just doing my job and not having to worry about any of the BS headaches is appealing, but the lack of $$$ and schedule flexibility would also suck. My dad more or less forced me into this field and I really wanted to work on race cars. He said that was dumb and I needed to do this. Oh well, work is work. I'm being careful not to make the same mistakes with my kid.

I've always been self employed, aside from a couple BS jobs as a kid. I've never worked for anyone else, and have a feeling it would suck. The idea of just doing my job and not having to worry about any of the BS headaches is appealing, but the lack of $$$ and schedule flexibility would also suck. My dad more or less forced me into this field and I really wanted to work on race cars. He said that was dumb and I needed to do this. Oh well, work is work. I'm being careful not to make the same mistakes with my kid.the suck part is no lie. i really miss working my own hours/scheduled days,and having time for my customers. work 3-7 days at my own pace make my own money, and do what i liked with the rest of my week. figure ill give this reg job what ive got till i get fired or i just cannot put up with it!! ill see how i feel after this months over and go from there:D

are you hiring? im in the wrong business:lol:

the suck part is no lie. i really miss working my own hours/scheduled days,and having time for my customers. work 3-7 days at my own pace make my own money, and do what i liked with the rest of my week. figure ill give this reg job what ive got till i get fired or i just cannot put up with it!! ill see how i feel after this months over and go from there:D


Well, in my field, I have to bust ass when there's work because there are many times there isn't any work at all, like winter. It sucks because summer is the only time I can enjoy my cars, but its also when I work the most. As I get older its harder and harder to work out in this heat then have the motivation to come home and wrench on the cars.

One of the things I really liked about the automotive hobby was working on cars with friends. Now I just work on them by myself because most of my friends got out of it. One of my few remaining close friends sold his project car this past weekend, I helped them load up and I know he'll never buy another one.

You know whats funny? I dreamed and dreamed of owning the cars I have, I thought if I had these I could never be unhappy. I was young and stupid. I see these guys all the time who just think I'm the luckiest man alive because of my cars/possessions, meanwhile they are less "well off" (financially) but have amazing wives/gf's and real good friends and I'm probably more jealous of him than he is of me. It sounds corny as hell, but money cannot buy happiness. So all you guys who are envious of others peoples stuff, but go home to a good woman who rubs your back tonight, you are the ones who are truly rich. The material stuff will come sooner or later, and it doesn't matter as much as you think. Trust me.

sounds like a midlife crisis.

Get involved in church, visit family, look for the things in life that you can't just buy. Just an idea

If you're going to sell your viper please for the love of god buy anything other than a mustang. As previously mentioned you just see so many its like meh...whatever. At least with a Trans Am or Formula you turn some heads.

viper no question.

you already ahve a forged motor, CPE TT it.

ah ah ah money can buy happiness. It's called a hooker :lol:

Most people that say "Money cannot buy you happiness" have never been flat broke or in massive debt. I have, and I guarantee that having money makes me a much happier person than when I was living on ramen and wondering if I had enough change buried in the sofa to put gas in my car.

Compare your current financial situation with being broke. You can still have a crappy wife/family/friends even when broke. THAT would suck worse than what you have now.

I know what being broke is like, but I was still happy. Granted it was stressful to be worried about money and bills, but it didn't ruin my life.

No.

The Cobra is a better choice if you want power/$.

If it was me than I would keep the Viper and mod it.

You know whats funny? I dreamed and dreamed of owning the cars I have, I thought if I had these I could never be unhappy. I was young and stupid. I see these guys all the time who just think I'm the luckiest man alive because of my cars/possessions, meanwhile they are less "well off" (financially) but have amazing wives/gf's and real good friends and I'm probably more jealous of him than he is of me. It sounds corny as hell, but money cannot buy happiness. So all you guys who are envious of others peoples stuff, but go home to a good woman who rubs your back tonight, you are the ones who are truly rich. The material stuff will come sooner or later, and it doesn't matter as much as you think. Trust me.sometimes its true. but having money does make life easier and sometimes better! ive got plenty of toys myself. but i was in a situation a few months ago where my health wasnt so great and that was probably the worst feeling in the world. it became pretty apparent that all the nice cars,toys were really irrelevant and insignificant when faced with a choice of what i had to go thru to correct that ailment! took me some time to get back to being healthy again. but it changed my perspective on everything. and really made me appreciate the stuff i never payed mind to in the past!

Most people that say "Money cannot buy you happiness" have never been flat broke or in massive debt. I have, and I guarantee that having money makes me a much happier person than when I was living on ramen and wondering if I had enough change buried in the sofa to put gas in my car.

Compare your current financial situation with being broke. You can still have a crappy wife/family/friends even when broke. THAT would suck worse than what you have now.


Money does make things easier and less stressful, I'll agree to that. The happiest I have ever been was when I was the most poor. I was making very little money, and could barely stay afloat. I've never been "flat broke" because if I ever got that close to being broke I found something to do for $$$. Unless you have a some sort of disability, theres no excuse for being that poor. Theres work, go find it. Just my opinion...

I'm not trying to discount the importance of money, just saying that it is not making me happy. After all, the best things in life are free.

CPS turbo kit...

I was so closing to getting an 12k mile '02 ACR 6 months ago. With any luck I'll be back on top of things in another 6 months and have an SRT instead.

Regardless, the GTS is a timeless classic. Cobras are a cool car to those in the know, and are all business.

It's nice to go out for a cruise and get some attention. Instant gratification for all the hard work. Keep the Viper man.

To add to your last post... I am currently FLAT BROKE. I agreed to sign my name on the dotted line for my parents to refinance their lake house.

6 months later I was assured all was well. Had a line on the '02 ACR and went for the loan. Well every payment on that house was delinquent 30 days. The last two months were un paid, nd my perfect credit (740) was shot.

I'm now doing everything to afford my apartment, $2k mortgage, gas, and food.

Money would solve most of my problems at 22years old. But as I said, I'll be back on top one day. I work harder than anybody I know.

driven many vipers, its a litle cramped for me so i vote cobra, plus its a little cheaper to mod then a viper

CPS turbo kit...

I was so closing to getting an 12k mile '02 ACR 6 months ago. With any luck I'll be back on top of things in another 6 months and have an SRT instead.

Regardless, the GTS is a timeless classic. Cobras are a cool car to those in the know, and are all business.

It's nice to go out for a cruise and get some attention. Instant gratification for all the hard work. Keep the Viper man.

To add to your last post... I am currently FLAT BROKE. I agreed to sign my name on the dotted line for my parents to refinance their lake house.

6 months later I was assured all was well. Had a line on the '02 ACR and went for the loan. Well every payment on that house was delinquent 30 days. The last two months were un paid, nd my perfect credit (740) was shot.

I'm now doing everything to afford my apartment, $2k mortgage, gas, and food.

Money would solve most of my problems at 22years old. But as I said, I'll be back on top one day. I work harder than anybody I know.

Your parents fucked up YOUR credit?

Time to find new parents IMO

Your parents fucked up YOUR credit?

Time to find new parents IMO


Same thing happened to me. Co-signed a loan for my own graduation present of all things, and my dad didn't pay it. I was only 17, but our credit union used to give me loans and stuff even before I was 18. Of course, they kept calling him and not me so he never told me and I got screwed. He also drained my savings account before I was old enough to know better. I should of had about $6-7K in there by the time I was 16, all of sudden when I start looking at cars to buy at 16 I find out I have like $500 in there. Awesome. Being the nice guy he is, my dad told me he'd match whatever I had to spend on a car. Needless to say, my $1000.00 ford pickup was quite the chick magnet.

Yep not much you can do. You can get burned by friends, and cross them off. Getting burned by my family for 250k, plus the 18k I'm into the place just to bring the payments up to schedule sucks.

Once I sell the place and put $50k in my pocket I should be in a better mood though.

Yep not much you can do. You can get burned by friends, and cross them off. Getting burned by my family for 250k, plus the 18k I'm into the place just to bring the payments up to schedule sucks.

Once I sell the place and put $50k in my pocket I should be in a better mood though.


I think alot of people would just give up in your situation and declare bankruptcy, props to you for working it out.

down payment on a z06

Yep not much you can do. You can get burned by friends, and cross them off. Getting burned by my family for 250k, plus the 18k I'm into the place just to bring the payments up to schedule sucks.

Once I sell the place and put $50k in my pocket I should be in a better mood though.


My mind is reeling just trying to imagine my parents doing something like that to me.

Eh, I don't have much to say, but you must love them very much. Same with you TS6.

My mind is reeling just trying to imagine my parents doing something like that to me.

Eh, I don't have much to say, but you must love them very much. Same with you TS6.

LOL theres much more to the story. I nearly hospitalized the both of them.

My mind is reeling just trying to imagine my parents doing something like that to me.

Eh, I don't have much to say, but you must love them very much. Same with you TS6.


Eh, I love my mom. My dad, not so much. Luckily I have a cool stepdad who'd been there since I was 2.

I get really jealous of the guys who have those awesome dads who helped them build cars growing up and took them fishing, etc. My stepdad is a great guy, nicest you'll ever meet, and extremely smart, but not mechanical at all. Thats OK, we all have our strong and weak points, I just really wish my real dad (who is mechanically inclined) could have made more time for me when I was a kid.

I am going to do all that stuff with my son though, and love every second of it. I'd kill myself if I ever thought my son felt the same way about me as I feel about my own dad, my heart would just break.

You sound like a cool guy. If I was in your area, we'd have to chill out sometime and kick back and talk cars. I'm of the opinion you can never have too many friends. Plus my AC is acting crazy, lol. However, I must admit, you sound troubled, honestly. I would spend the money on a vacation to get away from things a while. Think about it later. You don't have to be in any hurry to decide, as it sounds like the real problem is more of your relationships with other people that you need to be working on, rather than your cars.

For what it's worth, I'd keep the viper near stock, maybe do whatever boltons are actually what you consider reasonable and some nice. Then I'd mod the camaro to be hella faster. It sounds to me like you really want a beast, and I think starting over again with a Cobra would probably be assed backwards when you already have such a great platform ready to go.

Good Luck,
Josh

I know, I know. I'm just bored with it.

Honestly, I've been trying to buy my own happiness for years now. I've had more cars than most people my age, and most of them were very nice. I'm not really into anything else, which is good because I can't afford it! I love getting new stuff and that feeling of looking forward to something and searching for the right deal. Once I get it, I want it better, faster, etc. I haven't even touched the Viper in weeks because I've been driving the Z28. Its just so much faster, and thats what I really like. Power.

Not much else in life makes me happy, besides my son. Me and him cruise the cars and he tries to help me work on them (he's three). Besides him and my toys, the rest of my life kinda sucks for me. I'm self employed in a field that, while I seem to be good at, I don't enjoy much. Its all I've ever known so I'll stick with it, I have too many responsibilities in life to go and change careers and take risks. My wife and I fight constantly, my business partner is almost as responsible as my 3 year old son, and my health could be better. I've never had many friends, but the ones I had were good. I lost my best friend in the world to his bitch of a wife, we haven't done one thing together in several years. We talk on the phone once every few weeks. Dude was like my brother, and its all over.

Most things I've done in life I've done for the wrong reasons, and now I'm paying for it. So I buy cars, because its all I have so to speak.

If you read all that, I owe you a beer.


<----------------- beer!!!! :chug:



and wow that sucks

I am actually looking into a bike. I've never rode one, but I'm gonna learn on a 'Busa. Should be interesting.

That's not the best idea in the world.
I'd rather drop a 750 than a busa and trust me.. you will drop it. Everyone does.
Coming from a Mustang owner.. I would keep the Viper and drop twins in it. Just make sure to get them from somewhere other than you know who :D

Keep the viper