Used Viper or new Challenger

[Foreman72]

a buddy of mine cracked his viper's frame at 145 mph!

like it just broke or he hit the great wall of china?

[Go Hogs Go]

a buddy of mine cracked his viper's frame at 145 mph!

That happens when you hit stuff.

[chargerhunter]

I own neither one, but a friend just bought the SRT8, Manual I was told is the only way with the 6.1, I rode in it and it rode like a modern day muscle car, plenty of power, bells and whistles and you can now add a factory super charger so you can piss the Vette owners off!

[moparstuart]

  this guy bought both a matching pair

[68charger383]

I have the same line of thinking. I was checking out a new chally and crying about the cost and their mark up and then the dealer pointed to a 2004 viper with 17K miles and said, I'll sell you that car for $42K. Since then, I've been sharing in your dilemma.

I say go with the viper. If Chrysler is still afloat in the next two/three years, you'll be able to buy a used SRT-8 chally for a similar cost that a 2-3 year old Charger/Magnum/300 etc. is currently selling for these days.

I've purchased used sport cars in the past and found you can use them for a year and resell them without losing to much cash in the transaction. The key is buying an exceptionally low miles one so when you use and resell, it will still be low miles.

So buy and enjoy the viper. In a year/two the chally will probably be cheaper to buy new or you'll be able to buy a used one at a much lower price.  I think with the chally, time will only be your friend when buying that car

[Go Hogs Go]

  this guy bought both a matching pair

Holy catfish

[mopar0166]

challenger r/t classic

[jb666]

challenger r/t classic

[Ghoste]

I had to go with new Challenger.  As cool as the Viper is (and I would love to,have one), at the heart of it I am still more of a musclecar guy than a sports car one.

[Ponch ®]

It depends on what you want it for. I've thought about this myself (hypothetically, of course).

From a balls out, cool factor perspective,  I'd go for the Viper. It's an attention getter, looks good, and it's cheap for the "super car" that it almost is. And yeah, it will probably be more collectible.
Now, don't get me wrong - I have a pretty big stiffy for the new Challenger, but I already see a ton of them every day (mostly SE's and R/Ts, but most regular folks can't tell / don't care about SE vs. R/T vs. SRT).

But in my situation, I'd be looking for a practical daily driver, and I suspect the Viper isn't one of those. The Challenger comes with a warranty, reliability of a new car, etc.

So for me the prudent thing to do (and likely) would be to get the Challenger. But I would REALLY rather have the Viper.

[Magnumcharger]

I does come down to practicality for part of the decision.
Then the other part is emotional.
I just cruised eBay and saw several reasonably priced Vipers there. Right now, they are likely at their lowest point price wise.
I love open cars, and have really been a huge fan of AC Cobras, Jaguar E-types and even some of the other, funkier British roadsters.
When the Viper came out, I couldn't believe my eyes! And I drove for many miles to see the first one in my home province, the RT/10 eventually bought by Teemu Selänne of the Winnipeg Jets hockey team. I vowed that I'd buy one "some day". I bought EVERY magazine with an article on the Viper in that first year. I was obsessed. Yes, I still have my first 1/18 scale car...a Burrago Viper roadster.
Well, I found out - I'm not getting any younger. Time is slipping by. And after a cancer scare last year, I have to admit, I'm seeing that life is too short.

Now the Challenger on the other hand...
It's the Viper obsession all over again! I was just down at the local Dodge dealership a few minutes ago, on my way home from work. Friggin' beau-t-iful black R/T has me by the balls!
And my good woman has said if I want one...fill your boots.
I guess I've got the summer to make up my mind.
I told her I'll wait until she's back from her tour in Afghanistan before I commit to anything.
Meanwhile...I've got my Deora to fill in my off hours....and yes Eldon, a 1968 Charger R/T to finish too!

[Fitz73Chrgr]

Personally, I'd probably go with the Challenger.  No offense to anyone who owns one & don't get me wrong they ARE cool cars, but people who drive Vipers just seem as if they're trying too hard for attention. 

[TheGhost]

Challenger.  But, then, I've never been much of a "supercar" fan...

[Ponch ®]

, but people who drive Vipers just seem as if they're trying too hard for attention. 

And people who drive classic Chargers aren't?

I does come down to practicality for part of the decision.
Then the other part is emotional.
I just cruised eBay and saw several reasonably priced Vipers there. Right now, they are likely at their lowest point price wise.
I love open cars, and have really been a huge fan of AC Cobras, Jaguar E-types and even some of the other, funkier British roadsters.
When the Viper came out, I couldn't believe my eyes! And I drove for many miles to see the first one in my home province, the RT/10 eventually bought by Teemu Selänne of the Winnipeg Jets hockey team. I vowed that I'd buy one "some day". I bought EVERY magazine with an article on the Viper in that first year. I was obsessed. Yes, I still have my first 1/18 scale car...a Burrago Viper roadster.
Well, I found out - I'm not getting any younger. Time is slipping by. And after a cancer scare last year, I have to admit, I'm seeing that life is too short.

Now the Challenger on the other hand...
It's the Viper obsession all over again! I was just down at the local Dodge dealership a few minutes ago, on my way home from work. Friggin' beau-t-iful black R/T has me by the balls!
And my good woman has said if I want one...fill your boots.
I guess I've got the summer to make up my mind.
I told her I'll wait until she's back from her tour in Afghanistan before I commit to anything.
Meanwhile...I've got my Deora to fill in my off hours....and yes Eldon, a 1968 Charger R/T to finish too!

Screw it dude...get the Viper. It's what you've wanted all these years. The thing about the Challenger is that once the fad passes and it becomes just another car (like the current Mustang), you'll be wishing you'd gotten the Viper.

[UFO]

When the Viper came out, I couldn't believe my eyes! And I drove for many miles to see the first one in my home province, the RT/10 eventually bought by Teemu Selänne of the Winnipeg Jets hockey team.

\

I believe this is the first one to arrive here.

[Khyron]

Chally

[Magnumcharger]

Oh yes Brian, that's the critter! I was looking for my pictures of it!!! All of which are at home in boxes.
So you made the pilgrimage too, huh?

[UFO]

Yea sure did,but I was 10 mins away from that dealership.

[chargerboy69]

The thing about the Challenger is that once the fad passes and it becomes just another car (like the current Mustang)

Or the PT Cruiser. Around here Cruisers were all the rage. We were told there was a six month waiting list for one. And now. . .

[Ponch ®]

The thing about the Challenger is that once the fad passes and it becomes just another car (like the current Mustang)

Or the PT Cruiser. Around here Cruisers were all the rage. We were told there was a six month waiting list for one. And now. . .

Yeah, I remember when they came out I actually wanted one. Good thing I didn't get one. And in my defense, I was young (19) and misguided at the time.

[mauve66]

The thing about the Challenger is that once the fad passes and it becomes just another car (like the current Mustang)

Or the PT Cruiser. Around here Cruisers were all the rage. We were told there was a six month waiting list for one. And now. . .

Yeah, I remember when they came out I actually wanted one. Good thing I didn't get one. And in my defense, I was young (19) and misguided at the time.

did you want the woody package and baby moon hubcaps also??

[69 OUR/TEA]

New chally or used viper,here's my answer,500' from the dealer on the test ride I knew I wanted it.They did a great job on this car,drives very tight and rigid feeling,airtight cabin even at 80mph, great gas mileage(6spd),and can carry four people!Also I like the fact of being the orig owner so nobody else beat the heck out of it,and with that you get the lifetime power train warr.Vipers are'nt usually driven easy,never been in one but heard they ride like crap,still way up there in $$$$$,and IMO are a little to corvettish for me.

[maxwellwedge]

I bought an '08 SRT and I LOVE it. It does everything you want a car to do...but....except for my love of original, correct "old" cars I am a rodder at heart. So I ordered a Diablo tuner, Corsa exhaust, 180 T-Stat and a new air box. Also changing the coils/shocks/struts and lowering it about an inch - I think they sit a smidgen too high. Most of the parts are in so I should be doing the mods in a couple of weeks. I'll let you all know the difference when done.

On the Viper - A friend of mine traded a Vette for a Viper a few years back. I asked him to tell me the difference in the 2 cars.

He said the Vette was a car you could jump in and drive coast to coast with in comfort. It was also very forgiving if you were giving it hell.

He said the Viper is a car he had to think about taking a trip over 100 miles with. Very crammed and uncomfortable after a while. He also stated that if you got on it and weren't ready it would bite your ass. He still loves it but put it down to it being a pure musclecar without the pure refinement of the Vette.

I would still take a Viper if you gave me one. 

[mikepmcs]

So I ordered a Diablo tuner, Corsa exhaust, 180 T-Stat and a new air box. Also changing the coils/shocks/struts and lowering it about an inch - I think they sit a smidgen too high.

I guess we all have the same idea.  Care to share where you purchased all your gear from and the cost? Which Air box, etc....  I am looking to do the exact same thing.  Are you putting headers as well or just cat back.  I'm not looking at Corsa or Magnaflow though, I can't remember the manufacturer MDRP or something like that.  I like their sound better, and I also want to get electronic cutouts for the noise factor.  Still saving funds for these things though so it will be a little bit.
Still debating on the suspension though.  I was told by a very reliable source, no need for suspension mods at this time, for me personally anyway.

[maxwellwedge]

I got my engine builder to order all this stuff for me - he gets good pricing.
The air box is C&L  cnlperformance.com   I am not going with headers - just the cat backs, mufflers and new tips. The 180 degree T-Stat seems to make a difference from what I have been reading. Great site is http://www.300cforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/f-156.html for discussing all these mods.