Few cars are as relentlessly aggressive as the original Dodge Viper, which has resulted in many of them being given salvage titles. However, today’s Nice Price or No Dice R/T10 has a clean title and has passed the smog test. Let’s see if it will also succeed in our voting competition.
Jalopinions: Dodge Viper SRT-10
During the second season of I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball became pregnant, leading the show’s writers, Lucy, and Desi to decide that her character should also be pregnant. This idea shocked the TV censors and advertisers at the time, as it implied that the TV characters were sexually active. Even Lucy and Ricky were not allowed to sleep in the same bed, so it was a mystery how Little Ricky came to be. Eventually, a compromise was reached: Lucy’s character could be pregnant, but the word “pregnant” could not be mentioned. Those were simpler and less intelligent times.
Nowadays, having a baby involves carrying around a lot of stuff such as diaper bags, strollers, and car seats. This makes a spacious car like yesterday’s 2001 Acura MDX Touring an excellent choice for new parents. With its third row of seats, it can also transition into a kid-friendly car as the children grow older. Affordability is equally important for parents, and yesterday’s Acura delivered on that front with a price of $4,250, earning it a solid 83 percent Nice Price win.
However, not everyone wants or needs to have children. Some may be empty-nesters looking for a car that offers unique personal enjoyment and indulgence. That’s where this 1995 Dodge Viper R/T10 comes in.
The first-generation Viper is and will always be an uncompromising car. It’s interesting to think that 400 horsepower was once considered excessive, while today’s mainstream muscle cars have well over 700 horses and some electric cars boast over 1,000 ponies.
The original Viper stands out because it lacks driver aids and safety features. This is what makes the Viper’s 400 horsepower so enticing even today. Power comes from Dodge’s 8.0-liter V10 engine, based on a truck motor but cast in alloy and developed in collaboration with Lamborghini. The Viper’s only transmission option is a Borg-Warner T-56 six-speed manual, which sends power to the enormous rear tires as expected.
Considering its powerful drivetrain and the lack of safety measures for inexperienced drivers, it’s not surprising that many Vipers on the market today have salvage titles. This clean-title Viper, therefore, is all the more interesting.
The bold color scheme adds to its appeal. With a black exterior, biscuit interior, olive drab racing stripes, and smoked lenses, it certainly attracts attention. The paintwork and trim also appear to be in excellent condition, which is expected as the car has only covered 30,000 miles according to the ad. The aftermarket wheels aren’t as thrilling as the factory alloys but are clean and unscuffed.
The interior is in good shape, with everything appearing stock except for an aftermarket Alpine head unit. The original stereo is included with the car, along with the owner’s manual, a car cover, and some extra parts. The surrey top and side curtains are also included but not shown in the ad.
Another advantage of this particular Viper is the recent work that has been done, including updates to the coolant system, a new clutch, brakes, and all four tires. The cost of these updates alone is likely to be significant. The car also comes with a fresh smog certificate and current tags, which add to its appeal. However, the seller’s asking price of $40,000 needs to be considered.
It’s important to note that these cars will likely become significantly more expensive in the future. While it may take a few more years, just as cars like the DeTomaso Pantera once did, the Viper’s days as an affordable exotic car are numbered.
With that in mind, what is your opinion on this Dodge Viper and its $40,000 asking price? Is it a good deal to seize while it’s still available, or is it still too expensive for this particular model? You decide!
This ad can be found on Los Angeles, California, Craigslist. If it disappears, click here.
Let me know your thoughts on NPOND by emailing me at remslie@kinja.com and providing a fixed-price tip. Don’t forget to include your Kinja handle.