Am I stupid for even toying this idea?

[BarryBum]

Considering the price that E bodies are fetching these days, I am considering (just considering) selling the Cuda and buying an older Viper RT/10. Give me some feedback guys. Either talk me into it or out of it.

[Ghost]

*slap*

That's a BAD BarryBum.  Very bad.  NO.



Vipers aren't that great, really.  Trust me, if you do it, you will regret it.

[EVIL72]

 I love the look of the Vipers too and wouldn't mind having a one, Black of course but I wouldn't give up a Cuda for one. Now if I could have both then   
 A few things to think about,
 The value of your Cuda is going up in price.
  What about Registration?, how much will the registration cost ya a year on a $40,000 or more car? How much are ya paying now for the Cuda? can you afford the difference?
  Insurance, how much will that cost ya? I'm sure you got some good coverage on your Cuda so it may not be much difference but ya may want to check it out.
 We have a few members on this board with some Nice Vipers I'm sure they could give ya better input.
 
 
 

[Chryco Psycho]

Vipers are still dropping in price while E bodys are still going up , so I would wait
 I also would not get a RT10 but if a GTS came up 

[hemi71]

As you know Barry, I'm considering the same move. I've done a little research, and Vipers (gen 1 and 2) seem to have basicly bottomed out as far as prices go. Matter of fact, looks like GTS's have risen about 5% in the last year. So as far as investments go, they are not bad, maybe not as good as your cuda, but not like you'll be throwing your $$ away, and the performance of a viper will be way above that of your small block Cuda. The gen 1 cars seem to be the cheapest, since they lack some "creature comforts" of the gen 2 cars, and the HP is stepped up in the gen 2 cars. Gen 3 cars right now are still just performance cars, with the applicable depreciation as they get older. I also happen to think the gen 2 cars are the best looking vipers.

This is a hard decision for me,but I'm being driven by the fact I'd like to limit my debt and have to generate some $$ for my son's college tution. I'm also in a diff situation, since my cuda is worth more $$ than a viper, and hopefully I'll come out of this with cash for tution, a viper, and some additional $$ for a 72-4 Cuda or Challenger.

Ultimately, the decision is yours, and i know it's not an easy one.

[Challenger6pak]

I don't consider you stupid at all.  I have owed a few exotic sports cars.  I have gone through the which is better questions. In my opinion it is like compairing apples to oranges and in the end the decision is yours.  The main plus I have found with the exotic is you can insure it and drive it daily.  If someone knows of a company that will insure my Cuda for $50,000 and let me drive it daily please let me know.  The ebodys are going up in value and the exotic is most likely going down it is true.  Can you fix that Viper or afford to have it done? I can fix my Cuda with most hand tools.  I agree with Hemi 71.  One of each is nice.  It is easier to build a 318 Barracuda into a clone than it is to change a Sebring into a Viper.  I have 6 ebodys at this time and will sell 3 of them in the future and get another sports car. Good luck with your decision.

[MyMopar]

It all depends.  Are you the type of person who truely believes a # car is everything.  Too me a car is a car, same base, different options.  If it were me, I'd sell the Cuda for big $$$, buy a Viper (2nd gen) buy another Cuda/Challenger w/318 and clone it, get some college cah and if anything is left over, put it in the bank.
While I like and find it neat to have a #'s matching factory orginal car, I also think that nothing is different from a 318 car to a hemi car, except that it has a hemi.  If the factory could build it, so can I.  I can enjoy it more, pay less tax dollars on it and have fun.  Would I want to drive a # matching Hemi Cuda, probably not.  Would I want to drive a Cuda with a Hemi in it, YES!     

[71fish]

"Vipers are still dropping in price while E bodys are still going up , so I would wai
 I also would not get a RT10 but if a GTS came up " 

If you're on the fence.. only get the GTS.. will prob go up in value.. and F A S T. Also, get the black one   
If i was ever on the fence, it means i want something different.. can't imagine trading in my shaker cuda for something other than a different cuda..maybe, but not something else. Since you're considering it.. DO IT  IMO

71fish

[Killer_Mopar]

I wouldnt do it for an RT10, especially a first generation. However, if you are talking about a 2nd generation GTS then I would do it. Really depends what you are looking for but the Viper has a lot of advantages. The Viper is just as fast as any e-body and handles better, brakes better, has creature comforts, gets way better gas mileage, is fuel injected, doesnt constantly need to be tuned, runs and drive smoother, and the body wont rust. As for the depreciation, most of it has gone away and like someone said before they have reached the bottom of their depreciation and I highly doubt the GTS' will ever go below 40k.

[cuda]

Keep the Cuda. 

[74MOPAR]

 Nothing wrong with a little change.  No matter the hype, you will Always be able to find another Cuda.  I considered the same thing although I was after a Viper GTS/ACR.    After some thought, I decided on an alternative to the Viper, [ It's faster w/ better handling]

 I figured I have owned lots of Mopars, probably I'll get a Viper someday.  The Viper will outhandle and out accelerate nearly any Cuda/Challenger, and if you find a faster cuda, you will  lose him within the 1st few turns, no matter what newfangled suspension it has.

 Your only here on earth once. Experience variety, or die blissfully ignorant [ if you only ever had a cuda and nothing else ever ]

 OK,  I sold my 'Cuda as you can see in the signature. Still have an old mopar which will take any v8 drivetrain though, so I can still use my Mopar knowledge.  
 The way I see it, I enjoyed the 'Cuda, friends liked it, the public liked it, I put some money/upgrade parts into it, and when I sold it it was in better shape than when I bought it.   My ownership was good for the car.
  Now I'll have a new rig , which I , my friends, and the public will enjoy.
 Same idea if you get a Viper instead.  Like 71Fish said - " if you're considering it..."      That's when I realized I could live with and be happy with the swap.   I still have the memories and the pictures to prove it, nothing can take that away !!
 Good luck in your decision.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I guess my first question would be why you would consider it? Are you bored with your car? Do you prefer a more modern car now? Nothing wrong with your idea, but as others have alluded to, you have to do what makes you happy since you only go around once.  I've thought about selling my Challenger for sure. I always wanted a 69-70 Charger. I guess my point is, you can't go wrong in the trade if it makes you smile at the end of the day. 

  Mike

[Cuda Cody]

I wouldn't give my viper up for any ebody   period.  Stock... 200 mph, dual air bag, ABS (2000 and newer) 26" of rubber, great sound system, and all the looks of a classic car.  450 HP with 490 Foot pounds of torque!  ALL STOCK with warranty.  Clean vipers will not get much cheaper.... wait and you'll pay more.

Go with a Gen 2 (Any GTS or 97 to 2002 TR/10)

If you want to talk about what to look for and what to avoid, feel free to call.  Email me and I'll give you my number.  I can tell you what years will be most desirable later.

Cody
Vice President of the Viper Club of America.... I might be bias.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I wouldn't give my viper up for any ebody   period.  Stock... 200 mph, dual air bag, ABS (2000 and newer) 26" of rubber, great sound system, and all the looks of a classic car.  450 HP with 490 Foot pounds of torque!  ALL STOCK with warranty.  Clean vipers will not get much cheaper.... wait and you'll pay more.

Go with a Gen 2 (Any GTS or 97 to 2002 TR/10)

If you want to talk about what to look for and what to avoid, feel free to call.  Email me and I'll give you my number.  I can tell you what years will be most desirable later.

Cody
Vice President of the Viper Club of America.... I might be bias.

AHHH,
   Come on CODY. There must be something about an E-Body, or you wouldn't be here.  There must be one out there that does it for you. 

  Seriously, the Viper would be alot less headache. No electrical, or mechanical demons that us E-Body people have delt with. BUT... I'm just old school, I love the fact that an older car is still out there and running(even if it is an P.I.T.A. to keep it running). It's all in what you want 

  Mike

[Bullitt-]

Just wondering, do you enjoy working on cars? Would you be able to work on a Viper? Maintaining may be more expensive than a 70's e-body