2000 Dodge Viper GTS

[Basement Paul]

So I did it. I bought my dream car. I'm not sure how many people have really just dreamed about one vehicle for so long, but I have. Since I saw a GTS Viper was going to be made, probably sometime in 1995, this was my favorite car. I think anyone I've ever talked to about that ONE car, has heard me mention the GTS Viper. My brain has always thought that it would be blue with white stripes, like the '96 and '97 cars were, as they were reminiscent of the Shelby Daytona Coupe of the 60's. I didn't go crazy exploring other options on these cars throughout my life as I really didn't think this was going to be a reality at any point. This fall I came to the realization that I actually could do this, and it took me a couple months to get serious in my head about it. So once I started the actual search process, I found that blue and white ones are pretty scarce in the '96-02 version, and they demand a big premium.
I stumbled on this red 2000 model year with silver stripes on Marketplace in November sometime and MostMint and I sent it back and forth as the car was located in Wadsworth and he had actually seen it in motion near his house. It disappeared off FB, and a couple weeks later a very similar car (same year, same stripes) popped up at Ganley Dodge in Aurora, but had different wheels on it. Good chance it was the same car though, as the CarFax showed the most recent owner was in Wadsworth.
32V and I went to look at it in person on Saturday the 6th. It was a SUPER nice car, and I was really surprised how much I liked the red with silver stripes. I checked it over pretty well, sat in it, and started it up, but did not drive it due to weather, and I wasn't convinced I was going to make an offer on the spot. But I did take a picture to stew on over the weekend. Once Monday morning hit, I knew I was going to at least make an offer on the car, and called the dealer first thing. After a couple back and forths, we were $2500 apart and I stalled the negotiations. As I thought more and more about it for the next couple days, I was really going to be upset with myself if I let it go, so I called back to reopen the talks. We basically split the $2500 in half and called it a deal.
Fast forward to Friday, Dec. 12, when MostMint helped me pick the car up. Despite the crap weather we've been having early in the season, I was able to at least find a day where the roads were dry, despite being coated in white salt dust, so I decided it would be easier to just drive it home and hose it off than mess around back and forthing with friends and their trailers. Thanks to Dave and Kevin for both offering though!

So the first time I drove the car was after it was paid for and on my way home... This did not turn out to be a bad thing though as I made it home with no issues. Except that the dealer sold me a very expensive car with less than 1/8 tank of fuel.

I'm really looking forward to next spring when I can take this out and really just start to enjoy it. As of right now, I really don't see anything that will need to be done to it between now and then except to keep it dry. Should be a fund Summer of 2026!

-BP

[Basement Paul]

Just random pics of the Viper.

-BP

[GMJohnny]

This was a good call purchase! I struggle to see how you can lose money
if you want to sell, and it’s cool that you could actually buy your dream
car. I LOVE the fuel door on these cars!

GM

[MostMint]

It was interesting that at least a couple guys who worked at the dealer said they wanted to hear it on the way out. I contemplated hanging around but figured I'd hear it plenty at some point in the future. Anyway walking down the hall to the other side of the building I heard it start lol. The exit was quite unspectacular due to a long line of traffic right in front of the dealer - other than seeing a Viper on the road in December.

For almost my entire drive - from my house to his, then back to the dealer the roads were basically dry and no snow - til we got to Bainbridge when suddenly it was snowing. Luckily it didn't really accumulate.

We also learned at the dealer that the prior owner was forced to sell it as part of the conditions of his divorce. As the salespeople said it was his dream car too.

[AKROVER]

Yowza, that's an analog beast. There's no way I would ever turn traction/stability control off in a car like that, but I am not even sure yours has such features. Congrats on fulfilling a dream.

[Basement Paul]

Yep, no nannies at all. Not even ABS yet. No cruise control either, but power windows and A/C were standard. Even has a CD player. Looks aftermarket, but they just stuck an Alpine single DIN in there from the factory. I really like the whole race car vibe of the car.
I did order an OEM shift lever and knob off ebay. It currently has a super short knub of a shifter that in the short time I drove it, seems to make an already knotchy shifter even tougher to manage. Most everyone wants the shorter throw on these and most get changed, but I think I'll really like the stock one better for regular driving.

-BP

[TireSmoker]

I'm a couple days late here, but that is sooo cool! It's a videogame car, I can't wait to see it in person.

[Basement Paul]

The shift knob, now ordered five days ago, and shipped right away from Euclid, OH, is still bouncing around the USPS shipping maze. But it should get here within a week from 20 miles away.
Today I was in the garage just getting acclimated, and I found the original window sticker in the owners manual. The dealer sent me the 2nd key for the car, but unfortunately did not come with a remote, so I'll have to work on that.
I took the Viper specific car cover that came with it out of the hatch area and bagged it up and shelved it as I don't really cover my cars. I pulled the spare tire cover off and filled the spare with 60psi as there was zero pressure in it.
When I pulled the floor mats out of the passenger compartment, the floor under the passenger's side one was soaked. I learned this to be a common problem with these letting in outside water, and there's likely a drain by the HVAC inlet that is the culprit.
I'll be out there a little more this afternoon and maybe learn even more stuff.

-BP

[Basement Paul]

The problem was not a plugged drain hole, but a self threading screw that is directly under the outside opening in the hood that let's in fresh air for the HVAC. When I took this inlet box off, there was still water surrounding the screw. It's kind of a low spot there. So I got the black RTV out, smeared the screw, washer, and the point where the upper box meets the lower box. Im pretty sure that problem is cured.
I also lubed every thing on this car, that has clearly NEVER been lubed. The fancy gas door, every hinge and latch on this very complicated hood assembly, the door hinges and latches, etc. It's amazing how smoothly everything works. I should be surprised that this has never been done, but I'm not. Most pro technicians ignore these areas during routine maintenance. It's terrible.
I learned about the adjustable pedal assembly too. Crank a knob under the dash and all three pedals move forward and back. I turned the radio on for the first time too. Sounds pretty decent.
It was fun just learning and getting accustomed to this thing. It's still hard for me to believe it's mine.

-BP