Would you rather own a 03-05 Viper or Camaro?

[Payton King]

Since Scott posed the question on the 69 Camaro I got to thinking, as much as these cars are bringing and cost to build. Would I rather have a new style Viper or a pro-tour 69? I saw an 03 Viper for $60,000 with 1500 miles.

I would like to hear(read) your opinions before I give mine. Someone give me an email address and I will send you a picture to post on this thread.

Thanks,

Payton

[XcYZ]

Payton, send the pic to me, I'll take care of it.

As for your question, I'd go with the 69 Camaro. Anyone can go buy a Viper, but it takes a dedicated enthusiast to build a 69 like yours. :thumbsup:

[T Bell]

Are you serious. It would have to be the Camaro. True enough both cars are rare on the streets. Both cars will bring attention. Both are fast. The viper just doesn't have that V8 sound. (I guess those 2 other cylinders does something to it). The 69 has heritage and shows courage to drive and build a 36 year old car. I guess you could also buy a decked out protouring 69 also. Hmmm. It might be the fact that you know that the Viper was built by a factory. Just knowing the 69 would have had so many custom things done to it along with a restoration would be enough for me. I just appreciate mechanical work. Sorry so long, I'm tried to put my thoughts on paper but I may not have done such a good job.

[907rs]

I'd do the '69 as well. As Scott said, anyone can buy a Viper.

There's just something about vintage iron, especially one that can compare to the new 'super cars' in all performance aspects.

[BC69]

Id take the Viper! Thrash around in it without worry for a few years...tear the drive train out, suspension, brakes, all when Im done with it. And slap it in a 70 Cuda. Then sell it for 150k! Come out on top! Lets just ignore the cost of building the Cuda! :_paranoid

[evilzee28]

No contest, '69 Camaro. As I see it, if you've got the cash & buy a Viper it's pretty much the same as all the others, they're all belly button cars. Whereas the Camaros are all different apart from the basic body styling & each has been built to fulfil its owners certain criteria, handling, performance & individuality. :yes:

[MarkM66]

Late Models suck. Anyone can buy one, and they all depreciate.

Camaro all the way. :thumbsup:

[Stuart Adams]

69 Camaro, and E55 for traveling.

[DCreations]

:thumbsup: Viper all the way

[Steve1968LS2]

Here is the difference..

The Viper will depreciate every year and the Camaro will appreciate every year.

Besides, In 10 years the Viper will just be a has-been used car and the Camaro will be even more cool.

Not that I would not want a Viper but it is just not the same. I tell you what, finish your car and park it next to a brand new Viper at cruise night.. see which one has the bigger crowds throughout the night. :)

[XcYZ]

Here's the picture that Payton wanted to have posted. That's a damn nice car...

[Musclerodz]

I totally agree with Steve. Since I look at everything as an investment, I would have to let the Viper bottom out before I buy one. But I don't have deep pockets either. Here is idea, own both!

Mike

[RussMS]

Camaro. :thumbsup:

[907rs]

That Viper does look hot, but I'd still have to go with the Camaro.

[Steve1968LS2]

I totally agree with Steve. Since I look at everything as an investment, I would have to let the Viper bottom out before I buy one. But I don't have deep pockets either. Here is idea, own both!

Mike

Well look at a 1994 Viper today.. it's old news.. still sorta cool but mostly outdated. When I see someone driving one I think "that guy used to have money" or "that guy bought an old used viper because he couldn't afford a new one.."..

I know it is bad but that is the first thought I get.. :shrug:

In 20 years it will be cooler again because it has survived.. in the mean time it is just a used sports car. Now how will a new Viper be viewed in 10 years? Will it look dated because designs have moved on? In 30 years will people be trying to restore them? Right now it is a great car but some of the love is because it is "the new kid on the block".. Remember how PT Cruisers were all the rage when they came out. Now they are old news.

The Viper is a hot performing car but I doubt it will have the staying power of a '69 Camaro..

Just my .02

[Payton King]

I agree with what most have said on the debate...and I will add that I can stuff, just barely, my 2 boys in the back seat. Of coarse they will have to crawl through the roll cage like monkey bars at the park, but hey they are only 5 and 3 and they would enjoy the adventure.

Will a Viper depreciate, yes. How about a Camaro, I think so too. Pro-touring style early iron is really hot right now. Kind of like Pro-street in the 80's. Cars that were selling at the peak of that movement brought money that was unheard of at the time. Fast forward till now...you can get a deal on a pro-street car and the pro-tour style is out of sight. Will history repeat itself? Only time will tell. Barret-Jackson has really pushed the value of classics, in general, up pretty high. I realize the cars that they sell are exceptional, but every Joe Blow with a (insert your classic here) thinks his car is worth the $200,000 the car brought on TV. Is there a bubble on values like Corvettes in the early 80's? Is it going to pop?

Obviously I am not building my car as an investment, but I would not want to spend $50,000 modifying a Yugo either. So you are wondering why I have rambled for so long and posed the question. My wife will be 40 in 4.5 years and yes I know that I robbed the cradle. Her favorite car is a Viper so I started looking just to see for maybe a 40th birthday gift...one of the old depreciated ones. Anyway I got to thinking, I am building my car way nicer than I had planned. Would I have been better served to have built more of a track day car that I could drive on the street? One more suited to abuse than a polishing cloth? I really won;t know the answer to that question until it is done. However, it did get me thinking. Sell the one I have when completed...after enjoying the car. Buy my wife a mid-life crisis car and start my next 69 camaro project. I have an insured that has a real nice 69 driver with a 327/power glide that would make a nice track car or there is the guy that lives around the corner that has a numbers matching 69 big block SS/RS 4 speed car that has not seen the light of day in 15 years.

Oh the options. It makes my head hurt.

Truth be known...they will probably burry me in the car.

[BC69]

Now don't get me wrong when I say this. Remember I love 69 Camaro, and Love Pro-touring. But lets think Farther than 10 years.

The Viper is also an Investment. Imagine 50 years from now, a Pro-touring 69 Camaro vs an 03 Viper (If its a venom or optioned, even better) at the auction block of Barrat-Jackson. I honestly think the Viper would bring more!

I am completely just playing devils advocate...but I think thats a good point.

Tim

[Steve1968LS2]

The reason pro-street car values have gone down is that people figured out that they are no fun to drive more than a few miles. ;)

There will always be a demand for well done classic cars that contain modern road manners and comforts. As long as pro-touring does not make the same mistakes as pro-street it should continue for a long time (evolving further along the way)

[Streetking]

I have a couple of Gen2 Vipers and I really like them alot. I bought a new '03 and hated it, looks like a S2000 and didn't have the "feel" of my Gen2. I have a new Viper Coupe on order, but I am going to sell it when I get it. I was really looking forward to seeing the new Coupe last year, but when they showed it at last years Viper Invitational, I was dissapointed. I really don't think Vipers will ever go up in value, atleast not in my lifetime, because they have made too many.. Camaro would be my pick..

SW

[Steve1968LS2]

I have a couple of Gen2 Vipers and I really like them alot. I bought a new '03 and hated it, looks like a S2000 and didn't have the "feel" of my Gen2. I have a new Viper Coupe on order, but I am going to sell it when I get it. I was really looking forward to seeing the new Coupe last year, but when they showed it at last years Viper Invitational, I was dissapointed. I really don't think Vipers will ever go up in value, atleast not in my lifetime, because they have made too many.. Camaro would be my pick..

SW

I think the new ones look awful as a coupe whereas the Gen2's look great in coupe form..

I agree that new coupes just look "wrong"..

[jonny51]

I guess I would have a Viper or two if I wanted one,lord knows I have enough invested :willy:

[hotwheels]

um, i would take a ford shelby gt500, which will be available in the fall.....500+hp for 40k........oh, yeaaaa

[Huxsol81]

no question about it...69 Camaro :thumbsup:

[Red73]

69 Camaro
06 Z06
Viper

In that order.

[Derek69SS]

69 Camaro
06 Z06
Viper

In that order.

There's a whole lot more cars I'd place above "viper" on my list... 32 ford, 39 chevy coupe, 55 chevy, 65 chevelle 2dr wagon, 66 el camino, 69 chevelle, '69 camaro, 70-73 rs camaro, 70-73 T/A, 96 impala SS, '96 caprice wagon, 06 Z06... (not in that order) of course, none of these would be stock by any means :unibrow:

[Hooligan]

Can I just get the viper engine, cpu, and harness to put in something else?

[hotwheels]

Can I just get the viper engine, cpu, and harness to put in something else? oh yea..... :thumbsup:

[Autokraft]

Go with the 69. The Viper is cool no doubt but it just don't compare to the 69 Camaro. I may be partial to them since I have owned eleven of them over the years and have three today but the pro-touring thing is just so cool. Put in a latemodel drivetrain and go have some fun!!

Kurt

www.autokraft.org

[*rayman*]

Steve1969LS1 - the pic in your avatar is your car yeah?

I tried sending you a PM, but your inbox is full.

I've just bought a 68 ss, and want to run the same wheel combo as you. From the looks of the pictures, they are simmons OM wheels? can you tell me the sizes of these, and the backspacing your using.

Also, what colour is that you have, it looks awesome.

Sorry to deviate off topic guys.

I'd take the 69, here in australia they have gone stupid in price lately.

[66chevy]

Rayman
I believe the wheels on Penny are Forglines (http://www.forgeline.com/wheels/wc3.html) and the color is 2002 Prowler Orange. The Forglines are 11" front and 13" back but not sure of the backspacing. May have to wait for Steve to get that info.

Deron :)

[69rs]

I like most years of Vipers, but the 69 wins! :clap: :clap: And I'm not biased! :_paranoid

[Payton King]

I am not selling my car or contemplating it either. I thought that it would make a good topic for discussion. A lot of folks hold the Viper as exotic meets american muscle car and I was just curious on what y'all thought.

Although it never starts out as such, as much money that is being spent on a pro-touring type of car/what one finished would sell for, opens the door for a lot of high end production cars.

I know that anyone can own a production car by writing a check and you can also do that with a pt style car as well. Some people can build the car themselves, but with the lack of time will pay folks to do the lion's share. While others have the time but are not willing to spend the money to have someone else build their car. I don;t think one is better than the other because everyone's situation is different.

Enjoy your cars and your hobbies, I know I am.

Payton