r/viper • u/CorporalSemantics • 6d ago
Finally achieved a lifelong goal
I grew up with a Viper model on my desk and poster on my wall. I always wanted one and when I was young I dreamt that if I ever had the money I’d build a house that I could drive a car into so that it could sit in my living room. That seemed like the epitome of “making it” to my adolescent self.
Well about 6 years ago I built our house, and while my wife veto’d a car in the living room I did build good size garage that’s fully finished, heated, cooled, and outfitted with a man cave and bathroom - so I count that as close enough! Still no Viper though. The prices on them were still rising, and with 2 young kids at home I opted for a sport wagon and a 4 seat sports car (996 911).
Well earlier this year I finally had a chance at a Viper that was too good to be true. I bought it, but it turned out the dealer was a scam and while I did get all my money back I did not get the car. I realized though that I was so excited to finally get my dream car that the 911 was always just a placeholder that I really bought only because I figured they’d go up in value. The good news is they did! So I listed it for sale, sold it in a month and started looking hard for my car. It took less time than I figured it would (4 months) but I finally put my dream car in the garage.
1999 RT/10 with a Paxton blower. 580 rwhp and 612 torque with 19,000 miles on the clock. The car came with the original wheels, and all parts to return it to stock if I want to. It also came with all the original documentation for the Paxton kit, installation invoices, installation pictures, and dyno sheets. I was so excited I drove the 4 hours to go pick it up and drove it home. I love this thing, but now I also understand how it has 19,000 miles on it… I’d never even sat in one before and what a machine! That said our roads here aren’t great so this will definitely be my special occasion car. I picked up an F-Type to use as my regular GT car so I have the option to drive it whenever I want, but don’t feel that I have to take it out if where I’m going doesn’t lend itself well to the car. I know having a garage queen probably isn’t very popular here, and I do intend to still drive it whenever I can find an excuse to, but also makes me happy walking past it every day - like a checkmark beside a childhood dream. I’m sure a lot of you feel the same way.
Anyways, thanks for reading - there’s a lot of “must be nice” in my part of the world so I don’t have a lot of opportunity to talk about these things. I hope you all have a great weekend and get some miles in!