Help me sway 'er! lol

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Torkey

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Hey guys, just joined up and needed to get some information. I've searched around a bit but I havent been able to find specifically what I'm looking for. Heres the deal..Im in Pharm school here in TX, and shes working (sweet gig, I might add haha, although its the reason that I have to "sway" her in the first place haha..shes the one making the payments) Anyways, we're about to close on our first house, and we want to trade my car for a truck. Now personally, being a car nut, an F-150 or Hemi, isnt gonna do it haha and I think you all understand that lol. She was ok with the SRT when I showed her pictures etc and kinda (cough intentionally cough) left the gas mileage part out haha. Now, buying a truck thats not the big issue. Of course, our trainer, who is also a huge car guy has an 08 viper, and he's gotta say something stupid like "yeah i just had to get these hoses replaced and it was like $700" so after hearing that shes stuck on the fact that these trucks have rediculous maintenence costs just because it's got a viper engine. So what I need to know are ya'lls experiences with maintenence/repair on your SRT and the overall cost of upkeep vs other vehicles (excluding gas), ESPECIALLY if you have or have had a diesel truck. Shes ok with the diesel, and I kinda am, but i'm gonna spend 20k or just over, may as well go with something im really gonna enjoy I figure :) I drive about 40 miles round trip to school 3-5 times a week, id say its 95% highway. Gonna bring her back later to read some post (granted they're in the right direction hahaha) so help me out guys! lol

nice site btw!!
 
Nothing is cheap with this engine. If something breaks, its gonna cost an arm and leg. But these engines are pretty solid that being said. The people who have their engines break are mostly due to modding the engine (ie force induction) If you leave the motor stock or close to, your probably not going to have anything unusual happen if you take care of the truck. Oil changes can be pricey too. 8 or so quarts of mobil 1 synthetic. If you do it all yourself, it costs around 50 bucks. If you take it to a viper mechanic, about 120 and above. Hope I helped!
 
These trucks are reliable if left stock. Oil changes aren't cheap. Really, the biggest expense you will not be able to hide is the fuel costs. Sounds like you will spend at least $50 a week in gas and as much as $150 if prices go up and you drive more than just to and from school. Gas is the big cost factor. Insurance isn't even bad. They consider it a 1/2 ton truck. You have to decide if it's worth it to hide the fuel mileage from her because you will hear a lot of bitching if she is like most uh...partners I know.
 
Just install a vacum type milage gage then let off the gas and show her it is getting 517 mies to the gallon:D :D :D
 
well,its a rare truck with an exotic engine in it (IMO) and that requires special fluids and parts are a little pricey,BUT that being said the torque,smoothness of the V-10 and the sound is unbeatable. i have had one problem with my truck in the five years i have had it (albeit only 10,000miles),that was a TPS (throttle posiston sensor) that went bad,which was only a $50.00 part. engine,tranny and the rest of the driveline is tight and smooth as silk.you and your wife need some seat time to really appreciate the engineering that went into it. if it sounds like i really love this truck...well you would be correct! we have members in SA,maybe make one of the GTGs'. i would say all of us on this forum are gearheads and gearheads usually like to stand out and be different when it comes to their rides,so this is a no brainer!:D
 
Since you're a car nut then you will be unable to resist modding the truck out and thats also where things can get a little pricey. But, we have some great vendors that do a great job at finding items at the lowest price available.
Like it was said before, adding forced induction, nitrous, and other power adders will shorten the life of the motor, tranny, etc and rebuilds are not cheap. Most members take that opportunity to really build a strong motor with forged goodies and price reaches $10,000 easily for that. However, if you can leave the motor stock (or somewhat close to it:D ) they will last a long time; we've only had a few NA motors go boom; they can be counted on one hand.
Plus there are different things to think about if you want a reg cab or quad cab. The tranny is the QC has given us QC cab guys a great deal of headache (mine was replaced a few months ago at 20-something thousand miles but it was under warranty) but we may be close to finding a solution. Get a warranty if you do end up buying one of these trucks just to cover yourself. Also with the fuel issue, my QC has a 34 gallon tank and when prices were $4 plus, I was easily paying over $100/week and doing about the same distance in driving to work as mine is my daily driver.
But the best thing about these trucks, besides the power, is that they are a catalyst to making many new friends that become family. This site has a ton of info, especially do-it-yourself info (which will help keep costs down :rock: ) and the cumulative knowledge base here is truly incredible. If you do pull the trigger on an SRT-10, it will put a smile on your face everyday but make sure your decision is well-informed especially in these troubling economic times. Good luck with your decision and feel free to ask questions.
 
I had a '06 Dodge 3500 cummins/auto and now I have the '05 QC SRT w/auto (same type trans/48re). I just did an oil change and it was about the same at the Dodge dealer. The fuel mileage on my cummins was about 18/19 and this truck is 13/14. Insurance is cheaper on the SRT.
If you aren't going to use the cummins for what it was intended I would get the SRT. If you think your going to do some towing (major) then the cummins would get my vote.
I would say they both cost about the same unless something major happens. If you get a truck with low enough miles you can still buy a powertrain warranty (3yr unlimited miles) for about $1k through Dodge. Then you don't have to worry about major issues.
 
Get a Regular Cab and enjoy it more every time you sit down in it!! They are AWESOME....
 
Hello, let me just say that I had mine for about a year and half till recently. My biggest costs over that time were a couple oil changes, one round of tranny and rearend scheduled maintenance at 15k miles, one new set of tires installed running me about $800, fuel, and lots of car care maintenance products for washing it all the time :). Haven't needed to do the brakes, but having already looked at prices for new pads and maybe rotors, for the do it yourselfer it's not too bad either. So, unless something major breaks, day to day costs might be reasonable to you. If I remember right and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but they come with a 7 year/70,000 mile drive train warranty which should help with the expensive stuff like engine and tranny. However, I got my truck originally from carmax and I got a extended bumper to bumper warranty included in the deal good till 2013. Hope some of this info helps.

Good luck in pharmacy school. By the way, which one are you going to?
 
hey bro! I had a 04' F250 6.0L diesel the maintaince on these is no worse than a diesel 15 qts of oil in a diesel and a $22 oil filter...this engine is far less for basic maintainence...tires are more on a diesel "LT" 10 ply rating...not cheap for a good pair....brakes on a diesel are about the same.......you going 2 or 4 door? 4 door expect to do immediate tranny upgrading.....buy a warranty! (between me and you....sorry guys turn away.........I wish I would have kept my diesel) don't get me wrong the srt-10 is one bitchin truck...I have a similar ride 95% hwy 45 mile each way 3x's a week (only about 3/4 tank if you drive decent) but trust me on the hwy this truck is UNREAL and my ride to work is very enjoyable.... ;)
 
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PhatPharmacist said:
Hello, let me just say that I had mine for about a year and half till recently. My biggest costs over that time were a couple oil changes, one round of tranny and rearend scheduled maintenance at 15k miles, one new set of tires installed running me about $800, fuel, and lots of car care maintenance products for washing it all the time :). Haven't needed to do the brakes, but having already looked at prices for new pads and maybe rotors, for the do it yourselfer it's not too bad either. So, unless something major breaks, day to day costs might be reasonable to you. If I remember right and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but they come with a 7 year/70,000 mile drive train warranty which should help with the expensive stuff like engine and tranny. However, I got my truck originally from carmax and I got a extended bumper to bumper warranty included in the deal good till 2013. Hope some of this info helps.

Good luck in pharmacy school. By the way, which one are you going to?
Click to expand...
got my truck from carmax too...there is no 7yr/70k mile if you are not original owner or don't have it transfered....
 
BlackKnight said:
Since you're a car nut then you will be unable to resist modding the truck out and thats also where things can get a little pricey. But, we have some great vendors that do a great job at finding items at the lowest price available.
Like it was said before, adding forced induction, nitrous, and other power adders will shorten the life of the motor, tranny, etc and rebuilds are not cheap. Most members take that opportunity to really build a strong motor with forged goodies and price reaches $10,000 easily for that. However, if you can leave the motor stock (or somewhat close to it:D ) they will last a long time; we've only had a few NA motors go boom; they can be counted on one hand.
Plus there are different things to think about if you want a reg cab or quad cab. The tranny is the QC has given us QC cab guys a great deal of headache (mine was replaced a few months ago at 20-something thousand miles but it was under warranty) but we may be close to finding a solution. Get a warranty if you do end up buying one of these trucks just to cover yourself. Also with the fuel issue, my QC has a 34 gallon tank and when prices were $4 plus, I was easily paying over $100/week and doing about the same distance in driving to work as mine is my daily driver.
But the best thing about these trucks, besides the power, is that they are a catalyst to making many new friends that become family. This site has a ton of info, especially do-it-yourself info (which will help keep costs down :rock: ) and the cumulative knowledge base here is truly incredible. If you do pull the trigger on an SRT-10, it will put a smile on your face everyday but make sure your decision is well-informed especially in these troubling economic times. Good luck with your decision and feel free to ask questions.
Click to expand...
do the QC have different size tanks? mine fills at 26 gallons from right when the light comes on?
By the way in the SRT defense all it took was one ride in it to make me want it...
 
Thanks guys for all the posts! Anyone else wanna chime in, keep em coming! We will be going for the QC without a doubt, (part of the reason she disregarded the Lightning) I gotta give a little too in the deal haha. Which I'm good with. I've driven manual transmissions all my life but am currently in an automatic and with the commute and city driving I dont mind it. As far as modding, as bad as the urges are, it won't go any further than intake/exh/tuner over the next few years (I'm going into debt up to my eyes with school) haha. And as far as towing, we wont be at all. Basically just want a truck now that we have a house, and moving/purchasing furniture and appliances and I have a few projects I want to work on, so carrying lumber and stuff wouldnt work in our current vehicles. And as far as the gas prices if gas went up, I definitely couldn't see diesel being any cheaper haha which is a plus on the SRT side gaswise lol...Thanks again guys..awesome community here!

Phatpharmacist, I was hoping you were gonna chip in lol...its Kyle (Blazin wings challenge at Buff Wild Wings a bit over a month ago with Sy) Surprised to hear you got rid of it! Whats going to be the replacement? or is all that extra money just gonna go to the vette?
 
Oh, sup Kyle funny bumping into you on here. Actually I didn't get rid of it. Some lady crashed into me on Easter, and now its totaled. I have a post from last week talking about it and if you have morbid curiosity and want to see some sad pics check it out. Too bad I didn't get to give you guys a ride in it, you would def be hooked on it. I'll prolly end up getting another one here soon, and that means you have to get one asap too!
 
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Torkey, you and I seem in the same situation. I currently go to school and owe my soul to the federal govt when I'm done. I got my truck about 4 months ago now, 04 RC with 34K on the clock. I love the truck!!! I've always loved Vipers and had to get this truck, cuz I can't afford a Viper, at least not yet. The insurance isn't bad at all, if you don't have tickets, wrecks, etc. I pay $115 a month full cov., I'm 26 no tix or wrecks. The maintenance ain't bad either. Like the other members said just take care of it. You stop taking care of it then maintenance will be costly. The tires aren't even too bad. I do hear a lot of bad things about the tranny on the QC, my personal opinion they should've never put a damn auto trans on a Viper engine, but to each his own. The usual problems from what I've seen in my few months being here is the oil cooler lines, auto trans, everything about the clutch, and 4 damn cats, lol. Right now I drive to school and work, mix of city and highway, and I get 11.4 mpg. I fill the beast up every 7-8 days for around $52. Once you drive it you won't mind going through gas :burnout: The only problem I've had with mine is currently my oil cooler lines are leaking, found this morning, $190 lifetime fix, from VTCOA vendor Stinker. Also, very important, if it's newer '05 or '06 you can get an extended bumper to bumper warranty transferred, I believe if it's less than 5 yrs old. In my case it's older than 5 years, but you can still purchase the used car warranty, 5 yr 50K at current clock reading, the whole drive train is covered till 80K mi for me or 5 years from now. IMHO the RC is the way to go.

I'll give you my plan for my truck. I should have the beast paid off in less than 3 years before I start paying my student loans back. By this time my wife will have gotten a new car and I'm gonna use her mazda 3 as my DD so I can keep the miles low on it. Later I'm gonna forge the engine up and get the Roe SC :rock: Sorry for the length but this should help out. BTW everyone is bad ass here, masters of the Viper universe :rock:
 
maaaan..thats rough! sorry to hear about the truck, i'll have to check out the thread. I've just been looking a little bit here and there...lots of nice ones on the site but i have to get one at a dealership so I can trade my car in. I'm gonna hold out for a gray or Black QC w decent mileage I think, If I can get her to go for it lol..so it may be a bit lol
 
be smart...buy a yaris......finish school.......save your money.........the ram srt 10 is a huge headache and nothing but a money pit.

your girl is a very smart woman, keep her, youwill end up rich;)

an own ten vipers
 
PhatPharmacist said:
Oh, sup Kyle funny bumping into you on here. Actually I didn't get rid of it. Some lady crashed into me on Easter, and now its totaled. I have a post from last week talking about it and if you have morbid curiosity and want to see some sad pics check it out. Too bad I didn't get to give you guys a ride in it, you would def be hooked on it. I'll prolly end up getting another one here soon, and that means you have to get one asap too!
Click to expand...

Man Phat I know it was raining that day and it might not have been totally that lady's fault, but it would have taken everything in me not to go effing crazy on that lady.
 
Stinker said:
be smart...buy a yaris......finish school.......save your money.........the ram srt 10 is a huge headache and nothing but a money pit.

your girl is a very smart woman, keep her, youwill end up rich;)

an own ten vipers
Click to expand...

mods please delete this post..















hahaha jk man, thanks for the input

-However, Ill jump off a cliff before I drive a Yaris ;) haha
 
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