If You Haven't Bought One Already, Your 2017 Dodge Viper Dreams Are Almost Toast

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

It’s a great day for an automaker when it can say it sold an entire year’s worth of vehicles in less than a week. Things get less impressive when it’s the final model year of a niche vehicle.

Still, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is putting on its bragging pants and grabbing the megaphone after it sold every special-edition version of the 2017 Dodge Viper in a matter of days. So great was the response, FCA plans to offer one last version of the 25-year-old nameplate.

Orders for the final Vipers opened on June 24, and snake aficionados must have had their fingers poised over the keyboard.

According to the automaker, all 100 units of the GTS-R Commemorative Edition ACR and all 25 units of the Snakeskin Edition GTC sold out within two ordering days. The 31 units of the VoooDoo II Edition ACR were gone within two hours, and all 28 units of the 1:28 Edition ACR were snapped up in 40 minutes.

Enthusiasts with cash on hand clearly weren’t ready to let an opportunity pass by. With the model headed to the FCA gallows, collector value of the 2017 Vipers will be high.

Knowing they could sell out another special-edition version in a heartbeat, FCA executives immediately set about doing just that. The company now plans to offer 31 units of the Dodge Viper Snakeskin ACR, with orders starting in mid-July.

Inspired by the 2010 Snakeskin ACR (which also amounted to 31 units), the 2017 version comes in Dodge’s Snakeskin Green and features a snakeskin-pattern SRT stripe, Extreme Aero Package, carbon ceramic brakes, ACR interior, Snakeskin instrument panel badge and custom car cover. Because you want everyone — EVERYONE! — to know who you are, that car cover will have your name showcased over the driver’s door.

Owning a Dodge Viper is not an act of subtlety, restraint, or modesty, and Dodge knows it.

[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Skor Skor on Jul 03, 2016

    The Viper was the 4 wheeled version of a Harley Davidson. Both the Viper and the Harley appeal to middle aged white men with more money than emotional maturity.

  • Jimal Jimal on Jul 03, 2016

    The Viper has always been primarily a halo car, and if it isn't doing its job of getting people to come into dealers and leave with lesser models, this is probably the right decision. The Viper has also always been an exciting car, but it has never been a particularly good car. FCA thought that upgrading the interior would make the car more appealing and maybe even take some sales from Corvette. Obviously that didn't work.

  • AZFelix 2015 Sonata Limited72k when purchased, 176k miles currentlyI perform all maintenance and repairs except for alignment, tire mounting, tire patching, and glass work (tint and passenger left due to rock hit). Most parts purchased through rockauto.com.Maintenance and repairs during three years of ownership:Front rotors and all brake pads upgraded shortly after purchase.Preparing for 17th oil change (full synthetic plus filter c.$50), one PCV valve.Timing & accessory belts, belt tensioner.Coolant full flush and change.Fibrous plastic material engine under tray replaced by aftermarket solid plastic piece $110.One set of tires (c.$500 +installation) plus two replacements and a number of patches due to nails, etc. Second set coming soon.Hood struts $30.Front struts, rear shocks, plus sway bar links, front ball joints, tie rod ends, right CV axle (large rock on freeway damaged it and I took the opportunity to redo the rest of items on this list).Battery c.$260.Two sets of spark plugs @ $50/set.Three sets of cabin and engine filters.Valve cover gasket (next week).Averages out to c.$1400 per year for the past three years. Minor driver seat bolster wear, front rock chips, and assorted dents & dings but otherwise looks and drives very well.
  • 3-On-The-Tree 2014 Ford F150 Ecoboost 3.5L. By 80,000mi I had to have the rear main oil seal replaced twice. Driver side turbo leaking had to have all hoses replaced. Passenger side turbo had to be completely replaced. Engine timing chain front cover leak had to be replaced. Transmission front pump leak had to be removed and replaced. Ford renewed my faith in Extended warranty’s because luckily I had one and used it to the fullest. Sold that truck on caravan and got me a 2021 Tundra Crewmax 4x4. Not a fan of turbos and I will never own a Ford again much less cars with turbos to include newer Toyotas. And I’m a Toyota guy.
  • Duke Woolworth Weight 4800# as I recall.
  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X '19 Nissan Frontier @78000 miles has been oil changes ( eng/ diffs/ tranny/ transfer). Still on original brakes and second set of tires.
  • ChristianWimmer I have a 2018 Mercedes A250 with almost 80,000 km on the clock and a vintage ‘89 Mercedes 500SL R129 with almost 300,000 km.The A250 has had zero issues but the yearly servicing costs are typically expensive from this brand - as expected. Basic yearly service costs around 400 Euros whereas a more comprehensive servicing with new brake pads, spark plugs plus TÜV etc. is in the 1000+ Euro region.The 500SL servicing costs were expensive when it was serviced at a Benz dealer, but they won’t touch this classic anymore. I have it serviced by a mechanic from another Benz dealership who also owns an R129 300SL-24 and he’ll do basic maintenance on it for a mere 150 Euros. I only drive the 500SL about 2000 km a year so running costs are low although the fuel costs are insane here. The 500SL has had two previous owners with full service history. It’s been a reliable car according to the records. The roof folding mechanism needs so adjusting and oiling from time to time but that’s normal.
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