1. 1Do not judge the ACR by top speed — 177 mph is by design, the price of its record-setting downforce. Evaluate it as the track weapon it is: aero configuration, tire and brake condition, and track history.
2. 2Check whether the Extreme Aero Package is fitted (dual-element wing, extended splitter, dive planes, diffuser strakes) — it raises downforce to 1,710 lb and materially changes the car.
3. 3Establish exactly which ACR it is. The 2017 25th-anniversary editions — 1:28 (28), GTS-R Commemorative (100), VoooDoo II (31), Snakeskin ACR (~31), Dodge Dealer Edition (22) — all sold out fast and their value rides entirely on documented provenance.
4. 4Bespoke Kumho Ecsta V720 tires and big brakes are real running costs on a tracked ACR — budget accordingly and inspect them closely.
5. 5Run the VIN through nhtsa.gov. 2013–2014 cars carry three recalls: the frontal-airbag seat-position-sensor recall (14V529000, ~1,628 cars), the 'door may open while driving' moisture-in-switch recall (15V178000), and the 2013–2015 Uconnect radio cybersecurity software recall (15V461000). 2016 cars carry two more: pinched driver-airbag wiring (16V736000) and a passenger-airbag-chute weld that can let the airbag door detach (16V750000). Only 2017 is recall-free. Confirm every applicable remedy was performed.
6. 6Gen-5 blocks were prone to abrasive casting/machining debris left inside at assembly, which circulates in the oil and can destroy the rod and main bearings, sometimes at very low mileage. FCA covered about 1,100 2013–2014 cars under Customer Satisfaction Notification R28/R29 (engine oil contamination and consumption), a warranty campaign that will not show up in an NHTSA recall lookup; owners have also reported bearing failures on 2016–2017 cars. Get documented engine history, an oil analysis, and confirmation of whether R28/R29 was performed.
7. 7The clutch is the primary wear-and-cost item owners cite, especially on track-driven cars — aftermarket clutch kits are a common upgrade. Ask about clutch history.
8. 8Expect significant cabin and footwell heat from the V10 and side-sill exhaust routing. It is a long-standing Viper trait, not a defect.

• 16V7360002016
  Driver frontal-airbag wiring may be pinched, preventing proper deployment; driver airbag and clockspring replaced.
• 16V7500002016
  Defective passenger airbag-chute weld can let the airbag door detach during deployment; passenger-side upper panel replaced.

US NHTSA campaigns for this model. A listed campaign may not apply to a particular car, and may already have been remedied — check a specific car by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.