Viper?

Vipers are now available in the sub $30k range. Needless to say, this is one of the cars I loved as a kid. How horrible would one be as a DD? It couldn't be that much worse than a Lotus Elise, could it? I'm leaning towards a GTS, but I do love convertibles.

there was a thread on this not too long ago...(goes in search)

(found one) forzav12 might have some insight since he owned one: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/value-of-higher-mileage-viper/22419/page1/

(another) http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/so-viper-know-alls-tell-me/20639/page1/

(another) http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/the-new-grassroots/2673/page1/

(moar) http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/viper/21065/page1/

(morz) http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/the-new-beast-arrived-viper-content/14051/page1/

I could keep going but I think you get the point, it's been discussed, alot! There seem to be several knowledgeable owners on here too so I'm sure they'll chime in

I can't imagine gas cost or insurance. But they sound awesome.

droooool

I don't think the fuel cost is as prohibitive as some fear: the 6 speed helps highway mileage tremendously.
I love the "idea" of these cars, but I'm not sure if life with one would be as appealing.

Nathan

The viper in a nutshell:

1 - Take a miata

2 - Make it 33% bigger

3 - add v10 and v10 sized bits that won't break

4 - magic happens

5 - win lemans

MCarp22 wrote: The viper in a nutshell: 1 - Take a miata 2 - Make it 33% bigger 3 - add v10 and v10 sized bits that won't break 4 - magic happens 5 - win lemans

Christ all Friday!, Do we really have to find a way to mention friggin' Miatas in a Viper thread? Really?

BOT, I loved my Viper. It was a track God, very reliable and had undeniable street presence. Mileage on the highway was about 18-20 at cruising speed.

Several years ago I picked up a Viper ACR in San Diego and drove it up to L.A.--in rush hour. That clutch is heavy, but there is no shortage of torque. For some reason, Vipers seem to get smaller at speed.

forzav12 wrote:

MCarp22 wrote: The viper in a nutshell: 1 - Take a miata 2 - Make it 33% bigger 3 - add v10 and v10 sized bits that won't break 4 - magic happens 5 - win lemans

Christ all Friday!, Do we really have to find a way to mention friggin' Miatas in a Viper thread? Really? BOT, I loved my Viper. It was a track God, very reliable and had undeniable street presence. Mileage on the highway was about 18-20 at cruising speed.

Yep! On this forum saying a Viper is like a bigger much more powerful Miata is grand praise. If you hate the mention of Miatae you are in the wrong place.

Sorry, not buying it. A Miata is a wonderful little device that I equate with a functioning MG. The Viper is something else entirely-a modern Cobra.

Someone put a V12 in a miata, I'm sure somebody equally insane could fit a Viper V10 in there.

forzav12 wrote: Sorry, not buying it. A Miata is a wonderful little device that I equate with a functioning MG. The Viper is something else entirely-a modern Cobra.

+1. But then again I would rather have the MG then the Miata so what do I know.

forzav12 wrote: Sorry, not buying it. A Miata is a wonderful little device that I equate with a functioning MG. The Viper is something else entirely-a modern Cobra.

Have you driven one? They are both purpose built cars that have well designed competent suspensions that behave as true sports cars should. A Viper is just bigger and waaaay more powerful. Most people here have never driven a Viper, but can access a Miata. Saying it handles incredibly well like a Miata but is bigger and has way more power is quite a reasonable statement that explains the experience as clearly as can be done to many people.

That idiot who can't spell wrote:

forzav12 wrote: Sorry, not buying it. A Miata is a wonderful little device that I equate with a functioning MG. The Viper is something else entirely-a modern Cobra.

+1. But then again I would rather have the MG then the Miata so what do I know.

Me too. Drove a 67 MGB GT for 800 mile week-end commutes from Norcal to Socal years ago. Damn fine car. If something occasionally failed, the cars were so simple you didn't even need a manual to figure it out.

MrJoshua wrote:

forzav12 wrote: Sorry, not buying it. A Miata is a wonderful little device that I equate with a functioning MG. The Viper is something else entirely-a modern Cobra.

Have you driven one? They are both purpose built cars that have well designed competent suspensions that behave as true sports cars should. A Viper is just bigger and waaaay more powerful. Most people here have never driven a Viper, but can access a Miata. Saying it handles incredibly well like a Miata but is bigger and has way more power is quite a reasonable statement that explains the experience as clearly as can be done to many people.

Yup, I've driven a few of them. Fine little cars. Never the less, I'll stand by my statement that the Miata in no way, shape or form reminded me of the Viper. Perhaps your experience was different after driving both.

Oh, Christ. Another Viper circle jerk.

nice!

I do not mind vipers... but I tend to really dislike their owners. I have yet to meet one that was not either a meathead idiot or a mid-lifer crisis sufferer.

I still remember sitting at a wawa (convience store here in the Mid-Atlantic) two years ago on my Bicycle when a Viper pulled up and parked in handicapped spot and left idling while the D-Bag owner literally ran in to get something to drink,

forzav12 wrote:

MrJoshua wrote:

forzav12 wrote: Sorry, not buying it. A Miata is a wonderful little device that I equate with a functioning MG. The Viper is something else entirely-a modern Cobra.

Have you driven one? They are both purpose built cars that have well designed competent suspensions that behave as true sports cars should. A Viper is just bigger and waaaay more powerful. Most people here have never driven a Viper, but can access a Miata. Saying it handles incredibly well like a Miata but is bigger and has way more power is quite a reasonable statement that explains the experience as clearly as can be done to many people.

Yup, I've driven a few of them. Fine little cars. Never the less, I'll stand by my statement that the Miata in no way, shape or form reminded me of the Viper. Perhaps your experience was different after driving both.

Yes it was (I have a whopping 4 hrs in a Viper and 7 years in a Miata so I come from a different side of this argument than you). I was very impressed in my time with a Viper that despite its awesome power it behaved like a larger and much higher hp version of my Miata. Remember-The Cobra was a little Brit (like you compare the Miata to) with a big motor. So saying the Viper is like a modern Cobra basically proves my point.

Jensenman wrote: Oh, Christ. Another Viper circle jerk.

hahhahahaha

As a daily driver? Guess it would depend what your daily commute is like. Personally, I'd give it a big fat NO.

I owned a '99 Viper GTS about 4 or 5 years ago. It was the most gorgeous car I've ever owned. I could sit and stare at it forever. Real good power and stuck like glue. Fuel mileage actually wasn't bad. On the highway, it got in the upper 20's while cruising, maybe even 30 (turns about 1400rpm at 80mph). But other than that, the driving experience was not very good. The relationship of the seats and pedals was awful. If I got close enough to be able to reach the gas pedal properly (I'm 5'9") then I was nearly eating the steering wheel and the clutch pedal. If I slid back for the wheel and clutch, I had to stretch for the gas. The shifter location was horrible. The car did get hot inside, but that didn't bother me much. It also tramlined something nasty. It wanted to follow every tiny rut in the road. On a newly paved highway, it was fine. But roads that were crowned or badly pitted, it was a white knuckle ride.

Also, be aware of part prices. I haven't kept up with it lately, but the hood itself was phenomenally expensive, as were other body parts. You'll actually find a bunch of them with salvage titles because a minor front end hit often totals the car due to body part prices. Mechanical parts aren't cheap either. Mine had something go wrong with the differential gears, I forget exactly what it was at this point, but it was about $800 just for the part.

All that said, would I get another one? If I ever hit the lottery, it will absolutely be in my 20+ car garage. Just won't get driven as much as the others...

Vipers have recently topped Panteras on my short list for "when I can get a toy" vehicles.

There's a whole lot to love about them and the prices are really down right now.

Let's see....2 more years and my DD is paid off and my child support obligation ends. Crossing fingers the prices stay low :)

Jay Leno's '93 Viper - http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/1993-dodge-viper-rt10/1130866/

I had a friend who sold his Viper. I asked him why and he said, "It doesn't have cruise control".

I LOLed.

He replaced it with a pick up truck. Go figure.

MrJoshua wrote:

forzav12 wrote:

MrJoshua wrote:

forzav12 wrote: Sorry, not buying it. A Miata is a wonderful little device that I equate with a functioning MG. The Viper is something else entirely-a modern Cobra.

Have you driven one? They are both purpose built cars that have well designed competent suspensions that behave as true sports cars should. A Viper is just bigger and waaaay more powerful. Most people here have never driven a Viper, but can access a Miata. Saying it handles incredibly well like a Miata but is bigger and has way more power is quite a reasonable statement that explains the experience as clearly as can be done to many people.

Yup, I've driven a few of them. Fine little cars. Never the less, I'll stand by my statement that the Miata in no way, shape or form reminded me of the Viper. Perhaps your experience was different after driving both.

Yes it was (I have a whopping 4 hrs in a Viper and 7 years in a Miata so I come from a different side of this argument than you). I was very impressed in my time with a Viper that despite its awesome power it behaved like a larger and much higher hp version of my Miata. Remember-The Cobra was a little Brit (like you compare the Miata to) with a big motor. So saying the Viper is like a modern Cobra basically proves my point.

That's a stretch, but props for the effort.