Why don't I know anybody with one of these?

Linky

I cannot for the life of me understand why I do not know anybody with a Viper. The older models are beginning to become affordable for even me! I think I might buy one when I move away from New York. What do you guys think of them? Has anyone ever driven one? What are they like? Has GRM ever done an article on them (I think I remember a Viper Buyer's Guide a few years back)?

It looks like just the most silly-fun you can have with a vehicle. Like the accountants and lawyers were beaten up by the artists and engineers and locked in a closet while the car was designed and built (it doesn't have door handles!).

One of my co-workers re-enlisted overseas and got about 30k tax-free. He came back and test drove several - but in the end he bought a new 5 series and a helluva big diamond engagement ring for his now wife.

I still think he should've got the viper...

The only reason I can think of for not buying one (again, after New York) is that I'll feel like everybody thinks I'm a giant douche for driving one--like I'm compensating for an ego problem or something. I felt like that with the Z3. I had so many friends tell me that I should go "pick up chicks" with that car "because it's a BMW!". I almost never told people what I drove.

I know I'm not a giant douche though. And I do like fast sports cars. I'll even make sure it gets its recommended dose of track time.

abumason wrote: One of my co-workers re-enlisted overseas and got about 30k tax-free. He came back and test drove several - but in the end he bought a new 5 series and a helluva big diamond engagement ring for his now wife. I still think he should've got the viper...

That's just cold-hearted!

One man's thrill ride is another man's Viper. Both are high-maintenance, but one is definitely more fulfilling than the other.

oldsaw wrote:

abumason wrote: One of my co-workers re-enlisted overseas and got about 30k tax-free. He came back and test drove several - but in the end he bought a new 5 series and a helluva big diamond engagement ring for his now wife. I still think he should've got the viper...

That's just cold-hearted! One man's thrill ride is another man's wife. Both are high-maintenance, but one is definitely more fulfilling than the other.

Hehe. I edited that. It made me laugh.

oldsaw wrote:

abumason wrote: One of my co-workers re-enlisted overseas and got about 30k tax-free. He came back and test drove several - but in the end he bought a new 5 series and a helluva big diamond engagement ring for his now wife. I still think he should've got the viper...

That's just cold-hearted! One man's thrill ride is another man's Viper. Both are high-maintenance, but one is definitely more fulfilling than the other.

One is probably cheaper in the long run too...I'll let you guess which.

I have met a few viper drivers.. not a single one is somebody I would want to spend any time with. Most of them ARE compensating for something

A friend of mine was recently killed in an '02 Viper. You've seen the pics I've posted of the Viper next to a Shelby Cobra, an S2000 and a 350z.

He had a relatively minor off road excursion and the seat belt broke throwing him from the car. It snapped right in the middle with a pretty clean break. Not like a cut and not like an abrasion, the belt just failed. The Hwy Patrol and coroners said they had never seen a seat belt fail like that.

I don't like Vipers much any more!

Sorry to hear that, carguy . I do remember the Viper threads you posted.

The car did what it was supposed to in the crash. The crumple zone in the rear folded up and absorbed the impact. It looked fairly bad due to the fiberglass disintegrating, but the underlying steel frame wasn't in all that bad a shape. The passenger compartment had nary a wrinkly, crease or bend.

To add insult to injury while the car was under the care of the Floriday Hwy patrol the car was stripped. They destroyed the hood trying to open it because they didn't know it opened from the windshield forward. Over $10,000 cash disappeared between the crash scene and the coroner's office.

I now know the true meaning of the word ghoul.

True story I saw 2 blue haired old ladies, in a viper the other day on I5 going north, in the right lane going EXACTLY the speed limit.

Toyman01 wrote:

oldsaw wrote:

abumason wrote: One of my co-workers re-enlisted overseas and got about 30k tax-free. He came back and test drove several - but in the end he bought a new 5 series and a helluva big diamond engagement ring for his now wife. I still think he should've got the viper...

That's just cold-hearted! One man's thrill ride is another man's Viper. Both are high-maintenance, but one is definitely more fulfilling than the other.

One is probably cheaper in the long run too...I'll let you guess which.

When you get tired of one, you can get rid of it, usually getting some (most?) of your money back. I'll let you guess which.

An off-topic question about Vipers that has been rattling around my head for a while- Do the Competition Vipers have the 505ci engines, or are they smaller displacement to meet rules?

There was a Viper guide a while back. I'll see what I can do about getting it online.

mad_machine wrote: I have met a few viper drivers.. not a single one is somebody I would want to spend any time with. Most of them ARE compensating for something

Yup. There's a 50-something year old dude around here who owns a hot tub store. On his commercials, he has chicks who look like they're 15 in bikinis pawing on him. He owns a viper, and DD's it. The tag reads "AZZGITTER."

So yeah. Call it what you want, but there are a lot of bands that I like, but wouldn't wear their t-shirts, as to not be associated with the other guys who wear there t-shirts. Same goes for Vipers.

carguy123 wrote: A friend of mine was recently killed in an '02 Viper. You've seen the pics I've posted of the Viper next to a Shelby Cobra, an S2000 and a 350z. He had a relatively minor off road excursion and the seat belt broke throwing him from the car. It snapped right in the middle with a pretty clean break. Not like a cut and not like an abrasion, the belt just failed. The Hwy Patrol and coroners said they had never seen a seat belt fail like that. I don't like Vipers much any more!

That is terrible. And scary. The belt failed? I hope it's still being investigated.

I have never had trouble with the other viper owners, most of the bad ones get weeded out pretty fast. Thoug I tend to deal with the ones that track.

I will buy a 04+ when I have the space. I love the 505 in the truck.

Just like a Miata (chick car! you must be gay!) there have got to be ways to mildly modify the exterior of a Viper to say 'I actually drive this thing the way it was intended - gold chains and chest hair only make me slower through the chicanes.'

I'm thinking that Step 1 would be to not wash it. Ever.

poopshovel wrote: Yup. There's a 50-something year old dude around here who owns a hot tub store. On his commercials, he has chicks who look like they're 15 in bikinis pawing on him. He owns a viper, and DD's it. The tag reads "AZZGITTER." So yeah. Call it what you want, but there are a lot of bands that I like, but wouldn't wear their t-shirts, as to not be associated with the other guys who wear there t-shirts. Same goes for Vipers.

That is.....

.....FREAKING AWESOME!

Don't lie. You want to go out like that at 50.

I bet he wears cut-offs into the hot tub. They're probably so short the freaking pockets hang out the bottom. Yeah, you know that guy.

I worked on Club Raced (what was it...T1...T2?...I don't remember) Vipers during my 6 month stint in DFW. I was utterly impressed with the vehicle. I haven't worked on many other high end sportscars...but I can tell you that I haven't seen another production streetcar that was so much like a racecar. Occasionally we'd throw a D tag on one and drive it to the alignment shop or whatnaught and simply put...they're a hoot.

Given a good deal and under the right circumstances, I would DEFINITELY own a viper. With ZERO concerns about what anyone else thought of me (Of course, I'm the guy who's not terribly concerned about being single and driving an '82 Corolla TetanusWagen). They are simply a great machine, in my opinion and with a relatively high level of exposure.

I changed a head on a viper at Mid Ohio. I'd never turned a wrench on a Viper before that. It really didn't take all that long, surprisingly.

I also got to work on one of the early Comp Coupe's (this was summer of '03). NICE work. Factory built racecar. We took delivery in primer and my first task was to debody the car for paint. More work followed that.

Clem

Xceler8x wrote:

poopshovel wrote: Yup. There's a 50-something year old dude around here who owns a hot tub store. On his commercials, he has chicks who look like they're 15 in bikinis pawing on him. He owns a viper, and DD's it. The tag reads "AZZGITTER." So yeah. Call it what you want, but there are a lot of bands that I like, but wouldn't wear their t-shirts, as to not be associated with the other guys who wear there t-shirts. Same goes for Vipers.

That is..... .....FREAKING AWESOME! Don't lie. You want to go out like that at 50. I bet he wears cut-offs into the hot tub. They're probably so short the freaking pockets hang out the bottom. Yeah, you know *that* guy.

Maybe he's a never-nude.

abumason wrote: One of my co-workers re-enlisted overseas and got about 30k tax-free. He came back and test drove several - but in the end he bought a new 5 series and a helluva big diamond engagement ring for his now wife. I still think he should've got the viper...

How much do you wanna bet he got a Hummer?

poopshovel wrote:

mad_machine wrote: I have met a few viper drivers.. not a single one is somebody I would want to spend any time with. Most of them ARE compensating for something

Yup. There's a 50-something year old dude around here who owns a hot tub store. On his commercials, he has chicks who look like they're 15 in bikinis pawing on him. He owns a viper, and DD's it. The tag reads "AZZGITTER." So yeah. Call it what you want, but there are a lot of bands that I like, but wouldn't wear their t-shirts, as to not be associated with the other guys who wear there t-shirts. Same goes for Vipers.

There are morons like that that own many cool cars. Letting who owns one determine liking or disliking a car woudl leave nothing left to like.

I have a friend with one. I've driven it. I like it.

I want a '96-98 GTS ACR, blue with white stripes.

I want a '96-98 GTS ACR, blue with white stripes.

Yeah. Now that you mention it, when I picture guys who drive Vipers, I always picture THAT guy in THAT GUY'S red viper with the ubertard vanity plate. Blue is a little less douchey.

And yes, I'm well aware that I sound like a bit of a douche myself, not wanting a car that is associated with douches. Just speaking the truth.

Oddly enough, I personally don't know anyone that has a Viper either.I think that the general consensus is that the Z06 is a better car for the money.