Autoweek on Coupe

[GR8_ASP]

Listen to Mopar426. He speaks with clear insider information.

 

[SylvanSRT]

from talking to people i have met through the years that are intimate with the carbon concept, i was told that the induction system and other aspects of the car had the engine controls running on the ragged edge of being undrivable and very suceptable to humidity and temp changes that would make a street or mass produced version of that engine a nightmare. I do agree with the weight reduction plan. from what i have been told that taking out 8 lbs is like adding one hp. therefore a 150 lb weight reduction is like adding almost 19 hp. Along w/ helping to reduce sprung weight which will also improve handling. Part of the weight is also the sidewinder wheel which will reduce the unsprung weight, in the form of unsprung-rotating mass which will have an even greater effect on improving the handling. I have also heard that an even bigger version of our beloved V-10 is in the works to bump up power even more.

 

[safireviper]

I think Mopar 426 makes very good arguments. I want to see a V-10 hemi with a dry sump system and some carbon panels. ( and a new designer at the helm ) I can hope for it, can't I? Even if Dodge is DC's black sheep of the family?

 

[Hirohawa]

I think Mopar 426 makes very good arguments. I want to see a V-10 hemi with a dry sump system and some carbon panels. ( and a new designer at the helm ) I can hope for it, can't I? Even if Dodge is DC's black sheep of the family?

That sounds perfect.

 

[SweetRed04]

I'm not the only talking about sales, visit the Gen III section there are threads about it there. Besides prior to the Gen III I've NEVER seen a Viper sit on the lot like there are/were(prior to Katrina) here. I'm NOT saying the car is bad, etc just saying what is going on locally and apparently around the country per other Viper owners.

This is the Gen III section, but that is besides the point. Vipers used to sell out for one major reason: They were built to order. And the numbers? In the very last year of Gen II production (2002), including 360 Final Editions, they only built 1,463 Vipers. In 2003 they sold out because they were presold to current Viper owners (all 1875 of them). In 2004 DC took the "if you build them, they will come" approach and that is where they fell flat on their faces. 2,435 Vipers were built with the vast majority never ordered by any individuals. Suddenly you had 1,000 "extra" Vipers out there that sat on rural dealer lots (many got their first Vipers ever and had no idea what to do with them) and simply drove down the prices. Supply and demand, with supply exceeding demand.

Here is a little fact for you: There were more 2004 SRT-10's sold than ANY model year of the GTS (by a 50% margin). Only the 1994 RT/10 outsold it, otherwise the 2004 SRT-10 outsold every single model year of the RT/10 as well. How about that.

As for excuses, here you go.

I had read that was another reason the previous generation Vipers were always sold out. The clamshell hood had manufacturing/production problems that were never fully solved limiting production over the life of the cars.

 

[SweetRed04]

Good job SnakeEye.....Terminator comments seems to be off a bit. Look at it this way,it took Chevy 10 years to best the Viper(though not proven yet)in the speed department. The "Wow" factor they still are way behind.
Two cars off the lot, same driver, same track and at the same time of day.

Don't minimize the "OFF THE LOT" observation. I have G-teched over 20 cars and GM ALWAYS far and away overates their car's HP relative to Dodge, Yamaha, Honda, and BMW.- or they suffer GROSSLY higher driveline losses.

While I don't know how the same day, same driver tests will go I will say this: The Viper has more rear meat and BETTER weight distribution so it could go either way. Also when comparing prices, NEVER forget tha Chevy charges over $6000 for having a convertible-and don't even offer the 427 ENGINE in a convertible body style!!

 

[M. ROD]

I have also heard that an even bigger version of our beloved V-10 is in the works to bump up power even more.

MORE CUBES!!!

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

More cubes!!!

 

[SylvanSRT]

from what i have heard another 1/10 L( or + - 6 more cubic inches if my math is correct) if the same power per l or cubic" works that could be another 6-7 hp.

 

[ABADASP]

DC probably held off on more power waiting to see what they needed to stay ahead. The vett rumors ranged from 500-700 in the early days,plus they still have that killer blue devil. Now they have specs on both and in my opinion they will top it.I ordered an 06 first edition in case the feds get tougher on cafe standards and all the horse power wars are over. If not I`ll take a new and improved silver coupe,and enjoy the [******] out of my slow 06 coupe until then. Whine on you silly *******