Autoweek talks about 2008 viper

[sween]

I dont think gas prices are really going to sway someone from purchasing a Viper. If you can afford it you can afford the gas. It is not like this is a daily driver for most who purchase the car.

I agree.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

I dont think gas prices are really going to sway someone from purchasing a Viper. If you can afford it you can afford the gas. It is not like this is a daily driver for most who purchase the car.

While DC has thier own financial problems as with most auto companies, not stepping up the Viper will be a huge sign of the depth of these issues. It is an icon and they almost have no choice but to build it. I think that picture told a huge story. Redesigned intake, different looking heads, what looks to be a dry sump reservoir, and some other changes under the hood definitely show some proof something new is coming. Not just 50 horsepower either. they could get that from the current setup with exhaust and minor head work or cam.

Also I remember reading a quote from the then VP of SRT in Viper Mag that said something along the lines of while I am now out of the SRT group I have been invovled with the next development of the Viper and trust me when I say that you will not be disappointed. He even goes as far as to mention that the Viper enthusiast group (this website) is a tough crowd to please and I am sure they will not be let down. I have to find the article.

That sound promising

I not saying we couldn't afford to buy the gas. But we're going to think twice about whether or no It's a smart purchase for the times.

Back in the late 90’s I swore I’d always be putting money in the stock market. I sense re-thought that.

2004 I said I’d always be buying second homes for investment. Not

Today $3.25 a gallon doesn’t phase me. But I’m not going to say it never will.

Just my 2 cents. But I would say if Dodge announced a highbred Viper with equal performance and twice the mileage. I’d send a check. I’d like to be on the forefront of the future.



2005 Silver SRT/10
2000 Steel Gray GTS (sold)

 

[Paul Hawker]

I understand that ASC is working ******* a cold carbon fiber. Light weight, strong and much less expensive than the autoclaved carbonfiber.

Maybe we will see some of these parts (Like in the carbon concept) in the 08 to drop some pounds, and maybe in the next generation even more of the material will find it's way into our Vipers.

As a side note for those wanting lots of weight reduction. The current car is a very high quality production with lots of goodies that add value and a bit of weight. Need to have a balance or the car will only apeal to a very tiny group. Just as the lotus hearlds light weight, very few people want to spend much time in them.

 

[bigerc]

I really think that ethanol will bring gas prices down. Last sunday our paper ran an article about how cellulose based ethanol from switch grass could go as low as 90 cents per gallon to produce.

I'm not saying that the USA will be 100% ethanol in 10 years. I just think that we will probably see an E85 viper before we see a hybred or hydrogen power.

 

[Casey]

Who really needs all this power anyway? 95% of the drivers on here can't even fully use the 500hp in the SRT....bumping up the power just to say it has it will only lead to more wrecked vipers.

Trust me...you would rather drive the current Viper minus 600-700lbs than a heavier version with 600hp.

As far as I am concerend there will always be faster cars out there now....so make it look wild and enjoy. There is so much more to the experience than just beating someone in a straight line...high school was a while ago people

I knew someone would say "Who needs the power?" No one uses it, etc.

The real answer is MOST want it and will use it. 95% of the Vipers I used to drive around with used every bit of what they had every chance they got. And it wasn't in a Straight line all the time!

I say MORE POWER and LESS WEIGHT!!

 

[VENOMAHOLIC]

The Viper is an icon of Dodge. The name brings excitement to the brand that before the Viper only made K-cars. Even buyers not wanting a Viper see one in the showroom and the sight that DC can build a guality supercar makes them more comfortable with the build quality of the minivan they want.

Part of GM's problems is that they killed the Camaro and Trans AM instead of designing them right and giving them true dual exhaust. Pontiac dealerships had no high perf car in the showroom and thus no excitement.

The Viper will sell best if it is on the top of the hill in performance. HP is cheaper but lighter brings better overall performance. If DC sponsors the Viper in LeMans and more racing venues again, refinements that follow will improve the breed. The rest of the Dodge lineup will sell better too. Another reason Vipers are not selling as fast as they should is that I haven't seen a single commercial or magazine ad with a Viper at all. I see Corvette ads on TV all the time but no Viper ads.

 

[PatentLaw]

Finally,.....

Casey and Venomaholic have hit the nail on the head. Ladies and Gentlemen...gas prices are irrelevant to the average Viper buyer. Most of you guys are at what.....3000 miles? Come on. The Viper is an icon. Dodge profits have hit the tank. Mercedes is carrying the day now. Time for a spruce up of the lineup. Viper = Image.

Look, these engineers at Dodge are not stupid. They know the score. More power and less weight are what is going to be done. They can cut more than 100 pounds. It is not easy, but they can do it.

Venomaholic is so correct on the Trans Am issue. Pontiac has zero high performance cars. GTO=Cobalt in most peoples book. Boring. No looks.

Lets hope the Dodge engineers and higherups can convince the beancounters to take the risk.

Lastly....lets have some curves in this design, please? Even if it means a 16k hood. Who cares. Do it right.

 

[Nader]

One more point of interest about the Viper and SRT, if they werent going to continue the development of the Viper, why would they pour so much money into the entire SRT lineup? DC understands that the Viper is an icon and actually capitalized on it with all the SRT models to take advantage of the branding. They would not have poored that much money into SRT models to not step up the Viper. The Viper is the reason for the success of the performance SRT cars.

 

[George Murray]

I'm sure Dr. Z will tell us all about a fine solution for our concerns in a TV commercial.

 

[Newport Viper]

Super car weight.

Turbo 3494

SRT10 3358

SRC10 3408

F430 3197

430Vert 3525

LP640 3671 ( new lambo)

Galla 3153

ZO6 3203

Enzo 3009

http://www.carfolio.com/

 

[Viperfreak2]

It's a given (based on the pictures) that the new Viper hood will weigh a lot less than the current hood. Just look at the size of the holes! DC will remove tons of weight just by making the car look like swiss cheese!

The good thing is that it looks like the new hood will fit earlier SRT-10 Vipers.

You guys are correct about gas prices. Potential Viper buyers prolly own a couple other cars to 'save gas' and think about the Viper as a "I'm gonna have fun no matter what it costs" car. My last trip to Europe I paid Euro 1.40 per liter in Munich. Converted to dollars that is getting VERY close to $7 PER GALLON!!!!!!! People are still driving, the economy stills moves, and the autobahn is still fun! So, if people who make less money AND pay 50% income taxes can afford to drive...

 

[Casey]

It's a given (based on the pictures) that the new Viper hood will weigh a lot less than the current hood. Just look at the size of the holes! DC will remove tons of weight just by making the car look like swiss cheese!

The good thing is that it looks like the new hood will fit earlier SRT-10 Vipers.

The bad news about that, is that buying a HOOD from DC, you might as well buy the Car with it!

Seriously, what does a Gen III hood go for? It can't be the $16000 the Gen I & II go for via DC, but I'm sure it's not cheap!

 

[bigerc]

The good thing is that it looks like the new hood will fit earlier SRT-10 Vipers.

Possibly but isnt the hood we've seen on a drivetrain mule? So while it is possible that it would fit the current viper, we still aren't 100% sure what the '08 viper will look like...