Could a Convertible Save Viper?
- Thread starter ViperJeff
- Start date
broomrider
Enthusiast
You would think that if saving the current car was a priority, they would have looked into that.
That law baffles me. If seat belts are good enough for an open cockpit car, how are they not good enough for a closed one? It effectively says that a convertible is the minimum level of acceptance, so to me that means if you are as good as that you should be accepted.
Sam Goldfarb
Enthusiast
A convertible Viper would exempt it from the new safety standards, according to the language, however, there are many convertibles that have side air bags.
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Air+Bags/Vehicles+with+Side+Air+Bags
I don't know if the regulation would allow FCA an exemption from the 100% compliance required of ALL vehicles produced after 2017?
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 226 deals with ejection mitigation usually accomplished together with basic design, belts and air bags. I think the problem with the Viper, in it's current configuration is two fold. It doesn't meet the new minimum requirements and can't be modified to meet them without major redesign and re-tooling costs. For a very low production vehicle I think the decision is a financial and business decision on the part of FCA. Whether or not the loss of the Viper will also result in additional sales down the product line is unknown. There was a survey a while back asking Viper owners what other Chrysler vehicles were in their household. I suspect that was to help show potential impact on the market and what the ownership and/ or loss of the Viper model could have on future FCA sales?
To see the requirements in it's final language, 300+ pages: (Open pdf file under 226)
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Laws+&+Regulations/Vehicles?ruleSortBy=fmvss&ruleOrder=asc
It is interesting to read that the government estimates the average cost to comply per vehicle is $31 each!
The Viper is gone.
Let's face it, Dodge and probably FCA (the Italians) want it gone. It's not the volume seller they want.
It's out performs or equals some of Ferrari's offerings.
They are using the Federal regulations as a reason to kill it and close Connor Ave per the new agreement with the UAW, thus saving them money.
They will not offer it in ragtop, there is no business case to be made for that.
It makes me sad. But I do still love my Viper
Let's face it, Dodge and probably FCA (the Italians) want it gone. It's not the volume seller they want.
It's out performs or equals some of Ferrari's offerings.
They are using the Federal regulations as a reason to kill it and close Connor Ave per the new agreement with the UAW, thus saving them money.
They will not offer it in ragtop, there is no business case to be made for that.
It makes me sad. But I do still love my Viper
Brass Monkey ACR E
Enthusiast
If DODGE keeps up the "GREAT ADVERTISING" of Viper it has done in the past--"Viper is history"
What plans does DODGE have to correct the grenade engines in the Gen 5 '13 and part of '14 cars????
Apparently FORD's GT will have the door window airbags or will it???
If Viper finally comes to a end what will happen to our existing Vipers resale wise??
What plans does DODGE have to correct the grenade engines in the Gen 5 '13 and part of '14 cars????
Apparently FORD's GT will have the door window airbags or will it???
If Viper finally comes to a end what will happen to our existing Vipers resale wise??
viperman4125
Enthusiast
In 50 years they will be worth a few more dollars than today!
Being a MOPAR Guy, don't really care what ford does
Wish I could say more about the engine stuff, just not far enough in my research, but I don't think the failures are as wide spread as people think... could be wrong, I don't know. I guess time will tell
Vipers... well....
Based on what I think I see, my thought is the prices will continue to drop resale wise. The Viper isn't old enough for a general rise in value. Again, just my thoughts... The ones that will increase in value first will be those with good provenance like 1992 #001
opinions, well, you know what they say
I can't help but wonder where the Viper would be today if it had launched a roadster/convertible before the coupe. I know we would have missed out on the ALMS/Tudor Racing, which has been awesome. But, I still can't help but wonder.
Brass Monkey ACR E
Enthusiast
I have probably been a MOPAR guy way before you
If you don't care about what other car manufacturers are doing that is sad
IF FORD GT can get by without door airbags and Viper has to have them I would think something is wrong. And CORVETTE??????
I will say it again and know you will DELETE this post
When Dodge Viper dropped the ball GM/CORVETTE picked it up and ran with it POWER OPTIONED it to the max and matched Horsepower
Corvette looked very similar to Viper till the C7 Vettes came out-Good thing GM didn't care what Dodge was doing
Gen 5 Vipers are still playing CATCH UP to CORVETTE and how many Vipers are built each year vs. Corvette- - - VERY FEW
Last edited by a moderator:
broomrider
Enthusiast
Bad ASSS Kar,
Come on Really? I myself have been edited for comnents. Jeff isn't picking on you. BTW it's his job to moderate. He is the most impartial moderator I have ever
seen. Everybody here who posts, knows at some point they could potentially be edited or comments deleted all together. Everybody here has their own
Opinions and everybody has irritated each other at some point. I like a lot of cars Ford is not my favorite manufacturer, so what. Nothing sad about it. No reason
to get a chapped *** over it. Grow up.
shooter_t1
Has Left the Room!
Playing catch up?. How many track records does Corvette hold now.? You know, with the C7 ZO7 that Viper is playing "catch up too"?
Brass Monkey ACR E
Enthusiast
Thanks for the fix, appreciate it
Some people would take this as GEN5 BASHING which I am not doing
Keep up the great work
Brass Monkey ACR E
Enthusiast
I guess the way I see it CORVETTE has 63 years of production and how many hundred thousands built missing only 1 production year-'83
VIPER has 24 years of production missing '07,'11 and '12 and maybe 32,000 cars built total with production to stop in '16 or '17
I try looking at the TOTAL picture not just ONE area
shooter_t1
Has Left the Room!
Porsche might have them beat on that.
shooter_t1
Has Left the Room!
Well the Ford GT must be just an absolute failure then uh.? The majority of Viper owners are proud that our cars are "rare", and hand assembled. I for one am glad I don't see one on every corner like Vetts.
Brass Monkey ACR E
Enthusiast
I guess you are right about the FORD GT their resale value is ****ty isn't it
Just think they are going to try and produce them again, crappy design and a V6-what a joke
How much are they going to sell for?????
shooter_t1
Has Left the Room!
I don't what they will go for. I know there is a limited amount with a lot of people waiting for them. Seems like a win to me.
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