If this has already been posted elsewhere my apologies. This is the first article where the reviewers seem to understand the '08 Viper. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/d...leId=122700?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*
Edmunds '08 Viper vs. Z06 Article
- Thread starter ViperTony
- Start date
CitySnake
Enthusiast
That was, hands down, the best, most precise comparitive review I've seen!
I knew this would be a great article after reading this paragraph:
"We set out to find the quickest, fastest and best-handling American supercar, which is why we've weighted the scoring a little differently. This time, performance makes up a full 50 percent of the points total. Fifty Percent. Cupholders and trunk space fall into the "who cares" category."
"We set out to find the quickest, fastest and best-handling American supercar, which is why we've weighted the scoring a little differently. This time, performance makes up a full 50 percent of the points total. Fifty Percent. Cupholders and trunk space fall into the "who cares" category."
2002_Viper_GTS_ACR
Enthusiast
Damn good review.
valentine_viper
Viper Owner
Finally... a magazine that gets it! There comparison was spot on, IMHO.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting.
IEATVETS
Enthusiast
The Viper FINALLY gets the respect it deserves!
Not to get off subject(but I will) I just read an article today that said the Corvette Blue Devil will be released in 2009, supercharged and all. Seems funny that Chevy needs a blown version, from the factory mind you, of the Corvette to one up the Viper.
Not to get off subject(but I will) I just read an article today that said the Corvette Blue Devil will be released in 2009, supercharged and all. Seems funny that Chevy needs a blown version, from the factory mind you, of the Corvette to one up the Viper.
CitySnake
Enthusiast
Thank's Tony! It's worth posting the fine print here. Some of the points are remarkably articulate of EXACTLY what makes Viper owners and their cars unique:
Finding the Quickest, Fastest and Best-Handling American Supercar
By Josh Jacquot, Senior Road Test Editor
Date posted: 10-07-2007
We know you can't resist them, so here are the hard specs.
First, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe: 8.4-liter V10, 600 horsepower, 560 pound-feet of torque and an as-tested weight of 3,437 pounds. Those numbers, friend, are ridiculous. And they make the Viper the highest-displacement, most powerful naturally aspirated car we've ever tested. Combined with its crushing road presence, they define it as America's most soulful supercar.
The 2007 Chevy Corvette Z06 is nearly as impressive: 7.0-liter V8, 505 hp, 470 lb-ft of torque and 3,222 pounds. Or, to put it another way, a sports car with a power-to-weight ratio marginally better than a full-blown monster truck. A very serious machine.
Driving either is like combining that first date with a randy prom queen with the physics-defying performance of a 1,000cc sport bike. You can hardly wait to get to the action and then, when it starts, you're so scared you want it to stop. These cars are about speed. Pure speed.
And so is this test.
We set out to find the quickest, fastest and best-handling American supercar, which is why we've weighted the scoring a little differently. This time, performance makes up a full 50 percent of the points total. Fifty Percent. Cupholders and trunk space fall into the "who cares" category.
More for Less
Price, however, is always a factor. Our Viper wore the optional painted-on dual stripes and "razor" wheels and was socked with $1,300 in mandatory gas-guzzler tax. In total, these add-ons tally $5,000 and bring the Viper's as-tested price to $89,745.
Not that it makes a difference in a contest where adrenaline matters most, but the Viper — in the grand Viper tradition — lacks any sort of creature comforts beyond the ubiquitous air-conditioning and power windows. Dodge also left out any kind of electronic lifeboats, like traction or stability control.
The Z06 is cheaper. It's also packed with gadgets and gizmos that make it a more usable car. Our test car came with $8,585 in options, including a navigation system, chrome wheels, head-up display, heated seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, auto-dimming mirrors, side impact airbags and steering-wheel radio controls. Traction and stability control systems are standard. At $78,225 it's a good value. No, it's a steal. And it's the only car to offer this kind of performance for under 80 grand.
There are problems, however. Like the Vette's complete lack of exclusivity. The Z06 is stonk fast but, to most, it looks like any other Vette. And, to be completely honest, when driven back to back against a new Viper, it feels utterly emasculated.
Meanwhile, nobody is going to mistake a Viper for anything other than, well, a Viper. Unlike the Z06, there's no watered-down ***** version in the hands of every Newport Ned who likes its image. The Viper only comes in one flavor: ********. And there's no mistaking the sound, road presence and tarmac-twisting torque of this new snake. It's brashly American. It's unquestionably nasty. It's why the French hate us.
Splitting Hairs at the Track
It's also quicker and faster than the Z06.
Push its start button and each and every one of the Viper's 10 cylinders comes to life with the subtlety of a 12-gauge blast. The Viper's massive pistons thump around with enough energy to shake the entire car, and its exhaust pops and bangs like a rusty Tommy gun. There aren't enough raw, rude and painfully fast cars like the Viper left, and that's precisely what makes it great.
This is the big leagues. Before applying wide-open throttle on public streets, you'd better make damn sure your local constabulary supplies soap with a rope. First gear is good for 62 mph and 2nd will take you all the way to 90. So unrelenting is the Viper's acceleration that keeping it pinned will push the Coupe to 200 mph.
In the limitless world of instrumented testing, the Viper bettered the Corvette at every opportunity. Its 11.8-second quarter-mile time and 3.7-second 0-60-mph sprint are just plain ridiculous. And its 125 mph trap speed is the fastest we've ever recorded for any car in the quarter-mile.
Power-shifting through the gears of the Viper's six-speed Tremec transmission is like driving a D9 Cat through a mobile home: There's a lot going on, but hold the wheel straight and nothing matters except the thrill.
Noise, Intensity, Risk of Death
The Corvette is also very quick, but the experience doesn't pack the same buzz as it does in the Viper. There's less noise, less intensity and less risk of death. Although it crushed the 60 mph barrier in just 4.1 seconds and blasted through the quarter-mile in 12.0 seconds at 122 mph, the Vette finishes several car lengths behind the Dodge.
Still, the Corvette's best feature is under its hood. The 7.0-liter all-aluminum V8 is a remarkable piece of engineering, pushrods and all. It shrieks its way to its 7,000-rpm redline faster than you can say Trans-Am race engine, but offers enough bottom-end torque to light the tires up off idle. At full throttle it sounds like you want a V8 to sound.
It also gets remarkable mileage. On a long highway run it made 25 mpg and averaged 16.2 mpg during its week of mixed driving. The Viper averaged 14.7 mpg.
Viper Handles Better, Too
Drive the Viper hard in a series of corners and you won't settle into a smooth rhythm like you might in a less powerful, lighter Porsche 911, Ferrari F430 or even a Z06 Corvette. Rather, its power delivery, weight and high-effort controls make the driving experience more World of Outlaws than Formula 1.
Still, its steering is direct and immediate when precision and placing the car matter, yet it never feels nervous in a straight line, even at triple-digit speeds. It might force its way down a twisty road like a parade of Nextel Cup cars, but manhandle it properly, and it does so faster than all of the above. Subtle? No. Effective? Yes.
At 74.3 mph, the Viper is among the three fastest cars we've ever driven through the slalom — an impressive feat for a car this large. Its 0.99g skid pad performance reinforces the Snake's abilities.
At 70.8 mph through the slalom and 0.93g on the skid pad, the Z06 isn't really in the same league as the Viper, and we have to lay some of the blame at the Corvette's Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, which perform like all-season rubber compared to the Viper's larger Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rubber. In the slalom, the Corvette's balance tends toward oversteer, and its tail-wagging is disconcerting and keeps its pace down. At lower speeds, however, in a constant-radius turn, the Z06 is easily controlled. We could still be driving it in huge power-induced slides around the skid pad if we wanted to.
Both cars also have exceptional brakes, but again the Viper's are just a little bit better. The Viper's 14.0-inch front rotors and four-piston Brembo calipers stopped it from 60 mph in only 104 feet. The Z06 also has 14.0-inch front rotors but uses six-piston calipers to stop in 106 feet from the same speed. No amount of hard driving on the street showed any weakness in either system.
Making No Apologies
The Z06 benefits from the economies of scale that come from sharing its platform with its more mainstream little brother, the LS3-powered standard Corvette. As a result, the Z06 is smoother, roomier and more refined than the Viper. It also has a more comfortable ride and far more cargo space. For mind-numbing traffic slogs, parking lot maneuvers or other unintended use, it's easily the more manageable of the two. Cupholders? There are two. Which is two more than the Dodge has.
It's not that the Corvette isn't sharp. It's just overshadowed heavily by the Viper any time raw performance is a factor. The shifter for the Z06's six-speed, for example, is fine on its own, but compare it to the Viper's accurate shift linkage and it feels like it's been smoothed over by a committee meeting. The Corvette's steering also lacks the exacting precision of the Viper's and its large steering wheel and spongy seats didn't win it any fans.
Inside the Viper, things are cramped and there's still no proper dead pedal, but it's fairly easy to find comfort in its heavily bolstered seats, which have suede center sections to keep occupants stuck in place. The dash houses more gauges than you'll find in some racecars, but manages to be well laid out, and the seating position is perfect.
We're also fans of the Viper's signature side exhaust. It's part of what makes a Viper a Viper. It's also the reason God invented long pants. Burning your calf on the sucker is not fun.
The Verdict
And that is why the Viper wins this test. Because it forces you to commit.
Think of it like a bacon and egg breakfast. In a bacon and egg breakfast, the chicken is involved, but the pig is committed.
Viper buyers take the plunge. They must commit. This car is just flat scary. Loud, rough, hot as hell and faster than a Z06, it wins this test because it deserves to — because it's badass and it's not afraid to admit it.
The Z06 faithful, on the other hand, are simply involved. They walked the fine line between undiluted insanity and marginal practicality and decided that practicality was the better choice. Good for them. Their Z06 is among the quickest street cars ever built, and it'll never burn their legs.
Bottom line: These are very different cars. And the easy and obvious conclusion is this: If you want a daily driver, buy the Vette. If you want the ultimate thrill, buy the Viper.
We say, don't be a chicken.
Finding the Quickest, Fastest and Best-Handling American Supercar
By Josh Jacquot, Senior Road Test Editor
Date posted: 10-07-2007
We know you can't resist them, so here are the hard specs.
First, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe: 8.4-liter V10, 600 horsepower, 560 pound-feet of torque and an as-tested weight of 3,437 pounds. Those numbers, friend, are ridiculous. And they make the Viper the highest-displacement, most powerful naturally aspirated car we've ever tested. Combined with its crushing road presence, they define it as America's most soulful supercar.
The 2007 Chevy Corvette Z06 is nearly as impressive: 7.0-liter V8, 505 hp, 470 lb-ft of torque and 3,222 pounds. Or, to put it another way, a sports car with a power-to-weight ratio marginally better than a full-blown monster truck. A very serious machine.
Driving either is like combining that first date with a randy prom queen with the physics-defying performance of a 1,000cc sport bike. You can hardly wait to get to the action and then, when it starts, you're so scared you want it to stop. These cars are about speed. Pure speed.
And so is this test.
We set out to find the quickest, fastest and best-handling American supercar, which is why we've weighted the scoring a little differently. This time, performance makes up a full 50 percent of the points total. Fifty Percent. Cupholders and trunk space fall into the "who cares" category.
More for Less
Price, however, is always a factor. Our Viper wore the optional painted-on dual stripes and "razor" wheels and was socked with $1,300 in mandatory gas-guzzler tax. In total, these add-ons tally $5,000 and bring the Viper's as-tested price to $89,745.
Not that it makes a difference in a contest where adrenaline matters most, but the Viper — in the grand Viper tradition — lacks any sort of creature comforts beyond the ubiquitous air-conditioning and power windows. Dodge also left out any kind of electronic lifeboats, like traction or stability control.
The Z06 is cheaper. It's also packed with gadgets and gizmos that make it a more usable car. Our test car came with $8,585 in options, including a navigation system, chrome wheels, head-up display, heated seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, auto-dimming mirrors, side impact airbags and steering-wheel radio controls. Traction and stability control systems are standard. At $78,225 it's a good value. No, it's a steal. And it's the only car to offer this kind of performance for under 80 grand.
There are problems, however. Like the Vette's complete lack of exclusivity. The Z06 is stonk fast but, to most, it looks like any other Vette. And, to be completely honest, when driven back to back against a new Viper, it feels utterly emasculated.
Meanwhile, nobody is going to mistake a Viper for anything other than, well, a Viper. Unlike the Z06, there's no watered-down ***** version in the hands of every Newport Ned who likes its image. The Viper only comes in one flavor: ********. And there's no mistaking the sound, road presence and tarmac-twisting torque of this new snake. It's brashly American. It's unquestionably nasty. It's why the French hate us.
Splitting Hairs at the Track
It's also quicker and faster than the Z06.
Push its start button and each and every one of the Viper's 10 cylinders comes to life with the subtlety of a 12-gauge blast. The Viper's massive pistons thump around with enough energy to shake the entire car, and its exhaust pops and bangs like a rusty Tommy gun. There aren't enough raw, rude and painfully fast cars like the Viper left, and that's precisely what makes it great.
This is the big leagues. Before applying wide-open throttle on public streets, you'd better make damn sure your local constabulary supplies soap with a rope. First gear is good for 62 mph and 2nd will take you all the way to 90. So unrelenting is the Viper's acceleration that keeping it pinned will push the Coupe to 200 mph.
In the limitless world of instrumented testing, the Viper bettered the Corvette at every opportunity. Its 11.8-second quarter-mile time and 3.7-second 0-60-mph sprint are just plain ridiculous. And its 125 mph trap speed is the fastest we've ever recorded for any car in the quarter-mile.
Power-shifting through the gears of the Viper's six-speed Tremec transmission is like driving a D9 Cat through a mobile home: There's a lot going on, but hold the wheel straight and nothing matters except the thrill.
Noise, Intensity, Risk of Death
The Corvette is also very quick, but the experience doesn't pack the same buzz as it does in the Viper. There's less noise, less intensity and less risk of death. Although it crushed the 60 mph barrier in just 4.1 seconds and blasted through the quarter-mile in 12.0 seconds at 122 mph, the Vette finishes several car lengths behind the Dodge.
Still, the Corvette's best feature is under its hood. The 7.0-liter all-aluminum V8 is a remarkable piece of engineering, pushrods and all. It shrieks its way to its 7,000-rpm redline faster than you can say Trans-Am race engine, but offers enough bottom-end torque to light the tires up off idle. At full throttle it sounds like you want a V8 to sound.
It also gets remarkable mileage. On a long highway run it made 25 mpg and averaged 16.2 mpg during its week of mixed driving. The Viper averaged 14.7 mpg.
Viper Handles Better, Too
Drive the Viper hard in a series of corners and you won't settle into a smooth rhythm like you might in a less powerful, lighter Porsche 911, Ferrari F430 or even a Z06 Corvette. Rather, its power delivery, weight and high-effort controls make the driving experience more World of Outlaws than Formula 1.
Still, its steering is direct and immediate when precision and placing the car matter, yet it never feels nervous in a straight line, even at triple-digit speeds. It might force its way down a twisty road like a parade of Nextel Cup cars, but manhandle it properly, and it does so faster than all of the above. Subtle? No. Effective? Yes.
At 74.3 mph, the Viper is among the three fastest cars we've ever driven through the slalom — an impressive feat for a car this large. Its 0.99g skid pad performance reinforces the Snake's abilities.
At 70.8 mph through the slalom and 0.93g on the skid pad, the Z06 isn't really in the same league as the Viper, and we have to lay some of the blame at the Corvette's Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, which perform like all-season rubber compared to the Viper's larger Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rubber. In the slalom, the Corvette's balance tends toward oversteer, and its tail-wagging is disconcerting and keeps its pace down. At lower speeds, however, in a constant-radius turn, the Z06 is easily controlled. We could still be driving it in huge power-induced slides around the skid pad if we wanted to.
Both cars also have exceptional brakes, but again the Viper's are just a little bit better. The Viper's 14.0-inch front rotors and four-piston Brembo calipers stopped it from 60 mph in only 104 feet. The Z06 also has 14.0-inch front rotors but uses six-piston calipers to stop in 106 feet from the same speed. No amount of hard driving on the street showed any weakness in either system.
Making No Apologies
The Z06 benefits from the economies of scale that come from sharing its platform with its more mainstream little brother, the LS3-powered standard Corvette. As a result, the Z06 is smoother, roomier and more refined than the Viper. It also has a more comfortable ride and far more cargo space. For mind-numbing traffic slogs, parking lot maneuvers or other unintended use, it's easily the more manageable of the two. Cupholders? There are two. Which is two more than the Dodge has.
It's not that the Corvette isn't sharp. It's just overshadowed heavily by the Viper any time raw performance is a factor. The shifter for the Z06's six-speed, for example, is fine on its own, but compare it to the Viper's accurate shift linkage and it feels like it's been smoothed over by a committee meeting. The Corvette's steering also lacks the exacting precision of the Viper's and its large steering wheel and spongy seats didn't win it any fans.
Inside the Viper, things are cramped and there's still no proper dead pedal, but it's fairly easy to find comfort in its heavily bolstered seats, which have suede center sections to keep occupants stuck in place. The dash houses more gauges than you'll find in some racecars, but manages to be well laid out, and the seating position is perfect.
We're also fans of the Viper's signature side exhaust. It's part of what makes a Viper a Viper. It's also the reason God invented long pants. Burning your calf on the sucker is not fun.
The Verdict
And that is why the Viper wins this test. Because it forces you to commit.
Think of it like a bacon and egg breakfast. In a bacon and egg breakfast, the chicken is involved, but the pig is committed.
Viper buyers take the plunge. They must commit. This car is just flat scary. Loud, rough, hot as hell and faster than a Z06, it wins this test because it deserves to — because it's badass and it's not afraid to admit it.
The Z06 faithful, on the other hand, are simply involved. They walked the fine line between undiluted insanity and marginal practicality and decided that practicality was the better choice. Good for them. Their Z06 is among the quickest street cars ever built, and it'll never burn their legs.
Bottom line: These are very different cars. And the easy and obvious conclusion is this: If you want a daily driver, buy the Vette. If you want the ultimate thrill, buy the Viper.
We say, don't be a chicken.
jimmy6383
Enthusiast
This should convince some of you that were uneasy about the 08' not being that much faster than the Z06. 4 tenths to sixty is significant! Not to mention every other category! It's good to see the comparison test being done side by side so the numbers are comparable.
Pythonpete
Enthusiast
First article that didn't make us lose points because we don't have cup holders or third row seating!
wallbanger
Enthusiast
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emasculated
Jerz Viper
Enthusiast
A magazine that tells it like it is!!!!
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
A lot of good quotes in that article.
Parisianviper
Viper Owner
"It's why the French hate us."
Funny, but not true....
Funny, but not true....
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
Andrew/USPWR
Enthusiast
Warfang
Enthusiast
I wonder how much ad money GM sends them... if it's been much, I wonder for how long?
Andrew/USPWR
Enthusiast
My favorite line........
There are problems, however. Like the Vette's complete lack of exclusivity. The Z06 is stonk fast but, to most, it looks like any other Vette. And, to be completely honest, when driven back to back against a new Viper, it feels utterly emasculated.
Meanwhile, nobody is going to mistake a Viper for anything other than, well, a Viper. Unlike the Z06, there's no watered-down ***** version in the hands of every Newport Ned who likes its image. The Viper only comes in one flavor: ********. And there's no mistaking the sound, road presence and tarmac-twisting torque of this new snake. It's brashly American. It's unquestionably nasty. It's why the French hate us.
There are problems, however. Like the Vette's complete lack of exclusivity. The Z06 is stonk fast but, to most, it looks like any other Vette. And, to be completely honest, when driven back to back against a new Viper, it feels utterly emasculated.
Meanwhile, nobody is going to mistake a Viper for anything other than, well, a Viper. Unlike the Z06, there's no watered-down ***** version in the hands of every Newport Ned who likes its image. The Viper only comes in one flavor: ********. And there's no mistaking the sound, road presence and tarmac-twisting torque of this new snake. It's brashly American. It's unquestionably nasty. It's why the French hate us.
jessewallace
Viper Owner
- Joined
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gr8 write up. very fun to read. i think that's EXACTLY how most of us feel about our vipers. & the guy really hits the nail on the head (unlike most journalists) that the 2 cars are COMPLETELY different & serve alternate purposes. i'm so tired of people whining & complaining that the z06 is so much more comfortable & real world driveable. DUH!
i've already sold my 05 to get an 08, which will put me in my THIRD viper.
i've only had 1 z06. (2002)
however, didn't anyone else find it odd that the z06 #'s were so low?. everywhere else i've read gives much btr 0-60 times for the c6 z06!?! seemed a lil fishy to me.
i've already sold my 05 to get an 08, which will put me in my THIRD viper.
i've only had 1 z06. (2002)
however, didn't anyone else find it odd that the z06 #'s were so low?. everywhere else i've read gives much btr 0-60 times for the c6 z06!?! seemed a lil fishy to me.
SnakeBitten
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those were some horrible numbers for the Z06.....Its pretty apparent by now that the rumored 08 Viper 130mph 1/4 speed is dead....No one has gotten remotely close to that time...Ive seen Z06 times in the mid 11's at 125-127mph....Viper hasnt bettered those numbers yet though it probably can....Cant wait to see what the 08 will do at a prepped track and surface grip is removed from the equation...
Asp Man
Enthusiast
Nice article. Straight talk, good numbers. Nice to see a mag on 'our side' for a change.
The numbers on both of the cars were equally a little slower than I expected (might have been a hot/humid day). But, the difference in performance remained constant. I seriously doubt they were trying to give the edge to the Viper.
PS. Bearald: I would not be suprised if the 2008'***** 129-130mph this winter. It's got the power to do it. I'm sure you know that though.
"Viper buyers take the plunge. They must commit. This car is just flat scary. .....it wins this test because it deserves to — because it's badass and it's not afraid to admit it."
The SRT team must be grinning from ear to ear. Great write up. Thank you Edmunds.
The SRT team must be grinning from ear to ear. Great write up. Thank you Edmunds.
06blackviper
Enthusiast
this is one bad a$$ machine! way to go dodge!
my daughter can't wait to go for a ride in one of these!!!
my daughter can't wait to go for a ride in one of these!!!
rcl4668
Enthusiast
Thanks for posting the review!
rcl4668
Enthusiast
By the way, does anyone know how to download this video? I want to burn it to DVD. Thanks.
LQQK_OUT
Enthusiast
But does the car have "grunt"? According to Danica, the car sounds like it has "grunt". I'm still trying to figure out what "grunt" is and is that something I would want?????
rcl4668
Enthusiast
Thanks for the link!
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