FYI: Edmunds.com Viper, GT and Z06 Comparison

[rcl4668]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=108567/pageId=67618

/Rich

 

[Pythonpete]

Ouch, that's the worst review I've ever read.

 

[JJB500]

Pityful!

 

[ledfoot]

Yikes

 

[sween]

geezz! that must of been the worst review ever. last time they reviewed the coupe it was the best review i read. now this one was hard to read

 

[Hirohawa]

Not good. But honestly can't say that this is unexpected.

DC dropeed the ball big time.

 

[Viper Specialty]

Reviewers are just ridiculous. They could test the SAME car two years apart, praise it the first time, and rip it apart the second- only because the competition has changed- THE VIPER HASNT. (and gee, can you tell it was a chavy-biased writup? I wouldnt doubt the writer/testers have a corvette... thats the same biased crap you hear from owners or people who have no experience with the cars)

They didnt even list any comparisons or numbers for the Viper, especially not the things that the Viper has over the Z06... according to EVERY other Rag out there.

 

[Hirohawa]

But the ford beat it also. You think the writer has a GT sitting next to his Corvette?

 

[Viper Specialty]

But the ford beat it also. You think the writer has a GT sitting next to his Corvette?

Um...thats nothing new, and not surprising either. It better be faster at almost three times the price of the vette. The Ford GT in that comparison just represents real life. Ever noticed how its always Mopar Vs. Chevy? Corvette guys do not really see Ford as a threat, just like Viper guys really dont either. As a result, you will rarely see those twi sides bashing the ford. You will however, continue to see Vette Vs. Viper rivalry, even among guys who dont own the cars.

 

[RichieSRT10]

Last week the same writers tested lawn mowers and coffee pots for speed and reliablity. They posted no numbers on that test either.

 

[Vic]

The editor for Edmunds owns a GT, but remarked at how their evaluation formula dictated that the Corvette must win the comparison, even though he was partial to the GT. Doesn't sound like a biased person to me, he let the evaluation criteria select the winner, regardless of his personal feelings.

Over the last 12 or so years, he has always been a fan of the Viper, a real passionate fan, but of late feels sincere regret that the Viper has not stayed on top.

DC is aware of how the general public and the Viper nation feels, and right now they are working on some fresh venomish sh*t that will rock the world. Mark my words.

 

[RawPwr2]

I don't care what they say the VIPER is just the damn hottest looking car around! And you don't see em every day like the vettes

 

[Hirohawa]

I don't care what they say the VIPER is just the damn hottest looking car around! And you don't see em every day like the vettes

The new Viper Coupe definitely looks better than the New Z06. It has amazing presence when you see one in front of you.

 

[Vic]

Agreed. As good a sports car as the ZO6 is, it just doesn't have any "stage presence". Its got wallflower styling. Not terrible, but not very exciting looking either.

The Viper coupe has some pizzaz, and a brash attitude.

 

[George Murray]

I'm not the worlds greatest drag racer, but when I ran my bone stock '04 SRT-10 which at the time had less than 1000 miles on it down the 1/4 mile at a Mopar show/track day in Dinwiddie, VA, in spring of '04, I did a 12 flat with a crappy 60 ft time (it was 2.10 or so). I might do a 1/4 mile run every two years or so. I didn't change tire pressures, had a full tank of gas, and the car had (and still has) stock paper air filters.

I did three runs that day, with a worst in the 12.20s. I feel high 11s was reachable after another pass or two, but I decided to quit racing and grab some barbeque before the Mopar Club buds ate it all.

Hell, I ran better than a 12.6 ET with my first Viper, a bone-stock '95 RT/10. Well, it was yellow, so those are faster...

Either that coupe Edmunds tested was worn the heII out, or the test drivers were launching in 5th gear.

 

[ViperNM]

It's not that I can't or won't give GM their due on the great job they've done on the ZO6. That's not the issue with me. The reviews are getting tiresome in their inconsistent and non-believable results. The motor trend article that compared the SRT-10 to the Ford GT with Viper coming in at 11.77 sec in the 1/4. I believe the 60 ft. time was 3.8 sec. At the other end of the spectrum we have Edmunds quoting 12.4 sec. in the 1/4 and 4.4 sec. for a 60 ft. time. So who is right? My experience tells me that the motor trend numbers may be a little optimistic but far closer than Edmunds. This is based on my own experience. First off, my bone stock ACR had better numbers than Edmunds is reporting for the 06 SRT-10 coupe. My best 60 time was 1.88 sec., 11.85 - 12.27 sec. 1/4 and 3.91 - 4.1 sec. 60 ft. times were the range of times on my ACR YEARS AGO when it was stock. Since I've added the 05 SRT-10 to my stable, I only have instrumentation and real street experience to give me a sense of where the car is at. Using a Gtech Pro I've logged anywhere from 3.88 - 4.18 sec for the first sixty feet and 11.85 - 12.17 sec. for 1/4 mile.

In the past two weeks I've had the opportunity to go head to head with an 06 ZO6 from a stop and a roll on three occasions. On only one occasion did I beat the Vette but honestly, the driver sucked. On the other two I lost but they were awfully close in both cases. I'm talking 'bout less than a car length in both cases. I felt like the ZO6 was faster but not significantly so. In other words, driver can make a difference. So I'm puzzled by what we've been reading.

I certainly don't represent a great driver - maybe above average at best. And my experience certainly does not represent a statistically significant sample of results. I question the margins and the variance of results from review to review. First, the reviews have been testing the SRT-10 coupe not the vert. Is the coupe slower than the convertible? I think not and I thought the coupe was slightly lighter than the convertible. Second, the ZO6 is about 200 lbs lighter than the SRT-10. Rule of thumb, given the same horsepower, is about .1 sec for each hundred pounds. Not some of the margins that have been reported. My hunch is that if we had access to the data, it could be shown that the chance that the differences (in both 60 ft. time and 1/4 mile time) between the 06 ZO6 and the 06 SRT-10 coupe that some reviewers are reporting is true are astronnomically low. In other words, a very rare event. It's the same sort of analysis that showed that well respected scientists in history cooked the books.

One last comment. This is not sour grapes as the ZO6 is faster than our SRT-10s. And if I want to smoke a vette, I can just take out the ole' ACR. And another thing - it's still just a vette!

 

[Vic]

The motor trend article that compared the SRT-10 to the Ford GT with Viper coming in at 11.77 sec in the 1/4. I believe the 60 ft. time was 3.8 sec. At the other end of the spectrum we have Edmunds quoting 12.4 sec. in the 1/4 and 4.4 sec. for a 60 ft. time. So who is right? My experience tells me that the motor trend numbers may be a little optimistic but far closer than Edmunds. This is based on my own experience. First off, my bone stock ACR had better numbers than Edmunds is reporting for the 06 SRT-10 coupe. My best 60 time was 1.88 sec., 11.85 - 12.27 sec. 1/4 and 3.91 - 4.1 sec. 60 ft. times were the range of times on my ACR YEARS AGO when it was stock. Since I've added the 05 SRT-10 to my stable, I only have instrumentation and real street experience to give me a sense of where the car is at. Using a Gtech Pro I've logged anywhere from 3.88 - 4.18 sec for the first sixty feet and 11.85 - 12.17 sec. for 1/4 mile.

When you say "60 ft time", I think you are referring to the "0-60mph" time, right?

Times that you describe as 60ft, like "3.8" and "4.1" sound like 0-60mph times, but "60ft" times are usually more like 1.8, or 2.1, in that range, or something close to it. Anything close to 3.8 or 4.1 would be extremely slow for a 60ft time.

And to your point, yes, I think there is quite a divergence in reported 0-60 times, depending on given conditions.

 

[ViperNM]

The motor trend article that compared the SRT-10 to the Ford GT with Viper coming in at 11.77 sec in the 1/4. I believe the 60 ft. time was 3.8 sec. At the other end of the spectrum we have Edmunds quoting 12.4 sec. in the 1/4 and 4.4 sec. for a 60 ft. time. So who is right? My experience tells me that the motor trend numbers may be a little optimistic but far closer than Edmunds. This is based on my own experience. First off, my bone stock ACR had better numbers than Edmunds is reporting for the 06 SRT-10 coupe. My best 60 time was 1.88 sec., 11.85 - 12.27 sec. 1/4 and 3.91 - 4.1 sec. 60 ft. times were the range of times on my ACR YEARS AGO when it was stock. Since I've added the 05 SRT-10 to my stable, I only have instrumentation and real street experience to give me a sense of where the car is at. Using a Gtech Pro I've logged anywhere from 3.88 - 4.18 sec for the first sixty feet and 11.85 - 12.17 sec. for 1/4 mile.

When you say "60 ft time", I think you are referring to the "0-60mph" time, right?

Times that you describe as 60ft, like "3.8" and "4.1" sound like 0-60mph times, but "60ft" times are usually more like 1.8, or 2.1, in that range, or something close to it. Anything close to 3.8 or 4.1 would be extremely slow for a 60ft time.

And to your point, yes, I think there is quite a divergence in reported 0-60 times, depending on given conditions.

Good catch! Yes I meant 0-60 mph times. My point is that not only is there a divergence but the 'delta' (or how much faster the ZO6 is than an SRT-10) cannot be as great as some reviews have reported.

 

[Fadi]

It's not that I can't or won't give GM their due on the great job they've done on the ZO6. That's not the issue with me. The reviews are getting tiresome in their inconsistent and non-believable results. The motor trend article that compared the SRT-10 to the Ford GT with Viper coming in at 11.77 sec in the 1/4. I believe the 60 ft. time was 3.8 sec. At the other end of the spectrum we have Edmunds quoting 12.4 sec. in the 1/4 and 4.4 sec. for a 60 ft. time. So who is right? My experience tells me that the motor trend numbers may be a little optimistic but far closer than Edmunds. This is based on my own experience. First off, my bone stock ACR had better numbers than Edmunds is reporting for the 06 SRT-10 coupe. My best 60 time was 1.88 sec., 11.85 - 12.27 sec. 1/4 and 3.91 - 4.1 sec. 60 ft. times were the range of times on my ACR YEARS AGO when it was stock. Since I've added the 05 SRT-10 to my stable, I only have instrumentation and real street experience to give me a sense of where the car is at. Using a Gtech Pro I've logged anywhere from 3.88 - 4.18 sec for the first sixty feet and 11.85 - 12.17 sec. for 1/4 mile.

In the past two weeks I've had the opportunity to go head to head with an 06 ZO6 from a stop and a roll on three occasions. On only one occasion did I beat the Vette but honestly, the driver sucked. On the other two I lost but they were awfully close in both cases. I'm talking 'bout less than a car length in both cases. I felt like the ZO6 was faster but not significantly so. In other words, driver can make a difference. So I'm puzzled by what we've been reading.

I certainly don't represent a great driver - maybe above average at best. And my experience certainly does not represent a statistically significant sample of results. I question the margins and the variance of results from review to review. First, the reviews have been testing the SRT-10 coupe not the vert. Is the coupe slower than the convertible? I think not and I thought the coupe was slightly lighter than the convertible. Second, the ZO6 is about 200 lbs lighter than the SRT-10. Rule of thumb, given the same horsepower, is about .1 sec for each hundred pounds. Not some of the margins that have been reported. My hunch is that if we had access to the data, it could be shown that the chance that the differences (in both 60 ft. time and 1/4 mile time) between the 06 ZO6 and the 06 SRT-10 coupe that some reviewers are reporting is true are astronnomically low. In other words, a very rare event. It's the same sort of analysis that showed that well respected scientists in history cooked the books.

One last comment. This is not sour grapes as the ZO6 is faster than our SRT-10s. And if I want to smoke a vette, I can just take out the ole' ACR. And another thing - it's still just a vette!

If you don't mind me asking, what roll did you race the vet from and at what mph did you stop at?

 

[ViperNM]

Started on the horn at 40 mph and had to let up at about 110 mph. Both of our V1s were pinging.

 

[Fadi]

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Kelly06]

This is what I think is great about the viper. On the vette forums (before the Z was out), everyone was saying how the z was going to blow the doors off the viper. Well that didn't exactly happen. And considering that gm was gunning for the viper, I don't think they hit there mark. The vette is, AT BEST, a viper look alike. And if I were gm and gunning for the viper, I would make sure that the new z DID, in fact, blow the doors off the viper. Didn't happen. So with the next REAL viper freshen up, the z won't be an issue. Plus it is relatively cheap the supercharge the viper---something that is not going to be either cheap or easy with the z

 

[kwiksilver]

So is the Z06 still "coming maybe" or have you changed your mind?

 

[MiamiJeff]

Not sure if I value any article that devotes so many words to petty radio issues. They even got that wrong: The McIntosh upgrade for the GT sounds mighty impressive.

DCX, please bring on the Gen4 Viper and keep it simple---just bring back the old GTS body, add the SRT's brakes and umm, here's the only hard part, develop a new emissions-compliant engine that'll give us at least another 100 HP.

 

[ulllose]

That seems to be a fair race...roll on from 40.....
you only had to worry about pulling a gear or 2
even if you were a bad driver. Not sure how you could tell the z- driver sucked if you rolled on from 40
but either way good comparison IMO.

I can't wait until spring.....

 

[HOGDEALER]

Ouch!! If you play the video it says the SRT Coupe handles like a Neon! Am I bleeding?

 

[ohiodoc]

How the heck can the viper run a 12.6?? This guys says it would take tens of thousands of dollars to be as fast as a stock zo6. This guy is on crack. That is the worst review I ever heard. I wouldnt be surprised if the guy who reviewed these cars worked for gm.

 

[Viper Specialty]

I question the margins and the variance of results from review to review. First, the reviews have been testing the SRT-10 coupe not the vert. Is the coupe slower than the convertible? I think not and I thought the coupe was slightly lighter than the convertible. Second, the ZO6 is about 200 lbs lighter than the SRT-10. Rule of thumb, given the same horsepower, is about .1 sec for each hundred pounds.

The SRT-10 Coupe IS INDEED heavier than the Convertible. The Vert is roughly 3325, and the Coupe is roughly 3400.

 

[Viper X]

An SRT-4 Neon handles quite well. Still, no really a good comparison.