Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the "RING".

[VIPER GTSR 91]

Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the \"RING\".

Page 19 of the new Sept. Motor Trend has the new ZO6 killing all the competition at the famous RING track. The only car quicker was the $400k plus Porsche Carrera GT. ALMS driver Jan Magnusson turned an impressive 7 min. 42 sec. lap, with the Viper GTS dead last in the field with a scant 8 min. 10 sec. joy ride. I dont think the Coupe would of faired too much greater either in this match up list of performance cars. Gm also rented the track for the sole purpose of showing what this new beast can really do!! When did DC ever do anything like this to prove a point? Hey, I guess the Viper is rare to see and looks different and I will keep mine, but for pure STOCK performance Im ordering a new Z. Before you reply---read the article.

 

[Need4Speed]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

C-6 Z06 is great car, impressive, but put it next to a 99 B&W GTS and I'll bet the GTS gets more attention. C-6's will be everywhere in a few more months and the Z06 will still closely resemble a car you see all the time.

One thing I always understood, no matter how fast you are, there is always somebody faster. You have to draw a line somewhere. I'm sticking with my viper, probably will be a better car investment wise also.

 

[diabolos88]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Im not sure about the term "investment". Automobiles that are considered investments are mainly ones that have not been mass produced and are in small amounts. There are thousands of vipers. The GTS-R is prob the only model that is considerably an investment. In 10-15yrs might bring in big $.

 

[Scorch]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

ALL cars/trucks are an investment. Anything you spend $40k or more on is an investment. They are either good investments or bad investments.

Keeping my Viper. It doesn't matter how good the new Z06 performance is. My '94 was King of the Beasts for it's time and I'm not giving it up.

 

[Inferno]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

It's still a corvette, that is how most people will look at the car....it's a corvette. When people see you have a Viper, they get excited. Anyone who switches to a Z, will really miss owning a Viper.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

"Looks", "attention", so what? Buncha posers.

GM has to do stuff like that. Dodge doesn't. Incidentally neither does Porsche, Ferrari, BMW...

 

[Casey]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Let me see, GM put on this event and the Dodge finished last?!

NO way is that possible!

 

[PDCjonny]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

It's still a corvette, that is how most people will look at the car....it's a corvette. When people see you have a Viper, they get excited. Anyone who switches to a Z, will really miss owning a Viper.

IMO that is the mistake GM made. The built what could be a super car, and it looks like the same Vette that the real estate lady down the street drives. Had they made something about it more radical styling wise it could really have been something. It looks like the performance is going to be superb, but except for a few air ducts it looks just like Grandpa's car.

 

[radta7]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Was it a Z06 or the 600HP Blue devil???

RD

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Hmmm, so GM didn't bother to have a new SRT-10 , they used the previous Gen. Snake. Not sure this says anything at all, as the 14 mile , 150+ turn track, is killer on brakes, and the SRT would eat up tons of time with their binder advantage alone. Let's wait and see when we have a couple of current models running.

 

[PDCjonny]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

I'm always curious on these well planned set up runs there if the car is completely stock, with the run flat stock tires and suspension or they tweak the suspension and have better rubber. Is it the same car that will be in the showrooms?

 

[Viperfreak2]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

GM didn't bring any of those cars on the list. They just used older times to compare the 'race prepped' Z06 they ran on that day. Could have had C6R components for all we know. Could have been the blue devil. Who knows. Would someone PLEASE fly a comp coupe over to Germany and run less than 7:42? Thank You.

I have a picture of the 'whatever it was' flying through the air in a German Auto mag. They said it was pushed hard to get that time. Dangerously hard.

 

[PDCjonny]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

That thread with pics is here:

http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85041

 

[ViperGTS]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

The driver (of the Z06) was afraid of doing another lap.

 

[ACR steve]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

looks scary to me .I think GM needs to tune that suspension.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Let me see, GM put on this event and the Dodge finished last?!

NO way is that possible!

My thoughts EXACTLY!

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Track rented by DC to better the Porsche record street cat record sells a little less than Fair and Balanced. But I guess in the minds of GM comparing a Viper with technology 10 years old vs their yet to be delivered performance champ would be Fair and Balanced. It would be pretty embarrassing for a SRT10 Viper convertible to beat or be close the new Vette's lap times.

As Bill P. pointed out brakes are very important to lap times and the GEN II Vipers weakest link was the brakes. FYI The Brakes of a GENII will lose massive perfromance at a Track like Laguna SECA in one lap, in the hands of a good driver.

The GEN III Viper leads the Super Car field in brakes.

Keep the faith we are not going to be left in the dust by a DC Sports Car.

 

[Inferno]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

"Looks", "attention", so what? Buncha posers.

GM has to do stuff like that. Dodge doesn't. Incidentally neither does Porsche, Ferrari, BMW...

I respect the fact you like the viper for it's racing capabilities. Maybe you should try and respect the fact that I like the viper for it's appearance, and the fact that it can back up it's looks, with it's power and tourque. I have no problem telling you I bought my gts because I love the looks, if not I would have bought the new Z. Attention is obviously something you like, judging by your posts, don't hate-on the rest of us for loving our cars.

 

[BigCarrot]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

That Z is gonna be one bad ass car! I've said it before, but I may have to have one!

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

I like the viper for it's appearance, and the fact that it can back up it's looks, with it's power and tourque. I have no problem telling you I bought my gts because I love the looks, if not I would have bought the new Z.

This is confusing to me. You bought the Viper "for it's appearance, and the fact that it can back up it's looks, with it's power and tourque."

And then you say you would have bought a Z06 but you bought the GTS because of it's looks.

We all like the GTS looks, but how purdy would it have been if it came with a 4-******?

 

[GTS Bruce]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

If I remember correctly.The car was there for a week of tire? testing.They used treaded tires.Whose?What compound?Was the suspension set up stock or optimized for the track?Brakes.Stock pads or What?......... GTS Bruce

 

[AG98RT10]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

I just read the whole MT article. Apparently, they spent a lot of time "dialing-in" the suspension, used a pro driver, of course, and this run was one of many that didn't earn such great marks. Also, the pix of the car about to nose out looked positively scary - as in, they paid a pro driver to go ten-tenths, no holds barred, to get that time.
The new Z is a great car, no doubt, but this aggrandizement doesn't really sell me that much...
Note the Sparco seats et al in the MT pix, this car is definitely a factory ringer, to boot.
Let's see the comb-overs at the 'vette forum equal that time.

 

[Rollin4]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

ALL cars/trucks are an investment. Anything you spend $40k or more on is an investment. They are either good investments or bad investments.

Keeping my Viper. It doesn't matter how good the new Z06 performance is. My '94 was King of the Beasts for it's time and I'm not giving it up.

Scorch....I could not have said it better.

 

[Russ M]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Everyone is over looking the fact that DC never did factory backed testing at the ring, all times stated are privateers running a lap or two.

Put in a pro driver who lives at the ring and knows vipers, and you can then compare. For now we have to use the good old US tracks where Gen 2 vipers still wipe the floor with c5 z06's, which btw posted a much better factory backed time than the viper also.

PS. An SRT 10 was tested on the ring, who ever did the testing actualy ran slower than a gen 2.

 

[DarcShadow]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Never been there, would love to go, but from what I understand the Ring is as much a test of the driver as the car. One episode of Top Gear some woman that pratically lives at the Ring drove a van with a lap just over 10:00. Put her behind the wheel of the Viper and Vette and see who comes out on top. That'd be a true test

 

[Viperfreak2]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Put her behind the wheel of the Viper and Vette and see who comes out on top. That'd be a true test

Computer nanny on or off?

 

[DSR207]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Quote:

"Hmmm, so GM didn't bother to have a new SRT-10 , they used the previous Gen. Snake. Not sure this says anything at all, as the 14 mile , 150+ turn track, is killer on brakes, and the SRT would eat up tons of time with their binder advantage alone. Let's wait and see when we have a couple of current models running."

 

[Greg 99ACR Red and Silver]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Also I would guess that the old GTS time was done in a Chrysler Viper = European Spec that only puts out about 400 ponies. Does anyone know?

 

[onerareviper]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

Everyone is over looking the fact that DC never did factory backed testing at the ring, all times stated are privateers running a lap or two.

Put in a pro driver who lives at the ring and knows vipers, and you can then compare. For now we have to use the good old US tracks where Gen 2 vipers still wipe the floor with c5 z06's, which btw posted a much better factory backed time than the viper also.

PS. An SRT 10 was tested on the ring, who ever did the testing actualy ran slower than a gen 2.

This sums it up guys, let's move on. A lot of people bench race these times on the internet, but it really means nothing unless it is the same day/same effort used to establish the time. As far as I know, DC never even put any money/time into running an 'established' time. This is very evident by a Eurpean spec Gen II Viper (384 HP) with sh*tty brakes running a 8:10, and a 500 HP Gen III SRT10 with incredible brakes running a 8:13. As a matter of fact, if you look at the times posted on the 'Ring, I think there is a regular 3 series BMW that has a time very close to the SRT10. Another example would be the 7:56 time posted by the C5 Z06. Therefore, is a C5 Z06 faster around the track than a Gen II GTS? Not with equal drivers. That has been proven time and time again around tracks in the US. Not to mention a Gen III SRT10 would open that gap even further.

All this being said, it would be nice if DC spent some time/money establishing a great time with the upcoming Gen III Coupe. At the very least, it would shut up all the internet bench racers.

 

[GR8_ASP]

Re: Hey DC, the GTS just got its butt kicked at the

If I recall correctly the SRT time was in the rain or on a wet track. STill not enough to answer the difference but test conditions are very important.

If the SRT group wants the Viper to be recognized around the globe they need to put forth the effort. Or let it be bashed in the press and internet. Their choice.