Honest Opinions please???

[Dr Roof]

Ì am real close to purchasing a Srt-10.

Any complaints about the car?
How do you compare it to the Gen 2 cars?
Is it still the true Viper experience?

thanks

 

[FranciscoR.]

3.9 0-60 That's all I gotta say.

 

[Cudaman]

David .... they are too damm slow compared to your "old" Viper, unless you send it to your freindly tuner for serious upgrades!!! LOL

Cudaman

 

[FranciscoR.]

Uhmmm...if its too slow for you, buy one for me...lol

 

[cstegall]

David,

Emailed you.

CStegall

 

[Y2K5SRT]

Where do I begin? Well, first off let me say that I did not intend to keep the SRT. I figured I would sell it for a profit and then buy a 2001 Sapphire Blue GTS. When it came in, I was surprised at how good it actually looked. I was also surprised at the looks it got. What else? Short list of pluses and minuses:

+ Convertible top is VERY easy and a TON of fun. Forgot what riding in a convertible was like and really, really enjoy it.

+ Interior is very refined. Liked the GTS seats (my office chair was made from one), but am in love with the SRT seats. Sit in one and see.

+ Performance is improved in every respect and you can feel it. No question that the power is there and the brakes are unbelievable. Mind you, it will need a supercharger to catch up with what you have, but I think it has all the right stuff to start with.

+ Still a "star". Gets attention where ever we go, just about as much as the GTS did (hard to beat a GTS in black with silver stripes). Heck, won "Best of Class" in a show this weekend even though there was a yellow GTS with silver stripes in the same class - with 1700 fewer miles than the SRT!

+ Easier to clean, with no "speakers" to drain.

+ Better visibility from the driver's seat.

+ Seems to be easier to drive all the way around - flatter torque and lots more of it.

+ Better stereo - more powerful and with 6 CD capacity in the dash.

+ Insane headlights that will light up an entire state on high beams.

+ Entire car just seems more "complete". Still think the GTS is a better looking car overall (classic styling), but the SRT is a surprisingly good looking car all by itself. Refined build and tighter tolerances from my experience.

- Still not quite as audacious as a GTS

- Wheels are nice, but harder to clean than the '99 - '02 5-spokes

- Your oil pressure gauge can reflect in the windshield at night if turned up brightly.

- "Bundle of Snakes" look of the engine is gone, although it is easier to clean and more accessible. Still impresses the crowds in a big way, especially since they can see those big air filters up front.

+/- Clamshell hood was impressive when opened in front of a crowd, but required extra effort. The SRT hood is a piece of cake and still pretty cool (opens darn near to 90 degrees).

Bottom line: Doesn't look as unique as a GTS, but still stands out in a crowd. We drive our cars (no garage queens) and the convertible is fantastic in nice weather. Makes the coupe seem almost claustrophobic. My wife, who would reluctantly go for drives in the GTS (as a passenger) now asks about going out for a ride ALL the time in the SRT. And also takes it out on her own from time to time. Seat of the pants feel (back up by timeslips) show that it is a faster car stock-to-stock. You have to wind it up a little to really hit the peak HP/TQ, but that is just fine.

I love the GTS and would take it over any other car on the planet. Except for my SRT-10. Hope this helps!

Chris

 

[Viperfreak2]

Owned an RT-10
Owned a GTS
Own an SRT-10.....this car will be with me for a LONG time.

I couldn't stand the folding roof of the RT
Loved the GTS style, but I couldn't live without a convertible, so I got a Z4 to compensate.....got rid of the Z4, got the SRT.

 

[YouWish]

Owned an RT-10
Owned a GTS
Own an SRT-10.....this car will be with me for a LONG time.

I couldn't stand the folding roof of the RT
Loved the GTS style, but I couldn't live without a convertible, so I got a Z4 to compensate.....got rid of the Z4, got the SRT.

Barbie drives a convertible. Ken drives a GTS.

 

[snakebitdave]

I agree with Chris 999%. Based on looks alone it would be the first to go from my stable. Having said that I find even little kids, like 6-9 yrs old recognize it as a Viper. This is definitely a personal opinion as you have read many many times on this forum. Some choose it first based on looks alone, some don't. Still a true Viper experience!! None gets the attention the GT2 does and it "feels" faster too; haven't proven it though.

 

[jamie furman]

I felt just like Chris did when he first decided to get one, the only difference I still feel like I did then so I sold the car. I don't care what the magazines say the car is not as fast as a gts, go to the track and find out for yourself, it is uncomfortable and claustrophobic and even though it looks ok it just looks OK! You have the best viper I wouldn't waste my money if I were you. That is my unbiased multiple viper owner opinion, and I can tell you I know a lot of well respected viper people who feel the same as me whether they comment on this or not I don't know.I have owned one and raced it and was very unimpressed.

 

[Y2K5SRT]

I don't care what the magazines say the car is not as fast as a gts, go to the track and find out for yourself, it is uncomfortable and claustrophobic and even though it looks ok it just looks OK!

I would have to disagree I am afraid. Having made over 100 passes with a largely stock GTS and then going to a bone-stock SRT, there is absolutely no question that the SRT is faster in the 1/4 mile. It definitely has different shift points than the Gen II due to the different motor and taller rear tires. Shift it like you do your GTS and Jamie is correct - it will be about the same or maybe a tick slower.

As far as comfort, only one Viper owner I know of has said he thought the seats were less comfortable than his GTS - and he is 6'6" tall. Otherwise, the increased side bolsters have absolutely blown away the vast majority of Viper owners that have sat in them. You hear people all the time that want to put the SRT seats in their Gen I/II - yet not ONE person has suggested doing the opposite. And as to claustrophobia, you sold your car before you could put the top down. With a real convertible top there is absolutely no comparison.

Does it look as classic as the GTS? Nope, nor will it. The GTS is a flowing work of art, whereas the SRT is more of a chiseled modern sculpture. Still good looking, but not an instant classic. No matter, the car still draws a crowd at every corner (many ask if it is an RT/10 and a few ask if it is the GTS!) and has improved performance in every single category stock for stock. No question.

 

[Torquemonster]

A typical enthusiasts RT/10 or GTS has a few extra's - perhaps 3.45 or 3.55 rear gears, headers, K&N's, smooth tubes, suspension tweaks, free flow exhausts from headers back. Many go a bit further with ported heads and bigger cam - usually by retrofitting the 0.558" lift 708 cam and retune with ECU upgrades.

These are early days - when there's a few SRT10's running around with the same mods - steeper gears to overcome the taller tires, engine mods etc - the SRT10 will be seen for what it is - very fast, with what will probably prove to be an easy 50hp advantage in the heads mod for mod.... given they are apparently no heavier than the old ones - expect some RT/10 and GTS spankings as these things loosen up and catch up in the tweaks department.

I like the GTS shape too - but there is no doubt a few tweaks to the SRT10 will release a beast. The snake is not going soft.

 

[Janni]

Dr. Roof,
Here are my thoughts. I just put the 1996 GTS up to be sold. I had been driving it kinda daily for about 6 months. While it certainly didn't have the power your car does, it was a bit of a spectacle in its own way. I had mostly just exhaust work done on the car.

Going to the SRT, I have noticed some things.

Initial response was that the SRT had no "soul". Couldn't quite put my finger on it, but in a way it almost felt too civilized. (Probably the fact I was still in break in didn't help)

Visibility is pretty bad, but you get used to it. I find that you sit lower in the car and in some ways it's harder to see where the nose of the car is.

The seats are GREAT- very supportive and helpful in high G cornering. Power steering pump / fan combo takes a bit to get used to, more vibration / hum is transferred into the wheel that I like, but hopefully it will prove to work well. It's been darn hot here lately, and I had one instance of the car getting hot. I think it just had an air bubble in the cooling system that had to "burp" itself.

The car is HOT - side sills hotter, but my car had high flow cats. Harder ingress and egress as the sills are wider. Us short legged folks will have the mark of the snake a couple times on our calf.

As far as the looks go - I LOVE IT. It's grown on me to the point that when I am out somewhere, I just love walking up to it from about a 3/4 rear view. The curves that D-C put back into the car as a late change made a huge difference. The car looks like a tight skin has been stretched over REAL muscle.

As I have been driving the car, it has grown on me. It's a better car all the way around. And since I'll be using it year round, the improved handling is something that I can't do without. The convertible aspect is great - something I'll appreciate more when it's not 98 degrees with 90 percent humidity. (Hurry up, fall!)

The feeling you get when you are driving the car is that of absolute confidence that the car willdo what you ask it to. The car is so firmly planted and it handles so well, it's almost uneventful. In the Gen II car, it was always like you were "asking" the car to do stuff and you knew that at any given moment you could take the car too far past it's comfort zone and get it a bit loose. Personally, I liked that aspect and I think that's what I miss. I know you can't have it both ways, so I'll be happy with the performance, but I'll still miss the more raw, more "difficult" handling. I think that's one of the reasons (coupled with the high percentage of current Viper owners having SRT's) that you haven't seen / heard about more being wrecked in the early months of ownership.

It's been a tough call to get rid of the Gen II, and if I had unlimited resources and time to keep everything up, I wouldn't. But ultimately, the SRT is a better car - all around - and will suit my purposes better.

PS - can't wait to get a roll bar and take this thing out on the track - it should make even ME look competent.

 

[jamie furman]

I agree the seats are comfortable but they are a bit tight most people want to change them because they look alot better. As far as performance on a drag strip I have raced some and raced against some most recently at the viper rendevous in englishtown and even the modified ones that were there could not put up any good numbers and the mph is not that good. I don't know what the reason is but the dragstrip doesn't lie, when you are driving them and racing against them first hand. Magazines can print anything but nothing beats being in the seat and getting your timeslip yourlself.I would say they are good mid twelve second cars out of the box with a good driver but thats it.I personally don't try to make myself love something because I own it, I own it because I love it and the SRT is not for me but that is just my opinion, try one out and see what you think.

 

[treynor]

My $.02 on my wife's SRT:

Personally, I like the looks of my RT/10 better - Liz likes the SRT better;
The SRT feels marginally faster than our stock '01 GTS, although it's definitely stronger at the high RPMs;
Braking on the SRT is significantly better than either '01 (both of which have ABS). There's no suspension dive, the thing just stops like it hit sand;
Handling, there is no comparison. The SRT is still a Viper, but it's much more composed than the RT, which I already think is a very good-handling car.
Day-to-day, the SRT is more liveable than the GTS or RT. Controls are more logical, ergonomics are better, HVAC is hugely improved, and the convertible top is perfect.

My net net - buy the SRT, and have Doug work over the heads to pick up some ponies.

 

[gtsviper]

I agree with Chris and Janni. I have both the SRT and an 01 RT/10. The convertible top on the 03 is much easier to live with....on trips, I like not having to choose between carrying the top or clean underwear. The brakes are stunning. The cabin heat is almost unbearable in stop and go traffic on the LA Freeways. Quality is good but a few first year production issues (see heat comment!)like headlights/interior lights mysteriously shutting down.
Overall, I prefer the SRT.

 

[Dr Roof]

Thanks for the input!

I am working on a couple of cars now, Im wanting a red one but if a great deal on black popped up I might consider.
if any one has any purchase advice please let me know soon!

 

[Y2K5SRT]

Magazines can print anything but nothing beats being in the seat and getting your timeslip yourlself.I would say they are good mid twelve second cars out of the box with a good driver but thats it.

I am a fair driver and turned back-to-back 12.10's in my bone-stock SRT-10. This was at 90º temperatures and before I was advised to run the RPM's up higher. I was shifting at my GTS points of 5200 and will now shift it closer to 5700. I think I can get it into the 11's with ease, and I could never do that with my modified GTS in some 100 passes with it. One of the very first 1/4 mile runs posted by an owner on these boards was I believe 11.86 @ 123 mph. My MPH's have been low (116 - 117) but the times decent. I think I can improve on both and think that anybody that is turning mid-12's is missing a shift or has bad valves. Just my humble opinion, of course.

Chris

 

[GTS Dean]

I had both. Getting in and out of the SRT takes a bit more effort, and the shoe clearance (sills/dash) seems tighter. Pedals on the SRT are too close together for my tastes and I couldn't get used to the dead pedal. Rear view from the SRT is on par with the RT/10, which is inferior to the GTS. The SRT has tons more traction than a GTS - but the suspension and handling was about a wash with my GTS. SRT brakes are absolutely phenomenal! True world-beaters. The SRT may be quicker than the GTS, but you'll have trouble convincing yourself from seat of pants input. Engine cooling shares power with steering system and the whole thing feels odd at low speeds. Panel fit is very good, but the surface finish of the doors on my SRT was noticeably inferior to the rear quarters. The front fenders (plastic) had some finish issues.

I couldn't afford both cars, and the overall body styling of the SRT was not very appealing to me, so I sold it and kept my GTS. In my mind, I made the right decision. Your mileage may vary.

 

[SERPENT INDIANA]

I have had all generations of Vipers...all I can say is I have put over 3K miles on the new black SRT since I got it and one GTS has only been out of the garage twice since(the other not at all)....the SRT is above and beyond ANY car or Viper I have ever owned.....love it !!!

 

[GR8_ASP]

I have both a RT/10 and an SRT. Since I have had the SRT the RT/10 has accumulated very little mileage. It has become the family "toy" while the SRT is the "go out for a ride" car.

Since I cooled the exhaust the SRT has become much more fun to drive. The intense heat, which was by far the greatest detraction, is now only a minor annoyance.

 

[BACKNBLACK]

Can't we just get along....

 

[Hans Christian]

BACKNBLACK,

I know, LOL

 

[SneakyPete]

Since I cooled the exhaust the SRT has become much more fun to drive. The intense heat, which was by far the greatest detraction, is now only a minor annoyance.

How did you cool the exhaust down???

Has anyone been caught in a good hard rain, how water tight is the new convrt top?

What is the tallest height you can be and still fit into the SRT?

 

[Y2K5SRT]

How did you cool the exhaust down???

Has anyone been caught in a good hard rain, how water tight is the new convrt top?

What is the tallest height you can be and still fit into the SRT?

Most get high flow cats and that seems to make a big difference.

Been caught in a TORRENTIAL downpour that literally caused flooding all over town. Car was abolutely, positively BONE DRY - not even a drop!

Had a friend drive the car and I think he is 6'5". No problems, although I believe Northwind is already producing a seat lowering kit for the SRT...

 

[GR8_ASP]

I can also attest to the weather tight aspect. Caught in a driving rain it was just like driving a regular car.

Exhaust cooling was by relocating the catalysts. They were relocated far away from the side sills. Still need to find a better set of mufflers to improve the exhaust tone.

Regarding mileage I have only 300 miles on the RT/10 this year and 2900 on the SRT. Biased a little as the RT/10 was being worked on until after Memorial Day and we had one of the shortest summers known to mankind.

 

[viperz]

Owned a 99 GTS. loved it. My wife wanted something with 4 seats for the little ones and I got a 996 TT. Loved the car but its too easy to drive and I missed the Viper.
On looks the Viper wins hands down.

I'm currently looking at a SRT-10 since my wife has a C4 Cab.

I MISS MY VIPER. Will know next week, I'm going for a drive in the SRT-10.
I miss my viper!

 

[Mike Brunton]

Couple of comments on the performance.

The highest ever MPH I have seen in a basically stock GTS is 121MPH. I don't know of anyone who has MPH'ed higher than this in a stock car, and even that is pushing it (cold weather, cool car, in other words, perfect conditions).

John Myric ran 123mph - I think it was actually almost 124 (123.9x if I remember right), but either way that is a pretty big improvement over a GTS. Most GTS's with headers and a a cat back might hit 123 if they are driven well.

As for the ET, well, it doesn't say a whole lot about how much power the car makes or if it's faster, that's just about traction really. The SRT probably launches worse than the GTS because of bigger wheels and low profile tires. I bet it pulls harder on the top though. We have a few people in the 11.5 range in a GTS, some in the 11.6-11.9 also. That is the combined result of about 7 years worth of people drag racing GTS's. We have less than 1 year of SRT racing, and we already have an 11.77 and a magazine time in the 11's (I think 11.8 or 11.9).

Seems the body of evidence supports that the SRT is the quicker car. Although having owned and driven various sports cars, the faster car doesn't always *feel* faster.

 

[SneakyPete]

2 heat issue questions?

Is the exhaust cooling (high flow cat swapout/relocate) seen as a defect/TSB by DC, do they agree its a problem and fix it for you under warantee, or is it something you had to pay for yourself just to be able to use the car more.

Obviously the Heat issue is for the 2003's, did they make any changes on the 2004's to address this issue

thanks

 

[unclgreggy]

I must say I am really shocked at how much I like the car. By the time I sold my GTS I was happy to get rid of it. In MY mind there is no comparison. The Srt will grow on you big time.