Is the Viper Crash tested?

[Afy]

A guy in the office told me that the Viper has never been crash tested by the NTHSA. I believe it has been.. but havent been able to find any information on it.

The guy in the office is a dolt.. who inists that the Viper is not only unsafe to drive but has only 300 ft/lbs of torque.. and that a Z3 would beat it.

I just need to get this guy to shut up once and for all.. thanks..
Afy

 

[Gerald]

hey Afy,

Why don't you just take this dolt for a ride and shut him up the old fashioned way? heh. How about ask him to race to 60 from a stop and bet him 500 clams? That usually shuts 'em real quick. I had a guy in a mean sound Nova wanting to race. I said sure, I only race for pinks. He walked away with his tail between his legs..

Seems the car that is most underated is the Viper. People just don't know about them and what they are capable of. I had one guy last week pull up when I was putting gas in the snake ( I never miss a gas station), got out of his car and asked how fast it goes top end. To be honest I did NOT know and said around 195 or so STOCK as tested. He said now way, they only do about 160mph and that the new vettes will kill it in a top speed run. After that, I went home and looked up the top speed and I think it was 192.4 as tested on some TV show a while back. It was a 1998 GTS that had sprung a ps leak in the attempt.. Wounded , but won the battle against, porsche, ferrari, mustang , C-5 vette, etc..


Crash tested.. Good question.. Anyone?

Gerald

 

[Ulysses]

The guy is a dolt, but I believe he is correct when he states that it was never crash tested (even dolts get lucky once in a while). However, he is an even bigger dolt if he states that it is unsafe, for how could he know if it was never crash tested.

 

[Scott J]

Yes, the Viper has been crash tested - while racing. Of course the crashes weren't scheduled nor were they controlled, but then again - high speed crashes are the true measure of safety aren't they?

As for a Z3 beating the Viper, perhaps your co-worker is referring to the M3, which is currently the fastest streetworthy BMW in production. The M3 can probably keep up with a Viper in the parking lot of your average mall. From what is published in reputable magazines, the M3 handles quite well, but to say that one would "beat" a Viper is pretty vague. Such comments usually come from the mouth of an envious person that seeks defame something of great stature.

 

[Joseph Houss]

From what I understand, ALL cars distributed in the US HAVE to be crash tested for certification. Not sure if that's mandated by the EPA or DOT....or? If he's talking about the offset test that is televised every so often.... that is a test performed by the Insurance Institute for statistical data, I don't think the Viper has been. I would imagine the Institute selects cars that are sold in HUGE volumes so the expense of the purchase and destruction can be reconciled.

A Z3 is a MILD mannered roadster, with very little oomph. The fastest, and most powerful BMW would be the new M3, which has been tested in all the major car magazines against the Corvette Z06.... and LOST. And ALL will agree that our Vipers are significantly more powerful AND faster than the Z06!

Maybe he's talking about the BMW LMP raced at LeMans? That MIGHT have been ahead of the Vipers in ALMS....but of course in a different race class!

 

[Ulysses]

Joe Houss wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
From what I understand, ALL cars distributed in the US HAVE to be crash tested for certification.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

According to the NHTSA, you're dead...RIGHT!!

NHTSA Crash Info

But I'll be darned if I can find any info on Viper Crash Results.

Hmmm. Interestingly enough, crashtest.com says that "not every test is performed on every car, and some vehicles are not tested at all (particularly low-production high-priced sports and luxury cars)".

This is most likely because the Gov'ment has to pony up the dough to crash these cars, could get expensive. So I assume they make exceptions for the expensive ones.

 

[Afy]

This Mr.Know it all is insistant that it is a Z3 which will beat it. The rest according to him (M3/M5/Z8/M roadster) will just walk away.

Another beauty from him is that the C5 has a 464 engine..

I have offered him a ride.. but he has always declined.

Wouldnt want to insult my car with him inside..

 

[AviP]

That's interesting about who has to pony up the cost. It was my understanding that the reason the Porsche 959 was not street legal was that Porsche didn't want to go thru' the crash test.

Of course that's years ago and things have changed.

-Avi

 

[VardaMan]

In the early days of the Gen I development, I observed some crash test Vipers that had completed the front smash at a 45 deg. impact.The Team Viper folks told me that no one could believe just how slight the damage was. I think that it was the best any Chrysler product had done. The early cars were very resistant to damage and the test dummies, without air bags also survived very well.
I know that DC has continued to test. They probably have the data.
Hope that this helps, VardaMan

 

[jcaspar1]

An M5 keep up with a Viper? Are you crazy? An M5 is a mid to low 13 second car and is electronically limited to 155 mph. There is no way a M5 will keep up with a Viper to 140 mph. Might be able to stay in the same area code..... The Z8 is a bit faster, probably a solid 13 second car, still not close. Z3 is a 14 second car.

 

[jcaspar1]

An M5 keep up with a Viper? Are you crazy? An M5 is a mid to low 13 second car and is electronically limited to 155 mph. There is no way a M5 will keep up with a Viper to 140 mph. Might be able to stay in the same area code..... The Z8 is a bit faster, probably a solid 13 second car, still not close.

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

Well, I can kinda settle part of this, I own both M5 and GTS....
no contest! Viper wins! And I mean no contest, and I love my M5, But drive both cars and it is a joke to compare which is fastest. Now M5 vs. M3, bring it on!

 

[Jay Herbert]

I'm with VardaMan. When I visited The Viper Pit after Indy in '91 I saw not only a crash tested Viper, but one that was getting ready for the European Burn test. Basically you put the car in an inch of Kerosene (?) in a pan, and light it..... really!

Now if they were internal crash tests only, I don't know. My Viper was "roll tested" by it's prevous owner, and it passed

 

[GR8_ASP]

I think the confusion here is internal tests versus government tests. All vehicles must be certified by the manufacturer with internal testing and data. The Viper included. Government testing (actually tested at speeds a little higher than the specification) is done on a sampling basis. The expense of a Viper versus the production volume would place it in the not necessary column. I heard from others that the Viper was the only car at Chrysler that was able to be used for both the frontal and rear impact tests with the same car, because damage was so minimal.

Rest assured our beloved Vipers meet all existing crash standards, and have been proven to do so. Let's leave any future impact tests to the experts

Ron

 

[Afy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ron Stene:
Let's leave any future impact tests to the experts

Ron

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Amen...

 

[treynor]

There was a period when I owned an '00 M5 and my '01 Viper, and stock for stock there was no contest at all. The M5 made 332 RWHP and weighed 3975 lbs; the Viper made 408 RWHP and weighed 3445 lbs. The rest, as they say, is left as an exercise for the reader

 

[Vip-RT10]

Afy......The BMW's are fast, but not in the same category as the Viper....

 

[JonB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ron Stene:
I think the confusion here is internal tests versus government tests. All vehicles must be certified by the manufacturer with internal testing and data. ,,,Ron <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


BINGO, Ron...... With Honorable mention to Joe Houss.

The reason the NHTSA gov site does not test/post VIPEr figs is that there are fewer than 5000 Vipers built per year. That threshold # triggers NHTSA and other mandatory fed testing and reporting.

Now, the INSIDE SCOOP on Viper: (Again, Ron is right.)

The Feds only require that the manufacturer "certify" that the tests have been passed, and Federal requirements MET.How many vehicles that takes is up to the manufacturer. {DC 'undoubtedly' sets their limits stricter than Fed minimums, to ensure compliance. Super computers, component analysis, 3-D models, have alll combined to lower the (waste) of crashed vehicles of all types. Final certification MUST be performed with a production vehicle.

No testing is required for carry-over models, unless significant design changes were incorporated.

I have it on good authority that at least six 2003 Gen-III / VGX Vipers have already bit the dust.....crashed multiple times as Ron also noted, for frontal, frontal-offset, side, rear, and both-side impacts, etc! Before sales begin, approx 12 or so will have given their all for our safety.........

Final note: RT/10 owners especially, ALWAYS carry your bolted-in spare tire assembly in the rear... It keeps the trunklid from entering the cockpit during a rear end, or rear-to-wall collision. A trunklid guillotine would be uglee.

 

[dmora]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Joseph Houss:

A Z3 is a MILD mannered roadster, with very little oomph. The fastest, and most powerful BMW would be the new M3, which has been tested in all the major car magazines against the Corvette Z06.... and LOST. And ALL will agree that our Vipers are significantly more powerful AND faster than the Z06!

Maybe he's talking about the BMW LMP raced at LeMans? That MIGHT have been ahead of the Vipers in ALMS....but of course in a different race class!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Guys, the M3is not the fastest Bimmer... I thought that was the M5. Its heavier, but sill pulls harder.

 

[Jay Herbert]

While Digging through my Viper files doing some research for the VIN area, I found this picture...... it should answer the "crash test" questions (not the NTHSA part though):

 

[Rich Carlson]

Just the verify what Jay said as well as couple of the other guys, the vehicle has been crash tested a number of times. I saw one of the first Gen-1 vehicle crash tested at the Chelsea proving grounds and we where surprised how little damage there was. Once the crash test has been completed, the car is put on a fixture to be rotated and check for fluid leakage. The vehicle is then put into storage area for future reference if needed.

 

[Afy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mark O:
The big question is this......Did crash testing the 2003's improve their looks?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Interesting information... makes me feel safer..

 

[Jason-Middle Tennessee]

This guy crash tested his snake. But I don't think he did it the way your talking about.

You must be registered for see images

 

[MichaelP]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by steelgts:
I RACED A BRAND NEW M3 LAST WEEK AT THE TRACK AND PUT THE HURT ON HIM. EVEN GOT IT ON TAPE. I REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A GOOD RACE.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Did he say if the Viper had been crash tested?

 

[Dirk Pitt]

1. Who cares if the Viper was tested?

2. If you do care, don't buy a Viper.

I enjoy my car and I acknowledge that I take risks every time I drive it. If it really mattered I would probably buy another car. Anyone asking about the safety rating of the Viper probably shouldn't own one.

Dirk