Is there reason to hold out till 09 for more power?

[Flash1034]

I'd like to buy another Viper, but I dont want to buy an 08 and have the 09 come out with a 75HP increase. What do you sages think...is there enough evidence to suggest the 09 will have a power increase over the 08 to keep up with the Corvette ZR-1? Remember the 03 Z06 with 395 HP? Then the 04 jumped to 405 and the value of the 2003's took a dive. I'd rather that not happen to me with an 08.

Thanks,

Flash

 

[dave6666]

I'd like to buy another Viper but I dont want to buy and 08 and have the 09 come out with a 75HP increase. What do you sages think...is there enough evidence to suggest the 09 will have a power increase over the 07 to keep up with the Corvette ZR-1? Remember the 03 Z with 395 HP then 04 jumped to 405 and the value of the W's took a dive. I'd rather that not happen to me.:head bang:

Thanks,

Flash

Sounds like you are wanting to purchase an investment.

Do not buy a car then.

If indeed I misunderstand what you said, and the bit about value was indeed just a bit, then buy what you want when you want. There's always more hp available under a hood.

 

[MikeR]

Every year things get upgraded, changed etc. So just buy what you like and be happy with it. My 05 has now become slow in comparison with the new 08. But I love my 05 still. Its setup just the way I like and now I just need to add a Paxton and then I'll be beating 08's.

You will go broke trying to be top dawg, because it will only last a year then your old news. Get a 08, its going to be a great car for a long time and already has more power then most can handle and use properly.

 

[Affatica]

The 2001 Z06 had 385 hp and the jump to 405 hp was made in the 2002 Z06.

There will always be the "what if next year's car is better" question. And I would say if that is a real concern of yours, you will probably never be happy with what you have. If you really want to wait until 09 to see if that model year is faster, than I would wait. A viper is never a necessity. Worst case scenario is that the 2009 model year will have the SAME horsepower as the 2008. But then you are stuck asking the same question about the 2010 model.

 

[evomind]

i wouldnt be bothered by a 20hp increase, but a 75hp increase is pretty substantial.
small increases in hp, like 20, is usually tuning anyway. it wouldnt bother me if the increase was something i can easily replicate from an 08 to an 09. ie intakes, exhaust, etc.....
i would bet dodge isnt going to design a whole new engine from this year to next, so any power increase should be easily replicated on an 08.

 

[Flash1034]

All good points. Those on the board who know me know that I drive the snot out of my cars and dont look to them as financial investments. I also hate wasting money and dont want to get stuck with that "oh that was the one year it was 600 hp instead of the 675hp."

Does anybody have any inside info or perspectives?

Flash

 

[Nine Ball]

If you are so concerned by HP ratings, then why not just modify your car to increase the HP? I never will understand guys that are so concerned with factory HP ratings, yet won't do simple modifications to increase HP on their own. Analogy, if you are infatuated with money, do you only worry about the money you have, or do you wish to make more money? Why not treat HP the same way?

 

[Affatica]

If I were you, I would just say screw it and get an 08 ACR. I would rather have a track prepped race car, than a 2009 with 75 more hp. I think the ACR would run circles around it with the weight difference and better suspension and brakes.

 

[evomind]

If I were you, I would just say screw it and get an 08 ACR. I would rather have a track prepped race car, than a 2009 with 75 more hp. I think the ACR would run circles around it with the weight difference and better suspension and brakes.

where can we look at the build and options on an acr? u know, like i can go to dodge's website and "build my own" viper....
i looked for the acr but couldnt find that.
i want to see available colors, options, and prices...
thanks

 

[2snakes4us]

Hey Flash...Its cheaper to soup up the engine you have now than to buy a new 08 model, if hp is all your looking at...invest in you engine. You will also save $$ on insurance, tax,fees etc..

 

[rcl4668]

where can we look at the build and options on an acr? u know, like i can go to dodge's website and "build my own" viper....
i looked for the acr but couldnt find that.
i want to see available colors, options, and prices...
thanks

The website, SRT - DriveSRT, had the ACR option but it was pulled by Chrysler's IT staff because of an error in the pricing information. The site has not yet been corrected.

/Rich

 

[Affatica]

What rcl4668 said. But here is the thread of the announcement of the 2008 ACR and it has some good info.

http://forums.viperclub.org/srt10-srt10-coupe-discussions/607996-vca-srt-very-proud-present.html

 

[Brian GTS]

Don't wait, get an 08! Live for today and forget about tomorrow (or next year for that matter).

 

[black mamba1]

I think it would be a very foolish marketing decision by Dodge to give the 08 version a one year or even a two year run. If anything, they might add to the ACR for 09, but I cannot see a completely new engine for 09 for all Vipers making some 675 hp. And again, but that time ZR1 guys will have added headers, etc and will also be making around 675 hp...so what you are worrying about will just go on and on.

Get the 08 and stomp the competition. Mod it later w/ blowers, turbo's, exhaust, etc to keep up w/ the competition b/c regardless what comes off the showroom floor...when u r driving down the highway or at the track, very few showroom floor cars will be testing you!

 

[Paul Hawker]

Read on a Mopar site that they expect an 18 month run of this vehicle with only very minor running changes.

Think the big HP increase came this year.

DC Performance just stated that they believe they can get about 600 RWHP with standard engine breathing mods.

Think you are pretty safe with an 08.

 

[Snakester]

My guess is that Dodge is going to provide a dealer free-breather (fire breather?) package that has intake, cat and exhaust mods that boost power by 75HP (as shown by the tuners).
They had a similar set of dealer mods for the SRT-4 Neon that were not factory installed options, but could be easily installed (and warranteed) by the dealers.

Even if they did make the package a factory option for '09, it's a relatively easy job to bolt on the same bits to an '08 and get the same power gains. I would not wait.

 

[FinalEd357]

How much faster (lack of traction) can the average driver get from 675 hp compared to 600 hp anyway? I would guess a noticable difference between 06 and 08, but 08 + 75 hp could possible be unusable, except for bragging rights... Get the '08 and enjoy it, tomorrow may never come...

 

[RichieSRT10]

Don't wait, get an 08! Live for today and forget about tomorrow (or next year for that matter).

Best advice I heard

 

[Catwood]

I think all they need to do is change the brochures. There seems to be some guardband in the 600 HP number.

 

[rtigert]

I'd like to buy another Viper, but I dont want to buy an 08 and have the 09 come out with a 75HP increase. What do you sages think...is there enough evidence to suggest the 09 will have a power increase over the 08 to keep up with the Corvette ZR-1? Remember the 03 Z06 with 395 HP? Then the 04 jumped to 405 and the value of the 2003's took a dive. I'd rather that not happen to me with an 08.

Thanks,

Flash

That was the very concern that I had; as I was one of the 1st Z06. After battling with myself for two weeks, I firmed up my order with Bill P. on an '08 ACR. I'd rather have a bird in hand than 2 in the bush. Who's to say that with the upcoming MPG requirements, new leadership/investment, etc. that you you'll even have the option to purchase this car in 2009? There's no guarantee that you'll even be here next year. Me either, and that's why I pray that the ACR arrives before I expire

I never will understand guys that are so concerned with factory HP ratings, yet won't do simple modifications to increase HP on their own.

Some, myself included, would not pay this amount of money for a vehicle, only to negate its warranty. For the price of a base '08 (or less), one can readily purchase a Highly modded car with MUCH more hp and no support/warranty. To me, it's not about Hp only, it's about NOT having to EAT an engine,etc. rebuild (regardless of whether I saved $10-20K initially or not).