Howdy Folks!
First of all, I had originally posted in the Gen I/II forums, since I was planning on a 01+ GTS. Here's a link to my orignal post:
http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB14&Number=430752&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1
To summarize:
Have a Z06 blah blah blah
Had a Supra blah blah blah
Getting a Viper blah blah blah
Weekend and track time only blah blah blah
Look forward to joining the VCA blah blah blah
In the last several weeks, I've become more and more a fan of the Gen III car! In fact, one the posts in my thread said if I was planning on tracking the car (I am) then a SRT-10 is the best all around performer, especially the OEM brakes. At first I wasn't that gung-** on a Vert (I just HAD to get that in, heheheh) but being on the East Coast of Florida, seems like I'm missing out since we have 11 1/2 months of roadster weather
The wifey actually has a new 3-series convertible, so I was thinking, "do we need another?" Heck, doesn't really matter since I'm picking up a new daily/beach/tow vehicle anyway (Toyota 4Runner, AWD/V8).
At any rate, I've been lurking here in the SRT area more -n- more, been following this post, and I'm currently a Z06 owner (only for a short time longer), so I read most of the fanatic posts regarding the Viper on the Vette forum(s).
I picked up the Vette because it was a good value in a daily/weekend combo car - I had just sold my Lexus and Supra, and decided to consolidate down to a single ride for a bit, get some business things squared away. As I mentioned in my link above, it a great value, and good all around car.
However, there is a HUGE value (to me at least, and I suspect most members here) in the exclusivity of a Viper. I had this with the Supra (mine especially, pretty heavily modified). Given everything else is equal (and it's not really), THAT in itself is a huge incentive for me.
Even the up and coming Z06 variant of the C6 - it will still be dervied from a platform that will be churned out of BG at a rate of 30K cars a year. I know it will have big fenders, etc., but like my Z06, it still just a slight cosmetic variation of a highly produced car (which I think actually ruined the Vette to be honest).
And yeah, that's a funny thread! There are some people who are just brand loyal beyond all logical rationale. I'm not - I appreciate the contributions the Corvette has made (especially C1-C2's), the great racing success, etc., but when it comes down to comparing two cars, on the merits of the cars themselves, I put the Viper over the C6, period. I guess I've never had a strong loyalty to something like a car - seems weird to me. If another manufacturer came out with a low volume, ultra performance car, I'd consider it.
And what's really surprising (I guess there are some frail egos in this world) is people who don't admit price is a factor. It's OK to say, "I think I Viper is a spectacular car, just can't afford it". I'd rather hear someone be honest, than try to derail a superior platform.
It should come as no surprise - GM can't compete with a low production, hand-built "supercar" - and fans of the Vette shouldn't get all jacked up, it's not meant to. And _certainly_ the subjective measures such as style can't be argued - *personally* I think any Viper looks better than the C6 (I think my Z06 looks better than the C6 for that matter).
Another trend I'm seeing on the Vette forums, is people arguing how much better the C6/Z06 will be than the Viper when the people most vocal will never own EITHER vehicle! This is like some kind of brand-loyalty, coat-tail riding. It's these people that will come to a Viper forum, talk about how great a C6 is, be told a Viper is superior, _than_ pull the C6/Z06 out of their rear as a defense ("Yeah, wait till you run into a C/06")
At any rate, again, look forward to ownership in the very near future. I popped into Ronnie Robisons in Green Cove yesterday, talked to Ronnie, he had his personal SRT-10 at the lot and his yellow/blk-stripe GTS too. Got to compare the cars pretty closely together, root around in the enterior of the SRT-10. He said to keep him in the loop, he might be able to help find a car when it's time.
Oh yeah, what's up my ex-Supra brutha Guilly! I still get the occasional email from Nero, I've got to get down to Orlando and make sure that boy is keep his act clean, heheheh.
Seeya -
DT
