Just how uncontrollable is this car?

[Quadcammer]

Afternoon folks.

If all goes well, i'll be picking up a 99-01 RT/10 shortly. Now, I've had a good amount of experience with high powered cars that I owned or my parents owned (95 M3, 00 M5, 03 M3, clk550, sl55, etc).

I currently own a supercharged mustang cobra that makes about 700rwhp/560rwtq and has 4.30 gears.

Even though my cobra should be much more powerful than a near stock viper, I have not really ever had the rear come around on me while accelerating in a straightline. Sure it will get a bit loose, but not full on uncontrollable spin. Is this really that prevalent? I just find that hard to believe with only 450rwtq or so.

Further, my car control around turns is moderately above average, and Im obviously not going to boot the gas on exit, but after reading some posts, it seems like if you breathe in the vicinity of the gas pedal upon corner exit, you will be facing the way you came.


Im not a racetrack guy, but I do enjoy spirited mountain driving, and right now i've scared myself into thinking that the viper is going to be a huge handful.

With new tires, am I going to be out of control, or is this just a bit overblown if an owner has experience with high hp cars?

Thanks everyone.

 

[Burntrubber]

I had the same worry just because it was my baby and dream car. If you hit it in first it will spin, just watch the 1-2 shift. 1st-3rd make sure its pointed straight and you will be fine.

 

[Warfang]

if you're worried... you'll do just fine. It's the ones that don't think twice that end up wrecking the car.

 

[RedLiner]

The car can be uncontrollable in the wrong hands. Must have a lot of respect for the car and be very smart when driving hard. The condition of the tires, the type of tire, air pressure.....all make a different with good or bad experience. The biggest issue I've witnessed is in regards to the road temperature and the tire temperature. You must give the tires ample time to warm up before doing any spirited driving. When outside temps drop below 50 be very carefull as traction will decrease dramatically. I hear the "run flat" tires are even worse than my non-run-flats.

Good luck if you get your new car. Be careful and respect the power. Always make sure your tires warm up before getting on the throttle.

Just my 2 cents. I'm sure other will add to this.

 

[RobZilla]

The car can be uncontrollable in the wrong hands. Must have a lot of respect for the car and be very smart when driving hard. The condition of the tires, the type of tire, air pressure.....all make a different with good or bad experience. The biggest issue I've witnessed is in regards to the road temperature and the tire temperature. You must give the tires ample time to warm up before doing any spirited driving. When outside temps drop below 50 be very carefull as traction will decrease dramatically. I hear the "run flat" tires are even worse than my non-run-flats.

Good luck if you get your new car. Be careful and respect the power. Always make sure your tires warm up before getting on the throttle.

Just my 2 cents. I'm sure other will add to this.

Exactly what he said. Cold air temp, cold tires, and tons of power equal bad experiences. I am over due for tires, thus I am very careful. Even as careful as I am, the car will slide around while accelerating quickly or downshifting into high rpm's.

Take a little time to get used to the car and remember that the majority of crashes involving vipers are front end damage.

 

[costanZo]

I had the same worry just because it was my baby and dream car. If you hit it in first it will spin, just watch the 1-2 shift. 1st-3rd make sure its pointed straight and you will be fine.

I've been wondering the same.. thank you


Also- I take it when your in any gear involving 1st, 2nd or 3rd- whenever your turning the car around a curve, maybe going on an onramp to a highway you don't really wanna step on the gas too heavy or the car will spin? Also I heard your supposed to drive the Viper with two hands all the time because it's very touchy if you drive over bumps and such- I'm so used to driving with one hand..

 

[Quadcammer]

hmm. I realize these cars make a very decent amount of torque at low rpms, but with 3.15 gears (i think) and 335 tires, you wouldn't think they would break loose that easily.

I don't drive real crazy, especially with spinning the tires, hanging the back out, etc, but i've had the cobra blow the tires off at the top of third at around 75 mph, and if you lift slightly, it will straighten right out and keep going. It seems the viper would not be doing this.

I guess I'll have to build up my comfort level.

 

[Red Snake]

if you're worried... you'll do just fine. It's the ones that don't think twice that end up wrecking the car.

Ditto.

I am on stock Pilots and making 670 ft pounds of torque. I have been driving in the cold and I like to put my foot in it.

I have been very mindful of pointing straight before I punch it hard and I am careful in the twisties to gradually roll into it. And so far, I have survived.

I do need to get some stickier tires though.

 

[PhoenixGTS]

if you're worried... you'll do just fine. It's the ones that don't think twice that end up wrecking the car.

Perfect description of the situation. Just follow the Viper golden rule for awhile: "Thou shalt not floor the throttle unless thoust going in a straight line" and you will be fine.

 

[Paul Hawker]

Vipers handle remarkably well.

They make you feel like superman sometimes, and that usually is the undoing.

It is when you do not respect the laws of nature that things get interesting.

You will enjoy your Viper and be very impressed with its handling, but be gentle on the throttle till you get used to it, and above all do not slam the throttle full open on a slick on ramp.

 

[JonB]

The car can be uncontrollable in the wrong hands. Must have a lot of respect for the car and be very smart when driving hard. The condition of the tires, the type of tire, air pressure.....all make a different with good or bad experience. ..... I hear the "run flat" tires are even worse than my non-run-flats. .Just my 2 cents. I'm sure other will add to this.[/quote]

The author of the above, will all of his ~65 posts, is 100% correct. Hints:

1) Buy a good tire guage
2) Check tire pressures after every other tank of gas.
3) Dont allow tire pressures to vary side-to-side. Creates "stagger" pulling to the low side.
4) ROOOOOOOLLLLL on the gas pedal in the cold or wet. "Mash it = Smash It"
5) Dont Mismatch tires in a misguided attempt to improve straight line traction alone. Cornering Matters.

 

[mike & juli]

I've been wondering the same.. thank you
Also- I take it when your in any gear involving 1st, 2nd or 3rd- whenever your turning the car around a curve, maybe going on an onramp to a highway you don't really wanna step on the gas too heavy or the car will spin? Also I heard your supposed to drive the Viper with two hands all the time because it's very touchy if you drive over bumps and such- I'm so used to driving with one hand..

You'll find whatever is comfortable for you to drive, hands-wise. It IS a car that kinda goes all over where the ruts in the road are, so we use both hands...remember it's NOT a nanny-controlled car...it's controlled by only one thing: THE DRIVER. Yes, around turns you don't stomp on the accelerator...you have to ease into it....once you're comfy with the throttle responses in the gears, you'll find you CAN push it more in the corners....WARM roads, good tires...conducive to GREAT handling. Good Luck...and welcome QuadCammer! GOOD LUCK with your new RT...and it has 3.07 gears if I'm not mistaken/stock gears--at least I know ours does...but we're GenIII...just enjoy the car...go out to a HUGE parking lot and really SEE what you can do with the throttle/gears.
HAVE fun, but be safe....juli

 

[Affatica]

I would say the fact that you are worried about it enough to make a post about it is a good thing. Just be careful and pay attention to conditions. I have had mine for 4 years and it still scares me. The minute you don't respect it, it gets away from you.

 

[Sweet Ride]

hmm. I realize these cars make a very decent amount of torque at low rpms, but with 3.15 gears (i think) and 335 tires, you wouldn't think they would break loose that easily.

I don't drive real crazy, especially with spinning the tires, hanging the back out, etc, but i've had the cobra blow the tires off at the top of third at around 75 mph, and if you lift slightly, it will straighten right out and keep going. It seems the viper would not be doing this.

I guess I'll have to build up my comfort level.

If you don't mash the accelerator to the floor in first or second, you should be fine. If you start to get crazy with it, make sure you have the car pointed straight ahead. In my limited romps in my car, it seems to run fairly straight under very hard acceleration. It drifts to the side when you floor it, but most cars do when you are burning up the tires. I wouldn't say it's uncontrollable by any means. I find that I can take tight turns on the freeway without letting up much. A quick release of the throttle should set you straight in most cases.

It just takes respect for the power. Use it wisely and you should be fine. The car is very well balanced (as compared to my '98 Mustang). It leaves a lot of room for error. That is again, unless you get stupid with it. I have spent the last three weeks getting comfortable with and learning the car. If you don't push it before you know what it will do, you shouldn't get hurt.

People that wreck their cars are doing any/all of the following:
A) Not paying attention to their surroundings.
B) Not respecting the power/handling capabilities of their vehicle.
C) Drunk driving
D) Not knowing what they are doing in the first place.
E) Joyriding/showing off
F) Not learning their car slowly and methodically. You can't run before you can walk...

 

[georgethedog]

You have to be espeically careful if your car is red. They are the fastest as everyone knows...

 

[mike & juli]

Yeah, quadcammer: What color ARE you looking at??? (We all KNOW BLACK is best...NOT seen at night...whoo-hooooo!!!!)....juli

 

[Quadcammer]

the closest contender is grey, but black and sapphire are options.

 

[Leslie]

I roadrace my other car but never have the Viper, although I would love to someday.

My best response from this car is to execute smooothly, squeeze the throttle out of the turns and at full WOT-hands at 10/2. I check my tire pressure each time I drive the Viper and usually like 1/2 lbs less on the rears

 

[ACR VYPR]

When I bought my Viper the salesman told me the Viper will do three things fast.
It goes fast, turns fast, and stops fast.
The only problem is it can't do any one of these three things at the same time

 

[mach4444]

As someone who went from a 650 rwhp 03 cobra to a stock 2000 rt/10 all I can say is you'll wonder why you waited so long to upgrade. I liked my stang but I love my viper. the power comes on in totally different ways.
no turning back now.
keep her straight, learn the vipers quirks slowly and you'll be all right. good luck with your purchase.

oh yea, Juli was right, black cars are the fastest and they blend in well at night.

 

[RTTTTed]

AND Sapphire cars are Black at night, they're faster during the day!

ALL my other cars have/had more hp than a stock Viper. The Viper can get a little squirrely if you Roe supercharge (800 ft. pds of torque at 2,000rpm). The Viper handles better than any other car. It does seem to require warming of the tires before you get a lot of traction, just like all other cars, but it does have the biggest tires of any car on it already. If ... you do get sideways the Viper will return faster from a slide than any other car I've driven. The front wheels turn farther (similar to a drift car?) and that's why you can return the car to straight better than any normal car.

If you buy a Viper with run=flats (gen 3) get rid of them immediately as they do not have much traction compared to the Pilots Sports (Gen 2 & 4). The Viper drives like any other car with close ration steering and if you're driving with one hand, hit a bump and your hand moves closer to your lap - it will turn the car. Rest your hand on the bottom (or the top if you have to - bottom prefered because of airbag deployment) and your hand won't turn the steering wheel hitting bumps. Simple. The Viper's steering is amazing, as is the braking and cornering. Since my car is a gen 2, I installed lightweight brake rotors with a Roe 14" kit on the front so that my car will outperform all other cars for stopping distance.

I've still got my 750hp (w/Nitrous) Duster parked in the garage and don't drive it anymore. Good weather is Viper time!

I crashed my 1st Viper in the rain so be careful in bad weather. They don't make winiter tires for a Viper so you won't be able to drive it in the cold (tires lose traction).

Ted

 

[mike & juli]

the closest contender is grey, but black and sapphire are options.

Grey/Graphite is a GREAT color for an RT...black is of course, NON-debatable!! LOL...Sapphire...well, have you looked at citysnake's sapphire for sale? (If it still is?)
Contact him by PM! GOOD LUCK...yeah, try catching a BLACK VIPER at night with tinted headlamps...heeheeeeee!! (((No, really, be SAFE in driving))) ~juli

 

[Performance Junkie]

OK...so how about on the days where the conditions are perfect and your completely focused....clean, dry, warm roads and tires... your listening to the engine...not the radio...

How hard is it to get it in the sweet spot and keep the rear wheels spinning to where you are feathering the throttle and drifting it around the corner. Not like the all out smoking tire drifters...but a cool / fun controlled one. ya know...when you have to wipe a little rubber off the rear quarters

 

[RTTTTed]

It's ******* the wallet. PS 1's are only good for about 15K on my car, without trying to burn them off. Heated up my run craps and did 2 burnout vids (short), tires were noticeably thinner treads after that.

Ted

 

[JonB]

OK...so how about on the days where the conditions are perfect and your completely focused....clean, dry, warm roads and tires... your listening to the engine...not the radio...

How hard is it to get it in the sweet spot and keep the rear wheels spinning to where you are feathering the throttle and drifting it around the corner. Not like the all out smoking tire drifters...but a cool / fun controlled one. ya know...when you have to wipe a little rubber off the rear quarters

Fun and easy once you have the skills. "Steer With The Rear"

 

[GBS]

You have to be espeically careful if your car is red. They are the fastest as everyone knows...

I have to agree. As long as it's not red you should be ok.

 

[DJ'sviper]

When I picked up my viper two years ago I got caught in a snow storm in Chicago. I kept it in 6th and slowed 5 under the speed limit. Cars where spinning out around me and even a salt and sand trunk came in off the ramp. I had the original tires on and it stayed on the road. Found a quiet road where I practiced. Went to a 1/8th mile track and a trans am dumped anitfreeze in the middle. When I hit it I was sideways before you could think looking at the guard rail. I pulled it through but the car kept drifting to the right into the lane my freind was one. I did a sharp turn behind him so I wouldn't hit him and was sideways again, but I had more track and let it drift for awhile. I did a cookie to get it to stop but the right centrifugal force pulled me into the oppositte guard rail and I broke a tail light and scratched the bumper and rear fender. It cost me $2,100 to fix it and I went out and bought my third set of tires. Since then I have never let anyone else drive my car.