New Car Caviar; Four Star Day Dream

ViperInBlack

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Over the years that I recurrently considered buying a Viper (and turning wine into water), I tried to get a handle on the demographics of those who drove these things.

The daunting price, if nothing else, suggested that they were too pricey for Jethro and Cletis, and since you see so few of them on the road, even in this City, it seemed an unanswerable question.

I tried to extrapolate what segment of the society could afford and would want a hot, noisey, wheel hopping, fearful-of-potholes, two seater with insufficient trunk room for a hamster cage.

I already knew who drove Porsches, Mercedes, BMWs, Corvettes and Beetle convertibles.

As usually evolves, I simply gave up the quest to solve this deepest of mysteries (second only to who steals that other sock that disappears in the dryer), and simply bought one for myself.

Shortly after I bought the car (ancient history, but it is now 12 days ago), I joined VCA, this forum, and bought new shop towels. There is no relationship between these actions; merely thought I would mention it.

However, I soon found out that most members of the Forums, and apparently all members of VCA, have at least six Vipers plus at least a dozen other pricey vehicles including Lear Jets and space stations. They also seem to have homes without wheels and families that are not in the witness protection program.

It soon became apparent that they were spending huge sums of money and that they have obvious access to unlimited financial resources.

Apparently, they were chiefly heirs from rich Connecticut families. There did not seem to be alternate explanations.

Yet this too did not stand the test of scrutiny. Would heirs misspell so many words? I think not. Punctuation...don't get me started.

I felt that the only way I could determine who they were, and how they got all of this loot, was to just read and listen.

The more I listened, the more confused I became, for they not only each owned eleventy-seven Vipers, but they dished out enormous amounts of money just to spend less time driving (let me explain: If you drop tens thousands of dollars into a vehicle in order to spend less time driving a quarter of a mile, this is actually not very cost effective.

In 11 seconds, you really do not have time to hear even the opening chords to a Led Zeppelin riff, and most of these people keep their radio off so that they can hear the engine. What's up with that, anyway? Gee, it is just growling and grumbling...go to a Mexican restaurant and you can have the same thing internally.

Also, it was the nature of their interactions. No one asked about what movies they had seen, linen specials at Target or even the allocation of discretionary funds in the food for oil program. They talked about motors. Motors, motors, motors, and no one ever seems to get tired of it.

They have photos of their engines. Photos! Initially, I thought that this was akin to having an MRI of your gall bladder, but apparently not.

They really enjoy each other and their discussions, and rarely does anyone call another one a name...and when it occurs, the name caller becomes contrite and reassures the name calleee that it was all just a joke.

This goes on continually...endlessly actually...and no one ever seems to tire of it. Me neither.

So, I merely had to look within myself to understand the reason why people have and spend so much money and concurrently talk about the same things repeatedly.

It was a deceptively simple yet empirically valid explanation.

drugs



Thanks for listening,

Alice
 

Bad_Byte

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And your point is?

The point it that Alice has no point, in fact Alice often has no point, and you see that's just the point. I suppose if you're actually looking for the point it would seem pointless, however, we often come to a pointless conclusion that leaves us with a less than poignant point.

And with those pointless remarks I'm off to *******.

Maybe you see the point in that. :headbang: :2tu:
 
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ViperInBlack

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Fumes would, indeed, explain much of it.

...the sale and distribution of fumes...

Regarding the "point"...must everything have a conclusion? I understand why an "orange" is orange, but then, why is not a banana a "yellow"?

Blueberries, now that makes sense, but what about gooseberries?

Now, that was my point...I think...

I uncovered the (red) Viper to move it to another area of the garage. It struck me that perhaps I need to keep it and the Black Mamba...

I could just race prepare the red one and keep it for years and swap the Mamba in a few months for a Copperhead or a microwave with a barcode reader or one of those cool LG refrigerators that have an LCD TV on the front...(never did understand the goal of that...)

(sorry, thinking aloud...the voices, the voices...when will they stop...or just quiet down?)

Alice
 

Steve-Indy

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" I uncovered the (red) Viper to move it to another area of the garage. It struck me that perhaps I need to keep it and the Black Mamba..."

One can never have too many Vipers !
 
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ViperInBlack

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I realize that among the popularity of Viper SRT-10, red is not a high ranker; too common. But it is a color that really "pops" (forgive me).

In the garage, when uncovered and just daylight illumination entering a garage window, the walls of the garage glow red. How cool is that?

The other thing is that this red SRT-10 runs flawlessly. It is faultless for a factory stock car.

So, I am asking myself, "myself, why not keep and modify it, and use the Black Mamba as a driver." My self then says some unkind things about my parentage and that my sister was an only child...my self also mentions that one never trusts a naked bus driver..." I can understand that.

Yes, Steve, one can never have too many Vipers. That would be like saying "you can't marry him...he has too much money."

Cough, cough.

Alice
 

Vic

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Think I'll buy me a football team. -pink floyd
 
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ViperInBlack

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Vic:

You are the first to recognize the lyric.

You lock the door, and throw away the key...there's someone in my head, but it's not me.

Alice
 

Vic

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The Lunatic Song, from Dark Side of the Moon. I know most of that old stuff. Doors, Jimi, Trower, Led Zep, Styx, Aerosmith, blah blah..Who cares, I'm getting old....a 1960 baby.

"And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear.
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon."
 

snakebitdave

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How fun to read your posts!! Such a talent!! Do you use your writing talents professionally as well? I'm still cracking up over your church preference.....red brick
 
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ViperInBlack

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Steve:

While I have written on restroom walls, I do not write professionally. I administrate a psychological practice.

I have been asked to write for technology magazines such as high definition television and similar areas of interest.

Glad you enjoy the posts and took time to write.

P.S. Pink Floyd, Hendrix, etc is not actually old stuff...it is arguably the *only* stuff.

Alice
 

Jeremy Bigham

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Let's not forget..The Who, Stones, Joplin, Claptin, and S.R.V. just to name a few more...
 
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ViperInBlack

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Music and cars have always been a natural fit. May be why people complain so much about the SRT-10's sound system.

(BTW...how many speakers are truly in that system and was there ever an optional upgrade sound system from the factory?)

Personally, I cannot hear the music about the wind and the exhaust...and I am not certain I want to.

My iPOD (wish they had a front panel jack on the SRT-10 for an iPOD) has 40GB of Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, SRV, Hendrix, Ozzy, Zakk, G`n'R, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Muddy Waters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jethro Tull, or virtually anything with heavy guitar riffs.

Then again, that's just me.

P.S. Costco has a great rolling tool chest in stainless for a good price. If you are very, very lucky, you will only dent it 31 times while assembling. I need to get decals to plaster all over it.

Alice
 

DT04R

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Howdy Alice!

Looks like the most seamless iPOD-ification available is going to be aftermarket (though some people dislike the ergo interruption non-OEM head units produce, and the theft enticement they generate...).

At any rate, Alpine has a slick solution out - called the KCA-420i, it's their AI-NET compliant iPOD interface (AI-NET is Alpine's proprietary interconnect technology). This works with any of their AI-NET head units, from simple 1/2 DIN setups, the "fancy" motorized, flip out MMC units. And it supports complete control, ID tags for Artist, Album, Genre, etc., as well as supplying power.

The 420i looks like it runs $100 MSRP, and a decent MMC unit like a CVA-1004 is $800 (it's just a display/interface, so you'd still need a CD/DVD changer in the neighborhood of $300-400) - you can of course spend K's on some of the more exotic HU's. I believe there are a couple of BrandX-to-OEM-Speaker widgets available as well, so you can keep the costs down by (re)using the OEM speakers and amps. Though once you've crossed into the no-mans-land of aftermarket stereo equipment, you might also think about replacement the OEM speakers/amps.

A good stereo shop could probably demo the new Alpine iPOD goodies - I know I'm _very_ interested - love the idea of having 40GB worth of tunes with me, and not having to fiddle with CD media anymore.

Cheers!

DT

My iPOD (wish they had a front panel jack on the SRT-10 for an iPOD) has 40GB of Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, SRV, Hendrix, Ozzy, Zakk, G`n'R, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Muddy Waters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jethro Tull, or virtually anything with heavy guitar riffs.
 
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ViperInBlack

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I think what is needed from Dodge is a front panel miniplug input for iPOD or any MP3 player. Should of that, should be a rear aux input to the factory unit into which a cable can be run.

Then again, putting a 120GB hard drive in the next SRT-10 at the factory would even be more appealing...or a 400GB Hitachi...dual 10k rpm 400GB drives and use WAV files...or hot swappable hard drives or better yet...

Alice
 

DT04R

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Funny (not haha) you should mentioned this...

Then again, putting a 120GB hard drive in the next SRT-10 at the factory would even be more appealing...or a 400GB Hitachi...dual 10k rpm 400GB drives and use WAV files...or hot swappable hard drives or better yet...

...a sidebar column in Car Stereo Review in the last couple of issues mentioned "a manufacturer" that was planning on a 80-120GB removable HD option for the OEM stereo - the HD "cartridge" comes out and has a Firewire/1394 interface for managing the data (and I would suppose some cataloging type desktop app). Although the mystery manufacturer wasn't ID'ed, the editors suggested it may be for an upcoming (Toyota) Scion model, which makes some sense, _since_ the target demo for that brand is the techno-net-mp3 generation.

DT

BTW, if the weather in GA is an nice as it is in FL today, you should be out putting some miles on your Viper :) (I'm trapped in a coding, football, grilling frenzy at home...)
 
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ViperInBlack

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Of course, DT, one never puts miles on a Viper. They were designed to look great under the cover, in a closed garage, with no lights shining...

I spoke with the factory on Friday. The 2006 model comes with a required contract that the owner affirms that he will not drive the car after it is rolled off the transport.

I rather assumed everyone knew this.

Weather in Georgia is really quite wonderful ...70s ...clear... relative humidity 63%, winds out of the south/southwest at 10 miles per hour, probability of typhoon is 10% tonight, increasing to 20% on Monday.

Or... so I am told.

Alice
 

FLOORIN04

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My iPOD (wish they had a front panel jack on the SRT-10 for an iPOD) has 40GB of Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, SRV, Hendrix, Ozzy, Zakk, G`n'R, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Muddy Waters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jethro Tull, or virtually anything with heavy guitar riffs.

___________________________________________________________
How could you forget DEEP PURPLE??
 
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ViperInBlack

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I did not forget Deep Purple or "Machine Head".

The best recording of "Smoke on the water" was on the Made In Japan album. It is not done with power chords BTW.

Alice
 

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