No Viper in Road and Track Performance Car of Year???

[SSGViper]

Why is there no 2013 Viper in this shootout? To add more salt to our SRT wounds, the C7 won this shootout. Nice showing SRT. Way to "market" the viper.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/bestof2013/2013-road-and-track-performance-car-of-the-year

 

[Coloviper]

Good to not provide it. No Shelby but a Ford Fiesta? BS test to begin with to try to bring out the new Vette as winner. These magazines all **** these days. I stopped buying all of them! Pathetic!

 

[SSGViper]

I think it speaks volumes about SRT's lack of confidence in the new Viper as a performance car. Another nail in the Viper coffin.

 

[ACRucrazy]

Was the Viper even mentioned in the article? Or are we just assuming to reasons why the Viper was not part of it?

 

[SSGViper]

Was the Viper even mentioned in the article? Or are we just assuming to reasons why the Viper was not part of it?

Did you read the article?

 

[ACRucrazy]

Did you read the article?

Once before I made my post and just now a 2nd time just to see if I missed anything. The only part I saw anything mentioned about a Viper was:

The Mercedes is rumored to share some of its chassis and development with the Dodge Viper, but out here, it feels half as wide and half as long as its maybe-brother from another mother.

So I guess back to my original question. Are we just assuming to the reasons why the Viper was not part of this?

 

[Nine Ball]

Had this rag included a Viper, and it won, would you have run out and bought one? Doubt it. So, who cares about another lame magazine article?

 

[SnakeBitten]

Well it went from losing about every head to head against old and new competition to not even being included in a test of performance car of the year. That's not good if you buy the line about "there is no such thing as bad press, if they are talking about you".

Anyway, not sure if the omission from this article means anything in regards the Vipers survival but if I were SRT I wouldn't have provided a Viper either at this point. Why continue the bleeding? 2014 has to be a regroup and a sort of re-launch year for the SRT if they want to stick around. The damage is already done. Being left out of this and other articles isn't something I'd overly worry about. There are way more pressing problems to be addressed at SRT than being excluded from a rag imho.

 

[donk_316]

SRT is already working on a "refresh" for the Viper for 2015.
"Sorry about those 2013-2014s boys, heres what we meant to sell".... Its like the G3 to G4 "refresh" all over again!

 

[BigDawg]

Part of it is related to no ground breaking performance over the previous model. The bigger part is even if the Viper came out with 700HP+ NA (which it should have), was another 100lbs less, and was wider Road and Track still wouldn't have featured it. I'd venture to say that the Gen V would need a sub 7 second Ring time to be recognized by the Viper hating mags. They've always hated the Viper.

 

[ViperSmith]

SRT wanted to give you all something new to complain about.

 

[Alabaster Mamba]

Well the only thing that I can comment on when it comes to all of the SRT stuff is "Why no word from SRT? Not even a whisper or reply. Shoot, even a snide comment would at least give hope. The ignoring or just totally blowing us off is what hurts the most.

And as for the rag mags, screw those a-holes. The Viper couldn't please those ***** wearing sissies. Even if the car won every category, they would give it to the vette due to the price. Notice how the SLS won but yet lost due to price? Shoot, the freaking Vette interior is nothing more than a stolen/copied Viper interior.

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[Paul Hawker]

Best picture yet of the SRT interior.

Think SRT really hit that one out of the park.

Really a world class interior now.

Think some of the Ferrari rubbed off on the Viper : >)

 

[Boxer12]

The Vette's win of this contest was a foregone conclusion, unless there would be a P1 or 918 or LaFerrari in the contest...which there never would be so the Viper is in good company.

 

[DMan]

Funny, I took a flight yesterday and just saw this in the shop, thumbed it and put it right back.

We don't know why, let's not blame global warming and obamacare on SRT, I mean they blew lots of marketing, but who knows on this, I mean how do you not have the Shelby, even if you hate on stangs, it's power alone deems it a space, not to mention it beats an R8 around Laguna.

I do think it should've been there, the TA would spank ass, plain and simple. Road and Trash magazine may just dissed them, those rag junkies bend over for the $ and we know it. Ralph ***** smacked them when the first test was not good, he's not a guy who's going to "darling" those clowns for good press, whether he should or not. Another missed oppty for some great press with the TA, yes, SRTs fault, I'm not so sure.

Hec, if they asked for the TA and SRT didn't follow,thru you know they'd have taken the chance to print how SRT dropped the ball again.

 

[DMan]

The Vette's win of this contest was a foregone conclusion, unless there would be a P1 or 918 or LaFerrari in the contest...which there never would be so the Viper is in good company.

Yep, agreed.

 

[strykergts]

Those magazine ******* can write all the crap they want about the new viper, but I never got out of my Z06 and had a smile all day like I do when I drive my gen V. It shifts better, brakes better, less road noise, sounds better, and puts the power to the road better. But what do I know, I only drive the car every week and they got to drive it for a few hours.

 

[SSGViper]

The bottom line here guys is SRT needs to market the Viper better in order to increase sales. Right now, with dismal sales, things are not looking good for the Viper. Yes, they should have brought the TA Viper to this showdown where I think it could have shined. Why didn't they? That remains the question here. All we can do is speculate. It's very quiet on the SRT front, as usual. Why some say the C7 winning this is a foregone conclusion is beyond me. That's a cop out. Saying the rags are trash is total cop out as well. Don't make excuses. The fact of the matter is SRT, somehow, managed to miss a prime opportunity to show off the new Viper.

 

[Nine Ball]

The bottom line here guys is SRT needs to market the Viper better in order to increase sales.

Please explain to us how this post of yours "helps market the Viper". If you are concerned about marketing the new Viper, have you done your part and purchased one?

Notice that the owners of this car aren't complaining about it. Most of us are tired of the complaining about it, in fact. The Viper didn't participate in this magazine test, yet it still gets bashed on by you. It cannot win.

 

[SSGViper]

Please explain to us how this post of yours "helps market the Viper". If you are concerned about marketing the new Viper, have you done your part and purchased one?

Notice that the owners of this car aren't complaining about it. Most of us are tired of the complaining about it, in fact. The Viper didn't participate in this magazine test, yet it still gets bashed on by you. It cannot win.

Really? You really need me to explain what it means to market a car? Come on, seriously LOL! Let me give you a hint...It's not what SRT is doing in spite of Ralph saying they need to show off the car more ie market the viper better and get "more butts in the seat". There is no denying, magazines sell cars and magazine tests/shootouts sell cars. The new C7 has a waiting list and is selling, the new Viper does not and is not selling. Hence, SRT needs to do a better job to market the Viper. This might include performance upgrades, more competitive pricing, and getting the car out in front of the public, including tests and shootouts. Also, allowing people to test drive would be huge.

Yes, I own a Viper. No, I do not want a Gen V. Too little bang for the buck compared to my Gen IV.

If you're tired of all the complaining then don't read it. Problem solved.

 

[Nine Ball]

Yes, I own a Viper. No, I do not want a Gen V.

See response #7 above. You made my point, perfectly. How about sticking to complaining about things that SRT is directly responsible for, instead of complaining about articles that they didn't even participate in? We could all sit here and make up complaints and pass blame. But, what does that solve?

 

[ViperSmith]

The bottom line here guys is SRT needs to market the Viper better in order to increase sales. Right now, with dismal sales, things are not looking good for the Viper. Yes, they should have brought the TA Viper to this showdown where I think it could have shined. Why didn't they? That remains the question here. All we can do is speculate. It's very quiet on the SRT front, as usual. Why some say the C7 winning this is a foregone conclusion is beyond me. That's a cop out. Saying the rags are trash is total cop out as well. Don't make excuses. The fact of the matter is SRT, somehow, managed to miss a prime opportunity to show off the new Viper.

So, you were involved with this test? SRT refused to send a car? Interesting.

 

[SSGViper]

See response #7 above. You made my point, perfectly. How about sticking to complaining about things that SRT is directly responsible for, instead of complaining about articles that they didn't even participate in? We could all sit here and make up complaints and pass blame. But, what does that solve?

It's pointless replying to your posts. Please do me a favor and don't even reply to my posts. Now go off and take some fancy wheel pics or something...

Thank you!

 

[SSGViper]

So, you were involved with this test? SRT refused to send a car? Interesting.

You must have missed this in my post Mr. angry Gen V owner :

Why didn't they? That remains the question here. All we can do is speculate.

 

[Bobpantax]

I heard that there is an independent, unbiased study that shows that the Gen V Viper is the most effective vehicle at attracting female automotive enthusiasts who prefer a standard shift but that SRT is too modest and humble to release it to the public.

 

[SSGViper]

I heard that there is an independent, unbiased study that shows that the Gen V Viper is the most effective vehicle at attracting female automotive enthusiasts who prefer a standard shift but that SRT is too modest and humble to release it to the public.

LOL! I had not heard that I like it, I want it! Now that's marketing! SRT needs you Bob! Give the public something to get excited about! That's what I'm talkin about.

 

[ViperSmith]

You must have missed this in my post Mr. angry Gen V owner :

So, you know absolutely nothing - yet assume SRT dropped the ball.

Congrats for accomplishing nothing.

 

[Bobpantax]

Thanks. Humor aside, SRT should enlist the assistance of the same AD agency that did the **** Fiat 500 Ads and do some **** YouTube Gen V Ads. They do not have the budget for TV Ads but it seems to me that there is nothing preventing them from producing some inexpensive Internet Ads that would probably go viral if they were **** enough. Sex sells and unless someone is deaf, dumb and blind to today's culture, they should know it.

LOL! I had not heard that I like it, I want it! Now that's marketing! SRT needs you Bob! Give the public something to get excited about! That's what I'm talkin about.

 

[SSGViper]

So, you know absolutely nothing - yet assume SRT dropped the ball.

Congrats for accomplishing nothing.

I think it's pretty safe to speculate that SRT could have had the new Viper there to go up against the C7, IF they wanted to. There was a good representation from the other manufacturers, right?

 

[Bruce H.]

SRT should provide a car for Viper only reviews...not a comparison with other cars, and not with any subjective rankings which are always flawed beyond belief. All such comparos seem utterly worthless to me, including this one by R&T. Put a well known driver like Chris Harris or Randy Pobst behind the wheel and let them discuss the car's handling, performance and overall virtues and short-comings. That would be infinitely better than most of the coverage it's got so far...including the comments that Motor Trend released of Randy at Laguna Seca. Don't care about the Ford Fiesta, or whether they consider the Vette a top value pick. We know it is, always has been, and every mag review will likely proclaim it for the next few years like they did endlessly with the GT-R. I wasn't interested in the GT-R so I stopped ready its reviews, same thing with Vettes. Just give me an honest appraisal of the car being reviewed and let me ponder whether it meets my needs...not someone else's.

The magazine comparo deck is always stacked against the Viper, and that's why SRT shouldn't play their game. Advertise the new car's existence, and those that are prospective buyers will search out reliable sources of information without having to filter through all the biased mag articles.

Bruce