Let me clarify as I tried to cram a lot of info into as short a post as possible.
Yes, the Gen 2 comfortably beat the C5Z, but the C5Z was not a world class performer like the C6Z started off as, and has been agree? The Gen 2 was an 11.7, 11.8 @ 119 ish or so car while the C5Z was a 12.1 or so car at 117 except for when GM took one to the track and got an 11.8, but that's not really independent testing. In the real world though, we saw the cars were pretty close. In the C5 Generation, GM stopped at the Z06, so the Gen 2/3 didn't have to face a ZR1 level opponent from the same shores (the ultimate benchmark for the Viper).
Remember the fastest real world times (guys like Ranger and Wanted) were pretty nip and tuck. I think they did actually end up at the track for a competition but it's been so long I can't remember who won, or if the track competition was between the C5Z and Gen 2 or C6Z and Gen 4. But those names were at/near the top of the time sheets for both. However when the Gen IV vs C6Z came about you had guys like Jamie Furman and the other guy in the Vette (can't remember his name) added to the mix and still the best times were VERY close. The Gen IV was significantly stronger than the Z06 in high speed pulls, but their 1/4 mile times as tested by the mag (don't forget what criteria we are using 0-60 & 1/4 mile as tested by magazines) was still very close.
My point about the other cars like Gumpert etc. is that you didn't have the same number nor same performance bar when the Gen 1 & 2 were around. The Gen 1 and 2 had far fewer and far less potent supercars to contend with in assessing it's performance vs the rest of the world. Because at the end of the day, that matters too.
I have owned a C5R 427 Twin Turbo C5 Coupe, then had a deposit on a Gen 2 GTS that I backed out of due to advise from this forum on the dealers rep, looked at a few more but ended up a few months later stumbling into a 996 TT. Converted it to track car and have had it since (2006). Have also owned BMW M5. In essence, I like everything (except the GTR) and will have another Corvette, or Viper in the not so distant future. I honestly have no bias. But have extensive history as an enthusiast of pretty much everything.
Ok you clarify what I pretty much was thinking, you are from the corvette forum, I'll take that you are a car enthusiast , as I applaud real car people.
However as a viper and corvette owner, I can tell you that "real world" 1/4 numbers and the word Ranger, should be
Called "perfect world", all those very low track numbers are all run at MIR, are not your typical 1/4 numbers, all those
times, are run at ,Track rentals, optimal track, prep, -Da, weather temps, that most real world people will never see.
Ranger has all those computer gizmos that measure everything.
12.1 is not typical for a C5 Z, more like 12.3-12.8, depending on driver( I went 12.3 @116 in my C5Z and 11.69 @120
In my gen 2 ACR(average time 12.20 for gen 2 , 11.80's on gen 3) same track summer air, both stock.
I went 11.40's @124 in my C6 Z
You believe the C6Z is a 10 second car, its not, was done once in conditions I just described and only once.
All in all real word the gen 2/3vipers were 7-9 10th quicker than the C5Z's , as were gen 2/3 viper were 3-5 10th slower than c6z depending on driver.
Just don't get to caught up with that fast list over there, all the fastest times are at the same track and can't be
Duplicated at other tracks.
I understand why you brought up the gumpert , but again, only people in corvettes forums, only bring that up, you
Won't find the gumpert being discussed in much of any of the viper forums .
I like the cars you list(expect for the BMW and it can outperform any of the cars mentioned) I like the C5 vette much
Better than the C6, a TT 427 even better.
It seems that you are coming from a place who think the corvette is the only car that matters, and most over there ,
Don't know squat about the history of the viper(I can see its rubbed of on you a tad), but if you want to learn about
Vipers from people who own and drive them, this is a great place, as I can bet 97% of viper owners had multiple
Corvettes.
Point is Viper has always dominated corvette, this is why corvette are so excited and viper people are PO'd, people who own these cars expect Viper to do what it has always done, and this is dominate the competition(not just the vette),
And look good doing it.
The viper from its inception has always been the dominant of the 2 cars, that is just Viper history, regardless of all the
Of the other high power brands being out there.