Roadster V. Coupe (friendly family discussion)

[CitySnake]

This is a request for friendly, informative and insightful (as it should be among brethren), opinions as to why GTS owners did not buy the RT10 version. I mean absolutely no malice nor disrespect towards GTS owners (it IS a Viper and I love Vipers) and hope that opinions reflect the same.

MY personal “baseline impressions” (not necessarily reflective of all RT10 owners):

-I own a roadster.
-Although I consider some aspects of the GTS (specifically the rear deck/spoiler) to be (slightly) more “attractive” than the roadster, I never really considered the coupe as a viable alternative. Interestingly, and despite my previous admission, on the road, side by side, the roadster LOOKS (from the front and back) much lower and wider than the GTS = more aggressive (a surprise to me until I had the chance to recently cruise with a group).
-Not first but foremost - A sports car needs to have the ability to be driven with the top removed, “open air” - period (reminder...JMHO).
-I know that many (if not most) GTS owners, find the look of the roadster to be less appealing than the GTS.
-From a pure racing standpoint, a coupe is prerequisite.

So, based on my personal and humble (and obvious) bias, I am curious to understand the same of GTS owners:

1. Have most GTS owners ever owned a (any) roadster prior to owning a GTS, i.e., have you ever really gotten the feel of an open motorcar?
2. IF NOT for track use, (a big “if” I’ll grant you) would most GTS owners have considered the roadster?
3. On a beautiful spring/summer/fall day/night, don’t you (GTS owner) guys/gals EVER wish you could get that feel of the “wind in your hair” (although somewhat ancient, I still have most of mine – no disrespect intended)? Don’t you feel claustrophobic restricted to 6 cubic feet of space? Don’t you ever wish?….you get the picture.

I guess it comes down to this: IMHO, I cannot understand why a Viper enthusiast would prefer a GTS to a Roadster, other than to consistently track the car. Even if you prefer the overall look of the GTS over the Roadster (unless you really despise the looks of the Roadster, impossible to me but certainly possible nonetheless), to trade the benefits and versatility of a roadster (with 2 tops) for the relatively minor difference in looks (again MHO) is incomprehensible. Enlighten me!

<FONT COLOR="Blue">Tony, if you think this is better suited for the Pit, please don't hesitate)</FONT c>

 

[CitySnake]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DgeViper1:
I owned an RT before owning my GTS. Mine was a 95 so it lacked power windows etc. I grew tired of worrying whether it was going to rain later on and so on. As a matter of fact, I road around alot with the double bubble top on that I had for fear of foul weather and actually liked the looks of the car with the top on.

I love the looks of the GTS, and besides I have another convertible to drive around it

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Dan:

Good point - "fear of foul weather". Guess that is why we now have the SRT! The conveinence of a "convertible". My only response is that I'm not sure I would even take a GTS (if I owned one) out with the possibility of foul weather.

BTW- I also like the look of the car with the hard top on! For me, another reason to own the roadster.

Wish I owned 4 cars

 

[SPARKY]

I HAVE A 94 RT10. I LOVE DRIVING WITH THE TOP OFF BUT, IF THEY MADE A GTS WITH A TARGA TOP LIKE THE CORVETTE I WOULD BUY ONE. I LIKE ALL OF THE VIPERS BUT THE GEN 1 SIDE PIPE LOOK IS AWESOME. I CAN AFFORD TO BUY A NEW RT10 BUT CHOOSE NOT TOO FOR THIS VERY REASON. ONLY DISADVANTAGE I SEE TO THE NEW RT10 IS ELECTRIC WINDOWS. IF I HAD ELECTRIC WINDOWS I WOULD DRIVE THE **** WHEELS OFF OF IT! I POSTED A QUESTION ABOUT WHY THEY DIDNT MAKE A GTS WITH A REMOVABLE TOP ANDALOT PEOPLE CAME UP WITH WIERD EXCUSES. BOTTOM LINE IS VETTE DOES IT WHY NOT GTS?

 

[Dixter]

First... I have another car that is a convertable, so when I
want the top down I just drive it...

I bought the GTS because that to me " is " the viper...
It is as close to the Shelby Daytona as your going to get, and
that is the car that I always wanted as a kid... so I guess
you could say, I now own a Shelby Daytona ( Viper GTS )
but better than the original one...


I have always said they should have brought out the GTS first
and then the RT10....

Just like they should have brought out the Coupe version of
the SRT first and then the SRT....

 

[Gerald]

Love the RT/10's. CAN'T stand looking up and seeing clouds and thinking "Crap, should I pull over now or can I make it home?" I was stranded in drive throughs , etc countless times when I didn't think I needed my top. (it rains about everyday in FL in selected city blocks)

Got tired of taking top on and off (factory soft top is just horrible w/ the zipper windows, etc)

My RT/10 would leak like a bucket with holes

It's very hot in FL and got so sweaty when I stopped at a light, it would look like I just got out of the shower with my clothes on.

When I WOULD carry the soft top, I had absolutley no space in the trunk for anything else. That got VERY annoying.

I love car stereos and you CAN'T make an RT/10 sound killer with the top off.

The GTS covered all the shortfalls of the RT/10 IMO. And to see a striped GTS coming down the road is priceless!


Gerald

 

[Russ M]

The old RT/10 vs. GTS decision is something all of us had to face. While some may disagree with my opinion, it is still that so live with it.

1) The price is the same, actually if my memory serves me correct the RT/10 is more expensive with the hard top option. But in either case the difference is several hundred dollars.

2) Performance is virtually identical from everything I have seen, including track events. Perhaps if you go absolutely nuts for pure race car than the GTS may be better.

3) Looks wise the GTS does have a more aggressive race car look factory than the RT, but that is mainly due to the rear wing. Autoform solves that issue quickly and easily. There is no better looking car on the road than an RT with an autoform spoiler(small one). There is nothing that has the shape of an RT front to back, and it will be remembered as a car totally unique as the Cobra was.

4) Top less driving is anything but boring, and no hard top can replicate the feeling. When the I put the hard top on my RT the only thing going through my mind while driving is **** why do I have the top on. No GTS owner unless they own or have owned both of them can understand.

5) Perhaps if the place you live has horrible weather rain, snow, cold, etc than a GTS would be the car for you. Otherwise taking the top of only to be forced to put it back on would be a waste. And for those of you who do reside in such places, I would have to say move. Life is too short to live it there.

6) Another observation is that GTS owners seem to be much more conservative than the RT guys.

No flames please the GTS is a great car and if I had to drive a hard top it would be a GTS, but since we are still allowed to drive top less the choice is easy.

 

[Bonkers]

Nothing beats the epericence of driving slowly down a back road on a warm summer night under a crystal clear sky and a nekkid woman sitting on the roll bar...

I'll stick with the roadster and soft top hands down.... though a GTS as a ****** wouldn't be all that bad....

 

[Shelby3]

To me all the tops for the R/10's look like an after thought. Also I have other roadsters if I need that wind in the hair experience. To me the GTS is the preferred model, but an R/10 addition is not out of the question for me as a second Viper. They are both stand out far above anything that has come out of the US since the Shelby Cobra's.

 

[CAP]

I went through the roadster phase and, at the time, I could not understand why anyone would prefer a coupe. ('88 560SL, '94 'Vette, '96 RT/10)

When it came time to replace the RT/10, it was coupe all the way. The coupe just seems more practical after years of roadsters.

-Weather and appearance of top - already mentioned in other posts.

I only put the top on when it was actually raining and as a daily driver, in the winter, in the dark, at 5:30 AM, I felt funny sometimes in a ******* car.

Half a year after I got my '96, the GTS came out. I convinced myself that I didn't like the looks as much as my RT/10. I guess the GTS grew on me (though in reality, I think I had to like my RT/10 more because it was what I had).

I'm SO happy with the GTS. It's just a better fit for me. (At least for now.)

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Prior to the GTS being introduced I had every intent of purchasing an RT/10. That was before I rented one in Las Vegas. On the scheduled day, the forecast was for intermittent rain. So for $250 / day and $1.00 a mile, I drove with my neck bent sideways because of the center soft top support tube hitting my head, running the defrosters at full blast in the hope of trying to see where I was going and watching little old ladies pass me because I was hydroplaning in the rain. I wanted a car that I could drive cross country and there was no way this was anything more that a fair weather vehicle, so the Viper dream died.

Once I saw the GTS, everything changed. No only did it seem much more of a 3 season car, but it has body second to none (non-human at least).

The closest that I've had to a ******* car was a 1978 Trans Am with T-Tops and I admit, it was great. But it also was comfortable with full headroom and mostly leak free. My other experience was a night drive to Key West in a Sebring convertible 4 years or so ago when a comet was in the night sky. Very nice.....

The SRT-10 just might be the answer.... </FONT f>

 

[V10 MOJO]

OK, I'll Play devils advocate here. Im an RT10 owner so my opinion is not for this post (Ill give it anyway). I had one helluva time choosing cause as any "true" viper enthusiast will admit; either style is absolutely awesome. What sold me was; the top of the GTS; as an artist I just dont like the lines, I agree with the illusionary perception of the RT10 being wider and lower; its because of the missing top. Park next to a Z06 or something else, the viper isnt as wide as you think. I had this illusionary study with garage space and my other vehicles, until actual measurements. Second point; Nothing in this vehicular, internal combustion, four wheels and a f**kin seat world screams "fun and freedom" more than a ******* car. I mean lets face it, if a ragtop day ala Jimmy Buffett is your (mine) idea of a drive than any open roof vehicle will do. Rain, forget about it, comes with the territory. Have the hot blonde riding shotgun towel dry you when necessary. Sorry again for input when not appropriate, guess the sun's just got to me today due to driving around without the top off for hours.

 

[MES]

Well if I had an RT/10 I would never take to top off. I don't like convertibles & roadsters myself (I like the RT/10 style but it's the no roof part I don't like) So if I was to never take the top off, why get the RT/10? makes the choice easy.

As far as style goes, I like the RT/10 separate trunk better than the GTS hatchback but I like the GTS rear end better (fenders, spoiler, etc.) I think the best combo would be a GTS with a Z06 type of rear window and little trunk (separate from interior) with the same rear end as it has now JMHO

 

[Snake Bitten]

I like my cars like I like my wimin...*******!

 

[jimandela]

Living here in the northeast.
I never thought i would own a open top car. And yes watching the weather channel prior to taking it out is a pain.
but would not want to take any viper out in the rain anyways.

So I bought the RT/10 because the open air and looking at the stars in the sky is priceless to me.
it is my relaxation time.

yes it can be cold or windy and maybe even get rained on but when i am very old and retired. i can look back and say these were the best years of my life.
Also it is much easier to see chicks WOW ya at signal lights.

 

[Birvini]

I have a 94 RT/10. Love the sidepipes and open top. I've been entertaining the thought of a second Viper, maybe a GTS. At a recent gathering of about 15 Vipers, I studied both closely. Like Citysnake says, the RT/10 looks much lower and wider than the GTS. The back end on the GTS is much nicer looking. I guess I will probalby go with another RT/10. I love open tops, and when I get this one, I'll have 4 open top & 1 truck. HMMMM cut the top off the truck???????

 

[DSI]

To me a Viper, GTS or RT/10 are very impractical cars, there definitely not made for daily drivers. There cars are made to show off and to have fun. Ive driven both cars and I must say their both make you feel confined when driving them. Driving ******* is the deal, no matter how you twist or turn it. If Im going to spend $70k dollars on a car, I do not want to feel like Im in a coffin, with no option to remove a top or open a pwr sunroof. Dont get me wrong I love the look of the GTS, however, I just favor the "W I D E" look of the RT/10, from the rear. When I have my hard top on the car feels like a coupe, even at 160mph. Neither of my tops,hard or soft,leak in the rain, or while washing the car. My hard top does not rattle either.

In the event of rain, I put the bikini on the car in approx. 30 seconds, then build the soft top approx. 4-5 min and install it.
This has never happend to me, guess Im lucky. If the GTS had a targa top like the vette or even a large pwr. sunroof I would definitely consider it.

My 911 Turbo at least had a pwr roof while gave me that open air feeling. I guess I'll stick to my RT/10 beast of both worlds.

 

[mit]

I live in Texas. Most of these people have trucks and
SUV's. I don't like people looking down at me in my car.
It's an invasion of privacy. I have a Defender which has no roof on it. It is high up so I don't feel like everyone is looking down into my vehicle. I can check out chicks in their Miata's.

I have also seen convertibles flipped over on the street.
With that much power, I want a roof and at least a hoop roll bar although I haven't yet gotten to the roll bar in my GTS.
If my Defender gets caught in the rain, I have a bimini top and most of the time I don't really care. It washes out with a hose anyway. With an RT/10, you have to check the weather and a sudden rain storm is not good for leather seats and carpet.

I am still 30. Not really young but not at mid life crisis either. I kind of view the RT/10 as a midlife crisis car. I also have all of my hair and I work out regularly. Sometimes stereo types exist for a reason.

No offense intended. Believe me, I am often wrong in my views of the world. At the end of the day, I think the GTS is a much better looking car and since mine has ABS, I don't fear driving it in the rain.

My GTS also has a nice stereo. I put the 10" sub in the footwell in a custom fiberglass enclosure(20 lbs, lose 5 inches of leg room) and I put a black 3 inch square aluminum box under the spare tire which houses my fan cooled amp. Another 20 lbs. I put a coupler on the spare tire bolt and extended it 3 inches so I didn't drill a single hole in the vehicle. I could never get that kind of performance with that stock an appearance and that little weight gain in an RT/10.

 

[MiamiJeff]

Last week I switched from an RT/10 to a GTS.

Initial thoughts of the coupe are: greater headroom, quieter, stereo sounds better, somehow it even seems like there are a couple of extra inches of width in the footwell. From most angles, I prefer the look of the GTS but still love both cars. As Gerald pointed out earlier, it rains often and without notice in Florida. In a 7 mile drive a few weeks ago, I left my house with blue skies above, got caught in mid-drive in a heavy downpour, then arrived at my destination with gorgeous blue skies again. When it's not raining, heat and humidity are plentiful here except in the winter which is a much better season for a roadster in Miami.

I bought my RT thinking I'd have that top off most of the time but that didn't end up being reality.

 

[varanus]

When the vipers first came out I thought they were kinda neat looking with outstanding performance, But I didn't like the looks enough to justify the cost.
When the GTS came out I fell in love with the looks and knew if I got another hi perf car and had the money, The GTS would be it. On summer eves I think about how nice a ******* ride would be, but the looks of the GTS far over shadow any thoughts of rt-10.
The other day I was with a friend with a rt-10 and we both parked. As we walked away he couldn't decide weather or not to put the top on to secure the car and keep things from getting inside. He flipped back and forth and finally just left it open. No dilema for me. He also had to wear a hat and sunscreen .
If there was only the rt-10, I would not own a viper.

 

[MadMaxx]

I drive a roadster, and I love every minute of it. Durring these nice southern days, there is nothing like the sound of a v10 roaring to life and the wind in your hair! Priceless.

A coupe is the big dog of the viper world, and is geared more towards racing and such. While they both share the same platform, the coupes definetly "look" meaner.

I must have a special RT or something, because mine only DRIBBLES in the rain, around the top window corner on the drivers side. Everything else is nice and tight. I also have Vmainia windows in, which may help a bit. The later slider type factorty windows work the best w/ the softop.

Luggage space does **** when your fully loaded, but it's still doable. I've cramed lots of stuff in there even with the softop, cockpit cover, and windows in the back, the outer edges work wonders.

I will get a coupe someday, but I don't know if I want to give up the roadster experience... no frills, but for good reason. I've never been in a more comfortable car (for me and my back), and I drive my RT every day. I can't see why people complain that they are too primative for every day use.. quite the contrary!!!

When I think of RT, I always think of the smoothies. I belive that my 96 was the best RT ever. It's still smooth hood, had the only unique paint scheme of the RT's (1 year only), rear exit exhaust but will the non-rollup windows. What can I say.. i'm bias

MadMaxx

 

[Tiepilot]

"Good point - "fear of foul weather". Guess that is why we now have the SRT!"

SRT= Severe Rain Threat

I love the ability to remove the top and pop out the rear glass, but I'm a convertible lover anyhow and after years of motorcycling weather isn't that big a deal. I've been caught in suprise thunderstorms and while it stinks cleaning up and drying out the car afterwards it dosen't matter at all to me.

The wind rush and noise, wide open exposure to the elements, adds to the thrill of owning such a wonderful car. I enjoy the smell of the outdoors. Cruise through the North Georgia Mountains and catch whiffs of mountain laurel, wildflowers and woodsmoke from roadside fruit stands boiling peanuts (not to mention the sounds of the car some find annoying, I run straights and LOVE it).

You get the full effect and that is my escape from the humm drumm.

I absolutely love the AC Cobra and the styling of my RT fits the bill perfectly for me.

I will pick up a GTS someday I'm convinced, but my RT will be in the garage too!

 

[Paul Hawker]

The GTS has much better aerodynamics than the RT/10. On big tracks the coupes just **** up the roadsters at any speed over 130. For track guys the GTS is the way to go. On the street it is just personal choice. On short jaunts the Roadster can't be beat, however you really get fried on longer trips.
Many roadster owners never take off their tops. For them the GTS might be the better choice.
Just as many roadster owners never put their tops on. On them the Gods smile brightly.

Stripes V. no stripes.
Side pipes V. rear exhaust.
OEM V. Custom
The debate will rage forever...

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

I have an RT/10. I like the space. I want to drive around and look around and get a tan at the same time. Plus, I'm way to good looking to be closed in by a GTS. The public should have the experience of seeing me.

GTS is nice though...sometimes wish I had one as a second car.

Andrew

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Andrew, it's guys like you that give us REALLY good looking guys a bad rap for being conceited. Please refrain from comments like that.

BTW. I do have a GTS as a second car.

 

[Silver98]

RT/10 is my first convertible.

To me there was no question. I would not have bought a GTS.

 

[dadsvpr]

my head pops out over the top of an rt/10. i love the lines of the gts and had to have one. the only other roadster I ever drove was my grandfathers maserati ghibli spyder and his ferrari 330 GTS (i don't think my vintage volkswagen bug convertible qualifies). i only drive my car on nice days, fortunately there are many here in santa cruz. i have to admit the idea of open air is very appealing on those nice days. the SRT is a welcome addition to the line up, hopefully i'll be adding one to my garage some day.

Jason

 

[SneakyPete]

Either you want as close to a race car as you can get(GTS) or you want a race car with a removable top. We already have a Trans am WS6 convertable, so a convertable is no big deal to me.

I guess I am just stripe bitten. The RT/10 and GTS are pretty close when you compare gen 2 cars. If you are going to spend that kind of money, get the car you really like, its all personal preference.

The stripes really make the GTS and I like the GTS rear spoiler and the smiling viper head 3rd brake light on the back.

Those are the 3 things that the RT/10 does not have along with a solid roof. I would never want to be in a flip over in an RT/10. There was an flip over accident with 95 RT/10 here a few months ago and the people are still in the hospital in bad condition. Probably never be normal again.

I am the only GTS in our driving group of 10 cars, so the RT/10's have the majority, but there major complaint is putting on the roof if there is chance of weather or getting caught without it, however none of them would buy a GTS or an SRT!

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

Chuck 98 / RT10: Is this turning into a "Who's the better-looking Viper Owner contest?"

You realize I'm just joking.....

BTW, I have a friend who has a GTS and we go driving around often. He claims that the RT/10 appears lower and wider than the GTS. The GTS is really the one I dreamed of when I was younger....never knew the RT/10 existed till I was in the market. Like I said, wish I had both...

Andrew

 

[Snakester]

My experience with my RT/10 is that there is a good amount of wind buffeting, especially with the windows down on the freeway, so my hair is regularly a windblown mess. My wife prefers driving with the top on because of the wind, and also because she says that she feels on parade driving with the car open, as the car already draws so many stares.

Also, my head does poke out a bit, and I'm considering lowering the seat so I can sit upright and not stare at the sun visors.

I do like the fastback looks of the coupe. But I agree that the R/T10 looks lower and wider from the rear with the top off.

Still, the hard top is fairly easy to put on and makes the car feel almost as solid and quiet as fixed-roof cars.

With regularly good weather here, my top is off 85% of the time, and I've owned convertibles for years and cannot imagine not having that open-air experience on demand.

As much as I like the Viper, I probably wouldn't have bought the car if there wasn't the roadster version available. And the GenII R/T10 shares many of the GTS's amenities (windows A/C, etc..).

So the R/T10 is my personal choice, but I can easily see why many people love the GTS as well for the coupe styling, more race-ready design, and better foul weather protection.

-Dean.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Andrew2KRT10:
You realize I'm just joking.....
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Of course.

I wasn't though. I REALLY am that good looking.