Scratched Viper idea and going with a C7 Z06

[Bruce H.]

I decided I'm going to switch it up and join the Viper camp once I'm able to afford one. I've never really liked the idea of buying a used sports car but I'm sure there will be plenty of low mile very well taken care of '13 Vipers out there. I've seen a couple brand new GTS models go for $100k on EBay recently so I'm crossing my fingers I can pick one up for around 85-90k sometime late in the year but who knows. An orange TA would be my ultimate dream car but I don't see the prices being in my range anytime soon.

Congrats on making a decision, but don't be surprised if it's challenged once again when the buzz machine revs up about the next greatest hi-po car ever. It's natural, the industry thrives on it, and they do it very, very well. Some change cars frequently to always have the latest, or to scratch a frequent itch, and maybe you'll buy a Gen V from one. I do my comparison research like everyone else, and let my heart guide me to a purchase based on passion. That's led to another problem over the last 15 years though...the need for more and more garages space as I just can't seem to part with passionate car purchases! Good luck.

 

[ViperSmith]

Easy Now Nine Ball/Viper Smith....Just getting some of you all stirred up for fun....I know you all are serious about your Vipers.I am also,I am still seriously thinking about getting my 4th.Viper..By the way,I drag/road raced my 96 Black /Silver RT10, 97 B/W GTS and my Black Gen.4 all the time, way before(1996 thru 2012) many even dreamed of having a Viper....I am sure, I can and will drive the Beast with the best of them....

So you admit to trolling.

Gotcha.

 

[TrackAire]

Life is very short. The answer as to which car to pick is very easy. Use your first impressions and pick a car as you'd pick a women. Call me shallow, but I always look at beauty first. I've always picked my cars like that and have never had one regret. Between a C7 and Gen 5, pick the one that gave you the best first impression from the exterior. Don't over analyse it looking at the specs, hp, Ring times, etc. You want to be able to walk into your garage, look at your car and have the same feeling as seeing a beautiful women. Without that feeling, you might as well be driving a first gen Prius.

You really can't make any viable impressions until you see both cars in person in different lighting and in movement. I was kind of shocked to find that the C7's I looked at while at the Monterey Historics (at least 20 of them) look much less impressive in different lighting and on the track.....I actually thought the C6ZO6 looked better while in movement. Published photos, car show display models, etc all have the best lighting to highlight the cars strong points. A cloudy overcast day can make that same car look "off".

Cheers,
George

 

[Twister]

Its not personal opinion on looks lol. My yellow gen 3 @my buddies yellow c6z were very close in looks. If the z06 was a 7.8 the viper was an 8.5. However like you said that is very subjective. What isnt subjective is that fact that here in hawaii you are lucky to see one viper a year whereas c6s are literally a dime a dozen.

To me that matters. To some it dosent. I've got a few kias and a ram Laramie . None of these are anything special but serve there purposes well. I want my sports car to be somthing unique and ferocious. The z06 is ferocious but still missing an element. That's what has kept me with vipers since 2006. They cover all the bases

 

[GONABITE]

Life is very short. The answer as to which car to pick is very easy. Use your first impressions and pick a car as you'd pick a women. Call me shallow, but I always look at beauty first. I've always picked my cars like that and have never had one regret. Between a C7 and Gen 5, pick the one that gave you the best first impression from the exterior. Don't over analyse it looking at the specs, hp, Ring times, etc. You want to be able to walk into your garage, look at your car and have the same feeling as seeing a beautiful women. Without that feeling, you might as well be driving a first gen Prius.

You really can't make any viable impressions until you see both cars in person in different lighting and in movement. I was kind of shocked to find that the C7's I looked at while at the Monterey Historics (at least 20 of them) look much less impressive in different lighting and on the track.....I actually thought the C6ZO6 looked better while in movement. Published photos, car show display models, etc all have the best lighting to highlight the cars strong points. A cloudy overcast day can make that same car look "off".

Cheers,
George

What a horrible analogy, I have been through a decent amount of what others have thought were hot woman, why did you let her go? Well her personalty is horrible she is conceded insecure and strives attention, she cant keep a house or cook, or she just ***** in bed. There's a lot more to a car and a woman than the looks, its the complete package. I would rather have a cute girl that has a great personality, has good morals, and acts like a *hore in bed. Now find one who is hot and has all of that. Well then you have just found your Aventador.

 

[VENOM V]

Some interesting conversation here. I have a different perspective than some. It has been suggested that those who buy a car that will get them lots of attention have self esteem issues. Although that's true in a few cases, my experience is usually the opposite. Those who try to blend in and are afraid to stand out are often the less secure. Those who buy what they want, even if it's an in-your-face, over-the-top, drop dead gorgeous Viper that stands out in a crowd - those are usually the ones with strong character. When a Viper rolls up, some will look at the owner as someone that's all about the flash, a show off, Etc. They are dead wrong, and most Viper owners really don't care. We Viper owners drive what we want because it is what we have passion for. True leaders are not afraid to go against the grain and stand out in a crowd. It's a sign of strength, not weakness.

Oh, and by the way, I'm with George. The car that encites visceral passion, the one that you are drawn to, that's the car. Of course as Gonabite says, she also has to be good in the corners, LOL. The Viper is the sports car that is smokin hot, lives to join you on a Wine Country getaway, and is a ***** in bed, LOL. She's all that and we love her for it.

 

[Bobpantax]

Another aspect of owning a vehicle that is more exclusive is that you can respond to the questions from people about the car. Usually it starts off with a smile. Then when I wave back, they may approach the car. If I am parked, I will ask them if they have any questions about it an answer them. If I have the time, I will get out of the car and show them some of its features.

When we do the Rides and Smiles event for sick and recovering children and the military, the participants all react to "the Viper". Young and old alike know that the Viper is cut from somewhat different cloth. It really is the "Dirty Harry" of the road course cars with the Gen V being a "James Bond" variant.

Using these cars for teaching moments is fun for the teacher and the student.

 

[ViperSmith]

I am not a fan of the attention the car gets. One of the things that drew me to the car was the fact you just don't see them - I wanted something you don't see on the road everyday, but it is a trade off because it does get looks, pictures, attention.

 

[Free2go]

Ok, here's my Viper/Woman analogy: Smokin hot, simple, and refuses to enable any stupid behavior. If you argue with her early on, she might back hand you across the lips. Once she is successfully dominated she opens up to you and allows herself to become intimate...you begin to trust each other. A beautiful relationship begins but you occasionally find yourself complacent <----- it is here where you finally understand her true nature: she ultimately desires to wreck her life and yours too if at all possible. Anyway, that's all I got.

 

[PDCjonny]

And that is indisputable proof this thread has more than run its course.

 

[Twister]

I think free2go and Gonnabite came up with some really good stuff.

I'd say the z06 is a hot asian women. A solid 8. Cant argue with that because I've been with them all my life.

As hot as my Japanese..Korean..Vietnamese ect women have been. Really a hot asian women is a dime a dozen and plenty of your friends whether black white or Hispanic have had them. Perhaps even a few of your asian friends. The hot asian girl and the z06 are very much alike to me.


On the other hand I've lusted for a tall smoking red head my whole life. Rarely and I mean rarely do you see a smoking hot natural red head. To me this represents the viper. Sure maybe shes an 8 just like all the hot Asians. The difference is that shes very rare and not just anyone can have her or a variant of her. When you walk in the room with a red head knock out you are truly one lucky b astard. Same goes for pulling up in a viper

 

[Nine Ball]

And that is indisputable proof this thread has more than run its course.

Lap times?

 

[TrackAire]

Jesus....I wish I had never brought the correlation of a cars looks to the beauty of a woman.

I was talking about why I would buy a car.....not a human, hello?? First impressions of beauty in deciding to pick a car, not a lifelong relationship and having to make babies together

Sounds like a lot of guys on this forum have been bent over by divorce attorney's in the past or they hooked up with psycho *******

The reality is this, the Gen 5 or the C7 are both faster on the track than 99% of the people on this forum are capable of driving. They both have pluses and minuses. But I'll be damned if I'm going to drive a car that costs near six figures unless I love the looks of it.

Cheers,
George

 

[VENOM V]

But I'll be damned if I'm going to drive a car that costs near six figures unless I love the looks of it.

Cheers,
George

And that goes for driving women too

This has turned into a very entertaining thread, when there is a drought of interesting things to talk about. Haha!

 

[G-ManGTS]

I too love my e60 m5, and after owning multiple performance cars, this is the one i kept as a daily driver. The S85 V10 is epic! I have the stock exhaust, but i installed qtp valves that when open, dump the exhaust before the stock mufflers. They're operated with a wireless remote, so with a click of a button, it goes back to stock when wife is in the car and you dont want it to sound like an F1 car.

Wanna go fast(er) around a track? -> C7 Z06
Wanna do long distance touring? -> Likely C7 Z06
Wanna more "pure" sports car sound -> C7 Z06

Wanna do ANYTHING else in a sporting fashion and be entertained from 0mph, 20mph, part throttle, full throttle, low/medium/high speed turns, incredible steering feel, incredible chassis feel, etc, for the rest of your life in the most engaging American street car ever made? -> Gen 5 Viper

It is really that simple. There was a guy on an Italian exotic forum, who said it best (talking about dct transmissions, awd, and performance traction management, and generally how speed-appliance newer cars are becoming), I paraphrase: "We all have moments of weakness when confronted with the latest car that has unbelievable performance, and so we go buy it and it is fun... for awhile, and then we realize the fun is really tied to insane road-driving, straight-line blasts, or track-only experiences, and we end up selling it and the cycle possibly begins anew..."

I just sold my C6 Z06 after putting 56,000 hard driven miles on it, and while I've never driven a car more brilliant at 9/10ths+ (even slightly better than the Gen V imho, and the Gen V is damn good), I don't miss the car at all outside of that extreme use-case. Once you get past the eye-popping straight-line and quite nice sound with an aftermarket exhaust, it isn't very engaging to drive in the guise of a street-car. You must be in full attack mode for it to really warm the soul (and it is a near religious experience at 10/10ths if you have the skill and balls), and so if it isn't your trackbeast then one day I bet you too will be selling with few regrets!

One of the most rewarding street cars I have owned in a 3-pedal E60 M5 (with aftermarket exhaust). It isn't particularly exceptional at any one thing, but once you drive that V10 powertrain the way it wants to be driven, it is one of the best experiences I have had from 0-8/10ths. This is from a porky 4,100 pound sedan! It falls down a bit at the extremes but who is driving a street car at extremes on a regular basis?

Listen to this advice and save yourself a lot of money: Buy the most engaging cars you can, the ones that never get old, the ones with tons of personality in as many possible modes of operation as possible, the ones that you can't stop thinking about and are constantly scheming for a reason to drive them again. Chase the latest, greatest, and fastest things at your own peril. It will lead you to a dark, dark place (that leads to what I call GTR / 991 Turbo syndrome...).

Frankly I hope the magazine-racers move on from the Gen V and leave it be to the enthusiasts who are wise enough to know what they have stumbled upon, and how rare such a currently produced car will be in the very near future...

 

[Free2go]

Hey, I was trying to describe the car in a slightly comical way and was in no way trying to draw a parallel between a past relationship or what I'm personally attracted to. The car is what it is...beautiful and dangerous. Especially modified.

 

[rollymohan]

If i needed a daily driver that i can take to the track i will consider a corvette but i already has a daily driver and i wanted something rear beautifull and **** in every way you see it. A viper will always turn heads and whenever you see one it draws all the attention especially gen 1&2 and v.

 

[FLL-B/W-GTS]

Serious,it does not get any better in life than smoking hot women and fast cars... Ah.Fighter Jets are very cool also....

 

[ACRJUD]

I think free2go and Gonnabite came up with some really good stuff.

I'd say the z06 is a hot asian women. A solid 8. Cant argue with that because I've been with them all my life.

As hot as my Japanese..Korean..Vietnamese ect women have been. Really a hot asian women is a dime a dozen and plenty of your friends whether black white or Hispanic have had them. Perhaps even a few of your asian friends. The hot asian girl and the z06 are very much alike to me.


On the other hand I've lusted for a tall smoking red head my whole life. Rarely and I mean rarely do you see a smoking hot natural red head. To me this represents the viper. Sure maybe shes an 8 just like all the hot Asians. The difference is that shes very rare and not just anyone can have her or a variant of her. When you walk in the room with a red head knock out you are truly one lucky b astard. Same goes for pulling up in a viper

uh oh, both my vipers are 'weekend rides', my wife/daily driver is gonna get pissed.

 

[MtnBiker]

If you say Corvette, people say "leaf springs". If you say Viper, people say "truck engine". The truth is, like Nine Ball mentioned, even if it sounds antiquated, the Vette suspension system is actually quite good. It rides and handles well, and is simple to work on.
I'm sure the new Z will be a car comparable to the best out there.

Yup, that's true. I've owned both and that's exactly what they say.

Just for FLL - I have been on track with many Porsche 911 Turbos. Not a single one has kept up with me on the straights, and boy do they try. Just sayin!

 

[FLL-B/W-GTS]

Probability not a new 991/911 Turbo S with all the tect. improvements(AWS).The new TS should hold it ground against a Gen.5 on a road track and will smoke a Gen.5 in a drag race..

 

[Nine Ball]

Hey FLL, do you own a Porsche 911? Cool story. Never knew that!

 

[MtnBiker]

Probability not a new 991/911 Turbo S with all the tect. improvements(AWS).The new TS should hold it ground against a Gen.5 on a road track and will smoke a Gen.5 in a drag race..

It's hard to tell what year model when they keep getting smaller in my rear view. Whatever dude.

 

[FLL-B/W-GTS]

Ya I do...,I am surprised you don,t add one to your collection Nine Ball.You seem to be one that likes the best/most advanced cars also.Someone with your driving skills (Not Messing with ya) would sure to get low 10s out of a 991/911 TS...I am really impressed that you took the time and had the skill to get a Gen.5 in the 10s.one time.I do not think well see that again,unless you decide to go play again.

 

[Nine Ball]

I prefer American cars. I do like the 911 though, always have. GT3 is more my style.

 

[heath1225]

I would have to see a stock 911 TS run in the low 10s to believe it. By stock I mean even the tires. A local guy recently got his 2011modded/tuned and it made 640bhp. Idk why they didnt tell him what the rwhp was, maybe it was just a "640" package or something. It ran a 10.50. Fast no doubt, but a stock 911 TS @530bhp is not going to beat that. Here it is actually: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZqCxOkx5bE

 

[drl650]

The new 991 Turbo S is 560 hp and the qtr mile numbers that I have seen are 10.6. Ohh yea it also cost around 185k. I guess that is pretty cheap when compared to one of these..lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IthV60NY9p4&feature=player_embedded

 

[Free2go]

I've always admired Porsche engineering...not much sex appeal though.

 

[FLL-B/W-GTS]

Agreeded,the 200,000.00 +++(All Options) I paid for the 14 TS is a big nut to go 10.60s bone stock.It is what it is... For a 100,000.00 ish.for a SRT Gen.5 is a outstanding deal for the performance...

 

[Twister]

A boxster cayman 911 and 185k whatever all look the same too me. Its just another corvette in my eyes. Not somthing Id lust after. To each there own....also looks like somthing a girl would drive. But tens is fast no doubt