Y2K10 SRT#39
Enthusiast
Like so many of the other posts- Thank you Dodge, Conner Ave and my dealer Lynnwood Dodge. I think I have the first dealer delivered silver on the west (left) coast. We picked up the car Friday.
Many of the impressions have already been posted, but because we had wonderful weather (mid 40's and 50's) we got to put almost 250 miles on it this weekend going to the Regional Viper Club event.
The suspension is taught, but it does not seem to "bottom out" as harshly as our 96 GTS. The steering seems quicker, or the new car follows the truck ruts better. It is a handfull on the worn out freeways here (almost all the 250 miles were on the freeway). It does seem to turn sharper as that is the test to put the car away (full steering lock).
Many of you know I'm 6'6" tall. I don't fit with the top up. Lots of moves to get in and out- and trying to get somewhat comfortable. This is how I know the side sills are NOT very hot.
The first time the top is put up (they are delivered with the top down)it takes lots of pushing and pulling and is best done with an extra person outside the car. I'm sure this will loosen up with several actuations.
Driving with the top up is almost as quiet as the GTS. It is actually quieter than the 95 Mustang Cobra convertable we have.
The sound of the side exhaust seems loud at first, but then subsides as revs build while underway.
The shift lever seems extremely tall. I do have a MGW on the 96, but this seems even taller than the 96 stock shifter.
The locations in the doors where you rest your elbow could have been padded more. I'll solve it with a rag, but it seems like an oversight.
Being tall, I'm near the top of the windshield. At night (coming home 75 miles in stop and go freeway Seattle traffic...) I noticed the reflection of the temp gauge in the windshield. It is somewhat annoying and I think an "eyebrow" over that gauge is in order. The dash lights are BRIGHT!!! They are adjusted by notches in the reostat. VERY nice feature.
Barbara (my bride of 36 years) followed me home.. of course we had our Viper radios that kept us talking all the way, and all of a sudden she yelled... I can see things moving in the holes under the car!- She could see the half shafts turning (stop and go remember?). She thought that was neet. I would not cover those holes in any way to disrupt the airflow.
The headlights. One word. WOW!!!! I have a 1/4 mile long driveway. I pulled into the drive and stopped. Nailed the hi-beams and I could see details at the other end of the drive. Be carefull out there- you WILL blind some oncomming cars!
The driveline "snach" which causes some bucking, is better in this car than in my 96. Much easier to control, and more foregiving.
We did loose the net pocket on the front of the seats (where I store the radios) with the new car, but the seats are incredable.
Much better lower leg bolsters even for a guy my size! They coddle you! You will not slide around in these seats. Now I only need them lower!
Driving a new car- in stop and go traffic- the water temp never went over 200, and the oil temp barely went over 180. On the first trip home, I could not get cold air to come out of the dash vents. It was way warm. Next day on the trip to the Region event, everything worked fine. From other posts, I'll assume there needs to be some operation of the controls to get them to move to the proper position. A/C works great too (but is sounds like there is a bird in the car with the chirping when it goes on and off)!! The window switches finally light up too!
I did take my eyes off the road to watch the hood move around pretty good (I got up to 70 mph), and told myself I would ignore that for now. Hate to see what will happen at 100!
We still have to figure out the best way to close the doors without touching the paint (my personnal bugaboo). Any suggestions you owners have... let me know!
Cleaning the car twice already- and I found BRAKE DUST on the REAR wheels. Now That's a first!. I also found lots of small black spots on the doors. They look like brake dust or rubber. Anybody else find this?
Going to "stoneguard" the door "handle" area, and the top of the sills (with 3/8" wrap over the sides of the sills for scratches from rings, fingernails and shoes.
Need a threshold plate on top of the side sills, and a shorter shifter (MGW).
I need to find the best price on the floor and trunk mats, and the car cover (with bag). E-mail me ([email protected]) with prices).
Sorry to be so long, but these are the other things I found that others have not reported so far.
OH- Even at night- other folks on the freeway figured out what this beast was. LOTS of thumbs up!!!
Many of the impressions have already been posted, but because we had wonderful weather (mid 40's and 50's) we got to put almost 250 miles on it this weekend going to the Regional Viper Club event.
The suspension is taught, but it does not seem to "bottom out" as harshly as our 96 GTS. The steering seems quicker, or the new car follows the truck ruts better. It is a handfull on the worn out freeways here (almost all the 250 miles were on the freeway). It does seem to turn sharper as that is the test to put the car away (full steering lock).
Many of you know I'm 6'6" tall. I don't fit with the top up. Lots of moves to get in and out- and trying to get somewhat comfortable. This is how I know the side sills are NOT very hot.
The first time the top is put up (they are delivered with the top down)it takes lots of pushing and pulling and is best done with an extra person outside the car. I'm sure this will loosen up with several actuations.
Driving with the top up is almost as quiet as the GTS. It is actually quieter than the 95 Mustang Cobra convertable we have.
The sound of the side exhaust seems loud at first, but then subsides as revs build while underway.
The shift lever seems extremely tall. I do have a MGW on the 96, but this seems even taller than the 96 stock shifter.
The locations in the doors where you rest your elbow could have been padded more. I'll solve it with a rag, but it seems like an oversight.
Being tall, I'm near the top of the windshield. At night (coming home 75 miles in stop and go freeway Seattle traffic...) I noticed the reflection of the temp gauge in the windshield. It is somewhat annoying and I think an "eyebrow" over that gauge is in order. The dash lights are BRIGHT!!! They are adjusted by notches in the reostat. VERY nice feature.
Barbara (my bride of 36 years) followed me home.. of course we had our Viper radios that kept us talking all the way, and all of a sudden she yelled... I can see things moving in the holes under the car!- She could see the half shafts turning (stop and go remember?). She thought that was neet. I would not cover those holes in any way to disrupt the airflow.
The headlights. One word. WOW!!!! I have a 1/4 mile long driveway. I pulled into the drive and stopped. Nailed the hi-beams and I could see details at the other end of the drive. Be carefull out there- you WILL blind some oncomming cars!
The driveline "snach" which causes some bucking, is better in this car than in my 96. Much easier to control, and more foregiving.
We did loose the net pocket on the front of the seats (where I store the radios) with the new car, but the seats are incredable.
Much better lower leg bolsters even for a guy my size! They coddle you! You will not slide around in these seats. Now I only need them lower!
Driving a new car- in stop and go traffic- the water temp never went over 200, and the oil temp barely went over 180. On the first trip home, I could not get cold air to come out of the dash vents. It was way warm. Next day on the trip to the Region event, everything worked fine. From other posts, I'll assume there needs to be some operation of the controls to get them to move to the proper position. A/C works great too (but is sounds like there is a bird in the car with the chirping when it goes on and off)!! The window switches finally light up too!
I did take my eyes off the road to watch the hood move around pretty good (I got up to 70 mph), and told myself I would ignore that for now. Hate to see what will happen at 100!
We still have to figure out the best way to close the doors without touching the paint (my personnal bugaboo). Any suggestions you owners have... let me know!
Cleaning the car twice already- and I found BRAKE DUST on the REAR wheels. Now That's a first!. I also found lots of small black spots on the doors. They look like brake dust or rubber. Anybody else find this?
Going to "stoneguard" the door "handle" area, and the top of the sills (with 3/8" wrap over the sides of the sills for scratches from rings, fingernails and shoes.
Need a threshold plate on top of the side sills, and a shorter shifter (MGW).
I need to find the best price on the floor and trunk mats, and the car cover (with bag). E-mail me ([email protected]) with prices).
Sorry to be so long, but these are the other things I found that others have not reported so far.
OH- Even at night- other folks on the freeway figured out what this beast was. LOTS of thumbs up!!!