Since a Stock 2015 Hellcat w/ DR's Just ran 10.85 @126 ph in the 1/4 Mile...

sunsalem

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 12, 2014
Posts
324
Reaction score
0
I have a very good friend, wealthy, who loves the Ferraris Mclarens and Porsche. He has and had several Ferraris, two Mclarens and several Porsches. The last one was a very nice GT3RS. He has no interest in a Viper and doesn't see the car anywhere in the same class, prestige or quality. He likes my Viper but has no interest in owning one.
Not surprising...
Very wealthy folks would never consider the Viper (unless they are complete, unabashed Car Geeks).


Great Find....THANX.
 

MoparMap

VCA National President
VCA Officer
Joined
Jan 7, 2013
Posts
2,496
Reaction score
306
Location
Kansas
I saw that Top Gear post as well. Was curious what all they had heard. Frankly, despite the fact that Ferrari is under the umbrella and theoretically sharing their tech, I doubt much would make it over to the Viper aside from maybe some suspension stuff and interior. I guess hybrid is there, but based on what they experienced with the LaFerrari it sounds like they really don't want to do something like that again.

As far as the gasoline powered stuff, the Ferrari design is a completely different approach to powering a car with its high revs and lower torque. I would really hope that Dodge doesn't sacrifice the amazing grunt and brute force of the current monster V10 just for a horsepower number.

That's another reason I'm not sure I see much Ferrari AWD tech trickling through. The FF front wheels are powered directly off the engine as I understand it, not through a transfer case and front driveshaft like a typical 4WD pickup. There's basically a transmission on either side of the engine in a certain sense, but the front one can't take much torque at all in the FF. I'd doubt they'd be able to use it behind a torque machine like the Viper unless it's just for very limited front wheel assist in certain situations.
 

05Commemorative

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 15, 2010
Posts
480
Reaction score
0
Location
Sammamish, WA
what is funny about the folks that say put the hellcat in the viper, note the quote below:

"Reminder: Putting a Hellcat engine in a Viper would be silly! While the supercharged 6.2 makes 62 hp and 50 lb-ft of torque more than the Viper V-10, it weighs about 180 pounds more and the blower means it’s too tall to fit under the stock hood. It’s a ridiculous idea, and one that someone will inevitably make real, and we will enjoy its smoky burnouts all the same."

Think about it, besides being the wrong engine for the car anyways, it is a boat anchor weighing 180lbs more and the V10.
 

sunsalem

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 12, 2014
Posts
324
Reaction score
0
what is funny about the folks that say put the hellcat in the viper, note the quote below:

"Reminder: Putting a Hellcat engine in a Viper would be silly! While the supercharged 6.2 makes 62 hp and 50 lb-ft of torque more than the Viper V-10, it weighs about 180 pounds more and the blower means it’s too tall to fit under the stock hood. It’s a ridiculous idea, and one that someone will inevitably make real, and we will enjoy its smoky burnouts all the same."

Think about it, besides being the wrong engine for the car anyways, it is a boat anchor weighing 180lbs more and the V10.
And the right engine is?
 

Bruce H.

Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 3, 2013
Posts
663
Reaction score
23
Location
Near Toronto, Ontario, Canada
And the right engine is?

A few laps around a road course would answer that question. I haven't met a McLaren yet on a straightaway, but if one pulled on me it would likely be the first stock production car to do so. But what makes it perfect for SRT's ultimate streetable track day car is that they were able to build a car around it that placed the engine's weight low and rearward enough to optimize handling. It also runs cool as a cucumber under those demanding conditions, lap after lap, and it's surprising how many "track day" cars have to be extensively modified to do that. Corvette and GT-R sure can't.
 

sunsalem

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 12, 2014
Posts
324
Reaction score
0
Corvette sure can't.
I find this a little surprising.
Why would this be?

The Corvette Racing Team has been running at LeMans (and roadcourses here in the States) for a very long time.
They have been using V8s from 7.0L down to the current 5.5L and have never been prone to overheating.:dunno:
 

05Commemorative

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 15, 2010
Posts
480
Reaction score
0
Location
Sammamish, WA
What is in it. I am not sure if you just pose stuff to stir it up or not. Did you know the V10 was 180lbs lighter, and a much shorter and narrower engine? If building a car to handle, isn't that exactly what you would want? (weight down low). Of course it is.

again, if folks want to get infatuated with a HP figure, I guess all the facts don't really matter. Today, you have a bullet proof motor that is light, low, and great power. with a new PCM (when it comes), all will be good because the packaging is what is critical.
And the right engine is?
 

danfromohio

Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 4, 2005
Posts
147
Reaction score
0
Location
Cincy, OH
The heavier engine fits right in with the Challenger, that thing is a tank.
 
Last edited:

PeerBlock

Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
Posts
460
Reaction score
0
Then one of two things is just around the corner:

1. The 2015 or 2016 Viper gets another 100 to 150 hp or
2. The Viper will be discontinued

The status quo is definitely not sustainable as indicated both by the slow Gen 5 sales and dropping resale prices. So we are either on our way to being extremely excited about a new Viper or extremely disappointed with the loss of an American icon.

1) A stock Gen 5 can cut 11s on a prepped track with stock tires.
2) A stock Gen 5 can cut 10s with a good pair of DRs and a competent driver on a prepped track.

Did you buy your Gen 5 yet? Because I keep seeing you voice such disappointment and it seems like you have an innate knowledge of the car that would only come from owning one.

The cars are in completely different classes, competing with different cars at different price points, but it's possible a guy that had a casual interest in a Viper might fall in love with the Challenger instead...or a Jeep, or whatever. But the guy looking for a serious exotic supercar will pretty much have to go to the European brands if the Viper doesn't suit his tastes.

The Viper can hang with the Hellcat in a drag race, but can the hellcat hang with the viper on a road course? I think we all know the answer to that question.

Years back the core values included no nanny-gates like abs, stability control, cruise control, power windows...etc. Now the Gen 5 has as much high tech gadgets as a Porsche (except automatic tranny) and die hard Viper guys are still buying the car and still love the car. I for one don't think the SRT guys made the Gen 5 engine with forged internals just for Hennessey and Doug Levin...I think Chrysler/Dodge/SRT saw this day coming and built a Gen5 engine they know there were going to supercharge eventually. I saw another video today from a Chrysler spokesman/engineer who said that the days of naturally aspirated engines are limited at best. Forced induction is the way of the future for internal combustion engines as is automatic transmissions for sports cars.

No, it's not. Force induction is a great way to add power without increasing static displacement...but if you can produce the power and torque your application requires NA, then you will be better off as it's cheaper, more reliable and arguably more consistent under load.

Forged internals have other benefits aside from being able to handle high boost - like being lighter. A 640 HP engine that is every bit as reliable as some modest 4-****** pumping out 150 HP is an engineering feat that commands respect. Really, Viper maintenance is as basic as changing the oil at set intervals - no special tune-ups needed every 5K miles.

A well known fact and adage of life is you either evolve and adapt or become extinct. In a world that operates on that basis sticking to "core values" when those values result in a slower sports car is suicide. Sports cars are becoming faster using forced induction and high tech nanny systems and other systems. Accept change and adjust to the competition or join the Dodo bird, the T-Rex, and the Wholly Mammoth as only memories found in an encyclopedia.

And yet the lowly Gen 4 Viper still manages to put the smack down on the high-tech cars like the Lexus LFA and GTR on nurburgering. You keep repeating the same old nonsense over and over again, like having one company offer one supercar that is MANUAL ONLY is such a bad thing. The viper is not losing to its competition, it more than keeps it in line.

The funny thing is that pretty much all gen 5 owners are hugely impressed with them. The satisfaction rates between owners and shoppers seem to be on total opposite sides of the fence. Hard for a company to decide what to do in a situation like that.

Yes, SRT or Chrysler or Dodge or whoever needs to communicate the things that Gen 5 owners know to potential buyers, so whiny non-owners like mamba here don't prevent these people from experiencing one of the greatest vehicles currently available for purchase.
 

Mike_EE

Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 30, 2014
Posts
3
Reaction score
0
As a Challenger owner (2012 SRT-8) and a Gen V Viper owner (2014 GTS), I don't think it's practical or desirable to put any "Hemi" in my Viper: it is, as someone else has noted, much heavier than the current V-10.

As a Viper driver, and "retired" autocrosser/club racer, I can't fathom what the all of the angst is about not having the highest HP, within or outside of Chrysler. It's a beautiful, fun car to drive just the way it is. I've driven, by virtue of my career and a network of like-minded friends, many cars in the same market-space, and this is the one the my wife and I liked the best.

Is "spec-sheet racing" really that important to so many people? Kinda disappointing to see so much of it here...
 
Last edited:

Jack B

Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 5, 2000
Posts
3,485
Reaction score
0
Location
NE Ohio
Two common sense posts in a row, this thread is now off track.

As a Challenger owner (2012 SRT-8) and a Gen V Viper owner (2014 GTS), I don't think it's practical or desirable to put any "Hemi" in my Viper: it is, as someone else has noted, much heavier than the current V-10.

As a Viper driver, and "retired" autocrosser/club racer, I can't fathom what the all of the angst is about not having the highest HP, within or outside of Chrysler. It's a beautiful, fun car to drive just the way it is. I've driven, by virtue of my career and a network of like-minded friends, to drive many cars in the same market-space, and this is the one the my wife and I liked the best.

Is "spec-sheet racing" really that important to so many people? Kinda disappointing to so much of it here...
 

Bobpantax

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 2, 2000
Posts
6,957
Reaction score
3
Location
Miami
Less than ten percent of all Viper owners post on Viper related Forums. Total club membership for both clubs, assuming 20,000 Vipers are still out there (quite a few have been wrecked), is less than 20%. I would guess that the Hellcat appeals to a large percentage of the total Viper Nation based on its price point, performance potential, and its ability to carry four passengers. It is a very different car than a Viper.

The Viper performance is exceptional for its intended purpose. I doubt that many would feel comfortable utilizing the full potential of the car. I say this because in my experience, regardlerss of nannytech, most sports/performace car drivers do not have the experience and training to drive a 3350 pound, 640 HP car on a pedal to the metal basis. It scares, or would scare, the hell out of them. Nor should they have to. The Viper, as mentioned many times, can be enjoyed passively or actively.

The Gen V design is magnificent. It is clearly better looking than any other car in its class.
 

pathoguy

Enthusiast
Joined
May 16, 2010
Posts
191
Reaction score
0
Location
Gulf of Mexico
The Viper owners I know aren't, but we may not be representative of the norm

interesting,,,,question. I wish the car had 710 hp when 400 hp would be more than enough for my driving. It's more than what we want.....many potential buyes feed off what the general public have come to expect from a viper. The ooooos and the ahahahahas for a car that had savage good looks, outrageous performance, the most hp or almost.

Today... a 4500 lbs challenger matches its 1/4 mile, a mustang and a corvette can boast more hp. It's all make-believe really but if that is what it takes to sell this product...............

The Gen V design is magnificent. It is clearly better looking than any other car in its class.

Don't have to convince me. Bought one without a test drive and loving every mile of it
 
Last edited:

sunsalem

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 12, 2014
Posts
324
Reaction score
0
And this is why engineers don't make the best marketing people and vice a versa.

Marketing and perception is what sells cars, not what they or the drivers are truly capable of.
Words of wisdom.;)
 

Nine Ball

Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Posts
3,411
Reaction score
10
Location
Houston, TX
Is "spec-sheet racing" really that important to so many people? Kinda disappointing to see so much of it here...

Nobody needs more hp. But, "need" and "want" are two different things. Nobody "needs" a Viper, either. We buy it because we want it, and most would not complain about having more. My 1300 rwhp Viper is more fun to drive than my Gen 5 is.
 

sunsalem

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 12, 2014
Posts
324
Reaction score
0
Nobody needs more hp. But, "need" and "want" are two different things. Nobody "needs" a Viper, either. We buy it because we want it, and most would not complain about having more. .
Well said, Sir.
 
Top