I feel sorry for srt-10 owners. I take my car to shows around my area (mostly GM). There are a few vipers that come to the shows but have seen only three srt-10. Most people who see them for the first time think that they are some kind of vett. I even walked by one not seeing it, of course I was looking at two nice GTS st the time. The srt-10 styling just does not standout any more
Viper Owners, Quit your whining
- Thread starter Wayne Finch
- Start date
MG1984
Enthusiast
When I bought my viper I hade a choice the gts or the srt10 and let me tell you the srt10 has every thing except one thing the look.So I bought the gts and i have parked it next to a srt10 and let me tell you people were looking at my gts instead of that ugly vette look of the new srt10.
Wayne Finch
Enthusiast
Geez, tough crowd. I posted figuring it would get a little rise out of a couple people but I didn't think the writer's life would be on the line.
Having both a GTS and an SRT myself, I think I can find some humor in the article. While the wording could have been a little more polite to GTS/RT10 owners, don't forget he is writing for entertainment value. I showed the article around the office and every non-Viper owner thought it was hilarious and a few said that new Viper must be awesome).
And while he missed the point that the reason many existing Viper owners don't like the SRT is ONLY due to styling, he did point out to non-Viper owners many of the refinements made to the car. And even if he knew the only reason was styling, he wouldn't have an article to write - that's media.
And while I like the styling of the GTS much better than the SRT, I can tell you many non-Viper owners much prefer the refined styling of the SRT (probably the goal of DC) Unlike the post above, I have been to about 5 car shows with the SRT, and there is more of a gathering around the SRT than the other Vipers there (some of that could be that they haven't seen it before).
Just my rational non-emotional thoughts.....
PS Don't Shoot
Having both a GTS and an SRT myself, I think I can find some humor in the article. While the wording could have been a little more polite to GTS/RT10 owners, don't forget he is writing for entertainment value. I showed the article around the office and every non-Viper owner thought it was hilarious and a few said that new Viper must be awesome).
And while he missed the point that the reason many existing Viper owners don't like the SRT is ONLY due to styling, he did point out to non-Viper owners many of the refinements made to the car. And even if he knew the only reason was styling, he wouldn't have an article to write - that's media.
And while I like the styling of the GTS much better than the SRT, I can tell you many non-Viper owners much prefer the refined styling of the SRT (probably the goal of DC) Unlike the post above, I have been to about 5 car shows with the SRT, and there is more of a gathering around the SRT than the other Vipers there (some of that could be that they haven't seen it before).
Just my rational non-emotional thoughts.....
PS Don't Shoot
There is no group of people on the planet more against the SRT styling than GTS owners with the possible exception of 'vette owners.
One line I cannot get is the comp coupe is great versus the SRT when most of the styling is the same. Maybe it is the lack of a hardtop. But if that is it did all of you hate the Viper prior to the GTS?
I must say I still prefer the RT/10 over all of them. But more non-owners over 16 compliment the SRT than the RT/10. Under 16 there is no contest - the RT/10 wins hands down. Unfortunately the under 16 crowd is NOT my target audience!
One line I cannot get is the comp coupe is great versus the SRT when most of the styling is the same. Maybe it is the lack of a hardtop. But if that is it did all of you hate the Viper prior to the GTS?
I must say I still prefer the RT/10 over all of them. But more non-owners over 16 compliment the SRT than the RT/10. Under 16 there is no contest - the RT/10 wins hands down. Unfortunately the under 16 crowd is NOT my target audience!
Russ Oasis
Enthusiast
What ONERAREVIPER said is the whole deal. Any and all complaints that I have ever heard are about styling. Styling is a subjective matter. If the bulk of the Viper community doesn't like the SRT styling, DC should have listened to us. Who cares what this d*ldo thinks. He drives a Kia. BTW...while the SRT has definitely grown on me, I still think that both the RT-10 and GTS styling were much more dramatic and desirable. The Comp Coupe is another story. It's so beautiful. I think it's one of the most beautiful cars ever designed.
cstegall
Enthusiast
DDog!
Hope all is well.
I understand all of your comments and feel the exact same way about my '01 GTS(nope DDog...still at Levins...hopefully back soon) BUT I also like the SRT and the way the car drives and feels. And maybe it is just my goodlooks, but I get a lot of attention when I drive the car...a LOT. Unbelievably the car does not get the same amount of attention when parked as the GTS does...but when moving...much different.
And I would like to think that since there were a lot of us that bought the SRT...Dodge just may jump up and build the coupe version for all of us.
Would that make a difference? Would you buy an SRT-10 Coupe?...I know I would.
CStegall
Hope all is well.
I understand all of your comments and feel the exact same way about my '01 GTS(nope DDog...still at Levins...hopefully back soon) BUT I also like the SRT and the way the car drives and feels. And maybe it is just my goodlooks, but I get a lot of attention when I drive the car...a LOT. Unbelievably the car does not get the same amount of attention when parked as the GTS does...but when moving...much different.
And I would like to think that since there were a lot of us that bought the SRT...Dodge just may jump up and build the coupe version for all of us.
Would that make a difference? Would you buy an SRT-10 Coupe?...I know I would.
CStegall
Miles B
Enthusiast
Yeah, the guy is saying Viper owners are against progress... uhh wrong! How many threads have we seen lately saying "SRT brakes to Gen 2?"... or "SRT heads onto Gen 2?"... or "We need a decent top like the SRT!"
I don't recall one person saying "It has better brakes... and for that it is a ***** piece of cr@p".... or "The AC works better - I hate that!"..
No, people are only saying they don't like the styling. I am one of them. I do like the CC though. I don't know why - they are almost the same, but the CC looks better! Maybe it is the slightly squarer front and back, and the CC looks a bit more muscular.
"the R/T10's cartoonish muscularity into something far more attractive and, dare I say it, almost refined."
I like cartoonish muscularity.
"Of course, if your role model is Sylvester Stallone's steroid-pumping Rambo character"
Uh, yes. Isn't that the point of the car? Muscle car?
I don't recall one person saying "It has better brakes... and for that it is a ***** piece of cr@p".... or "The AC works better - I hate that!"..
No, people are only saying they don't like the styling. I am one of them. I do like the CC though. I don't know why - they are almost the same, but the CC looks better! Maybe it is the slightly squarer front and back, and the CC looks a bit more muscular.
"the R/T10's cartoonish muscularity into something far more attractive and, dare I say it, almost refined."
I like cartoonish muscularity.
"Of course, if your role model is Sylvester Stallone's steroid-pumping Rambo character"
Uh, yes. Isn't that the point of the car? Muscle car?
genXgts
Enthusiast
Wayne,
You beat me to it, read the Post every day, and David is a touch skewed to the performance end of things you might agree? I recall a great car versus bike comparo a few months ago that was one of the most interesting reads in a newspaper in a while. I even emailed him then with links to a few of Gerald's videos of cleaning up on Hayabusas, and more recently a Honda 954, not sure if the writer checked them out or not.
I will not even venture into how absurb the Viper article is, he couldn't be more off on all counts. Any improvement in AC, braking, stereo (still looks like a Neon radio to me) is certainly not frowned upon by us GenI/II guys, at least not be I.
It's the styling cues on an SRT that pick up some Stratus, a little Camaro, toss in some S2000, and XK8 for good measure.
Gen I/II styling cues set the bar and had others rip off cues, that's the difference to me.
(oh yeah, and while they stop better, handle better, and the top works better, and the seats hug better, it's not faster, period. Fast is part of the equation here!)
You beat me to it, read the Post every day, and David is a touch skewed to the performance end of things you might agree? I recall a great car versus bike comparo a few months ago that was one of the most interesting reads in a newspaper in a while. I even emailed him then with links to a few of Gerald's videos of cleaning up on Hayabusas, and more recently a Honda 954, not sure if the writer checked them out or not.
I will not even venture into how absurb the Viper article is, he couldn't be more off on all counts. Any improvement in AC, braking, stereo (still looks like a Neon radio to me) is certainly not frowned upon by us GenI/II guys, at least not be I.
It's the styling cues on an SRT that pick up some Stratus, a little Camaro, toss in some S2000, and XK8 for good measure.
Gen I/II styling cues set the bar and had others rip off cues, that's the difference to me.
(oh yeah, and while they stop better, handle better, and the top works better, and the seats hug better, it's not faster, period. Fast is part of the equation here!)
Y2K5SRT
Enthusiast
Way to go Wayne, see what you started? Okay, I will weigh in with my very humble opinions:
1. The writer was a tad bit (okay, very) insulting to the Viper community as a whole, and most certainly to the Gen I/II crowd. I don't think anybody was against the performance improvements but rather the diluted styling. The references to A/C, radio quality, ride, etc. are ludicrous. While the SRT generally has good A/C, it is not so different in any other respect from previous Vipers. Tappet noise? Have you listened to an SRT run? The sucker sounds like it doesn't have a drop of oil in it and scares 90% of the people that hear it (is your motor okay?).
2. The convertible is a very nice OPTION, especially for those that don't track their cars. But wait a minute here: Hasn't the GTS outsold the RT/10 every single year since it was introduced? Yep! So why worry about the lesser selling model when the bulk of your buyers go for the coupe? That was enough all by itself to piss a lot of people off - no matter how it looked. Add the many, many people that track their cars, and you have pretty much alienated every one of them. With all due respect, why build a car with such great performance specs where there is no place to drive it legally and take advantage of the improvements? At least with EVERY other car in that performance category you can track them with little or no modifications. The convertible top works great, but who had it on the top of their Viper wish list? Nobody I know of. Mind you, the RT/10 roof IS a challenge for many, but not a legitimate reason to do a complete redesign.
3. Styling. Here you go: The SRT-10 still pulls a crowd and has a surprisingly good fan base outside of Viper GTS owners. I switched from a GTS (which I drove religiously for three years) to the SRT-10. Is it as exotic as the GTS or the Cobra Daytona that inspired it? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Good looking? You betcha. But not the exotic many, including myself, were hoping for. Interestingly enough, the comments outside the Viper community, even including the numbnut that wrote the article (all due respect to Mr. Nut), are surprisingly positive. I have had many, many people say that they like the styling of the new SRT even better than previous Vipers. At a recent car show my crusty SRT beat a yellow/silver GTS for Best of Class (and the GTS had less miles). And this was judged by other car owners. My opinion? I like the GTS looks better. And I like the SRT looks over the RT/10.
4. Styling, Part II. Is it closer to the Vette? You betcha. And how many Vettes sold last year vs. the Viper? Oh, roughly 20:1. This may come as a surprise to you, but DC is in the business of selling cars. While one would hope they would also listen to current owners, they have to consider what is selling and thus what is more popular from that standpoint. While someone said that everybody they know "turned it" their certificates, check out the number of first time Viper owners that bought 'em up. There are four in KC alone that I know of. Most of the certificate holders I know used 'em, including me. A couple turned them for a quick profit. The true tale will be told in 2004 when the cars go "public" for the first time. After all, every single magazine reported that they were sold out for 2003, so that discouraged more than a few. I would also add that I don't think they will be a big hit. Why? Two reasons: No coupe and the "bang for the buck" factor. I absolutely love my Viper, but the Z06 is simply more car for the money. $84,000 is too much for the car plain and simple, even though many "exotics" with similar performance are double the price (or more). It is, no matter how you slice it, a Dodge. Just as the Z06 is, in fact, a Chevy. Price it accordingly.
5. Styling, Part III. Despite those last comments, the biggest fan of this car has been the upscale Mercedes owners. I honestly don't know if DC tapped some hidden button in their psyche, but I get Mercedes guys pulling me over to ask about the car all the time. Today it was a guy that JUST took delivery of an E55 (also black). He went batty over the SRT and said he simply HAD to have one. Strangely enough, this also happened with a CL55 a couple months ago at one of our local VCA meetings. Guy pulled in and couldn't get over the new body style. HAD to have one. Even met up with a guy with the new SL500 who wants to get an SRT. Is this a good thing? Probably not to the muscle car guy that loves the Gen I/II. Hell, I'll bet a couple bucks that your writer owns an older Mercedes. It is indeed a different target audience for the most part. But if it sells for DC, then they met their most important goal.
6. Styling, Part IV. The media has made a pretty big deal of the SRT-10. No real bad reviews other than the infamous "frying egg" article that compared it to the Z06 with little favor (they were driving a test mule). The Motor Trend Top Speed Shootout had it second only to a concept "kit car" on race slicks (not even street legal). The recent Road & Track 0-100-0 cover story had it beating both the Murcielago and Saleen S7. Did any of them comment negatively on the styling? Nope. Has any major magazine said much other than "toned down" - if even that? Nope. And have they been impressed with the Viper's TRUE mission (kicking ass and taking names)? ABSOLUTELY. Is this lost on many GTS owners or has the very real sense of betrayal by DC rendered all performance stats moot? Would more people have been pissed if the Comp Coupe were released in a street version - and promptly got beat by the Z06? I know I would have REALLY felt betrayed then. The styling is not the best and certainly lost that "exotic" edge. But it is still the King of American muscle and is now firmly planted in the "exotic" category where it should have been all along. Notice that Road & Track dissed the Z06 directly and didn't even include it in their 0-100-0 comparisons and noted as such. You would think that alone would give Viper owners a smirk or two.
7. Chuck, it is an ashtray and a HORRIBLE cupholder. Nowhere near big enough for a Big Gulp or even a respectable medium drink. And way too shallow for anything else unless you are parked. If it was designed as a "secret" cupholder they did a horrible job of it. ********.
Oh, and one last comment: It continues to amaze me that so many can "pile on" fellow Viper owners like this. Imagine if some RT/10 guys decided to jab, without the slightest trace of humor, at the GTS owners and talk about the "clown shoe" appearance (a known description). NOBODY would stand for it. Imagine some Gen II owners dissing the Gen I cars as being inferior to the newer models. There would be hell to pay as Gen I, II, & III owners reamed them a new one. Yet it doesn't seem to bother too many to beat the crap out of Gen III Viper owners when given the opportunity. Despite one suggestion, the car IS a Viper and badged accordingly. And has the performance that Viper owners asked for and that is wowing the media. So why continue to belittle your fellow Viper owners all the time? DC is done designing the car for the foreseeable future and now you are only insulting the owners. Is there any real point to it?
PS. Since this stupid thing is too long even for me, I am not going to bother proofreading it. Feel free to make fun of any and all spelllling errors or misuse the English langige.
Okay, I will weigh in with my very humble opinions:1. The writer was a tad bit (okay, very) insulting to the Viper community as a whole, and most certainly to the Gen I/II crowd. I don't think anybody was against the performance improvements but rather the diluted styling. The references to A/C, radio quality, ride, etc. are ludicrous. While the SRT generally has good A/C, it is not so different in any other respect from previous Vipers. Tappet noise? Have you listened to an SRT run? The sucker sounds like it doesn't have a drop of oil in it and scares 90% of the people that hear it (is your motor okay?).
2. The convertible is a very nice OPTION, especially for those that don't track their cars. But wait a minute here: Hasn't the GTS outsold the RT/10 every single year since it was introduced? Yep! So why worry about the lesser selling model when the bulk of your buyers go for the coupe? That was enough all by itself to piss a lot of people off - no matter how it looked. Add the many, many people that track their cars, and you have pretty much alienated every one of them. With all due respect, why build a car with such great performance specs where there is no place to drive it legally and take advantage of the improvements? At least with EVERY other car in that performance category you can track them with little or no modifications. The convertible top works great, but who had it on the top of their Viper wish list? Nobody I know of. Mind you, the RT/10 roof IS a challenge for many, but not a legitimate reason to do a complete redesign.
3. Styling. Here you go: The SRT-10 still pulls a crowd and has a surprisingly good fan base outside of Viper GTS owners. I switched from a GTS (which I drove religiously for three years) to the SRT-10. Is it as exotic as the GTS or the Cobra Daytona that inspired it? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Good looking? You betcha. But not the exotic many, including myself, were hoping for. Interestingly enough, the comments outside the Viper community, even including the numbnut that wrote the article (all due respect to Mr. Nut), are surprisingly positive. I have had many, many people say that they like the styling of the new SRT even better than previous Vipers. At a recent car show my crusty SRT beat a yellow/silver GTS for Best of Class (and the GTS had less miles). And this was judged by other car owners. My opinion? I like the GTS looks better. And I like the SRT looks over the RT/10.
4. Styling, Part II. Is it closer to the Vette? You betcha. And how many Vettes sold last year vs. the Viper? Oh, roughly 20:1. This may come as a surprise to you, but DC is in the business of selling cars. While one would hope they would also listen to current owners, they have to consider what is selling and thus what is more popular from that standpoint. While someone said that everybody they know "turned it" their certificates,
check out the number of first time Viper owners that bought 'em up. There are four in KC alone that I know of. Most of the certificate holders I know used 'em, including me. A couple turned them for a quick profit. The true tale will be told in 2004 when the cars go "public" for the first time. After all, every single magazine reported that they were sold out for 2003, so that discouraged more than a few. I would also add that I don't think they will be a big hit. Why? Two reasons: No coupe and the "bang for the buck" factor. I absolutely love my Viper, but the Z06 is simply more car for the money. $84,000 is too much for the car plain and simple, even though many "exotics" with similar performance are double the price (or more). It is, no matter how you slice it, a Dodge. Just as the Z06 is, in fact, a Chevy. Price it accordingly.5. Styling, Part III. Despite those last comments, the biggest fan of this car has been the upscale Mercedes owners. I honestly don't know if DC tapped some hidden button in their psyche, but I get Mercedes guys pulling me over to ask about the car all the time. Today it was a guy that JUST took delivery of an E55 (also black). He went batty over the SRT and said he simply HAD to have one. Strangely enough, this also happened with a CL55 a couple months ago at one of our local VCA meetings. Guy pulled in and couldn't get over the new body style. HAD to have one. Even met up with a guy with the new SL500 who wants to get an SRT. Is this a good thing? Probably not to the muscle car guy that loves the Gen I/II. Hell, I'll bet a couple bucks that your writer owns an older Mercedes. It is indeed a different target audience for the most part. But if it sells for DC, then they met their most important goal.
6. Styling, Part IV. The media has made a pretty big deal of the SRT-10. No real bad reviews other than the infamous "frying egg" article that compared it to the Z06 with little favor (they were driving a test mule). The Motor Trend Top Speed Shootout had it second only to a concept "kit car" on race slicks (not even street legal). The recent Road & Track 0-100-0 cover story had it beating both the Murcielago and Saleen S7. Did any of them comment negatively on the styling? Nope. Has any major magazine said much other than "toned down" - if even that? Nope. And have they been impressed with the Viper's TRUE mission (kicking ass and taking names)? ABSOLUTELY. Is this lost on many GTS owners or has the very real sense of betrayal by DC rendered all performance stats moot? Would more people have been pissed if the Comp Coupe were released in a street version - and promptly got beat by the Z06? I know I would have REALLY felt betrayed then. The styling is not the best and certainly lost that "exotic" edge. But it is still the King of American muscle and is now firmly planted in the "exotic" category where it should have been all along. Notice that Road & Track dissed the Z06 directly and didn't even include it in their 0-100-0 comparisons and noted as such. You would think that alone would give Viper owners a smirk or two.
7. Chuck, it is an ashtray and a HORRIBLE cupholder. Nowhere near big enough for a Big Gulp or even a respectable medium drink. And way too shallow for anything else unless you are parked. If it was designed as a "secret" cupholder they did a horrible job of it. ********.
Oh, and one last comment: It continues to amaze me that so many can "pile on" fellow Viper owners like this. Imagine if some RT/10 guys decided to jab, without the slightest trace of humor, at the GTS owners and talk about the "clown shoe" appearance (a known description). NOBODY would stand for it. Imagine some Gen II owners dissing the Gen I cars as being inferior to the newer models. There would be hell to pay as Gen I, II, & III owners reamed them a new one. Yet it doesn't seem to bother too many to beat the crap out of Gen III Viper owners when given the opportunity. Despite one suggestion, the car IS a Viper and badged accordingly. And has the performance that Viper owners asked for and that is wowing the media. So why continue to belittle your fellow Viper owners all the time? DC is done designing the car for the foreseeable future and now you are only insulting the owners. Is there any real point to it?
PS. Since this stupid thing is too long even for me, I am not going to bother proofreading it. Feel free to make fun of any and all spelllling errors or misuse the English langige.
genXgts
Enthusiast
Great post Chris, valid points.
I think it's a safe assumption that Viper owners, and I'll venture to say Gen I/II or SRT owners that had Gen I/II are the most passionate car owners I have encountered, period.
These Mercedes converts that scoop up SRT cars, in coming months will they be on here debating the finer points of a dyno test, or perfecting launch techniques, and swapping sound files of various exhaust notes, and further open the doors to us wingdings that spend too much time on anything Viper (and your one of them, self-coined Stratamaro or not!)
That is my question and I think the answer is not what any of us want to hear. The car took a turn that while most likely will bolster sales, has on the same token alienated the very people that made it what it is, us.
I think it's a safe assumption that Viper owners, and I'll venture to say Gen I/II or SRT owners that had Gen I/II are the most passionate car owners I have encountered, period.
These Mercedes converts that scoop up SRT cars, in coming months will they be on here debating the finer points of a dyno test, or perfecting launch techniques, and swapping sound files of various exhaust notes, and further open the doors to us wingdings that spend too much time on anything Viper (and your one of them, self-coined Stratamaro or not!)
That is my question and I think the answer is not what any of us want to hear. The car took a turn that while most likely will bolster sales, has on the same token alienated the very people that made it what it is, us.
The proof is in the marketplace. When Gen 1 came out they were reselling for huge markups. Gen 3 came out with restricted ownership to previous Viper owners and they resell for retail or below. If it grabbed the hearts of car nuts who were not allowed to buy it, it would resell for much more.
Miles B
Enthusiast
The tail lights on the SRT do remind me of the tail lights on the SL class Mercedes... (that's not a bad thing either, I like it)
ACR Joe
Enthusiast
I find that statement most disconcerting.
Also, is it possible that the folks from DC are reading this string? Might they take some of this into consideration?
V10 MOJO
Enthusiast
lets invite this guy to the Norwalk event, snakebitten, BigKat and I will take this puke out for a few drinks and some education, LOL.
glad to know we're ALL idiots, here i thought it was just me.
glad to know we're ALL idiots, here i thought it was just me.
SJT97GTS
Enthusiast
Guy/Gals,
Here's what I wrote to him yesterday:
Dear Sir,
Because I own a Gen II Viper, I am an idiot? What type of automobile do you drive? A BMW or Audi I suppose. Have you ever driven ANY generation Viper? I think your article is terribly written, stating no facts and only opinions (from yourself and many non-Viper owners).
My A/C works just fine in my 1997 Dodge Viper GTS.
My valve tappets have no problems.
All these so called "problems" you suggest my car has, is a falsehood. I think you need to catch up on your facts before you start bashing what a great car the Viper actually is. I don't need all the "European" luxuries, I own a Mercedes for that. I simply want raw power. If a car buyer doesn't want "just raw power" then the Viper isn't for you.
Regards,
Sean Thompson
Gateway VCA Member
He responded with this (I guess he was anxious to read his mail b/f Monday):
I have driven many Vipers and as I clearly stated in the article I was referring to early RT 10s (not GTS which are very good cars). And no one is an idiot because they own an old Viper , only if they denigrate the new version simply because it's a better all round vehicle. Just because
something is more tempermental (and yet again I'm referring only to the R/Ts) does not make it either more sporty nor more desireable.
Thanks for your input.
David Booth
I'm glad he only thinks the RT/10's are "idiot" cars!
Here's what I wrote to him yesterday:
Dear Sir,
Because I own a Gen II Viper, I am an idiot? What type of automobile do you drive? A BMW or Audi I suppose. Have you ever driven ANY generation Viper? I think your article is terribly written, stating no facts and only opinions (from yourself and many non-Viper owners).
My A/C works just fine in my 1997 Dodge Viper GTS.
My valve tappets have no problems.
All these so called "problems" you suggest my car has, is a falsehood. I think you need to catch up on your facts before you start bashing what a great car the Viper actually is. I don't need all the "European" luxuries, I own a Mercedes for that. I simply want raw power. If a car buyer doesn't want "just raw power" then the Viper isn't for you.
Regards,
Sean Thompson
Gateway VCA Member
He responded with this (I guess he was anxious to read his mail b/f Monday):
I have driven many Vipers and as I clearly stated in the article I was referring to early RT 10s (not GTS which are very good cars). And no one is an idiot because they own an old Viper , only if they denigrate the new version simply because it's a better all round vehicle. Just because
something is more tempermental (and yet again I'm referring only to the R/Ts) does not make it either more sporty nor more desireable.
Thanks for your input.
David Booth
I'm glad he only thinks the RT/10's are "idiot" cars!
Y2K5SRT
Enthusiast
Ummm, while I would take my Viper over the Z06 any day (and did), compare $51,000 to $84,000 on price. You get 95 more horsepower and better brakes for $33,000. I would also say that you get a better looking car. But at over 150% of the price of the Vette. And while I and most other Viper owners shun the "extras", the Chevy is loaded with a host of technological goodies that are inherently expensive. Do I want a Vette? NFW. But if we are talking "bang for the buck", the Vette has it.
My purpose of this statement is not to prop the Vette, but to point out that the Viper should be priced a bit lower. That's it.
DEVILDOG
VCA Member North TX
Hey Clark,
Doing great...hope you are too. I might buy an SRT Coupe, however, I'd have to see it first. I would still keep my GTS if I did. If there is an SRT Coupe I would buy it if it is very close to the CC. Guess we'll have to wait and see if they make one. I do know that I will not buy an SRT-10 as I do not like the bland looks and I don't like convertibles....no flame...just my .02. To me the SRT-10 and the CC are totally different looking cars. Hope to see you at a VCA meeting soon with your DLM...a Lambo hunting we will go!
Matt M PA
Enthusiast
I too got a response....and thanked him for it.
And, I should add....great post Chris.
But, I have to say that I feel DC is not on the ball as to what Americans want.
I went to our local Chrysler dealer to see the Crossfire. Boy, did I want one of those when I saw the concept. Now, IMHO, it is so watered down that I don't care for it. And...0-60 in 7.5? Geez. It's an SLK with a coupe body and a $35,000 price tag. I bought a Mustang Cobra instead.
And, I should add....great post Chris.
But, I have to say that I feel DC is not on the ball as to what Americans want.
I went to our local Chrysler dealer to see the Crossfire. Boy, did I want one of those when I saw the concept. Now, IMHO, it is so watered down that I don't care for it. And...0-60 in 7.5? Geez. It's an SLK with a coupe body and a $35,000 price tag. I bought a Mustang Cobra instead.
Tiepilot
Enthusiast
I'd done the same thing.
onerareviper
Enthusiast
Please tell me someone sent him a link to this post.... Heck, he could write another article with this information alone - and it would be accurate this time...
Even though the first paragraph is surprisingly accurate , the rest of the article is nothing but drivel from a typical dumba$$ "journalist" who didn't do his homework, and doesn't have a clue about the subject matter he is writing about.
, the rest of the article is nothing but drivel from a typical dumba$$ "journalist" who didn't do his homework, and doesn't have a clue about the subject matter he is writing about.ACR Joe
Enthusiast
So is a Gen III Coupe or a more muscular SRT-10 in the works or not? If so, when might either be available?
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
7. Chuck, it is an ashtray and a HORRIBLE cupholder. Nowhere near big enough for a Big Gulp or even a respectable medium drink. And way too shallow for anything else unless you are parked. If it was designed as a "secret" cupholder they did a horrible job of it. ********.
Whew! Well, that's good news. So it's for toll booth change right? I don't care, I still don't like it. LOL
The fact that everyone agrees the SRT/10 is watered down styling reflects Dodge is losing it's "Different" attitude. The Viper 92-02 was an image car not an immediate-profit-generating-cookie-cutter-car like everything GM produces. And what a great image it gave. Don't lose that image Dodge. Bring back radical.
Viperfreak2
Enthusiast
Not everyone agrees. The people on the street either know it's a changed Viper, or they ask 'what year is it?' That tells me they don't see the styling as 'radically' different than the GenI&II. Style is subjective. The more I walk around the SRT, the more I like it better than the early cars. I agree, it's not aggressive enough, but it sure has a beautiful overall shape and it still is recognizable as a Viper by everyone. Good job DC, and when you do the coupe.....over do. Then maybe everyone will be happy.
JDR
Enthusiast
It appears his article was based on "opinions", rather than a specific "product comparison".
I don't know how much lattitude is appropriate when someone is writing about what they "think" of something. Yes, he could have clearified that the older (Gen I) had no AC, that glass windows didn't start to surface until 96/97, and that the 2001/02's came with a new feature called "tappet noise", rather than just lumping all the problems as "pre-Gen III".
Yes, I think he could have been more precise, but I think his "focus" was that a large group (whether it be 50% or 75%) felt they needed to "bash" the Gen III, rather than just say it was "different" - both good and bad "in their opinions".
Yes, "balance baching" isn't appropriate either.
I HOPE his next article doesn't describe the Viper community as being over-reactive over-acheivers, just 'cause a few of us take exception to his words. ...if he was hunting for a reaction, he got it!
I don't know how much lattitude is appropriate when someone is writing about what they "think" of something. Yes, he could have clearified that the older (Gen I) had no AC, that glass windows didn't start to surface until 96/97, and that the 2001/02's came with a new feature called "tappet noise", rather than just lumping all the problems as "pre-Gen III".
Yes, I think he could have been more precise, but I think his "focus" was that a large group (whether it be 50% or 75%) felt they needed to "bash" the Gen III, rather than just say it was "different" - both good and bad "in their opinions".
Yes, "balance baching" isn't appropriate either.
I HOPE his next article doesn't describe the Viper community as being over-reactive over-acheivers, just 'cause a few of us take exception to his words.
...if he was hunting for a reaction, he got it!jrkermode
Enthusiast
When David replied to my email, he specifically mentioned that his comments reflected a comparison between the Gen I and Gen III cars.
