Once, we were having a discussion about variable downforce, or variable power steering, I don't remember which it was. Some guy blurts out that a Viper reigns supreme with "variable nothing", showing his disdain for any of what he perceived as an aid to driving. It was a bit odd, like a hick screaming at a movie screen in the middle of nowhere. He was like, any variable stuff was a political issue, a concession to the liberal left, and an affront to his masculinity. He was the type who would definitely identify himself as a Viper purist, and acted as if his manhood was tied to his vehicle, a car that in his estimation, had absolutely no variable features whatsover. If that were so, he wouldn't like it at all, cuz it would just be a stationary lump of metal and plastic. I just responded that his Gen4 had a variable cam, because it's a good idea. It shows that our attitude towards our cars are more emotional, than factual. He thought his Viper had "variable nothing", and that put his thoughts in his happy place. That's how he preferred to think of it, as if all issues could be viewed as either black, or white. Infantile reasoning, and the technical truth of the issue is far deeper than that.
If you think about it, all Vipers have at least the following-
Variable angle to the suspension control arms. (If it didn't, it would ride and handle worse than a haywagon)
Variable steering angle (without which, you couldn't go around corners)
Variable height pistons, so you can have "****, squeeze, bang and blow". (idk, that sounds kinda *****, might be a communist plot)
Variable position valve stems, that allow alternate sealing of intake and exhaust passages
Variable speeds between the rear wheels, (a diff, to allow outer wheels to turn faster than inner wheels, while both are under power)
Variable door positions, so you can get in and out
Variable trunk lid position, so you can put stuff in, and take it out
Variable hood position, so you can work on, or stare at, that monster!
Variable coolant flow (T-stat closed for quick warm-up)
Variable height hydraulic lifters, (Take up valve train lash when pumped up)
Variable spark advance (For proper combustion at variable rpms)
Variable tire pressure, (for variable track conditions)
Variable fuel flow, (push the right pedal down, for more flow! Kinda ties in to "variable speed"!)
Variable brake pedal modulation (to scrub off that variable speed)
Variable speed windshield wipers, (useful for variable rain drops)
Variable headlights (high beam, low beam)
Variable radio volume
Variable gear ratios, for variable speeds
Variable dash board lights, for variable ambient light, or just your preferrence
Some later Vipers added even more variable features, such as (some maybe earlier, but I've never spent any time with a Gen1, so idk)
Variable height windows (Electric, evidently for sissys who don't prefer cranks)(but even cranks are variable!)(and no, not gen1)
Variable mirrors, (for drivers of variable heights)
Variable seat backs ""
Variable seat position ""
Variable pedals ""
Variable temperature and fan controls
Variable cam phasing
Variable valving in the shock resevoirs (for variable track conditions)
Variable angle front splitter ""
Variable angle rear wing ""
Did I miss any of those communist-*** variables?
I don't like the Nissan GTR's Atessa all-wheel-drive system, that lets any idiot bury his foot in the throttle from the apex all the way to corner exit, and it apportions the torque for maximum grip and exit speed. That's how a 3900 pound, ~500 hp pig does a 7:24 on the Ring, with computerized torque vectoring. That's just too damm lame, too much computer control. The driver is just a putz, piloting a computerized car. Almost doesn't even need a driver, like a Google driverless-car they got going around now.
Torque vectoring diffs aren't as bad, not as obvious, but still leave less to the driver's skill.
Cushioned seats are definitely out, those are just for sissys with soft backsides. Real-man cars have wooden benches.
