Okay, I offered my opinion, knowing that most (here at least) would disagree. However, the question was open-ended to any responders.
As far as racing with these transmissions go, it would be F1, WRC, German Touring Car, ALMS, Champ Car, Rolex Series, WTCC, FIA GT (1 & 2), LeMans (all divisions), British Touring Car, Grand Am (?) & IRL (?). Not all cars competing here are using sequential gearboxes, but a great number are. I guess lucky for them, it's an open option.
I'm not a mechnical engineer, and I know that R & D is inevitable, but there has been 2 European teams which have outfitted their Vipers with SMG transmissions with success. Also, I would think the best solution for DC, if it were contemplated, would to be to outsource the job to the likes of Xtrac, who has had huge successes in this arena already.
I think many of you may not be against SMG itself, but maybe just feel like adding it as an option would take away from the pureness of what the Viper has always been, making it less mechanico and more techno. This was the very same feeling that long time Ferrari owners had as well. Those who had owned many Ferrari's prior to the mid 90's were enraged by this new type of shifting being offered by Ferrari in its cars.
Now, 10 plus years later, buyers still have the option of chosing the transmission of their liking and those enraged multi-Ferrari owners now realize that being so against it before was really kind of silly.
It didn't take anything away from the Ferrari mystique, it just gave a different option to a broader group of people. The Viper would still be a Viper, but with an optional transmission for your choosing.
What about a SMG gearbox with a floor mounted stick shifter as an OPTION?
ps, I've read that VW has a SMG type system for the Golf called DSG (?) that's supposely outragous performing.
