Winding Road Article - Driven: 2014 SRT Viper TA - Great Review

[RSNAKE]

Finally a journalist to who gets it!!! Great review!

http://www.windingroad.com/articles/reviews/driven-2014-srt-viper-ta/

 

[Bruce H.]

Thanks for posting, but by my count there's now been one very flattering TA review written for every TA built

 

[SnakeBitten]

Another great TA article. I think I've read only one iffy review about the TA so far. That in itself is incredible considering the disdain most (geared toward comfort) automotive journalists have toward the Viper in general. The stiffer more track focused Viper TA is the one they love not the more comfortable, only off by .5 a lap around Laguna, GTS model. Pondering that may give you an aneurysm.

 

[PeerBlock]

I would have expected the TA to have been more stripped down than it is, perhaps offered with a lightweight battery and titanium exhaust. It seems like it's just a base Viper with a track pack, the CF parts and some suspension tweaks. Any Gen 5 owner can make their non-TA viper into one that matches or beats the TA in terms of performance...but it is difficult to pinpoint how much the orange paint and contrast stitching contributes to the TA's improved track times.

 

[Bryan Savage]

I would have expected the TA to have been more stripped down than it is, perhaps offered with a lightweight battery and titanium exhaust. It seems like it's just a base Viper with a track pack, the CF parts and some suspension tweaks. Any Gen 5 owner can make their non-TA viper into one that matches or beats the TA in terms of performance...but it is difficult to pinpoint how much the orange paint and contrast stitching contributes to the TA's improved track times.

Aside from the cosmetic parts, don't forget the 2-mode suspension. You can't get that on the "base" model. And I do believe the anti-roll bars and spring rates are exclusive as well.

Other than that I agree. There's a standard battery, air conditioning, and a pretty sweet sound system. If weight were really the enemy, I'd have thought there would have been an option to rid the car of all of that.

While a lightweight lithium battery would have seemed like a no-brainer to me, the other two would make the car ******** enough that you might as well strip the carpet and sat-nav too. It would be really easy to remove all the comforts out without much real weight savings. Vipers don't really have a reputation of being really comfortable places to spend time, and doing this certainly wouldn't help the clientele or magazine reviews. The new Z/28 sounds like a horrible place to spend time, but for some reason, journalists love it. Most already have a tough enough time liking the Viper, having a one-speaker radio wouldn't help any.

Now that the C7 Z06's numbers are released, and we anticipate the Hellcat's numbers to trump the Viper, maybe the Viper ACR will become a reality, Dodge will add some more power and get even more aggressive with the weight savings. But heck, at these levels, it's 97% bench racing anyway. I doubt many people would notice an extra ten or twenty horsepowers anyway.

 

[cashcorn]

^^^^Hellcat's numbers to trump the Viper.. Not a chance! Less hp more weight..

 

[cashcorn]

Great review thought!!

 

[VRYALT3R3D]

Aside from the cosmetic parts, don't forget the 2-mode suspension. You can't get that on the "base" model. And I do believe the anti-roll bars and spring rates are exclusive as well.

It is now optional on the SRT trim with the grand touring package for 2014.

SRT® Viper Grand Touring Package

The new Grand Touring Package is highlighted by grand touring-focused amenities previously available only with the SRT® Viper GTS. Handling and ride capability is expanded with the addition of a two-mode Bilstein® DampTronic Select suspension — Sport and Track modes, which can be adjusted on-the-fly. An intelligent five-mode Electronic Stability Control System is paired with the two-mode suspension to match nearly every road condition and driver capability. Sabelt® sport seats are upgraded to premium Nappa leather and are available in classic black, elegant caramel or sport-themed red. They are designed for both grand touring adventures and an occasional track-day. Color options for Grand Touring Package vehicles include Venom Black, the all-new Stryker Green and Billet Silver.

$7,500 – SRT Viper only

 

[viperbilliam]

I'm wondering how much quieter the GTS interior is compared to the SRT with its insulation pkg.

 

[Bryan Savage]

^^^^Hellcat's numbers to trump the Viper.. Not a chance! Less hp more weight..

Remember the 6.1 Hemi? It came out at 425hp. Then the Chevy Camaro SS came with 426.

Then the ZR-1 had 638hp. And then the 2013 Viper had 640.

Then the GT500 had 662. And the ZL-1 "only" had 580, and now the Z/28 has 505. Racetrack, smaashtrack. 662 > 505.

To win the Camaro/Mustang/Challenger horsepower wars, the Hellcat needs more than 662. If it doesn't, it better have a better power/weight ratio or be faster at the track, like the Z/28 is. I wouldn't mind if the Hellcat has more than the Viper, because it's also got an extra 500-600 pounds. But you know how people are. It's got to be able to brag.

It is now optional on the SRT trim with the grand touring package for 2014.

SRT® Viper Grand Touring Package

The new Grand Touring Package is highlighted by grand touring-focused amenities previously available only with the SRT® Viper GTS. Handling and ride capability is expanded with the addition of a two-mode Bilstein® DampTronic Select suspension — Sport and Track modes, which can be adjusted on-the-fly. An intelligent five-mode Electronic Stability Control System is paired with the two-mode suspension to match nearly every road condition and driver capability. Sabelt® sport seats are upgraded to premium Nappa leather and are available in classic black, elegant caramel or sport-themed red. They are designed for both grand touring adventures and an occasional track-day. Color options for Grand Touring Package vehicles include Venom Black, the all-new Stryker Green and Billet Silver.

$7,500 – SRT Viper only

Good call on the GT package, but I have no idea if the two-mode in the TA is the same as the GTS, or if it's the same as the GT. Just because they have the same number of modes doesn't mean squat to me. I'll likely never be able to drive anyone else's back-to-back.

I'm wondering how much quieter the GTS interior is compared to the SRT with its insulation pkg.

Anyone have decibel meters? Shouldn't be too tough to generate some data on that...

 

[kdaviper]

It is now optional on the SRT trim with the grand touring package for 2014.

SRT® Viper Grand Touring Package

The new Grand Touring Package is highlighted by grand touring-focused amenities previously available only with the SRT® Viper GTS. Handling and ride capability is expanded with the addition of a two-mode Bilstein® DampTronic Select suspension — Sport and Track modes, which can be adjusted on-the-fly. An intelligent five-mode Electronic Stability Control System is paired with the two-mode suspension to match nearly every road condition and driver capability. Sabelt® sport seats are upgraded to premium Nappa leather and are available in classic black, elegant caramel or sport-themed red. They are designed for both grand touring adventures and an occasional track-day. Color options for Grand Touring Package vehicles include Venom Black, the all-new Stryker Green and Billet Silver.

$7,500 – SRT Viper only

The grand touring mode has a race and street setup, whereas the TA has smooth track and rough track settings; the TA's settings are spaced closer together.