Wow! I have a V10!

[AHudson777]

After years of 'other' sports car ownership, yesterday I traded my Porsche 996tt for an '00 GTS Viper. Big time 'wow'.

I wanted one when they originally came out, loved the body style and menacing V10. I watched this board for a while to see what I might be getting into... so a belated 'thanks' for the help.

My car is Steel Grey Pearlcoat, Cognac (1 of 38 says the Registry) with 10,080 miles. A steel grey rocket.

Couple questions - My Michelin PS2s are the originals, and with the LEAST provocation in a turn I can break the rear loose. The tires are CLOSE but not to the wear bars, pressure is 22 (a bit low, but still...) Once the car is hooked, it hangs fine, but my right foot is having to 'retrain' itself in a late apex throttle. No kidding, I'd be a little nervous driving in the rain.

Is this normal? Are PS2s this way? Has 7 years hardened the tires to the point of becoming ice skates?

Next, involving the wheels - - mine are stock, polished. This may sound like heresy, but can I paint those wheels... or is that really chrome? I'm a little conservative and the highly polished wheels - to my eye - would look better simply painted Argent Silver. Please don't send me hate mail! Just checking options.

Thanks in advance. Oh, and I LOVE the car. Each day I get more used to it, and the looks, sound, and relative rarity keep me very interested in improving this car as I can.

 

[viperDoug]

Congrats! You may want to seriously consider new tires. They are pretty old.

 

[JUCD VPR]

First thing, get used to the car and take it easy. Don't get SNAKE BITTEN, but i'm sure you have a good bit of experience after driving a TT Porsche but this IS a totally different animal and drives completely different from any other car.

Get rid of those old tires and get new ones. Are they PS1's or 2's? IF their 2's then they should be new. Anyway if their 7 years old, get new ones ASAP!

Have fun, be safe, and WELCOME to the family!

 

[Y2K5SRT]

Congratulations! That is one of the best-looking color combinations out there. We went ahead and upgraded your title to Viper Owner on the site. Your next upgrade should be here:

http://forums.viperclub.org/new-owner-questions/603453-new-viper-owner-time-join-vca.html

As for the tires, I would swap 'em out after you get used to driving with them as-is. Why? It will make you a bit more cautious which is strongly encouraged with new owners. You will find that new rubber will definitely stick better and you have some different choices on brand/wear ratings. Check with sponsors such as Parts Rack for pricing.

The wheels come from the factory on your car as polished. That said, it's your car and you can do whatever you like - even if it was chromed you could get 'em painted. Sounds like an interesting color for the wheel - post pictures if you have an example and you will get LOTS of feedback.

Again, congrats on the new car and post some pictures when you get a chance. It sounds awesome!

 

[JUCD VPR]

Just like Y2K5SRT said. Jon B at parts rack is the guy to call for tires. Just don;t call on grumpy Mondays hehe

 

[All Blue ACR]

Welcome, you will find that new car must different than you previous car....I did.

Pictures???

 

[01ACR/VIPER]

Congrats. and those tires if original are ps1 not ps2.

 

[ViperJay]

share the joy, man!

 

[AHudson777]

Man, I was away from here for a whole 30 minutes and lo and behold.... ANSWERS! Yes, I know I'm supposed to post pics immediately if not sooner, but honestly I've owned the car for less than 24 hours and it's not ready for its close-up yet!

I agree that the color is humbly the best color in the entire world, bar none (AIIEE! GET THE FLAME EXTINGUISHER!) but am taking the rest of the advice: 1) Be careful 'til you get used to it, 2) Swap the tires out, and most importantly 3) Be careful 'til you get use to it.

I've got a date with the Dodge dealer already (!) for an AC hose that quit hosing AC, then it's off to do some tire shopping.

Can't wait to do some subtle 'reversible' mods. I'll post pics, I promise!

 

[agentf1]

As everybody said, get some new tires. I hear Jon B at Parts Rack has some incredible prices on the PS2's. Thats where I will be going for mine when I need them.

The wheels are polishes and then clear coated. Since it sounds like you are into tracking you may want to put those wheels away as they are and buy a set of ACR BBS wheels that come in silver and are even lighter/better for the track. I know the ACR wheels are very expensive so I am guessing you can pick up some similar BBS wheels much cheaper, another Jon B question.

Congrats, that Steel Gray is an awesome color. That is the color that made me fall in love with the Viper.

 

[AFL in NJ]

Congrats on the beautiful car, you're gonna love driving it! Agree with everyone here, JonB at PartsRack is the man for getting a new set of PS2's that will help with the traction problem. Please post some pics of your new baby whenever possible!

Regards,
Aaron

 

[mike & juli]

Congratulations, AHudson777...00GTS...Steel Grey---TOTALLY BADASP!!! Yes, pics when you can please!!! Now you can upgrade yourself to VCA Member!!! ENJOY~~~~juli

 

[AHudson777]

I can only presume that JonB is in fact related to every person on this site! Man, I should bribe my customers as well! Awesome response, and by the way, Brother JonB did email me back with a PS2 price...

Soon as I get my 2nd mortgage papers in, I'll own 'em. KIDDING!

He was actually more reasonable than the other 'big time tire store with a rack'. He made a good suggestion on another issue I'm having.

His word about my current tire issue vs. the PS2 was "transformatoin". I'm ready to be transformed.

Thanks guys. And if you've got other suggestions on how to impress my new mistress (the car) in the reversible mod department, I'm all ears... and a Discover Card!

 

[mike & juli]

Yes, the suggestion is: Join us in the VCA club!!! You belong totally!!! Glad JonB helped you, no surprise there!! And, as far as I recall, JonB actually does business WITH TireRack/Luke. Grab your PS2's from Jon while he has 'em!! Welcome aboard! ~juli

 

[AHudson777]

Wait, I think I get the hint - - I should call JonB for a Membership to the Michelin Site. No, wait, I should join the Viper Club and get FREE TIRES! Wait, that's not it - I should call JonB for tires AND Join the Viper Club. I GOT IT! Done and done. Thanks all, it's fun already.

Soon, I shall walk to the parking deck, start a certain V10 powered monster lurking therein, and then slide sideways (on teflon coated Michelins) in front of suited professoinals who wish I'd just grow up. Not a chance.

 

[Venomiss]

Welcome! Now you need to start thinking about some personalized plates:
OOH LA LA
NVR2OLD

Ideas to get you started.....

 

[mike & juli]

Wait, I think I get the hint - - I should call JonB for a Membership to the Michelin Site. No, wait, I should join the Viper Club and get FREE TIRES! Wait, that's not it - I should call JonB for tires AND Join the Viper Club. I GOT IT! Done and done. Thanks all, it's fun already.
Soon, I shall walk to the parking deck, start a certain V10 powered monster lurking therein, and then slide sideways (on teflon coated Michelins) in front of suited professoinals who wish I'd just grow up. Not a chance.[/quote]

Yepper, just like the rest of us...glad you're having fun with us~~it's great having you onboard!!! ~juli

 

[AHudson777]

Okay, I'm an OFFICIAL MEMBER (illustrating that your member qualifications are way too low) AND a VENOM MEMBER which entitles me to something, and something else, that must be worth more than the $50 upgrade.

In the first 14 seconds, it was worth $25 to Brother JonB from whom I've scored the "transormational" Michelins, some smooth tubes, aluminum switchgear and, well, that was enough. I have to go lie down now.

AS A SUGGESTION TO AN AWESOME CLUB: Seems it'd be an easy-ish task in this electron driven world to alert Vendors of our "Club" Status via an email that said, "NAME, STATE, CAR" or something not horribly revealing but nonetheless valid to earn "stated" discount. Now I have to wait on the credentials, mail something, call someone or do other things my aging memory would rather not. Again, a suggestion to a mighty organization on becoming even better.

Glad to be part of this. Carry on,

 

[Venomiss]

Okay, I'm an OFFICIAL MEMBER (illustrating that your member qualifications are way too low) AND a VENOM MEMBER which entitles me to something, and something else, that must be worth more than the $50 upgrade.

In the first 14 seconds, it was worth $25 to Brother JonB from whom I've scored the "transormational" Michelins, some smooth tubes, aluminum switchgear and, well, that was enough. I have to go lie down now.

AS A SUGGESTION TO AN AWESOME CLUB: Seems it'd be an easy-ish task in this electron driven world to alert Vendors of our "Club" Status via an email that said, "NAME, STATE, CAR" or something not horribly revealing but nonetheless valid to earn "stated" discount. Now I have to wait on the credentials, mail something, call someone or do other things my aging memory would rather not. Again, a suggestion to a mighty organization on becoming even better.

Glad to be part of this. Carry on,

I can understand and hope you like the club-The particulars have been explained to our Vendors about the discount list and they realize the club can't give out personal information. Rather then go against our by-laws we have come up with a good solution. May take a bit more time-so please be patient. There's a reason for everything.

Your member number and credentials do take a while to arrive so don't be alarmed.

Have you met any other Viper owners in your area?
Here's a helpful site for the Al/TN region:

Viper Club of America Alabama-Tennessee

 

[JonB]

Okay, I'm an OFFICIAL MEMBER (illustrating that your member qualifications are way too low) AND a VENOM MEMBER which entitles me to something, and something else, that must be worth more than the $50 upgrade.

In the first 14 seconds, it was worth $25 to Brother JonB........

AS A SUGGESTION TO AN AWESOME CLUB: Seems it'd be an easy-ish task in this electron driven world to alert Vendors of our "Club" Status via an email that said, "NAME, STATE, CAR" or something not horribly revealing but nonetheless valid to earn "stated" discount. Now I have to wait on the credentials, mail something, call someone or do other things my aging memory would rather not. Again, a suggestion to a mighty organization on becoming even better. Glad to be part of this. Carry on,

You COUL'DA had a V-8 !!! Thanks for your order today and WELCOME. Thanks also for joining the VCA and the Venom support level. As soon as you have your VCA-Venom credentials we can begin the discount program. {VCA cannot tell us who joined.}

{I believe you joined Venom, and LOVE your Electron World comment. We hope the VCA will trust Sponsors with last names/initials only, so we can give the benefits RIGHT NOW. VCA members obviously want the discounts. If we sent coupons as suggested, the workload increases exponentially. They could be sold, transferred, lost, copied, and, gadzooks, ebayed! The coupon would NOT prove Venom Priviliges. Only the skeleton list would prove eligibility. Please make this EZ ? We cannot call JRT 400 times as also suggested earlier....

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

Seems to me that if someone was one of the 1st 100 Venom members, they wouldnt mind Jon B and Big Brakes Dave having their info. Why not have JRT ask the 1st 100 if they object to their name being given to Jon or Dave (thus forfeiting their credit)??

 

[Viper Wizard]

Welcome and Congrats!

 

[Paul Hawker]

You will also want to pump your tires up to 29lbs all around. (Good starting pressure)

While Porsche's are fast, they have nothing on the Vipers in the torque department.

Till you get used to the torque consider keeping the wheels straight ahead under full throttle.

 

[mike & juli]

Ahudson777: Absolutely LOVE your humor!!! Glad you've joined the 'BEST' club and everything will sort itself out...patience, patience!!!! You are gonna fit RIGHT in here!~juli

 

[AHudson777]

You COUL'DA had a V-8 !!! Thanks for your order today and WELCOME. Thanks also for joining the VCA and the Venom support level. As soon as you have your VCA-Venom credentials we can begin the discount program. {VCA cannot tell us who joined.}

{I believe you joined Venom, and LOVE your Electron World comment. We hope the VCA will trust Sponsors with last names/initials only, so we can give the benefits RIGHT NOW. VCA members obviously want the discounts. If we sent coupons as suggested, the workload increases exponentially. They could be sold, transferred, lost, copied, and, gadzooks, ebayed! The coupon would NOT prove Venom Priviliges. Only the skeleton list would prove eligibility. Please make this EZ ? We cannot call JRT 400 times as also suggested earlier....

I already have a V8 (and a V12 for that matter). I like counting by twos... so I NEEDED a V10 to complete the sequence, which is the best line I could come up to justify the Viper to my wife. It didn't work that good, so I really don't suggest it. She's a loving and supportive person (though awful taste in men) who has endured this hobby/hubby for 22 years.

Okay, enough personal asides.

I didn't mean to start a storm, only a spark to jump the VCA benefits into the even faster lane. This is a platinum-tipped, high octane club; waiting weeks for the benefits to materialize is for 4-bangers. NOT A COMPLAINT; a suggestion. (I own a marketing company and occasionally get paid for harsh, but loving suggestions. Same thing here.)

Went out to my Viper this morning and inspected my tires. They are NOT PS2s as my originally misguided post said - and was duly corrected - but merely "Sports". (PS2s on my traded car, thus the confusion.)Further, when I looked between the treads, there is visible 'cracking'; ever-so-fine but there. I half expected to see the cracks oozing Vaseline based on how it handles now, but I'll accept that these have become 7 year old Bakelite masquerading as radials.

If anyone has any ACR wheels that you're just sick of tripping over in your garage, you can PM me.

hudson777: Absolutely LOVE your humor!!! Glad you've joined the 'BEST' club and everything will sort itself out...patience, patience!!!! You are gonna fit RIGHT in here!~juli....

Hi Juli, we must share a gene defect! Thanks for the comment AND the welcome. The Bible reminds us that patience is a virtue, but Einstein said it was all relative. So perhaps "relative patience" is goal-worthy is this greatly accelerated world.

Great club. Can't wait for my toys to arrive!

 

[mike & juli]

I already have a V8 (and a V12 for that matter). I like counting by twos... so I NEEDED a V10 to complete the sequence, which is the best line I could come up to justify the Viper to my wife. It didn't work that good, so I really don't suggest it. She's a loving and supportive person (though awful taste in men) who has endured this hobby/hubby for 22 years.
Okay, enough personal asides.
I didn't mean to start a storm, only a spark to jump the VCA benefits into the even faster lane. This is a platinum-tipped, high octane club; waiting weeks for the benefits to materialize is for 4-bangers. NOT A COMPLAINT; a suggestion. (I own a marketing company and occasionally get paid for harsh, but loving suggestions. Same thing here.)
Went out to my Viper this morning and inspected my tires. They are NOT PS2s as my originally misguided post said - and was duly corrected - but merely "Sports". (PS2s on my traded car, thus the confusion.)Further, when I looked between the treads, there is visible 'cracking'; ever-so-fine but there. I half expected to see the cracks oozing Vaseline based on how it handles now, but I'll accept that these have become 7 year old Bakelite masquerading as radials.
If anyone has any ACR wheels that you're just sick of tripping over in your garage, you can PM me.
Great club. Can't wait for my toys to arrive!

Man, I have nothing productive to offer here other than I am THOROUGHLY enjoying your very very funny, humorous posts~~~AND, BTW: Your V-12? Is that a Northstar engine? (XLR comes to mind? Caddy? One of my faves)
Your V-8? A Vette? Just curious, as we have a V-6, V-8, V-10 and I have no clue what is in the Freightliner FL70!!! Hope your SO enjoys your passions as well as both of us here do~~~VIPERS!!!! CARS!!!! LOL...enjoy...and yeah, gotta get those tires from JonB!! ~juli

 

[Venomiss]

I already have a V8 (and a V12 for that matter). I like counting by twos... so I NEEDED a V10 to complete the sequence, which is the best line I could come up to justify the Viper to my wife. It didn't work that good, so I really don't suggest it. She's a loving and supportive person (though awful taste in men) who has endured this hobby/hubby for 22 years.

Okay, enough personal asides.

I didn't mean to start a storm, only a spark to jump the VCA benefits into the even faster lane. This is a platinum-tipped, high octane club; waiting weeks for the benefits to materialize is for 4-bangers. NOT A COMPLAINT; a suggestion. (I own a marketing company and occasionally get paid for harsh, but loving suggestions. Same thing here.)

Went out to my Viper this morning and inspected my tires. They are NOT PS2s as my originally misguided post said - and was duly corrected - but merely "Sports". (PS2s on my traded car, thus the confusion.)Further, when I looked between the treads, there is visible 'cracking'; ever-so-fine but there. I half expected to see the cracks oozing Vaseline based on how it handles now, but I'll accept that these have become 7 year old Bakelite masquerading as radials.

If anyone has any ACR wheels that you're just sick of tripping over in your garage, you can PM me.



Hi Juli, we must share a gene defect! Thanks for the comment AND the welcome. The Bible reminds us that patience is a virtue, but Einstein said it was all relative. So perhaps "relative patience" is goal-worthy is this greatly accelerated world.

Great club. Can't wait for my toys to arrive!

Rest assured you started no storm at all and we love suggestions and new ideas.
Once you get a member number be sure to send it to one of the moderators to update your status. Be sure to check out new owner questions if you haven't already.
Looking forward to pictures!

 

[mike & juli]

Hi Juli, we must share a gene defect! Thanks for the comment AND the welcome. The Bible reminds us that patience is a virtue, but Einstein said it was all relative. So perhaps "relative patience" is goal-worthy is this greatly accelerated world.
Great club. Can't wait for my toys to arrive!

LOL--I consider it a mutated gene that MUST be cloned!!! You are VERY welcome...absolutely love your humor and enthusiasm. Keep us posted on the toys~~!
(Relatively-Impatient...always...tho, yes, I did stress patience---------------- for YOU~~ ) ~juli

 

[AHudson777]

Man, I have nothing productive to offer here other than I am THOROUGHLY enjoying your very very funny, humorous posts~~~AND, BTW: Your V-12? Is that a Northstar engine? (XLR comes to mind? Caddy? One of my faves)
Your V-8? A Vette? Just curious, as we have a V-6, V-8, V-10 and I have no clue what is in the Freightliner FL70!!! Hope your SO enjoys your passions as well as both of us here do~~~VIPERS!!!! CARS!!!! LOL...enjoy...and yeah, gotta get those tires from JonB!! ~juli

You've got quite a stash of cylinders there!

Well, I got rid of my 6cylinder car (the Porsche 996tt) but the V-8 is a 74 Pantera (one-owner 'til I got it, sent it to Roush for subtle things, still considered 'stock') and the 12 is an 84 Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer (very late injected car).

Both are mid-engined cars of course which is why the Viper is a very different machine for me. I haven't had an engine in the front of a performance car for awhile (does my Tundra count? I think not!)

New tires are on their way. So be watching ebay for, "7 year old Michelins Made Entirely of Black Porcelain" which may get bids due to such rarity!

Have a great weekend... mine'll partly be spent under the Viper hood cleaning things and I can't wait!

 

[ViperJay]

before you mount those new tires we should start a betting pool. how long of a burn out will it take to blow the procelain tires? everyone toss in $5. if he has dry rot cracks like he says, ill say 70sec. this could be fun