by "Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
Published 01/13/2017 at 13:03
by "Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
Published 01/13/2017 at 13:03
Tags: Dodge
; Viper
; RT/10
STARS: 10
A friend has always wanted a Viper, and he will soon be able to afford one.
So I rented one on Turo to tease him with. 1994 RT/10 roadster with the OG 3-spoke alloys and no safety devices beyond seat belts. No ABS (in fact, the brakes felt rather weak), no airbags. It did have power steering. Odo read 50k miles.
We had the roof off and the detachable windows detached—the mechanism is hilariously crude, just insert into two slots on the window sill. The Targa top was also an afterthought; it did not mount flush with any bodywork.
The pedals are severely offset to the left, so I slammed the brake instead of the clutch once.
I think it handles more responsively than my F355, but the inadequate brakes are quite scary.
The torque is everywhere. Unlike my car which is lifeless below 4000 RPM, this thing feels like it could step out at any moment with a careless right foot.
Friend was impressed, so I’d call that a success. We had the car for about two hours.
"J_P_Cars10s" (jpcars10s)
01/13/2017 at 13:04, STARS: 2
Headlight switch shared with the TJ Wrangler!
"adamftw" (adamftw)
01/13/2017 at 13:07, STARS: 0
I was gonna say XJ/YJ, but that exact one should only be in early MY97 TJs, they switched to a more “round” one soon after.
"J_P_Cars10s" (jpcars10s)
01/13/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 0
Ahh. I had an early 98 TJ. Havent seen it in a few years though. Living that auto headlight life now.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
01/13/2017 at 13:11, STARS: 0
Same from a 1980's truck to Jeeps and even NEONS.
"adamftw" (adamftw)
01/13/2017 at 13:11, STARS: 0
The good life
"J_P_Cars10s" (jpcars10s)
01/13/2017 at 13:13, STARS: 1
The TJ and the Viper aren’t so different if you think about it...
"jimz" (jimz)
01/13/2017 at 13:16, STARS: 1
My uncle has had one for a long time. about 15 years ago when I was working for Alpine, I took it in to my workplace to upgrade the speakers and head unit. So, of course as I was getting ready to leave a large line of thunderstorms brewed up.
let’s just say the roof and side curtains don’t really seal well.
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
01/13/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 3
Just did a minor repair on a 2005 Viper. Beautiful vehicle, substantially more refined interior, but I personally prefer the original body.
Rear tire section width was obscene (and thats a 25oz can of water, not a 16):
"QCGoose" (chrismcfate)
01/13/2017 at 13:26, STARS: 0
One of my absolute favorite cars.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
01/13/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 0
Ha......at least it’s all plastic in there, anyway!
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
01/13/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 1
Still looks like nothing else on the road. Stellar car, every generation.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
01/13/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 1
“Water,” is that what they call it these days? And the one on the right is a box of veggies, correct?
All Vipers look special, but the original with the 3-spoke wheels really stands out the most.
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
01/13/2017 at 13:37, STARS: 0
My 1996 BMW has a pull switch like that haha. Its much bigger and cheaper looking, plus its right next to the instruments.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
01/13/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 1
Purity in purpose
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
01/13/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 2
Today’s terrible car companies design EXACTLY THE SAME as each other in ergonomics. SAD!
Did I do that right?
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
01/13/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 0
If I recall correctly, the engine is from a truck.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
01/13/2017 at 13:51, STARS: 1
According to Wikipedia, this is how the Viper block came to be:
LA-series “Magnum” iron block truck V8 as a baseline design
2 cylinders added
Chrysler enlisted the Lamborghini factory to re-cast this design in aluminium alloy (for obvious reasons)
Prototypes returned to Chrysler for mass production in alloy.
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
01/13/2017 at 15:22, STARS: 0
Comparatively speaking, it’s water :)
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
01/13/2017 at 16:55, STARS: 0
Yeah pretty much, for extra random dude on the internet points you should’ve said the Viper is basically an old E36.
"atfsgeoff" (atfsgeoff)
01/19/2017 at 17:59, STARS: 0
I like Viper wheels that show off the 6 lug pattern.
"B_dol" (bdolan40)
01/19/2017 at 19:19, STARS: 0
Turo Bay Area for the win! I might be using it soon to get some seat time in the M2 and Focus RS (seen the M2, not the RS) as dealers refuse to cooperate.