1st gen Dodge Viper test drive (Repost for the weekday crowd)

"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53)
10/22/2018 at 10:50 • Filed to: None

I’ve decided to stop being lazy and write about the cars that I test drove this year; One of which I would like to own next year along with the Mini. I’ll make separate posts about all of them. All the cars are manuals w/ clutch. I’ll start with the car that I test drove last.

1994 Dodge Viper: 8.0L V10, 400bhp, 465Lb/FT 3400ish lb curb

Disclosure: The dealer only allowed me to take this around the block for a 10-15 minute test drive since (according to the salesman) they didn’t want to add miles to it (14000-ish miles on the clock)

It was late in the evening when I went to drive the Viper. Ambient temps around 60F. So there wasn’t heat for the tires anyways, add to that the tires were from 2005 (yikes!) and I was a bit uuum apprehensive.

This didn’t help with the nervousness

Anyways, we did the licence check and stuff, then me and the salesperson got into the Viper. The first thing that I noticed was how tiny the cabin is. Now, I daily a car named Mini so I thought I wouldn’t be surprised but yeah, the Viper snugly for a 5'10"170lb person. Next, the ergonomics are the pretty shit: the pedals are at an angle to your left (the seat is angled normally), the clutch is in your lap and the accelerator is on the floorboard.

Anyhow, I start it up and oooooh boy does the fun start! Even at idle the V10 sounds racy but almost like its an old engine from 50 years ago.

Driving out from the dealer’s lot, the clutch is lighter than my Mini’s (probably coz mine is old and squeaky) and easy to operate, it wasn’t jerky. The brake pedal moves a very tiny amount, you can still modulate the brake easily but instead of pedal movement it was based on the pressure that you apply to the pedal (IDK if this is the case for all Vipers) Also, there is very little room to move your elbows as you turn the steering, I had to keep my elbows almost horizontal to go a full lock with hitting the transmission tunnel. The way the roof meets the A pillar means there was a pretty sizable blindspot for me.

Out on the street, at about 10% throttle it’s almost like a normal sports car. The V10 was smoother than I expected and it didnt mind me cruising in 1st at 4000rpm (redline is at 6000 rpm). Shifting gears is nice and easy, a decent sized throw but smooth (not so smooth that you can’t feel it tho).

After getting used to it for about 5 minutes, I decided to see what it can do. 1st gear, 3000rpm, 50% throttle, wheelspin, upshift, 2500rpm, wheelspin, upshift, 2500rpm, wheelspin :D

The low-mid range torque is amazeballs! If the engine is turning more than 2200ish rpm, then it just keeps pulling all the way to redline. Once, I understood how much throttle is enough to avoid wheelspin, I did redline it in 1st and 2nd at about 65-75% throttle, it is very linear (as expected) and it sounds bonkers! I had to be pretty careful about going on the throttle: I couldn’t just put my foot down, I had to feather it in.

The chassis seemed to be decent as well. I did not do any hard cornering but I could feel it losing traction everytime and when it did loose traction it did not immediately try to go sideways, it seemed to give me some time to correct it. IDK about the steering feel since no hard cornering. The front end responds nicely tho, its quite darty. Ooh and the ride quality was OK-ish, certainly livable for me.

Overall it felt like a step above C5/C6 Vettes (I’ve test driven them as well) in terms of how difficult the Viper is to drive and how enjoyable it can be, it just isn’t anywhere near as comfortable as a Vette primarily coz of the shitty ergonomics. Would I like to own one next year? YES!

DISCUSSION (21)

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/20/2018 at 22:47

Are you gonna get a Viper?! That would be so exciting for all of us here.

I’ve driven an early build like that one, and it’s exactly as you describe. I’d also add that the brakes are woefully undersized for the horsepower (the first mod I’d make if I owned one) and the 80s headlight pull switch is hilarious.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
10/20/2018 at 22:52

I don’t know! I have about 15 cars on my list, one of which I would like to own next year...

I don’t even know what the 2nd car’s purpose is gonna be: daily, weekend, autocross or a mix of the 2...

All I know is that I'm getting another car next year and its gonna be RWD, stick and fun :)

MM54 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/20/2018 at 23:08

The brake pedal moves a very tiny amount, you can still modulate the brake easily but instead of pedal movement it was based on the pressure that you apply to the pedal

This is how it’s supposed to be. I can’t stand the numb floaty sponge shit in many new cars.

wafflesnfalafel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/20/2018 at 23:08

hmmm... it’s annoying the ergos are so junky ... I’d like to drive one at some point.

Gerry197 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/20/2018 at 23:24

It’s been described as a “big Miata” by many track rats, its very neutral and forgiving on the track which surprises a lot of people.

First gen Viper was practically a kit car in terms of build quality, but it didn’t stop it ( or at least the GTS version) from entering international racing and being very success.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MM54
10/20/2018 at 23:40

True.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > wafflesnfalafel
10/20/2018 at 23:42

Please do drive it! I think I would get used to the ergos fairly quickly, its just a matter of habit really. And anyways, the ergos are not insignificant compared to the whole package imo

WilliamsSW > MM54
10/20/2018 at 23:42

Ding ding ding! This is the correct answer!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Gerry197
10/20/2018 at 23:43

I read somewhere that 90% of the parts in the GTS are different from that of the R/T. That said, I dont really care about stuff like interior or lights and stuff going out. Now if the mechanical components are shit....

glemon > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/20/2018 at 23:48

Great review, kind of want a Viper now.

Gerry197 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/20/2018 at 23:49

Not sure about that, same gen RT and GTS shouldn’t have 90% parts differential other than the obvious like the roof.

What mechanical components you felt are shit?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > glemon
10/20/2018 at 23:52

Thanks! I’m usually bad at writing stuff...

Go test drive one!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Gerry197
10/20/2018 at 23:56

I’m not sure about that statement about 90% different.

I didnt felt anything to be bad. What I meant was if many of the mechanical components were know to be bad then I would not consider getting a Viper, my preliminary research does not indicate anything like this tho.

boxrocket > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/21/2018 at 00:29

I’ve driven a few Vipers of every generation (finally added the last-gen to my resume this past summer) and I would happily take one over a contemporary vette. Sure, the ergonomics and visibility are crap, but they aren’t much better (and sometimes worse) in the vette. The unique-size tires in the first gen would give me pause, and/or look for a compatible wheel to allow for a more -common tire size. I think the final-gen ones feel the most sorted and approachable, but that could be because they actually have some electronic nannies so feel more “modern”.

Gerry197 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/21/2018 at 00:57

Ah, I think I misread your statement, you said “now if the mechanical components were shit...”

I thought I read that “ they were shit” . Sometimes I read too fast.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Gerry197
10/21/2018 at 03:50

Nah, don't worry about it, I'm known to do similar stuff :)

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > boxrocket
10/21/2018 at 03:53

I drove a C5Z06 and a C6 base, the ergs very way better in those. I’m actually thinking about a SR2, they are a bit better from what I’ve heard.

The last gen may be more civilized but the whole point for me to consider a Viper instead of a Vette is that the Viper is more crazy. So I'll stick to the 1st and 2nd gen :)

boxrocket > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/21/2018 at 08:18

That sounds like a good plan.

My own money would probably have to go 2nd-gen. Even though the 1st-gen is more iconic and prettier (especially how they did the rear 3/4), the 2nd-gen is still unique and looks mean, and the updated interior feels more special (to me). Then again, I’d want to drive them all back-to-back-to-back, then of course there’s trim levels to sort out, finding the right color, service and usage history....

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > boxrocket
10/21/2018 at 11:03

I’m in no particular hurry to buy one, so I can take my time to find the perfect vehicle. Thanks for your input!

AfromanGTO > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/26/2018 at 12:57

Good write up. There’s a silver 4th Gen Viper at the audi dealer I am tempted to test drive. I have my heart set on a dark blue one though.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > AfromanGTO
10/26/2018 at 13:27

Thanks. Go test drive it , everyone should experience that V10 :)