Do You Want To Be Better Than Your Supercar?

"Road Magazine" (roadmag)
07/27/2014 at 15:05 • Filed to: srt viper

I keep reading about how unwanted the Dodge (can we call it that again?) SRT Viper is in the Supercar world. There is absolutely no doubt that the Sub $100k rival in the form of the C7 Corvette is proving hard to compete with, only looking to get even more dire when the Z06 hits showroom floors. Economics aside, I'm still struggling to understand why it's so hard to sell a car that is this unabashedly honest about what it is. Are all these "driver friendly" aided up performance cars taking their toll on on a genre of motoring that is slowly, and what seems to be quietly, disappearing.

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Not having driven one myself (more than happy to give it a try), it seems that the Viper is one of those cars that will quite regularly keep your ego in check and assert it's authority over you. Reminding you that if you do not show it the proper amount of respect, it will bite you. Admittedly this is an old school way to build a car, but it does seem to be a common trait amongst the greats.

You don't hear Journos or owners talking about the cars of this generation like that anymore. The most common theme is apparently "refinement" and "how easy it is to drive hard", that even when pushed, they feel "balanced" and "sharp". To me this means that any muppet that gets behind the wheel can drive it quite well, and close to, if not on, the limit. Is that what buyers want? To be able to conquer the beast that they have just purchased the first time out. Please don't think that I am taking anything away from how absolutely amazing some of these cars are, I'm more focused on the mind set of the buyers, and ultimately, the manufactures. Are they (the manufactures) looking to make Joe Blo feel like an expert every time he gets behind the wheel? I must say, that it's an admirable offer. You spend your hard earned dollars, and immediately get the satisfaction of being able to get in, take the car by the scruff of the neck and do what you want. Have your way with it, so to speak.

What about the driver who isn't interested in being better than the car? Who likes the challenge the the car throws right back at them every time they decide to push it. Knowing that an uncontrolled rush of blood to the head (or right foot) could lead to disaster. The person that believes that they are the "balance" and "refinement" of the performance of the car, not it to them. Are the demands of these buyers so small now, that they have been forgotten by the big marques? Relegated to the smaller "Boutique" performance car market. Perhaps this is just a reflection of today's society "Have all the fun you want, but we're going to take as much of the human element out of it as possible, you can't be trusted"

I can see the attraction of the Manufactures wanting to provide a car that anybody can love, because they can do what they see on TV/YouTube. Have less buyers afraid of them, therefore, more will buy them. It's sound logic. But just how far away are performance cars that you really can't put a foot wrong in? With fully automated vehicles on the not to distant horizon, one can only assume that the driver aids that will come standard on these types of vehicles will be that of the "nervous nanny" type. Meaning the driver will become less of a factor in how the car performs. The whole point of these cars is the thrill of driving them, and if you're not driving it, you're a passenger. I don't know about you, but I hate being a passenger on any given day in any given car.

I really hope that the issue with the Viper is just an economic one and not that buyers are shying away from a mutually respectful relationship with their Supercar.

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DISCUSSION (16)

shpuker > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 15:14

Sadly I'm beginning to think more and more that the less desirable of these options is the reality. People seemingly always look to the easy way out, and thus having to decide between mastering your vehicle within (relatively) moments of driving add opposed to gradually building your skill set, becomes almost a no brainer.

I think deep down there lies a bit of an ego trip as well. Generally people well off enough to afford these cars are used to bring the alfa male (or female) and don't want their car to hold the potential to embarrass them (parking lot stalls, bad shifts, etc).

Jedidiah > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 15:19

I agree. I drove a 2003 Viper for a bit. Truly amazing. It is a ridiculously honest toy for a masochist; and I respect that in our ever-increasingly idiot-friendly society. Driving and riding in it helped me decide what kind of cars I like best; stylish land yachts—you might as well go in style and comfort rather than backwards and on fire imho. Nothing else will ever compare to the Viper after you ride in it. It changes your perspectives about cars. The Sound. The Power. The Looks. Even if you decide you don't like the Viper, you still walk away impressed and have respect for it.

It was truly impressive and made me realize what a terrible driver I am. The clutch and shifter are very heavy and it has a stupid amount of power of the line. It doesn't matter what gear your in most of the time; it will still spin those big meats over and pull up stumps. It was unnerving at low city speeds. The ride was bone-jarring. I can see why Vipers are often low mile vehicles; people do not drive these often because it would shatter their spinal cord. The interior was hard plastic, which in this case is good. It allows you clean up vomit after you make yourself ill at autocross and feces when you scare yourself half to death on the road.

I don't think I'd ever own one because of how uncomfortable it is, but I respect them immensely. Unforgiving. Unapologetic. Epic.

WRXforScience > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 15:24

If you can afford them you don't have the skill to drive one. If you can handle it you won't buy it because you have a real racecar.

The viper is a gt car that isn't comfortable enough to be a gt car or a track car that is too expensive to be a track car.

Manuél Ferrari > shpuker
07/27/2014 at 15:26

This is my guess: slow Viper sales are proof that the world doesn't care about naturally aspirated engines anymore.

The Z06 will beat this car using forced induction. It will probably have much better lap times and specs. And people buy based on specs now, even though the majority of buyers do not track their cars or take them to drag strips. All most buyers care about is winning the argument at the bar or country club - "my car has better 0 to 60 times than yours, you douche bag".

People used to care about naturally aspirated power. But not only do a lot of people not care anymore, a lot of people would rather have forced induction now. The younger generation has grown up around cool turbo cars. Naturally aspirated power might be old-school to them.

Me I'd rather have the Viper. Big naturally aspirated V10 is scarier and more exotic. It might kill me but at least I'll die with a smile on my face.

DanZman > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 15:26

Wow, great article. I cannot agree more! I think that the issue is that people who want the characteristics you are describing cannot afford these cars. While the people with the money want a status symbol that wont embarrass them in front of their friends.

Axial > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 15:37

Price is a problem; it's a $100k car that is attached to a brand not known for building great cars, let alone great $100k cars. You know why the C6 ZR1 worked? Its sales were super low, but it was heavily subsidized by the sales of the lesser trim levels. The Viper doesn't get that support.

Maybe the Viper does need a V8 option.

JR1 > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 16:08

I still think and will continue to think that until the Viper gets an auto or dual clutch the sales will languish. Ralph Gillies is an awesome old school back to basics automotive exec but even he has to occasionally go with the times.

GhostZ > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 16:31

It's because the Viper's demographic is now buying these:

Kinja'd!!!

I think that's what's killing the Viper. The people who bought them weren't buying them for the features, but for the look, uniqueness, and raw speed. All of this is a lot easier to obtain (thanks to the boom in restomods) with older classic cars that are rebuilt into racers. And most importantly, it's about the same price to do it too.

Back in the 90s and early 2000s in the Viper's heyday, these things weren't popular or even remotely cheap to build unless you could fabricate everything yourself. Nowadays there are so many parts available that weren't just a few decades prior that hardcore guys would rather have a shop throw together something unique than get a Viper.

So Dodge is trying to compete with Corvette and Porsche, but that just isn't their market. They got too heavily invested in the hardcore "be different" powerful racer image that they can't now jump into the fancy-aspirational-sports car market.

Convincing someone to buy a Viper, I think, is easy. Just show them this video:

If they don't want to buy a Viper after that, they don't understand the car.

trmoore09 > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 17:41

If I had $100k to spend on a car, I would be heading straight to Dodge to get a Viper. Win the lottery? Going straight to Dodge. I've always been a viper fan and my next weekend car will be a viper. Whether it's a $40k 04 whitrmamba or a 2015 viper, or somewhere in between depending on what my budget is, it'll be a Viper.

signintoburnerlol > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 21:20

There's a lot of good choices for around $100K

Viper isn't for everyone, so i can understand the slow sales.

9brghtn4 > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 21:34

There's been so much epicness fading away in the last 10 years or so. It seems like none of the legendary sports cars / supercars makers are at the top of their game. Nobody knows where they're going, nobody remembers where they come from. Electronic bullshit, artificial, I'm beggining to think we're only left with a torque-anemic BRZ.

RD > Road Magazine
07/27/2014 at 22:07

Great article - When even "enthusiasts" make all kinds of excuses for buying autos (don't care if your car has flappy paddles - it's an auto), it now makes sense that Viper sales are slow. - buying an honest car makes it hard to lie to to yourself.

This is even worse when you consider this Viper is much softer than the previous versions.

trmoore09 > trmoore09
07/28/2014 at 09:33

EDIT: I meant to say "white mamba"

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Road Magazine
08/02/2014 at 16:49

Personally...I like them but I hate the way they sound. Just awful. I could never have one for that reason.

adonyc2014 > Road Magazine
08/14/2014 at 17:58

When will Road Magazine feature articles about cars the author has actually driven? Jeez

Haig > GhostZ
08/15/2014 at 19:14

The fact that a car wants to kill you is not a feature.

If your other options allow you to explore your limits as a driver before you reach the limits of the car, that's a feature.

In my case, I would prefer a better car.

I'm sure I could drive around a Viper on the street without killing myself but most cars would perform that task with much less drama.