Tackling A 2014 Viper On The Track: A Scary Proposition

"Torque Affair" (torqueaffair) 02/15/2015 at 12:13 • Filed to: VIPER

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One word came to mind as I found myself in the driver's seat of this orange 2014 Viper: terrifying.

This was the "Time Attack" edition meaning that it was built specifically to be even faster around the track than the regular version. This car is ready to eat you alive unless you really know what you're doing.

Oh God.

What was I doing driving this??

Clearly this was way more car than I could handle - an 8.4L V10 animal that sounds like an angry lion pumping out 640 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

As I drove this car around the track like a scared 5-year old, I kept thinking "Please don't crash", "Please don't crash", "Please don't crash"...

Luckily I didn't crash.

I'm only exaggerating. Fortunately there wasn't much to crash into - the track had no walls or barriers and the pavement was surrounded by lots of grassy fields.

Driving around the track in 3rd and 4th gear was enough for me to get just a little taste of what the Viper has to offer. There was plenty of speed and torque for me to enjoy myself thoroughly.

Then it came time for me to hand the car over to someone who truly knows what they're doing - the Stig.

The Ride Along

No, it wasn't the Stig. It was James, co-founder of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! who took me for a ride to show me what the Viper can do.

While he was thrashing the car around on the track, I was getting tossed around like a ragdoll. The regular seat-belt was pointless and so I grabbed a hold of the bar on the center console as tightly as I could ( which is why it exists) to hold me in place. But that didn't work and my neck started to hurt as I strained to counteract the G-forces and tried hard to stabilize myself. It was rough but one of the best track experiences I've had thus far. I couldn't believe how much grip the car had around turns.

Being on the track in the Viper in hands of an expert like James was more thrilling than any roller coaster I've been on and was the closest thing to a racecar that I've encountered.

It rocked!

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

The new Viper is one of the most beautiful cars out on the road today - if you actually happen to see one of course .

My wife, who could care less about cars responded with this text after I sent her a picture of the car.

Even a non-auto enthusiast can recognize a good looking car when they see one!

In addition to the good looking exterior, the interior of this Viper is so much better than anything you've seen in earlier generation Vipers that are filled with loads of cheap plastic. The quality, fit and finish of this 2014 Viper are great.

You'll be pleasantly surprised to find some modern technology in this car - like this rear view camera for example. The lines bend when you turn the steering wheel to guide you out of the spot. Good - you need it because y ou can't see anything out of the rear window of the car anyway.

Here is some more tech - an all-digital tach in the center on a 7-inch screen that shows other info like tire pressure etc. Apparently a snake pops up in the middle of the tach when you hit a certain rpm level but I never saw it.

Vipers have come a long way.

If you were blindfolded, put in this car and then allowed to look around, you would never think that you were in a Viper (assuming you didn't look at the badging or other Viper-related cues).

I think I was as impressed by the interior as I was with its track performance - mostly because I wasn't expecting a Viper to be this good on the inside.

Driving The Viper Is Not Easy

After managing to wiggle myself onto the driver's seat I found myself behind a humongous 8.4L V10 with a hood that was a mile long. I was sitting on top of incredibly loud exhaust pipes and was inches away from the rear wheels.

When the SRT group designed and built this car it's clear that people were an afterthought. Their philosophy must have been - " build the car first, then cram the people in. "

As I was getting in, I accidentally floored the gas pedal of the idling Viper which resulted in the V10 unexpectedly roaring to life.

It was so loud.

Immediately, I got some dirty looks from the people around me, with their dogs scampering away, thinking that I was showing off...but hey I didn't do this on purpose !

The Viper is so wide and hood is so long that I found a hard time getting used to its dimensions. I was out in rush hour traffic in tight, narrow lanes and the last thing I wanted to do was either graze the vehicle next to me or hit the curb.

I think I picked the worst day and time to drive this vehicle - 5 pm on a Tuesday.

The visibility is incredibly limited and when driving you need to be utterly observant of everything around you. There are plenty of blind spots and the Viper attracts so much attention that you can see people straining to take pictures on their phones so that they can immediately post them on Facebook with the following status update: " Badass ride, fo sheezy."

And while they're doing this you run the danger of them not paying attention and accidentally crashing into you.

Despite the fact that I couldn't quite get comfortable driving the Viper, I found the throttle response to be just right because it was actually possible for me to drive this beast around town without letting the 600 lb-ft of torque catching me off guard. I expected it to be more challenging to control this beast but it turned out to be surprisingly tractable.

I've always wondered why more people haven't bought this car and now understand why. It's kind of a struggle to drive this around town because of the limited visibility and you have to tweak your driving style because the front end of the car sticks out much further than most vehicles.

And if you're only test driving this for a short period of time you are never able to achieve a level of comfort because it takes a while to get used to it.

The 640 hp Viper is entirely too much for the occasional track day because the track experience is far from effortless. The car can still get away from you and continually demands a ton of respect from the driver.

Finally, even with all the refinements, it's still a harsh ride.

So you end up taking your $100K+ to go buy something else.

However, if you do end up buying this Viper and only drive it on regular roads it's like keeping a tiger imprisoned in a zoo. It's just not right. I wouldn't even recommend buying this car unless you plan on taking it to the track because that is ultimately where this car belongs.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is about exploring my fascination with cars; I'm always on the lookout for things that interest me in the car world. Like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and follow !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Torque Affair 02/15/2015 at 12:47

2

The most appropriate anthem to play while driving this thing ought to be Danger Zone.

PS9 > Torque Affair 02/15/2015 at 13:00

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* puts on flat brim hat*

LOL 'like a 5 year old' yur a totaal pussy ass bitch bro. I would have redlined it past 10k RPM, apexed every turn, and beat the top track record while jumping out of the roof and 360 noscope-ing an ISIS Terrorist on his way to blow up a porta-potty. After that I would have become a national hero and get to bang JLaw. You could have too, but because you pussified the track, the car, the terrorist, and the whole country, you'll never get to bang JLaw now. Sucks to be you, bro.

* Chugs 5 Monster Energy drinks, dies of a heart attack*

QCGoose > Torque Affair 02/15/2015 at 13:41

6

The 5th-gen Viper is my favorite current car. I absolutely love it. I love that it's raw, nearly still completely analog and batshit crazy like the original, and has some of the sexiest curves outside of a VS catalog.

It's a shame that they aren't selling well, and an even bigger shame that I can't afford a new one because it's the first "toy" I'd buy after winning the big numbers (along with a few 90's exotics).

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Torque Affair 02/15/2015 at 18:29

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Always good to see Harris Hill and Longhorn Racing Academy get good press. You going to watch the Chump Race there next weekend?

Cobranut > Torque Affair 02/15/2015 at 22:09

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The Viper is good-looking, and pretty quick around a track, but it's a handful due mainly to the weight of the thing.

The worst thing about the Viper, besides being a Fiat product, is the SOUND.

How is it that Lamborghini can make their V-10's sound so good, while the Vipers V-10 sounds like a friggin TRACTOR.

marshknute > Torque Affair 02/15/2015 at 22:19

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This cars biggest problem is its engine. Say what you will about its power delivery, reliability, and tuning potential, but the shitty exhaust note is what is keeping the Viper from being taken seriously.

A Viper at redline sounds like a Huracan at idle. It just makes a dull throbbing noise at normal RPMs, and a deafening din at high RPMs. It's one thing for a supercar to sound lackluster (Nissan GTR), but it's inexcusable for a supercar to sound downright terrible. As a result of it's awful exhaust note, the whole car comes across as unrefined and unworthy of supercar status.

To make matters worse, it's not even cheaper than its rivals. A Corvette Z06 matches the Viper's performance, is easier to live with (read: not awful to live with), and sounds as good as any supercar. A GTR, meanwhile, may not sound particularly great, but it's accessible performance will leave the driver astonished each time he/she gets behind the wheel. The Viper sounds awful, is hard to drive around town, and has inaccessible performance capabilities.

Dodge should have given it a V8. Fuck tradition, they should have just made the Viper as good as it deserves to be.

Torque Affair > marshknute 02/15/2015 at 22:21

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I think I'd like the Viper better with a V8 ..I agree that it sounds way better.

Torque Affair > Cobranut 02/15/2015 at 22:21

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Haha, yea it does sound pretty rough at idle..

Torque Affair > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 02/15/2015 at 22:23

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I didn't know that was going on ...I'll try to check it out!

NJAnon > Torque Affair 02/15/2015 at 22:28

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Torque Affair: I "accidentally" hit the gas pedal of the Viper.

Said no one ever.

You "wanted" to hit the gas pedal of the Viper. And I do as well. Oh yes I would have the Viper as my only daily driver. Thats very jalopnik.

Torque Affair > NJAnon 02/15/2015 at 22:30

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Haha, I thought I was hitting the brake, but I guess it was the accelerator!

phee_the_emcee > Torque Affair 02/16/2015 at 00:08

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here's the tach animation.

Torque Affair > phee_the_emcee 02/16/2015 at 09:00

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awesome!!

Braking-Dad > Torque Affair 02/16/2015 at 10:05

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Is it me, or does thing sound like a '69 AMC Rambler with a worn Cherry Bomb muffler?

whatisthatsound > marshknute 02/16/2015 at 11:11

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I just, I just cannot disagree with you more. I get the importance of exhaust notes, but I would never make a car purchase on it. The Viper is for drivers who want performance and a challenge. I don't care what it sounds like on the track, I care how it performs. There is a large difference between Vette and Viper owners. Viper owners don't need to justify why they purchased the car. Vette owners will always say I bought this because it is a better DD, better sound, better audio, more comfortable. One requires clarification and constant reassurance, the other stands on its own.

Torque Affair > Braking-Dad 02/16/2015 at 11:50

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yeah it doesn't sound the greatest. Not bad at WOT though..

jtecho > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 17:21

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6pac

athought123 > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 17:25

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You cant trust these digital tire pressure guage

Takuro Spirit > athought123 02/17/2015 at 17:29

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Don't worry, it's not a M4.

PJ > whatisthatsound 02/17/2015 at 17:31

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90% of both owner groups will never take their car on a road course.

Peptide > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 17:32

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We must be driving completely different cars...

I drive mine to the office occasionally, drive it to my see my kids....just drive it. It's not the handful that some make it out to be; I can be just as lazy as the people around me and nothing terrible happens.

But then I take it to a track day, and it does indeed all come together. Similar to the street-driving comments, it's not as difficult as some make it out. People unfamiliar with the gearbox and the weight distribution should simply shift less, and make sure that they apply a little throttle into and pass the apex to transfer some weight to the rear. You'll still be flying, even with this near-couch level of effort.

As for the sound...my wife and I love it. It's different, and if we really want some other sound we just take the Jeep or the Challenger...or a bike.

But I do see why it doesn't sell better when I read opinions like this which, unfortunately, are echoed by a lot of people on the Viper forums. It's a little brutish, and that's becoming a hell of lot less popular these days.

80supra > marshknute 02/17/2015 at 17:33

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Totally agree. The thing preventing this car from being taken seriously is the sound it makes.

phDiesel > Cobranut 02/17/2015 at 17:33

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You understand this thing weighs 3,400lbs?

There are specifications of 911 and Corvette are heavier than this thing.

It's a relative lightweight and has almost the same power to weight ratio as a Ferrari F12 and a better one than the Lamborghini Aventador.

Ad_absurdum_per_aspera > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 17:36

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Gotta love they way they put such a fancy looking sound system into what you describe as an extremely loud track-focused version of an already studiedly uncivilized car...

Admiral Asskicker > marshknute 02/17/2015 at 17:41

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I get the feeling that the next viper/viper replacement will either go V8 (maybe turbo) or V6 (Turbo). Given the industry, competition, and Fiat ownership.

FrgMstr > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 17:41

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Wow. We now know you don't belong an ANY car, much less a Viper.

Randomocticon > whatisthatsound 02/17/2015 at 17:43

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The vette owners you described are ppl who must find acceptance/assurance from other people. There are owners in any make who buy it for themself, NOT to find agreement/acknowledgement from others. Trying to get acceptance for a car purchase from a random person on the road or some club member is just plain sad.

Maxxuman > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 17:43

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I don't agree with you that it's such a pretty car (each to their own) but this is a great photo of it!

THUNDERL1PS > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 17:45

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Imo the engine sounds great. I don't know what any of you are talking about when it comes to the sound. They jacked up the ergos for sure though. It is so uncomfortable to sit in. Very claustrophobic. No shoulder room, huge center tunnel, pedals are to the left of center, sight lines suck etc. but it is so much better looking than the Vette and arguably better built.

Vlan1 > marshknute 02/17/2015 at 17:45

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Probably because at its heart, the V-10 was originially designed as a truck motor.

marshknute > whatisthatsound 02/17/2015 at 17:45

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Seriously? I only ever heard the exact opposite from Vette/Viper owners. The Vette owners aren't even phased by the Viper; the only debating they do is trying to explain to Eurosnobs that the Vette feels cheaper than European rivals because is cheaper and all the development money went into performance, not ride quality.

Viper owners are always the ones trying to justify their car's faults (ahem, character ) and explain to both Vette owners and Eurosnobs how their car is actually faster than real (not terrible) supercars, but you need to be a professional racing driver to extract that performance.

Contrary to your assertion, the Vette (pre-C7) represents an unrefined yet unquestionably fast performance car, while the Viper is just a comprehensively flawed and unforgiving performance car.

Randomocticon > Takuro Spirit 02/17/2015 at 17:46

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That missing 1.5PSI is going to come back to him and bite hard :D

Randomocticon > Cobranut 02/17/2015 at 17:47

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It weighs 3354lb(from SRT website). Not light, but not that heavy either.

felixpotvin > phee_the_emcee 02/17/2015 at 17:48

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I like that when you accelerate hard it shows economy in L/100km, meaning the number goes up. When I floor it in my car it shows me economy in mpg which means the number drops way down.

Bigger numbers are more fun. "Sweet 100 L/100km I must be doing good!"

Vzwolf > whatisthatsound 02/17/2015 at 17:49

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The only time people say the Vette is a better DD is when they are comparing a Z06 to the Viper. Other than that small group, the difference between Vette owners and Viper owners is almost as vast as their difference to Porsche owners. At this level you have your loyal buyers.

For a track car, sure, exhaust note doesn't matter as much as on the street...but these are street cars after all. With air conditioning, radio, heated seats, etc. The exhaust note is actually one reason why it would kill the deal for me right there. I drive my sports cars on the street a lot.

Vzwolf > Cobranut 02/17/2015 at 17:52

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Most V10's have poor idle sound quality. My cousin had an E60 M5 and as he was leaving my house, my friend asked if his m5 was a diesel 5 series with fake m5 badges.

Slay0r > marshknute 02/17/2015 at 17:55

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Agree Agree Agree

Kurt Bradley > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 17:57

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I know that particular Viper quite well. I've taken a few pics of it, and have played with it a couple times. (I also instruct for LRA.)

yertle > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 17:59

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I definitely recommend a neck collar brace when in the passenger seat on a track. A HANS is even better, but not with 3-pts.

Charles Martel > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 18:01

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I test drove one of these; just to see what they're about. It was difficult to get into. Getting my legs under and around the steering wheel and then getting buckled in took me more than a minute, more like 2. Getting out? I fell down.

I can't even track a viper because without a helmet I have a 1/2inch of clearance with my noggin. I won't fit with a helmet, it negates the point of the car. They'll have to fit a Gurney bubble or something.

The Viper is not daily driveable. Visibility is much worse than my corvette, as is fuel economy, as is ability to drive it at anything other than flat out. The motor doesn't really kick in until 2500 rpm, and then its VTEC, yo. Boy is it VTEC.

So it's not useable as a DD, nor can it be tracked unless you're short. And it's more expensive than my C7 Corvette. Not really seeing the point. I wanted to like it but I just can't.

Charles Martel > whatisthatsound 02/17/2015 at 18:01

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I don't fit in a Viper with a helmet on. Corvette it was.

yeah, that guy > whatisthatsound 02/17/2015 at 18:03

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I agree with everything you have said. This is a car that is happy to kill you. 20 years ago, super cars demanded attention. They were hot, dangerous, cramped, loud, scary, and that was all part of the appeal. Now, almost anybody can get into a vette or GTR and knock out some fast driving, then drive home like its a camry. And that goes for pretty much every car.

Not the Viper. It is a car that you do not buy to pose. If you buy a Viper, it is because you wants something that very well could end up killing you. It is a four wheel motorcycle.

Art > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 18:05

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give the Viper the Hellcat engine and Unicorns will roam the streets once again.

Art > PS9 02/17/2015 at 18:08

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I know man what the hell. I have driven 1000 hp Mustangs and they are brutal but do I pussy (female cat) out? No. I tame the beast and experience full throttle eventually. Maybe owning a superbike takes a bit of the scary feeling of driving extremely fast cars but still.

krobert > marshknute 02/17/2015 at 18:09

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it's not the v-10 or the mufflers that make the Viper sound like shit.

it's those goofy sidepipes.

nobody wants to hear 1/2 of a v-10.

Johnnyma45 > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 18:10

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What's this for? A pretty big dead panel?

SWITAWI > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 18:14

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Back in 2000 I was offered a trackday drive in a Viper GTS coupe. If I was 'on my game' I probably would jumped at the opportunity and enjoyed driving the car.

I hadn't been on the track in my GTI in over 6 months, I couldn't afford to fix/replace the car if I binned it, and what ego I had was telling me I might possibly do that just to keep from being too much of a pussyfoot. And I just knew that car was not to be fucked with ...

I passed on the drive. The owner took me for an eye-opening lap instead. Never regretted it.

GoodJustin > whatisthatsound 02/17/2015 at 18:16

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A V10 is one of the best sounding types of motors IMO. Such a distinct sound.

bobcat1059 > Cobranut 02/17/2015 at 18:18

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weight? It's pretty light...

Mr. Ligier 812 GTC4Lusso Rubicon Pista > PJ 02/17/2015 at 18:19

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Sad but true. I've purchased a new Z06, and going over to the forums, it's clear only ~10% take their cars to ANY track, and of them, only 10% take it to a roadcourse. Seriously, why the fuck buy a Z06 just to park it or drive on public streets?? It's not a Ferrari! It's not going to appreciate.

Susan > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 18:23

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The Stryker comes up at redline - it is your built-in shift light; as seen here:

bluesun > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 18:23

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My first decent car was a 94 Viper. I drove it from Houston to California and back and that was before they had actual windows, and just a canvas cover for a roof. Drove it on Highway 1 in the rain. Had a 97 GTS which was my first track car. Spun three times the first day and then never again, except when the tires were heat cycled past life. You want excitement drive it home from the track on Hoosiers with no treads in heavy rain. With all that said, not sure why people think Vipers are dangerous. Yes, if you press the loud petal too rapidly the rear tires will spin. On what car with power is this not true? Today you have traction control to catch it for you. Back then, not so much. Note the 2005 Ford GT does not have traction control either.

Mr. Ligier 812 GTC4Lusso Rubicon Pista > Charles Martel 02/17/2015 at 18:29

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I concur 100% with every sentiment above. In addition, fit and finish was NOT up to snuff.

Stackdeezy > marshknute 02/17/2015 at 18:32

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2 words:

VIPER HELLCAT

/discussion

SquirrelyWrath > Admiral Asskicker 02/17/2015 at 18:39

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Possibly hellcat hemi?

Lets Just Drive > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 18:42

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Excellent review! If I could make one suggestion (and I can, and I will) it's that this car deserved more hyperbole, get more hyperbolic. Hyperbolate on this bitch!

Really enjoyed. Tweeted and shared.

I've but seen one, sitting still, and haven't had the opportunity to hear one running, touch it or dragon one (though, I dream). I've read and watched virtually every review, however; so I know what I'm talking about (obviously!) and it seems pretty much the consensus that the new Viper is about as true-to-the-formula as any car, let alone a Viper, is today.

Farah said the car was a maniac on the track with miles and miles of grip. Baruth is obviously going to get one in Viper green (a TA2.0) and it's Leno approved. These aren't guys who generally worry about the little things like interior space, rearward visibility or really anything not pivotal to a 'drivers car'. I don't think anyone is really advocating the car as an A-to-B, DD kind of thing (save for the insane people, like myself, who'd do it just to prove it could be done - give me a chance, SRT!) and I don't know that those niggles really hurt the car.

Sure, that UPS truck sound produced by that gargantuan motor isn't great but that's what the aftermarket, deletes and cut-outs are for (not like many real-world owners will do that, just the crazies at the speedshops) and it has a very polarizing (read; American) aesthetic but speaking as a basement dwelling (I live in a Condo, but you get the idea) internet know-all commentator I can say this:

I am a teapot

Short and stout

Here is my handle and here is my spout

When I get all steamed up, hear me shout

I'm gonna climax if you don't stop stroking my spout!

(Loved the article)

Sir HoonsAlot > Charles Martel 02/17/2015 at 18:44

0

I'd love to get the chance to that wrong(granted it'd probably take me 2 minutes to kill myself, but still)

Charles Martel > Peptide 02/17/2015 at 19:03

0

Very brutish. You can't let your attention drift from the snake for a second or it will bite.

pfftballer > marshknute 02/17/2015 at 19:06

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How about the Hellcat engine in the viper? Why fucking not?

pfftballer > PS9 02/17/2015 at 19:07

2

Are you Ken Block?

Kyle > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 19:12

0

You do realize the viper is shorter than a 911, right?

Unbearable Pain > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 19:17

0

I really want to like this car, but for some reason I don't. Maybe it's the looks but I just don't like it.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 19:22

1

I was gonna say that you can't just say "The Stig" without the obligatory "Some say...", until I read that it wasn't really The Stig, so I guess that's allowed..

Manuél Ferrari > krobert 02/17/2015 at 19:27

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I never even thought about that!

True > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 19:35

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Clearly this was way more car than I could handle - an 8.4L V10 animal that sounds like an angry lion pumping out 640 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

Actually, it sounds like a tugboat. Fast as hell, no doubt, but they still sound like tugboats.

DangerBadger > Admiral Asskicker 02/17/2015 at 19:37

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Or a V12.

Torque Affair > Unbearable Pain 02/17/2015 at 19:37

0

Haha.

Torque Affair > True 02/17/2015 at 19:39

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True!

Torque Affair > bluesun 02/17/2015 at 19:41

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It's stories like you just mentioned that make people fear Vipers.

Torque Affair > Lets Just Drive 02/17/2015 at 19:43

1

Hahaha...excellent comment. Thanks much for your compliment!

Torque Affair > Susan 02/17/2015 at 19:43

0

very cool!

Torque Affair > Johnnyma45 02/17/2015 at 19:43

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Good catch! I'm actually not sure!

Torque Affair > Art 02/17/2015 at 19:44

0

Haha.

Fuentes > Admiral Asskicker 02/17/2015 at 19:47

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And also, Dodge is getting 707 HP out of the V8 in the Hellcat

Lets Just Drive > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 19:53

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You kidding? I've been following you here, Twitter etc for a while.

I like your stuff. I lap it up, your stuff. I stuff myself with your stuff.

You got good stuff.

Torque Affair > SWITAWI 02/17/2015 at 20:01

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Definitely - you don't want to push a car out on a track that you're not 100% comfortable with. Not worth the risk.

Torque Affair > Lets Just Drive 02/17/2015 at 20:02

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lol, thanks for following and liking my stuff. Much appreciated!

Torque Affair > yertle 02/17/2015 at 20:03

0

Yeah I needed one!

Torque Affair > Kurt Bradley 02/17/2015 at 20:05

1

Awesome! I didn't know you were an instructor for LRA. I work with Ojas by the way and he mentioned that he knew you.

Torque Affair > THUNDERL1PS 02/17/2015 at 20:05

0

It does look so insanely good.

Torque Affair > Maxxuman 02/17/2015 at 20:06

0

That is - James took that one.

Torque Affair > Ad_absurdum_per_aspera 02/17/2015 at 20:06

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I didn't play with the media center but yea it's got some cool stuff!

Torque Affair > Peptide 02/17/2015 at 20:08

0

Thanks for sharing - the car does take getting used to. I can see the car growing on you over time if you own one.

whatisthatsound > marshknute 02/17/2015 at 20:10

1

I doubt we are going to find common ground on this. I can give a few examples from my experiences. If you are going off pure track performance, the Viper and Vette swap places but for the overall majority of tracks the Viper beats the Z06 in every generation. (as it should it is more $$) My track/workshop conversations when I bring my SRT-10 go the exact same way. I pull up, people who enjoy looking at/talking about the Viper come up and we have great discussions. A vette owner interrupts in the middle of the circle and explains why his is better. I smile and say they are both capable cars. There is a reason the Viper gets a crowd, and the Vette gets walked past.

When you go onto the forums the discussions are more of the same. When I talk to other Viper owners we don't talk about betting Vettes, we don't beat our chests when it happens. When I've talked to Vette owners who don't know what I drive, or if I browse their forums for info I see how they killed a Viper with spray. Using nitrous to beat a car isn't impressive, and bragging about it as a kill is ever less so.

whatisthatsound > PJ 02/17/2015 at 20:11

1

I think you are overplaying the percentage of owners for the Viper side. I would give my money that at least 25% of Vipers see track time in one way or another.

whatisthatsound > Vzwolf 02/17/2015 at 20:14

0

Mine is a DD and gets raced as well. The exhaust note doesn't bother me too much because I know what it can do.

whatisthatsound > Charles Martel 02/17/2015 at 20:21

0

I can agree to that. It is a tight squeeze, but my day job took away any hint of claustrophobia so I'm okay with tight squeezes.

whatisthatsound > Admiral Asskicker 02/17/2015 at 20:24

0

I would be the most surprised owner in the world. The majority of new Vipers are sold to current Viper owners. When the owners talk, Dodge listens. The Viper wouldn't sell if it wasn't an NA 10 cylinder. I'll be the first one to come back to you and admit I was wrong though if that day comes.

techinsanity2011 > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 20:28

1

I wouldn't be too sure it's terrifying. Neither would she.

marshknute > pfftballer 02/17/2015 at 20:31

0

I can think of one very good reason why not.

Boss2452stolemylunchmoney > whatisthatsound 02/17/2015 at 20:31

1

I think the Viper sounds pretty awesome on the track... Sounds like it's just toying with the other cars.

marshknute > Stackdeezy 02/17/2015 at 20:32

0

2 words:

Doesn't fit

whatisthatsound > whatisthatsound 02/17/2015 at 20:52

2

Here is mine. So... I might be a tad bias

Dream Theater of the Absurd > krobert 02/17/2015 at 21:01

0

Its uneven firing order doesn't help either.

BrianNutter > PJ 02/17/2015 at 21:28

0

as opposed to 98% of owner groups of anything other than miata, subaru, camaro, mustang, or 911.

Mazer > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 21:29

0

I love H2R! LRA is great as well. Did you get a chance to meet Varun? If not, bummer! I'm out at H2R quite often. Are you a member there by chance? Amazing track and people considering how inexpensive it is! Perhaps we can meet up for a track day?

Jdrentarol > jtecho 02/17/2015 at 21:49

0

2pac

Jdrentarol > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 21:50

0

There should be a caption for this car that states the following:

I'm going to fuck you, and you better like it, or I will do it again.

gearboxtrouble > Torque Affair 02/17/2015 at 21:55

0

I've been lucky enough to do a few laps in a new one (just the base car) on a track day and your review is spot on. It feels way more capable than I'll ever be out there. Its a brilliant, focused car that actually feels pretty well built and expensive but not one I'd ever think about owning because of how much hard work it is to drive.

Torque Affair > Jdrentarol 02/17/2015 at 21:55

0

hahah