Anyone drive a Gen II Viper?

[bmwtmx]

Ok, I know this is the 930 forum and I have 1 (and a 996TT). So lets get that out of the way. And I know a Gen II Viper will not feel like a Porsche BUT I still love them and am curious what 930 owners would think. Most Porsche-peeps hate American cars due to the obvious "feel" and build quality. I am sure the Viper is no different.

That said, Vipers are so cheap that I have been looking at a couple. Just want to get an idea of the experience. I mean when I drive my 930 and 996 back to back my 996 feels like a Caddy although and extremely fast one. So, the 996 is "better" in every way but I prefer the 930. I am just curious if the Viper elicits the same reaction when driven.

[patina]

Lots of road noise, poor build quality, cheapo interior materials, terrible stereo, terrible pedal feel.

IF you can get beyond that, they are a really fun/raw driving experience. IMO the car has "just enough" amenities to drive on a semi-regular basis. They get a TON of attention and respond very well to minimal mods.

[Tilikum Turbo]

Reading all the poor reviews of the first Gen, and considering the Gen II is simply an evolution of that, I would not touch it with a 100-ft pole.

Friend of mine who worked for Chrysler said it was not unusual for Vipers to stay on a lot for 2-3 years before being sold. Chrysler makes blue-collar cars...not many blue-collar people can afford a $100,000 car.

Great 'halo' car to create image and for rubber-necking the juvi-crowd, but not a great drivers car.

[mark houghton]

I would rather have an early 70's Pantera DeTomaso. Other Makes Pantera Coupe | eBay
Waaayyyy back in one of my earlier corporate occupations, our company pilot had one that I always drooled about owning someday. At the time, all I could afford was an MGB. Nothing plush about Panteras, raw and brutal.....just like a 930. Sorry for the hijack.

[Tippy]

They drive and feel identical to Corvettes. Very lazy motors until boosted, then wow!

They do everything with a brute force hammer. I like them a lot but they just sound like crap due to 2 cylinders firing at once making it sound like a 5-cylinder.

[quattrorunner]

Originally Posted by Tippy

They drive and feel identical to Corvettes. Very lazy motors until boosted, then wow!

They do everything with a brute force hammer. I like them a lot but they just sound like crap due to 2 cylinders firing at once making it sound like a 5-cylinder.

You no likie?

[mark houghton]

Originally Posted by quattrorunner

You no likie?

Sounds pretty good for 5 cylinders worth of 133 hp. Multiply that times 2 and you have a Viper!!! Still, would rather have a 351 Cleaveland uncorked....

[bmwtmx]

Nothing I didn't already know...but maybe the early cars too trashy despite the looks. May just get another muscle car. This is the first time I am without an American car and I miss one thing: torque!

[nickyclyde]

I can't think of a car I would fire sale quicker were I to win it in a contest.

[Tippy]

I can't think of a car I would fire sale quicker were I to win it in a contest.

Have you drove or tracked one?

The older GTS is still one of my favorite cars of all time.

[Spenny_b]

Another hijack alert - OP, if you want something that feels un-Caddy-like, then get yourself one of these -->





I got this one last month to replace a Westfield (think Caterham 7), so both are definitely on the "visceral" end of the driving spectrum (!) but I absolutely love it. It feels exactly how I tried to get my old 996 GT3 Mk2 to feel, very nimble, communicative and feels SO light (875kgs). This one's a ltd edition Cup 240, supercharged with ca.250-255hp, 2-way adj Ohlins, Schroth harnesses, etc, etc. It's not got V8 tree-trunk pulling torque, but it's certainly not slow (and down-right rabid when on the boil in the upper reaches of variable cam lift). It's one of the only cars I've owned that I keep taking out for a drive, just for the hell of it, down dark winter country lanes here in the UK.

Will it ever replace my 965? No way, both very different in very complimentary ways.

Oh, and versus the Viper you'll probably save yourself a bucket load of $$'s in the process

[bmwtmx]

I've owned a 2006 normally aspirated Exige and a 2009 S260 Exige. I know them very very well. There is 1 major problem with them: if you crash at a good clip, you are dead. And despite being lightweight and feeling great they are slow on the tracks down here. Sebring, Homestead, etc. are all big horsepower tracks so I was a cone once the track straightened out. I do miss them.

I look at Vipers/Vettes, etc. like hot dogs and hamburgers. Crude and simple but loveable.

[Spenny_b]

Originally Posted by bmwtmx

I've owned a 2006 normally aspirated Exige and a 2009 S260 Exige. I know them very very well. There is 1 major problem with them: if you crash at a good clip, you are dead. And despite being lightweight and feeling great they are slow on the tracks down here. Sebring, Homestead, etc. are all big horsepower tracks so I was a cone once the track straightened out. I do miss them.

I look at Vipers/Vettes, etc. like hot dogs and hamburgers. Crude and simple but loveable.

Like the analogy!

Yeah not taken mine on track yet, but compared to my old Westfield, safety in one of these is like being cosseted in a Volvo! (don't ask me how I know...)

Well, sir.....sounds like a Hennessey Venom is right up your street, lol.

[bmwtmx]

Thanks! Enjoy the Exige. Down here in S. Florida it's a totally useless car. All parking lots, 35mph with stoplights every 100 yards, or the highway which is straight as an arrow and piloted by the worst drivers in the world. If I lived someplace where the roads were twisty and enjoyable I would still have one.

[pkabush]

I can't think of a car I would fire sale quicker were I to win it in a contest.
Same

[Kirk911SC]

Good thread. I sold my '87 930 of 6 years about 2 years ago to pick up a low mileage '00 Viper GTS.

I took a lot of heat from the Pelican and Rennlist guys, especially after owning 3 Porsches.

I just wanted a change and always liked the look of the Viper.

Everyone asks me how it compares to the 930! They are very different cars, but the Viper certainly has some good points.

The good:

- My GTS would crush my 930 (and it wasn't stock either) in every performance aspect except for the braking. All torque, all the time
- Tranny (Tremec T-6) much better than the 4-spd 930
- Seats are great
- Usable A/C
- Doesn't leak a drop of.....anything
- Most parts are easy to source.
- Easily upgradeable, and relatively cheap to do so.
- Turns head like no Porsche, except a CGT. This can be a bad point as well!
- Easy to maintain. Engine accessibility is good and well laid out.


The bad:

- You need to be respectful of the torque. No ABS, stability control, traction control, etc.
- Interior quality is sub-par. A lot of cheap plastic.
- Touchy, somewhat numb steering. Quick ratio, power-assist, and 275 rubber will do that.
- Stock exhaust sound is really disappointing.
- Stock brakes are not the best. Easy to lock up the fronts. There are kits to improve the brakes.
- Viper forums don't compare to the Porsche ones!

I think the Viper is very much like an old school Cobra. Big engine, no frills, hard core car.

People like to hate on it because it's a "domestic"....a lowly Dodge, but it really is a fun car to drive, and it's been absolutely reliable in the time that I've owned it.

[spence88mph]

I think your Viper looks awesome Kirk.

[Kirk911SC]

Thanks! Completely stock so far, with the exception of the stereo/speakers.

[Kirk911SC]

Exhaust work makes a big difference:

[clutch-monkey]

i'd absolutely love a viper. especially over a 4spd 930 i think, unless i was doing looong trips in it!