Dodge Viper: Exotic?

[MotoSook]

Viper .. No.

Then again, neither is an air-cooled 911.

[pete3799]

Originally Posted by Soukus

Viper .. No.

Then again, neither is an air-cooled 911.

I know....but i couldn't resist.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by yetibone

Rear suspension too. All of the 944S parts fit perfectly under my Beetle.

Yes, want to build a Super Beetle after I finish my other projects, post pix..

[Buckterrier]

I'd say yes, but as someone else said it's an American car. And none are considered exotic. I'd have one in a heart beat.

[MarKoBrow]

If performance is a measure of exotic than I would say yes, it by far is better performing car than my Ferrari 360 or any Porsche I have owned. It was a sad day when I lost mine due to an accident. I however never considered it an exotic car nor do I consider the 360, 911 or the R8 exotic.

[kaisen]

I don't consider the Viper to be exotic. But not because it's American.

There are exotic American cars, IMHO like the Vector W8, Saleen S7, or SSC Aero

[Macroni]

not exotic....... but a kick ass sports car......

[DanielDudley]

I have never used the word exotic to describe any car.

With the exception of the 928 GTS of course.

[Hugh R]

Interesting question. I owned what many people call an "Exotic" for 35 years, an Aston Martin DB4 which I posted about my engine and trannie rebuild here. They made IIRC 1,150 DB4 of the coupe, cab Zagato and a few other one-offs total. While a stunning car, it couldn't hold its oil pressure, the main bearing clearances were 1.25 to 1.50 tho clearance cold and grew to 4 times that hot. So oil pressure would go from 100 psi cold to around 40 psi at best when really hot. So you couldn't run it on the highway hot all day like you could a Porsche of the same era. Great touring car. Handled like a British lorrie (pickup truck). Big difference in build detail, you could pull up the rear seat and see in pencil the serial # of the car. A door from DB4/438L ("L" for left hand drive) was different in dimensions by 1/4" to 1/1/2" from DB4/ 530L that a friend of mine had. Instead of sheet metal screws to hold the door panels in, like my 84 Targa, it had 10-32 nuts braised into the metal so you used corresponding machine screws to attach the door panels.

I absolutely miss the car, but it made no financial sense to keep it, it represented a huge portion of my net worth. I sold it to the Prime Minister of Kuwait for stupid money just before the big fall of the stock market in October, 2008.

Oh, back on topic, no. I don't consider a Viper an "exotic".

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

I have never used the word exotic to describe any car.

With the exception of the 1983 928 of course.

Fixed it for ya!

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

BTW, the 924 Porsche had an Audi TRUCK engine & VW Super Beetle (as did the rest of the series) based front Susp...

Yes, but did I ever say it's an exotic?

I bought it for a little more than a set of snow tires, and it has great snow tires on it. I use it for the days it snows and the days the 944 doesn't run or needs parts. It is my truck

and IIRC the control arms are from the rabbit

[onewhippedpuppy]

It's horribly impractical, has looks that stop traffic and prompt kids to hang posters on the wall, has more power than it can use, and could easily kill you.........what's not exotic about that? C'mon guys, a "sports car" is a Miata.

[slow&rusty]

I am surprised at most of the response in this thread.

I would easily count the Viper as an Exotic.
Yasin

[DanielDudley]

Exotic = foreign, rare, unusual, unique or hand made. Unusually complicated in design or service.

Viper. Supercar ? Yes. Exotic, No.

[UconnTim97]

Nah, I don't think they are exotic. JMHO.

[AFC-911]

Absolutely. I consider them exotic.

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

BTW, the 924 Porsche had an Audi TRUCK engine & VW Super Beetle (as did the rest of the series) based front Susp...

Actually, the 924 front suspension was VW Mk1 Rabbit based, not super beetle.

The rear suspension was similar to the super beetle (same t-bars) but different in the end.

I don't know what this has to do with the Viper..


I like Vipers, but I don't know if I would want to own one for longer than a few days...

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

I thought they had a truck engine.

Sounds like a damn UPS truck to me.

I drove one once, breathed on a bit by that Henessey(sp?) shop that I can't imagine anyone wanting to business with. Would go and stop great, massive stick, cartoonishly wide tires.

Great fun, but would not want one, loud, not very comfortable.

More hot rod than exotic to me as well.

Originally Posted by yetibone

Rear suspension too. All of the 944S parts fit perfectly under my Beetle.

that is a rockin' little ride

[porsche4life]

I've ridden in a Viper, its got HP thats sure. Would be fun but not something I see myself owning. The interior feels cheap, its a total pain to get in and out of. And the stock exhaust sounds like ****....