Recently back from Detroit, and I agree 98.7% w/ Bill Pemberton's 'passionate' post. But here are my own random thoughts, selfishly placed in a new thread.
P.S. Moderators: Time to re-name this area SRT-10 / SRT-10 Coupe. Make 'VGX' fade away?
1) I love the re-designed coupe (having seen 3 different mules) and I have mine 'ordered.' I got the 1st-ever-released GTS and I hope I get an early SRT-Coupe. It will be my 13th Viper, not counting organ-donor cars for parts. The seats seem a bit smaller, and the rear cockpit bulkhead needs to improve rearward visibility...and it WILL before production. The "bump" in the headliner behind the rear-view mirror is too large for tall guys. I dislike it a whole lot. But SRT listens.......
Hint: I saw an SRT-10 mule in COPPERHEAD, and while touring the ASC plant where panels are made and painted, I saw the Copperhead color on their schedule for the near future. Maybe it was a show car ...maybe production. But NICE!
2) Z-06? It took GM (3+ years Under Lutz no less) 15 YEARS to CATCH UP . Repeating; CATCH UP. They made the C-6 more SRT-10 like, agreed? The SRT uses a big chunk of magnesium in ALL SRTs, and now, so does (only) Z-06. Yea, the HP/Wt tips to Z-06, and lap times will probably equalize. But I suspect their 'suggested' performance numbers are optimistic. Did Z-o6 improve? YUP, a lot. They MATCHED the performance bar, and raised it a few engineering (cost) points. That balsa-cored floor is cool. Lots of aluminum. Engineered++.
3) But HP concerns? For about $2000 in (MoPar) parts, dealers can add 25HP. For about $4000,add 50HP. Call it an SRT-10 Coupe w/ Stage I , Stage II upgrades.
4) To re-certify the SRT-10 motor as a knee-**** to a Z-06 would be cost-prohibitive. TRULY ! Better to raise the bar (significantly) in the future, and let Z-06 owners (not C-6 owners in general) breathe a sigh NOW because they FINALLY caught up to the Viper. It took them ~15 years, since the 1st Z-06. No biggie. I have NEVER encountered an arrogant, taunting, Z-06 owner, but if I did, I'd simply say: "Took ya long enuf....15 years just to CATCH UP!
5) Do I think that Viper will have more HP in the future? YUP. And think about it: Viper would be dumb to overlook the biggest buzzword in the auto industry today: HEMI. Dean Hansen asked the SRT-Tech session at VOI.8 this very question: "Why not capitilize on the Hemi-Hype with a new Viper hemi-head motor"? The body language on the SRT panel SHOUTED at you. Heads went down. Mouths were covered. Arms folded. Mouths smirked. Read between those lines.
6) D-C Marketing Guys Note: Corvette blew it by NOT (yet) capitilizing on the "dreaded" 427 moniker. The FIRST Z-06 only made a handful, but it is legendary. They should use 427 too! I bet Ecklers sells a lot of crossed-flag 427 badges for Z-06 owners.
The 426 HEMI is even MORE legendary....It used to mean C.I. But these 425 HP 6.1 Hemis need just one more HP to be 426HP. Find it. Then, Badge these 300-Cs and trucks and whatever as a 426 HEMI. Women and Children will hide. Seniors will smile. Bench racing will commence. Money will be made.
7) My 14th Viper will be the next brute that SRT build us. But my 13th will be the SRT-10 Coupe. Blue-White please. And I wont fear any Z-06, or feel inferior or threatened in any way when one is nearby. Becasue Ill still be in a VIPER.... and they'll be in just another Corvette. And Im probably a waaaay better driver. Ooops...I'm bench racing again.....
KEEP THE FAITH..........
P.S. Moderators: Time to re-name this area SRT-10 / SRT-10 Coupe. Make 'VGX' fade away?
1) I love the re-designed coupe (having seen 3 different mules) and I have mine 'ordered.' I got the 1st-ever-released GTS and I hope I get an early SRT-Coupe. It will be my 13th Viper, not counting organ-donor cars for parts. The seats seem a bit smaller, and the rear cockpit bulkhead needs to improve rearward visibility...and it WILL before production. The "bump" in the headliner behind the rear-view mirror is too large for tall guys. I dislike it a whole lot. But SRT listens.......
Hint: I saw an SRT-10 mule in COPPERHEAD, and while touring the ASC plant where panels are made and painted, I saw the Copperhead color on their schedule for the near future. Maybe it was a show car ...maybe production. But NICE!
2) Z-06? It took GM (3+ years Under Lutz no less) 15 YEARS to CATCH UP . Repeating; CATCH UP. They made the C-6 more SRT-10 like, agreed? The SRT uses a big chunk of magnesium in ALL SRTs, and now, so does (only) Z-06. Yea, the HP/Wt tips to Z-06, and lap times will probably equalize. But I suspect their 'suggested' performance numbers are optimistic. Did Z-o6 improve? YUP, a lot. They MATCHED the performance bar, and raised it a few engineering (cost) points. That balsa-cored floor is cool. Lots of aluminum. Engineered++.
3) But HP concerns? For about $2000 in (MoPar) parts, dealers can add 25HP. For about $4000,add 50HP. Call it an SRT-10 Coupe w/ Stage I , Stage II upgrades.
4) To re-certify the SRT-10 motor as a knee-**** to a Z-06 would be cost-prohibitive. TRULY ! Better to raise the bar (significantly) in the future, and let Z-06 owners (not C-6 owners in general) breathe a sigh NOW because they FINALLY caught up to the Viper. It took them ~15 years, since the 1st Z-06. No biggie. I have NEVER encountered an arrogant, taunting, Z-06 owner, but if I did, I'd simply say: "Took ya long enuf....15 years just to CATCH UP!
5) Do I think that Viper will have more HP in the future? YUP. And think about it: Viper would be dumb to overlook the biggest buzzword in the auto industry today: HEMI. Dean Hansen asked the SRT-Tech session at VOI.8 this very question: "Why not capitilize on the Hemi-Hype with a new Viper hemi-head motor"? The body language on the SRT panel SHOUTED at you. Heads went down. Mouths were covered. Arms folded. Mouths smirked. Read between those lines.
6) D-C Marketing Guys Note: Corvette blew it by NOT (yet) capitilizing on the "dreaded" 427 moniker. The FIRST Z-06 only made a handful, but it is legendary. They should use 427 too! I bet Ecklers sells a lot of crossed-flag 427 badges for Z-06 owners.
The 426 HEMI is even MORE legendary....It used to mean C.I. But these 425 HP 6.1 Hemis need just one more HP to be 426HP. Find it. Then, Badge these 300-Cs and trucks and whatever as a 426 HEMI. Women and Children will hide. Seniors will smile. Bench racing will commence. Money will be made.
7) My 14th Viper will be the next brute that SRT build us. But my 13th will be the SRT-10 Coupe. Blue-White please. And I wont fear any Z-06, or feel inferior or threatened in any way when one is nearby. Becasue Ill still be in a VIPER.... and they'll be in just another Corvette. And Im probably a waaaay better driver. Ooops...I'm bench racing again.....
KEEP THE FAITH..........