I came to the end of my lease of a 2001 Vette Vert 6 speed on 6/15/04 (also had a 75,92,93,96, and 00) and did not miss it at all.
I've had 6 Vettes and never really liked any of them, my wife talks me in to them and then I realize the mistake and get rid of them and lose mega $$$.
Besides the Viper, my 03 Cobra I traded in on it was my next favorite car ever.
I had a 97 Trans AM Vert 6 speed, it was alot of fun, but not quite fast enough. It did feel more like a muscle car than any new car I've owned.
Now the C6 Z06 might be a force to be reckoned with, but it still is not a Viper.
Howard