Yea or nay vote for the new viper coupe

I like the new Coupe. And it's not that far off from a Comp Coupe either... I do wish they would have bumped the performance though. With the Z06 being a better performer (including dry-sump and killer brakes) for an SRT-4 less money, DC will only be selling SRT-10 Coupes to current Viper owners and enthusiasts.

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This is my point too regarding having the Coupe be track-ready. The new Z06 will be track-ready (except for the run-flats) at mid-sixties, I would guess - it's going to be really difficult to sell the Coupe at 86-88K as a track car when you've got add the Comp Coupe goodies (more $$$$) to get it ready to track. And the style-points just aren't really high enough for all the posers to buy them so they can drive around their neighborhoods. I think they'd rather have the roadster, so they're more visible. Coupes will not fly off dealer lots when the guy is going to get his **** handed to him by a tupperware driver with 25K of change in his pocket he saved by not buying a Coupe!

I don't think DC "listened" to what people wanted rather than realized that Coupes are simply more popular and don't want to admit they screwed up by not offering a coupe first.

Acting like DC did the community a "favor" is laughable propoganda, if DC didn't do it, most of those those potential coupe owners would have Z06's

YA

...but would also like more power in the future and a future comp coupe

I dislike the new coupe. Why would anyone buy a hardtop when you can buy a convert and add a removable hardtop.

if DC didn't do it, most of those those potential coupe owners would have Z06's

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I agree. When GM killed the F-body I'm sure many 1000's of the GM "faithful" switched over to Mustang GT's and Cobras while very few stayed within the fold and bought the GTO. What makes the Germans think that the modern day "Mopar guys" will stick around if there is no competitive product to be offered??

If D/C didn't offer a coupe they would have surely lost a few thousand Viper buyers to the upcoming Z06(which will likely still take away hundreds of potential buyers in spite of the new coupe)

Performance: Nay - blah...
Styling: Nay - it's an abortion by committee

I don't think DC "listened" to what people wanted rather than realized that Coupes are simply more popular and don't want to admit they screwed up by not offering a coupe first.

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Kinda like the way they did with RT/10's being out for 3-4 years before they built a GTS - right??

I don't think DC "listened" to what people wanted rather than realized that Coupes are simply more popular and don't want to admit they screwed up by not offering a coupe first.

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Kinda like the way they did with RT/10's being out for 3-4 years before they built a GTS - right??

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When the RT/10 came out there was nothing to compare it to except the very blah vette, the RT/10 is a legend and always will be but look at sales comparisons of RT/10 VS GTS, the GTS remains the more popular car. Me, I love both of them but if could only have one it would be GTS all the way.

No.

I love the looks of both my Gen 1.5 and my Gen 2. Could go either way on the looks of the Gen 3 and the coupe. However, looks, cupholders, navigation, stability control, heated seats, and any other unnecessary crap on the car doesn't matter one bit. I bought both my Vipers for one reason only - they had performance characteristics that kicked ass on any other car made short of a Mclaren F1.

No doubt about it that with 300 less lbs. I'm more interested in the new Z06. The fact that they have the same hp makes it a done deal. If the new Coupe were going to 550hp, 600 or maybe even slightly higher it probably would still have a hard time keeping up with the new Z06 at the next road course track day.

Not having the the budget to develop the car / engine to exceed the Z06 - understandable. Bringing the car out anyhow - inexcusable. Bye bye reputation / aura / mystique / advertising advantage / etc. SVT should have waited.

I could use a new Viper. What Dodge currently offers for my consideration does not appeal to me.

Guess I'll just get a fresh paint job on my '96, and finally get to work on my '67 Hemi GTX.

They better not pull a Z06 deal where one year after introduction the HP is boosted without a body change (oh wait, they did put a badge on the fender) and screw the first year buyers. If there is a HP boost, it should come with a body style change.

I will take one!

Love the looks and 500hp is already more than the rear tires can handle.

Not ready to sell my 2001 GTS so the short term answer is no.

Like the looks, needs better performance than the Z06.

Maybe in the next few years.

Alice, what color did your order or do you get what comes in at the dealer?
Also are they asking above or at MSRP?
Art
White Mamba #138

I believe the press releases are saying - much like in 1996 - the car will only be avaiable in blue with white stripes for 2006....

What i have heard there will be other choices.

Art:

I have heard the same thing as Robert, there will be other colors available. My family likes the blue car; I would prefer black/silver. We'll settle on red. Seriously, must wait a few days to find out.

Regarding pricing..."see your Dodge dealer for details."

I did.

Seriously, Bill Pemberton is in a better position to answer your pricing questions than am I. I have been told that the volume of pre-orders is quite high.

Best,


Alice

HELL YES! Bill, gimme a call! LOL!

Nay.

One of the big appealing factors for the original viper was that it was so low and curveacious. Now the new coupe is even an inch taller, at 48.6", versus the original at 44". Amazing how back 13 years ago the viper looked so much better back then,


than it does now:

Wait till you see photos from the LA Auto Show, then make your decision,


If style and uniqueness are your main needs, it will be answered soon.


Respectfully,
Bill Pemberton

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Bill,

Does either one of these comments from your post mean we might see something other than the coupe all the mags are currently showing when she is officially unveiled?

Is it blue and white ONLY for the first year, or is there other colors available too?

The second statement kind of reads like "wait a year or two" and you'll get what you really want in the body style department. Is that the case?

Nay to the proposed one.

YEA to the CompCoupe styling and minimum 550 HP !!!

I love my gts.The only thing that can tempt me away would be a comp coupe body car.If I were buying today however I would get the vette over the viper. GTS Bruce

RUn of the mill hasnt' changed since 1997 vette over a viper.

YOu should have bought a Vette in the 1st place I think..!

G

I bought my first Viper in 1994, have had at least one Viper at all times since, with two Vipers from 1996-2003(I still have my 2001 GTS). Having bought 5 new Vipers, most recently the '03 and been a VCA member since it was formed, I am in no small measure a Viper fan and owner for almost 11 years now. A simple "nay" is too mild for the sorrow and disappointment I feel in this latest offering.

DC has killed the Viper IMO. I bought my GTS from Bill and consider Bill a friend and co-enthusiast. But to read his suggestion of an aftermarket mod for the Viper to outrun a Corvette is amazing and to pull the "exclusivity" card! That sounds like an echo of the Ferrari and other exotic crowd when trounced by the Viper. Sorry, Bill and I do hope that DC's efforts don't affect your profession much, as you bring so much professionalism to the business.

Compounding this, unless the Coupe has the oiling issue fixed, the Coupe is a poseur car IMO, just like the SRT. AFTER I bought my '03, I discovered that DC re-designed the sump so that the SRT (de-emphasis on RACING) starves for oil when turning left. Fine on the street, but useless on the track. DC told me I should not take the SRT on track. Outrageous! Am I supposed to enjoy the SRT's formidable performance potential with pedestrians, other traffic, telephone poles and small animals around? The ONLY place to responsibly partake of what this kind of car can do is the relative safety of the track. Well, By-Bye SRT.

Well, I just read Autoweek and the Z06's makers put in a dry sump and say fine to track driving and we'll warranty it, too. It is probably 200-300 lbs lighter than the SRT and should perform comparably or better and cost $15K or more less that the SRT Coupe. So what if there are others driving the Z06 around? I drive what I like because I like it, not to pose like a Madonna video.

As for looks, the SRT is fine, but not that special and not dramatically better than the Z06. In fact, the Z06 has a more purposeful look and I respect the aluminum frame, hydroformed headers, titanium connecting rods and intake valves and other innovations so much that the car becomes more beautiful to me when I know what lies beneath.

If DC does not have a surprise in Detroit next week (and they have been know to do that!), the Viper is dead. Long live AMG, the top dog in DC performance, as long as you like a lead sled with an auto.

A harsh rant, I know, but my next two-seater will NOT be Viper, and I never said that from 1993-2003.

VIPER
R.I.P
2006

I won't be buying one if the current reports are accurate. It's too heavy and the looks are dissapointing -confused and out of proportion too me.

Viper loyalty just isn't enough. I'd buy the new Z06 before I'd get a new Coupe. Knock 300 pounds off the thing, lower it about 3 inches so it doesn't look like an RV and I'll reconsider. FWIW, I don't think it really needs more power (although it wouldn't hurt)

Jim

I think the SRT coupe looks good. However, not as good as it should.

Price no object, I'd still buy thr Z06 over the SRT coupe. I think it looks better and am pretty sure it will perform better as it is more track ready and lighter. It seems more focused for the track than does the SRT coupe. I wish as does probably everyone else that the SRT coupe came with the comp coupe bodywork. I will not sell my GTS for either, but likely will buy the Z06.

No for now.

Have to see what happens in the next week or so, as hinted at in previous posts.

To me, the Viper must have two things: class leading power and great looks. The coupe comes close on looks, but not in power. Viper was born on looks and leading power, and without both, it is doomed.

Promises made by SRT are not being kept. It is either caused by the Germans preventing it, or the cost is too much to give us what they (SRT - the Germans are clueless) know we want and they know the Viper needs. I have a feeling it is more a cost driven thing, and the money is just not there for the power change. Whatever the case, it is not good for the Viper.

nay

It is either caused by the Germans preventing it, or the cost is too much to give us what they (SRT - the Germans are clueless)

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You're right, it isn't good for the Viper, but profit....and image of thier homegrown machines.

Question: How much would a 50hp boost cost? A little tuning, a K&N from the factory (already done on the ACR) and resonator delete (saves 40lbs too)

THEN we could say (on paper) were are equal to the Ford GT and above the Z06. That's exactly were we should be. DUH! to dc.

THEN we could say (on paper) were are equal to the Ford GT and above the Z06. That's exactly were we should be. DUH! to dc.

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That's not the problem. You can't just add hp ***** nilly and say you're faster. Sure, you'll be faster in a straight line, but a Z06 will decimate you in any sort of road course barring an oval.

No. The Viper should have more hp, but it should also have much much less weight.

600hp and 3200lbs would be the numbers I would love to see DC shoot for. The only way I can think of even coming close to that is a lighter engine (read new V-10).

When the LS2 block in the C6 weighs just over 400lbs, its not tough to see why the Viper weighs so much more.