Stop me... Or not...

georgethedog · Oct 23, 2011

I am getting a bug everytime I see my wife's black Challenger SRT-8. While my Viper sits on the lift, she is driving her car to work while I drive the family van (I would not drive the Viper to where I work).

That Challenger looks so damn tough... Thinking about trading my Viper for a Challenger... Of course, I would mod the ____ out of it.

I am thinking of: Shaker hood, supercharger, exhaust, etc. Make it different than the others. Guess I always have to have a project... Maybe I should take up knitting instead???

cfiiman · Oct 23, 2011

I understand your need/want. I used to have as a toy car an 87 Buick Grand National show car, even though it was flawless I would drive it to work/grocery etc. which was a lot of fun. The Viper just attracts to much attention IMO and I'm always a little nervous to leave it. At work I don't want to feel like i'm "showing off" and at the grocery store etc. I don't want a carless @Q#$^@^@ to hit it with their door, good luck on whatever you decide.

351carlo · Oct 23, 2011

Trade in the family van for a fun family car. Trailblazer SS, G8 GT, CTS-V, 300C SRT8, Jeep SRT8, etc

FrgMstr · Oct 23, 2011

I think the first mod you should make would be the tub it out and get those pizza cutter tires and wheels off the back. I love that car, but Dodge dropped the ball on that one aspect of the Challenger. Looks great till you look at it from behind and see the anemic rubber.

AZTVR · Oct 23, 2011

I'd say, go for it. You aren't married to the Viper. If you are a car guy ( = 98% of Viper owners) then you owe it to yourself to try out different experiences. IMHO

georgethedog · Oct 23, 2011

Thanks for the nice feedback.

@ cfiiman, I feel exactly the same way. I am a college professor so I really don't feel good taking it to work. I did once and it had a crowd around it when I was leaving...

@ 351Carlo, it has to have 3 rows of seats. What fun vehicle has that? Thanks.

@ Frgmstr, I agree, the tires as way too narrow, but without looking I bet that is the only way they can get a big backseat.

@ Aztvr, thanks, interesting take.

Camfab · Oct 23, 2011

Go for it. I totally get it, in fact I was thinking about the up coming raffle and thought..............I think I'd rather win the Challenger. I love the ACR-X more than the street version, so go figure, but that Michelin circus graphics bit and a used track car doesn't get me excited. Weird right? I know I'm strange, but celebrity vehicle status means nothing to me. I'm a technical car guy not a dreamer. Get the Challenger and enjoy driving to work. Why not a new Boss 302 or ZR-1 Camaro to mix it up a bit. (I love the Challenger myself)

TexasTorred · Oct 23, 2011

Completely understand where you're coming from. Although I drive the heck out of my Viper on weekends..... I'm like you, where there is no way I can drive it (viper) to work. So, my daily driver, an old volvo is perfect.

Driving my wife's Grand Caravan R/T is just not the same

I get 'real nervous' parking the Viper anywhere. (Even coming out of Lowe's last night, it draws a crowd---and not the crowd I want).

Best of luck! Sounds like you are 1/2 way there on your decision. (BTW, that Green with Envy a.k.a. Snake Skin Green Chally SRT8 is SWEEEEEEEET).

greg

NI-KA · Oct 23, 2011

If you drive it enough to the university the students will get used to it and stop making such a fuss.
Personnally, I would miss having a viper to drive. Even if it was only on occasion.

georgethedog · Oct 23, 2011

NI-KA said:
If you drive it enough to the university the students will get used to it and stop making such a fuss.
Personnally, I would miss having a viper to drive. Even if it was only on occasion.

New crop of students every year...

01sapphirebob · Oct 23, 2011

As mentioned above...trade I the van for something else. You will regret not having the Viper. I would get rid of my civic for a fun DD but it's hard to give up 35 MPG's right now. Get the Jeep SRT-8!!

vancouver-gts · Oct 23, 2011

George , I don't see the point of having another identical car in the family myself. I owned a 68 Barracuda, 68 Charger and a 72 Challenger, bought new back in the old days. The Challenger was my favourite, owned it for 8 years before sold it for a fair amount with 90K miles. You can drive your wife's car any time , can you? I have a 03 Lincoln Navigator Ultimate that I love driving every day to work, but I'd jump in an srT8 Cherokee in a heartbeat if I wouldn't already own an SUV .

You must be registered for see images

few years after got bored with the colour and the vinyl top I repainted the car blue.

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NI-KA · Oct 23, 2011

As long as it doesn't hurt you politically with your peers or the University.

I would think most students would appreciate having a prof. that likes the same things they do.

In the end it is what you are comfortable with. I can understand the tension this can sometimes create. Each school and workplace brings a different set of challenges. My solution was to get a nice truck ( to tow the car to the track and daily drive ) and drive the Viper when I wanted to.

You will probably miss the Viper sooner or later. They are unique, stunning to look at and fun to drive.

georgethedog said:
New crop of students every year...

georgethedog · Oct 23, 2011

She will let me drive it, but no way on any mods...

vancouver-gts · Oct 23, 2011

Do the mods while she's sleeping ,hehe.

viper GTS-R · Oct 23, 2011

Forget the Challenger, go completely radical, shove a V10 in the van! :rolaugh:

You can either have the motor out of Chad's RT/10 or Robert's GTS.

As far as trading in the Viper for a Challenger, that's a big no-no, you'd be regretting that move every time you sat in it. Like the guy who traded in his Veyron for a Vette. (Well okay, that's more like a fair trade.)

--RS

georgethedog · Oct 23, 2011

Well, I just took the Viper out for a couple hour drive. Rock star again... Down a road with lots of curves. Way fun! Also, I love the convertible... The Challenger would have to come out in a convertible before I switched (I think).

SRT8&10 · Oct 23, 2011

I own both of those cars. The challenger is fun to drive, but nowhere near the toy the viper is. But if you can't drive the viper ever, and you can't afford both, maybe you should sell the viper and buy a challenger.

jckrieger · Oct 23, 2011

georgethedog said:
Well, I just took the Viper out for a couple hour drive. Rock star again... Down a road with lots of curves. Way fun! Also, I love the convertible... The Challenger would have to come out in a convertible before I switched (I think).

Good choice. I'd hate to see the only other silver Viper in the area go away! With that said, you've just got to take the car out and drive it. I've put almost 7K miles on my GTS this year and have loved every mile of it. It seems like more and more people are selling their pride and joy these days for these new "practical" cars!

With all that said, you should buy whatever you're going to drive. There's nothing worse than driving a lame car daily while you have something badass that just sits in the garage.

malcoll · Oct 23, 2011

If you drive it to work every day.... everyone at work begins to not notice it anymore. I have a fairly conservative position and at first everyone was all "what you have a viper?!"......now after a couple years of me driving it every day....no one notices anymore. They barely noticed when I stopped driving the 1996 RT/10 and started driving the 2006 SRT-10......

At least that is what I tell myself, because the SRT-10 is just too fun and easy to drive every day to not drive it every day........

jckrieger · Oct 23, 2011

malcoll said:
If you drive it to work every day.... everyone at work begins to not notice it anymore. I have a fairly conservative position and at first everyone was all "what you have a viper?!"......now after a couple years of me driving it every day....no one notices anymore. They barely noticed when I stopped driving the 1996 RT/10 and started driving the 2006 SRT-10......

At least that is what I tell myself, because the SRT-10 is just too fun and easy to drive every day to not drive it every day........

I agree, after a while people will mostly leave you alone. The first time I brought the car to work people went nuts over it. Now, 8 months later, I only hear people talking about it. Luckily, most of the people in my office have little interest in cars.

fqberful · Oct 23, 2011

I have a '06 Viper Coupe and an '09 Challenger SRT8 6spd. They are 2 very different cars. The Challenger weighs in at about 4400lbs and while it's fun to drive it's no Viper. I can jam 4 people in it though as long as the back seat ones are short. Even with a ton of mods and I have several the performance and handling is anaemic compared to the Viper. Sort of like putting a turbo on that family van only with a lot more style ... Keep the Viper and get a used Challenger SRT8 or a 300c SRT8 or a JGC SRT8 .. Stay 2010 or earlier because MOPAR encrypted the PCM and it's tough to mod them without that. Then mod the crap out of it.

shooter_t1 · Oct 24, 2011

fqberful said:
The Challenger weighs in at about 4400lbs

Wow

Thats over 700 lbs heavier then my wife's 2012 Mustang 5.0 GT. No wonder the local SRT 8's won't line up with me. :rolaugh:

Nice looking cars, but waaay to heavy.

ZDigital1 · Oct 24, 2011

georgethedog said:
I am getting a bug everytime I see my wife's black Challenger SRT-8. While my Viper sits on the lift, she is driving her car to work while I drive the family van (I would not drive the Viper to where I work).

That Challenger looks so damn tough... Thinking about trading my Viper for a Challenger... Of course, I would mod the ____ out of it.

I am thinking of: Shaker hood, supercharger, exhaust, etc. Make it different than the others. Guess I always have to have a project... Maybe I should take up knitting instead???

OH MY LORD! Here we go again!!!!!

Paul Hawker · Oct 24, 2011

Easy to make your Viper feel like a Challenger and a better daily driver.

Simply put 1,000 of cement in the trunk, and take off two spark plug wires, raise it up 3" and voila...Challenger feel.

I also love the look of the new Challenger, and it is ripe for mods, but it is in a different class than the Vipers.

PDCjonny · Oct 24, 2011

Dime-oh-Dozen around here.
Nobody looks twice.

kennyhemi · Oct 24, 2011

georgethedog said:
New crop of students every year...

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

georgethedog · Oct 24, 2011

Oh, Kenny... I would never admit to that.

georgethedog · Oct 24, 2011

ZDigital1 said:
OH MY LORD! Here we go again!!!!!

Hey big boy, did you get your car back?

Slithr · Oct 24, 2011

Did you fall and bump your head :omg:

I'll do it for you before you sell the Viper :buttkick:

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