My Viper Rant

So after reading all the negativity about Vipers from the automotive world, I felt I had to write a piece on the Viper. I'm sure many may disagree with my points, but I thought I would share it anyway. See below.

http://01viper4me.kinja.com/my-long-viper-rant-1459308222

I like your "rant". I too am trying to tame my Viper. But the damn thing is so beautiful to me...it would be horrific to sling it into a ditch. I may have buy another one I can rag on.

Nice rant... and who's awesome orange Viper is that??

Free2go said:

I like your "rant". I too am trying to tame my Viper. But the damn thing is so beautiful to me...it would be horrific to sling it into a ditch. I may have buy another one I can rag on.

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Thanks!

Well like I wrote in my post, it took me a solid 6 months of driving to properly learn the cars limits. I took it to vacant parking lots to find the point in which it would break loose, and then took it auto-crossing. Am I the worlds best Viper driver? Not in the slightest... but I do know the limits of my car. Once I found those limits and learned how to safely approach them, it made my ownership experience just that much sweeter! Good luck on taming yours!

SSGNRDZ_28 said:

Nice rant... and who's awesome orange Viper is that??

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Thanks! Honestly I don't know... showed up to Indy Cars and Coffee one day.

Are you located in Indy by chance?

GreenVenom said:

Are you located in Indy by chance?

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Yup, just north of Indy in Noblesville.

Nice, we have a Viper Club meeting Saturday At noon in Westfield if you're interested shoot me a pm. A Great friendly group. I figured you might be from around Indy, the picture of the orange Snake was a giveaway. Like to meet you! Brian

GreenVenom said:

Nice, we have a Viper Club meeting Saturday At noon in Westfield if you're interested shoot me a pm. A Great friendly group. I figured you might be from around Indy, the picture of the orange Snake was a giveaway. Like to meet you! Brian

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Brian- I'm planning on being there -Greg/'03 Black vert.

St.Char said:

Brian- I'm planning on being there -Greg/'03 Black vert.

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Great!! Look forward to meeting you too. I'm big and ugly, so easy to recognize.

Now that's a great article, thanks for your rant

I've taken many people out for rides in my car, but one of the best descriptions I have had from a passenger when asking what he thought of the car summed it up in one word "BRUTAL"

Long live the Viper

Most people don't want to work hard in any capacity and certainly not driving a car. The Vipers attraction to us and it's Achilles heel to the public.

01viper4me said:

Thanks! Honestly I don't know... showed up to Indy Cars and Coffee one day.

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That's my car, hope to see you around Indy sometime...

Well said Jon-but work is EXTREMELY enjoyable to some!! I'm BORED to varying degrees in most everything EXCEPT driving my Viper! Every mile is enjoyable and a potential challenge at
the same time! I ENJOY the manual transmission- I ENJOY every aspect of the car- I can't find one thing wrong with my Vipers!! To me they are the EXACT opposite of most automotive
write ups! Without a doubt the most fun on 4 wheels for me you can buy!! The automotive EXPERTS have their collective heads up their ..... in my opinion!

Well stated, Nice job.

mikesax said:

Well said Jon-but work is EXTREMELY enjoyable to some!! I'm BORED to varying degrees in most everything EXCEPT driving my Viper! Every mile is enjoyable and a potential challenge at
the same time! I ENJOY the manual transmission- I ENJOY every aspect of the car- I can't find one thing wrong with my Vipers!! To me they are the EXACT opposite of most automotive
write ups! Without a doubt the most fun on 4 wheels for me you can buy!! The automotive EXPERTS have their collective heads up their ..... in my opinion!

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+1

Bash the Viper all they want. The 'So Called' Automotive Experts in the magazines need to be PUT IN THEIR beloved PORSCHES and SMASHED WITH THEM IN A Junk yard CAR COMPACTOR!!

Porsches are the MOST BLAND CAR ever created and the MT and R & T thinks the car is the best thing since sliced bread. Funny how they are always SLOWER on the TRACK, More Expensive, Worse MPG, Slower on 0-60, 1/4 mile, and Handling compared to the other car, BUT YET THEY WIN EVERY stupid comparison test because.... wait for it.. "They are predictable" *** is that. Sounds like a SAD and Pathetic excuse for a Win for a bunch of Porsche LOVING SORE LOSERS. (See latest comparison against the New Corvette) **My minivan is predictable to, but that don't make it a better car*** THEY SOUND Like an bunch of WHINY old Women!!!

My other favorite issue is the one where the new Viper TA was compared againt all the other sports cars at laguna Seca raceway.. The Viper put down the FASTEST Time (with bad tires), but yet LAST Place again for the FAMOUS, "It just wasn't predictable..." Vaginas... all of them. If I wanted predictable I'd drive a Mini. Its PREDICTABLY SLOW!!!!!! Just like the winner the Porsche was predictably BLAND and Boring.

The most FAMOUS one was the first comparison test between the GTR, Z06, and Viper where the GTR took the win because of... wait for it....... TRUNK SPACE and BACK SEAT ROOM!!!!!! *** are they smoking. Yes sir, I bought my GTR because of its wonderful TRUNK SPACE...... /facepalm. Vipers get tested/compared for PERFORMANCE... MiniVANS and SUV's can get tested for TRUNKS SPACE, BACKSEAT ROOM, and PREDICTABILITY. Todays Car magazines are just FAIL. We need a new car magazine wo/ the bias BS.

I threw all my MT, C&D, and R&T away. I can't stand reading their ******** BS anymore.

I'd buy Prius again over Porsche. Porsche makes a statement.... "Look at me.. Im a P r i c k!!" <------Hows is that bleeped? Whats wrong with this world? Pretty sure everyone on this board is older than 4 Y/O.

**My Rant**

Good article. Thanks for sharing. Every time I get out of my Viper I let out a sigh. To drive it means every ounce of my concentration is in tune with everything going on with the car and the surroundings. To drive it is a thrill, a rush. I was once told that I needed to accept being "just another bozo on the bus". Sorry, can't do it, not a part of my DNA. The Viper is part of my DNA.

Nice Rant! Here is my favorite (read honest) Viper review:http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100917/CARREVIEWS/100919898

The OP's article immediately reminded me of what happened in the Personal Watercraft (JetSki) industry. They went from small, nimble craft that were difficult for a newbie to handle-- to big ol' tuna boats that anyone could master in an hour or less. All the pressure to make PWC stable, safe, and easy to handle made them boring. People would sell them in a year or two, and sales declined steadily from the peak days. I guess it's a matter of "be careful what you ask for-- you just might get it". In designing all the new cars with the goal of producing extremely stable, computer-controlled drones that can hardly put a tire wrong, they are making these vehicles dull and uninspiring to drive. It will get to the point where you have to buy a "vintage" car to have anything interesting to drive.

And then...we slap a supercharger on it... : )

Ive owned my viper for a little over a year, to be honest before I bought one the reviews I was getting from people were crazy like you would literally hit the gas and simultaneously hit a tree, that the rear comes around on every down shift and other ******** comments. I think If you have half a brain and have had a fast car in the past, something American with a v8 at least. You should be pretty ok driving the car. I find the car a pleasure to drive and for the most part I know what I should and shouldn't do. I like your write up!

http://vimeo.com/3514368

guess u can say he is a foreigner, but he definitely gets it

that's a very insightful rant, and i'm with you 100 %, , it's fun for me when people ask me how difficult is it to drive??, I laugh and tell them, just respect the car and he will reward you, don't respect and he'll bite.

That was an absolutely exceptional, insightful rant. Bulls eye. Thank you for being able to articulate the amazing experience that the Viper gives and how it is widely mischaracterized by the press. To add salt to the wound, the Gen V is also bashed by an alarming number of previous gen Viper owners that just don't get that it still has the very soul that draws them to their snakes. Sadly, the jaded negative press is steering buyers away from owning the most rewarding car on the market. The Viper may not be for everyone, but for true enthusiasts, it is a dream car.

I feel fortunate to have bought mine before the recent bashing by the press, because I honestly would not have taken the risk. After logging 4,500 miles on my snake since August and tracking it hard at Spring Mountain, Thunderhill Raceway and Laguna Seca, I cannot imagine a more exciting, fulfilling automotive experience. The Viper is raw, connected, explosively fast. It is a race car that can conquer everything on the track, and yet you can drive it to wine country the next day.

VENOM V said:

That was an absolutely exceptional, insightful rant. Bulls eye. Thank you for being able to articulate the amazing experience that the Viper gives and how it is widely mischaracterized by the press. To add salt to the wound, the Gen V is also bashed by an alarming number of previous gen Viper owners that just don't get that it still has the very soul that draws them to their snakes. Sadly, the jaded negative press is steering buyers away from owning the most rewarding car on the market. The Viper may not be for everyone, but for true enthusiasts, it is a dream car.

I feel fortunate to have bought mine before the recent bashing by the press, because I honestly would not have taken the risk. After logging 4,500 miles on my snake since August and tracking it hard at Spring Mountain, Thunderhill Raceway and Laguna Seca, I cannot imagine a more exciting, fulfilling automotive experience. The Viper is raw, connected, explosively fast. It is a race car that can conquer everything on the track, and yet you can drive it to wine country the next day.

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Thank you! Yes it is truly a shame the amount of bashing of the Gen V by the so-called Viper faithful. But I am thankful for the few that did buy them because I think they truly are a very special car. I haven't had the opportunity to drive one, but from what I hear it is a better Viper in every capacity. It is just a shame that the "journalists" can't understand and are unwilling to learn what makes the Viper such a phenomenal car.

I just read an article in Autocar on a comparo of a F12 and an Aventador. For every subjective comment they made on the Aventador you could substitute "Viper" for "Aventador" and have the typical Viper road test.

Very Good Rant.. I liked it but keep in mind Motor Trend, Top Gear with Clarkson all those guys have driven and tested the finest cars the world has ever seen. They know exactly what they are talking about.. Hell Clarkson been doing reviews and test for over 25 years. There is a video of him floating around the interent of him testing the 92 viper when it first came out.. HE WAS IN LOVE with it, said he was gonna purchase one. Fast forward 21 years and times, technology, and cars have changed. Super Car are all FLY By Wire now like our fighters. You don't drive them you ride in them. Which is Exactly why I feel so many of us Love and have loved the Viper.. It pure insanity.. its dangerous, its rough, its loud, fast, it will bite you when your least expecting its a rush.. Its a Muscle car that still forces you to drive it which is exactly why you own one!

All those top gear guys are spoiled getting to drive many cars most of us dream of simply seeing.. We at least still get to wake up every morning and smile because we own one of the badest, sexiest, coolest Vehicles ever made.. and We LOVE IT!
You have you respect the car, Never turn your back on it.. Everything they hate about the car is exactly why a viper owner owns one! I love it!

Fatboy 18 said:

Now that's a great article, thanks for your rant

I've taken many people out for rides in my car, but one of the best descriptions I have had from a passenger when asking what he thought of the car summed it up in one word "BRUTAL"

Long live the Viper

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Those were my EXACT words the first time I ever road in a viper. It was my Buddies 93 RT/10