Here in Denver, the majority of car guys of all makes are true car guys too. At the C&C type of events, you get a lot of very high end car owners talking and admiring cars of all years, makes and models. Yes, if a Ferrari owner wants to buy a Ferrari, they buy it because it is a Ferrari. Same with Porsche, Aston, etc. Even the two Spyker owners here just love cars of all types, both bought their Spykers because they wanted something different, not because they were super fast. At these events, the guys and gals really liked my Gen III Coupe. It was the car getting the most photos. The guys rolling up in a new FF or 458, would be asking if people could take pictures of them and their son or daughter by the car. A lot of people wanted that.
Respect for Viper is there and much better than most will probably realize. I attend these events at times in the Saleen S351R Speedster and people go crazy over the paint as it changes 17 different colors. They also love to see how we were able to get 579 rwhp and 641 rwlbs out of the blown 408 here at altitude (above 6000 ft). Almost all are car lovers and respect for ingenuity and clean, smart looking classy modifications is prevalent. I can tell you stopping by the Ferrari of Denver dealership from time to time, they and a number of high end car owners here absolutely LOVE the new Gen V. The comments were, it is plenty fast enough for them and the interior is absolutely amazing. They would not buy it instead of their Ferrari but they WILL buy it to complement their Ferrari. Kind of like a wife you love and respect (Ferrari) and a hot mistress who does crazy stuff for you because you simply ask (Viper). Funny how some of these people talk. My point is the respect is there even if their is not solely because of performance numbers.
The only owners, and not all of them but a much higher percentage, that hold a chip on their shoulders or are plain arrogant A-holes are the newer z06 and ZR1 owners. They park taking up 2 or 3 spots, they park way away from everyone else and they are just not very welcoming if approached. The regular Vette owners seem to be okay and are just happy to own a sports car. They also always comment complimentary on the Viper. Don't know if it is something about higher models that get people's heads swelling but that's what I have seen here over the past decade attending theses events. Yes the GS, Z06 and ZR1 cars are special too and very fast but I would not buy one because of the company the vast majority of these model owners keep. I hate elitism and arrogance, none respectful people. These guys may turn their own wrenches (but I doubt it) however they are not real car guys IMHO.
ACR will be special in the future, so will a future blown Viper street model with a smaller V10 if Ralph and crew turn one out. ACR will be very special and will probably not have bigger or more powerful motor. It will have lightened load, areo and something no other Viper will have, a paddle tranny. Makes sense to have something special to each model. ACR may only come in paddle tranny only as SRT said they will produce a track model as well. Ask yourself, why do that when ACR is a track car? SRT proved it could quickly produce an ACR and ACR convertible in record time itch wind tunnel. That does not take multiple years to do initially. There is something else holding back, like the paddle tranny.
Blown Street Viper could be more a drag special, light to light. Bursts of power not endurance. Who knows but their are all kinds of possibilities for Viper to appeal to more people, but keep heritage alive, yet produce in relatively small numbers.
We will see but we have car guys running the company (Fiat and SRT) and that is reassuring enough. Can't say the same for GMC. There is no disputing those facts. ACR will be respectful. Gen V is respectful right now. Most car magazines, especially Motor Trend are not. They are part of the problem in the car hobby. Just trash! No better than National Enquirer where everything is shock value reporting with only a hint of realism.
Respect for Viper is there and much better than most will probably realize. I attend these events at times in the Saleen S351R Speedster and people go crazy over the paint as it changes 17 different colors. They also love to see how we were able to get 579 rwhp and 641 rwlbs out of the blown 408 here at altitude (above 6000 ft). Almost all are car lovers and respect for ingenuity and clean, smart looking classy modifications is prevalent. I can tell you stopping by the Ferrari of Denver dealership from time to time, they and a number of high end car owners here absolutely LOVE the new Gen V. The comments were, it is plenty fast enough for them and the interior is absolutely amazing. They would not buy it instead of their Ferrari but they WILL buy it to complement their Ferrari. Kind of like a wife you love and respect (Ferrari) and a hot mistress who does crazy stuff for you because you simply ask (Viper). Funny how some of these people talk. My point is the respect is there even if their is not solely because of performance numbers.
The only owners, and not all of them but a much higher percentage, that hold a chip on their shoulders or are plain arrogant A-holes are the newer z06 and ZR1 owners. They park taking up 2 or 3 spots, they park way away from everyone else and they are just not very welcoming if approached. The regular Vette owners seem to be okay and are just happy to own a sports car. They also always comment complimentary on the Viper. Don't know if it is something about higher models that get people's heads swelling but that's what I have seen here over the past decade attending theses events. Yes the GS, Z06 and ZR1 cars are special too and very fast but I would not buy one because of the company the vast majority of these model owners keep. I hate elitism and arrogance, none respectful people. These guys may turn their own wrenches (but I doubt it) however they are not real car guys IMHO.
ACR will be special in the future, so will a future blown Viper street model with a smaller V10 if Ralph and crew turn one out. ACR will be very special and will probably not have bigger or more powerful motor. It will have lightened load, areo and something no other Viper will have, a paddle tranny. Makes sense to have something special to each model. ACR may only come in paddle tranny only as SRT said they will produce a track model as well. Ask yourself, why do that when ACR is a track car? SRT proved it could quickly produce an ACR and ACR convertible in record time itch wind tunnel. That does not take multiple years to do initially. There is something else holding back, like the paddle tranny.
Blown Street Viper could be more a drag special, light to light. Bursts of power not endurance. Who knows but their are all kinds of possibilities for Viper to appeal to more people, but keep heritage alive, yet produce in relatively small numbers.
We will see but we have car guys running the company (Fiat and SRT) and that is reassuring enough. Can't say the same for GMC. There is no disputing those facts. ACR will be respectful. Gen V is respectful right now. Most car magazines, especially Motor Trend are not. They are part of the problem in the car hobby. Just trash! No better than National Enquirer where everything is shock value reporting with only a hint of realism.
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