riverflyer
Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2003
- Posts
- 254
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- 0
Wellll, powerful experience would best sum it all up! We drove over the coastal mountains to meet the transport truck(Schilli Specialized, good price, good people)as their truck was too long to negotiate our swithbacks. The car arrived and was every bit as expected(cherry). I had a friend inspect and drive the car, had Dodge inspect and drive the car, had dozens of pics and lots of converstation with former owner, so felt pretty confident. I have shipped 4 cars with this process now and I'm batting .750. I am replacing the s54 BMW Mroadster for perspective. I call it the saber and the broadsword. The M was set up with full Dinan susp, lots of susp add ons, diff, etc etc and is fast, precise and very very fun to drive. My first impressions of the Viper were of course how beautiful they are. Very masculine but yet with soft and balanced lines to compliment. I love the styling I must say. The first miles were along a busy hiway through a small town. Immediately, I realized I was giving up a lot of refinement and balance that makes BMW's so nice(imo). WE, nervously, parked on the street and went into have some dinner before heading home. Sat at a window seat to keep an eye on the car. I had previously driven 3 Vipers, all in urban areas and had not noticed much reaction from people, certainly no more than being in any nice performance car. I was Totally unprepared for the reactions that took place on our way home and while sitting watching the car! First of all the whole kitchen staff came out to look at it, w/o knowing we were the owners and on it went from there. Eighty % of the cars that went by gawked, slowed or even stopped, backing up traffic! Car parked at the swimminghole on the river, people backing up 200yards and stopping mid lane to check it out. People running out of there houses pointing and yelling, cruising by a biker bar and getting full fist salute from Harley crowd gathered outside and on and on. The attention temporarily overshadowed the driving and I am not the kind that wants or seeks it out, but I will put up with it and enjoy some parts of it in exchange for the driving. When we were out of towns and on the backwoods twisties, running WOT and hearing the racing sounds, backfires and loping rumble, well thats what it is obviously about. I was grinning ear to ear and yelling and whooping. The car has KnN,smoothtubes, Sean Roe hi flo cats and custom Bullit resonators. It is much quieter than my souped up,sc'ed BMW 8cly. and does not have the tone but I am hoping I can find the right stuff to dial in the sound I like. At any rate the driving was all I had hoped for and after I get used to all the attention, I know I am going to love this car.The one thing that impressed me most was the across the board acceptance and appreciation. Young, old, hip, straight and even the bikers that don't usually acknowledge 4 wheels. Very cool to drive a car that is so universally appreciated. Even a Ferrari won't get thatplay, although I still want a Modena at some point.!Anyway, glad to be here sharing my first experience with those that "know" .
Let the mods begin!! And thanks to all who have posted anwsers to my questions. I'm sure there will be lots more. John
Let the mods begin!! And thanks to all who have posted anwsers to my questions. I'm sure there will be lots more. John
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