No entry level viper

Nice post. He friggin gets it man. Great find! Thanks! I love to read this stuff!

"What’s more, an automatic transmission will never be offered. We have no interest in becoming a Corvette," stated SRT boss Ralph Gilles in a recent interview. "The people who buy (the Viper) relish the manual, they relish the driver’s car, the raw connections to the vehicle."

 

Decisive, commited, uncompromising and unapologetic...love it!

 

I love this guy

 

Technically if he did offer a DCT it isn't an automatic tranny in the traditional sense so if the Viper came with a DCT it will not be like the Vette which has a true automatic and his words above would still be true. Just reading between the lines

Anyway Im sure Ralph is fully aware that the choice to stick with manual only will relegate the Viper to the back of the supercar pack in terms of straight-line acceleration as they are all going or gone DCT etc. Even though I disagree with the choice to "only" offer a manual, as they are trying to attract the Porsche etc crowd, I can respect his decision to just produce a fully driver-centric driving experience. Thats a very small niche crowd and I think they have figured out they are not going to get that Porsche etc crowd in droves so it seems like a shift in focus with that comment above. I really hope this works out in the end for the Vipers future. Hopefully it can at least keep its front runner status on the roadcourse in the non-hyper exotic arena.

 

He contradicts himself with the whole "viper owners relish the manual" by saying the reason there is no auto is because they don't have one that will fit.

"While Gilles pushed the benefits of manual transmissions, he also revealed there is one key reason the Viper doesn't have an automatic - packaging. As he explained, "There is nothing that we have or out there that fits."

 

Thank you God!...................(and Ralph)

 

The auto doesn't bother me, if it is optional. Not interested in any V8 under the hood, ever. Smaller V10 with forced induction, sure. Just no V8.

 

It's a nice sentiment and I admire his loyalty to the spirit of the car. CEO's don't have a long shelf life though and the next guy might want to do things a little differently....you know, piss off a few thousand hard asses and pander to a broader audience in the hopes of more profit???

 

The Viper is iconic ... it's the only true 'street legal race car'. I love what they've done with the interior, but to go away from the original premise of the car would be to give in to marketing and I just don't want to be a part of that. Ralph has balls amongst a sea of 'whatever sells' peers. I hope we always see the Viper as what it is ... an amazing, high performance vehicle that not EVERYONE can deal with!

 

This guy makes me an even bigger fan of the Viper!

 

Viper auto ? Thanks Ralph for saying no..... the DCT is the best upgrade IMO.

until then I will have my viper's with a manual.

 

Ralph is a fresh breath of air, from the starched shirt CEO's with their scripted press releases. He demonstrated he can walk to talk, as well!

 

I agree with the above. Ralph makes me proud of viper ownership. Its a no holds barred in your face 3300 pound focki.g v10 that either looks like a sexy chick on the beach or a pissed off snake head depending on viewing angle. Hell...ourcar has so much swagger and balls that even our ceo will tell it to you straight face to face and then hop in his viper and lap you on a road course.

Damn I love this guy

 

This is how a real CEO look like !

 

Agreed. Also, I fixed a few terminological problems within your post.

 

isn't the corvette technically already an entry level viper? the way some trolls post you'd swear the c7 is.

 

Yep, that's how I read it too.

 

The Vette makes her wet...but when she rides in the Viper she must first wear a diaper.

 

LOL...I knew exactly which words it was that you changed right away haha... Repeat after me: "The Viper IS a supercar and an exotic!"

 

STR just needs to make the motor 10L or FI with 800 hp and call it a day. I love vipers but the new Zo6 is going to destroy the gen 5 viper and do it for 50K less money.

 

Destroy it in what way?
The $50K piece is used so much that I'm just shaking my head and this type reply is just all over me. The price hasn't been released on the Z and don't know where you get you info on pricing for the GV

I'm a firm believer in "if you don't know the answer don't give one".

 

Viper with TA package, the primo track model is $120k

C7 Z51 with very mild options comes in around $64k easy

So, then the Z06 model will only be $70k, or only a $7k option. Hmm, if this happens I might get one for a DD, but I'm thinking it's unlikely.

 

Very unlikely that the base Z06 will come in under 85K (I estimate 85-90k stripped) because a loaded Z51 will run 70-75K add 10K for CC brakes, 5-10K SC, wide body, updated transmission (auto), wider tires & wheels, etc. Loaded it should be 100K plus. My guess!

 

My 06 Z was about 80K 8 years ago.
I had waited and waited for the new Z but at some point, my son at 13 lol, ask me too take a good look at the vipers.
I purchased before ThanksGiving knowing fully well the new Z would be revealed in January.

Sorry to rant, I just noticed this was about an entry level viper.

 

Imho Chevy will undercut the "SRT" Viper model pricewise with the Z06. It just makes sense. Even if its just by 5-10k I think they will undercut the SRT model. If the Z06 ends up being a fair bit faster than the Viper in straights and in the twisties they will be golden. That may steal Viper sales even from previous Viper owners.

 

It is very true the viper is not for everyone however it will evolve and in the future this car will keep getting better.We dont know what will be next but anything to better the performance i will welcome.If i am buying a sports car it is going to be american made.If i could not afford a viper i would go for a mustang .The new corvette could be the fastest american car i just cannot like it.the car looks likes the body parts were taken from a bin of extra parts and put together.I do like the technology that is used .however i am proud to be an american when our cars can be the best.I must say that with a ceo like Ralph is one of the reason i had to get a new viper.

 

I agree, I think they are pushing the perf also to justify the price. I think they'll struggle to keep it under $100k. The way marketing is, they may do it at like a $94,900 or with a miracle even an $89,900 (I don't see how though) and then have an option that anyone who buys it would be stupid to not get, like say seats, lol, that'll bump it into the $95-99k range and then above with options like wheel finish, etc.