The 2003 Viper hits the press:

[Craig 201 MPH]

Yeah, Motortrend had an article on it this month, they seemed pretty damned impressed with it. They basically explained the changes and why they were a total benefit to the Viper from an improved point of view.
To me the car looks great, I'm not sure where the morons at automobile magazine (monthly circulation of probably a few dentists' offices and maybe their own) got their opinion of it looking like a corvette. The car is all Dodge, and is gonna be an awesome car.

Craig

 

[BurnR8]

I know I am going to get slammed with a big stick for saying this but.....Do you remember the First Generation Camaro? Three years of a great car and then ****! all the styling went to hell and it was mass produced and got uglier every year....now the original first gen camaro's are highly sought after and stashed away in collections....I have one of each year and would not give them up.....I am starting to feel the same way about out beloved automobiles!.....make something great and then for the sake of the almighty buck...completely change it to appeal to the masses....the 69 427 COPO (original) is worth around $65k in mint condition and with documentation.....Is HMS going to be the next Yenko? makes you hmmmmmmmm....

 

[VardaMan]

That 2003 hood scoop has got to go! It looks like DC copied the one on the Ferrari 550. It does not flow well with the body lines of the Viper or the shapes on the top of the hood. The side scoops look like the side of the Ferrari 456. I like Ferrari's and Viper's but not on the same car.
What are these guys at DC thinking? Can't they come up with any more good design ideas of their own? The 2003 body design was probably designed by Market Research Focus Groups using various pictures made with mix & match design features created by a computer design system.
The Gen I & II's are knockout ORIGINAL designs. Too bad that DC screwed this one up. Sad. Sad. Sad.
Yes, I saw it "in the flesh" at the Detroit Show. I spent several hours staring at it, trying and figure out why I was so disappointed in the car that I had hoped would be another great new car.
And yes, I do own a Viper.
Just my opinions, VardaMan

P.S. The trunk lid looks like the lid on the late model Mazda Miata.

 

[Hans Christian]

Thanks for keeping the waiting list low - for now. I am sure that will chanche once you see it up close.

Anyway, I guess it is the usual problem with all new things - why change etc.. Remember the complaints when we changed from the "old" message board to this new and greatly improved. I am sure that more than 99% now prefer the new over the old.

 

[Tenney]

Good point, Hans. Can't say I agree entirely with your conclusion, however.

 

[Jim Hodel]

I'm one of the minority that thinks it will look great in person and be a fantastic car (although maybe a little too wide). I think there is a slight desire to preserve one's opinion of the car they own, by dissing any new car that comes out whether it is from Porsche, Corvette, or even Dodge.

Come on you guys, the Viper's gonna rock.

JIm

 

[Jim Hodel]

I'm one of the minority that thinks it will look great in person and be a fantastic car (although maybe a little too wide). I think there is a slight desire to preserve one's opinion of the car they own, by dissing any new car that comes out whether it is from Porsche, Corvette, or even Dodge.

Come on you guys, the Viper's gonna rock.

JIm

 

[JGK95]

Mark,

I am in total agreeance with you on the subject of the 2003 Dodge 'everycar' Viper. Its appearance is that of a soup gone bad. Too many features from too many cars spoil the integrity of the Viper. I don't own a Viper yet, but when I do it will be either the 96-97 Viper for its luscious Blue and white scheme or hopefully a True GTS in 2004-2006.


Jay K.

AMERICANS LIKE CURVES

 

[Paul Fischer]

They increase the power, widen the stance, clean up the aerodynamics and the best some journalist that has never had ten large under his foot let alone in his garage can come up with is his ignorant Corvette comparison? Hey guys, if they don't understand it isn't worth explaining. Personally I spent as much time as possible driving my car as close to the aerodynamic wall as I could (get past 170 mph and tell me the air isn't starting to hold you back), it was an insult to drive that car on the street after seeing what it did on the track. Cleaning up the aerodynamics insures the Viper racing heritage is not merely a flash in the pan and I don't hear anyone complaining about 525 bhp. You want beauty and lines, snap up a Chapter II car. Or a '63 Silver Cloud III. Or a 50's Vette. You want something a little spicier when you put your foot in it without shelling out $100-200k+ the the Chapter III car is the only game in town.

Of course there will always be "journalists" that wet themselves when overwhelmed by a set of wheels that dominates them before they ever dare turn the key. For them there is always the "driver friendly" small block with computer controlled chicken brakes at every wheel to hide behind.

 

[Paul Fischer]

They increase the power, widen the stance, clean up the aerodynamics and the best some journalist that has never had ten large under his foot let alone in his garage can come up with is his ignorant Corvette comparison? Hey guys, if they don't understand it isn't worth explaining. Personally I spent as much time as possible driving my car as close to the aerodynamic wall as I could (get past 170 mph and tell me the air isn't starting to hold you back), it was an insult to drive that car on the street after seeing what it did on the track. Cleaning up the aerodynamics insures the Viper racing heritage is not merely a flash in the pan and I don't hear anyone complaining about 525 bhp. You want beauty and lines, snap up a Chapter II car. Or a '63 Silver Cloud III. Or a 50's Vette. You want something a little spicier when you put your foot in it without shelling out $100-200k+ the the Chapter III car is the only game in town.

Of course there will always be "journalists" that wet themselves when overwhelmed by a set of wheels that dominates them before they ever dare turn the key. For them there is always the "driver friendly" small block with computer controlled chicken brakes at every wheel to hide behind.