RE: Dodge Viper (SRI/SRII): PH Used Buying Guide

[1781cc]

macky17 said:

1781cc said:

Z06George said:

How tall are you? I'm 6ft2 and was fine in an RT/10, the only thing I found were the pedals seemed slightly off but that was soon forgotten when I was actually driving.

I'm 6' 4", I just found it to be super cramped, I had just driven an S2000, a Testarosa, A 355 and a Diablo SV on the same day and fit in all of those, the Viper was the worst of the lot

Shnozz said:

Be interested to hear your thoughts on the Z06 versus the viper? I’m considering both but the availability of the Vette is meaning a lot more on offer.

Not driven the Z06 so can't offer anything

Not driven a viper (6-4 and could barely fit in the ones I’ve sat in) but I did own a c6 z06 for a while. Tremendous car - terrific engine, proper fast, decent gear change, handled really, really well (but stay alert), fantastic brakes, sounded epic. Gear ratios are very long but if you pretend 1st is 2nd, etc, you still get to rev it out fairly often. Not huge steering feel but doesn’t seem to matter as you feel everything through the seat. Dreadful interior but if you have time to look you’re driving too slow. But as I say, I cannot compare it to the viper.

So I’m not the only 6” 4’ person who had an issue, I guess both of us didn’t know how to work the seat then...

Adjustable pedals I didn’t know about but to be fair it’s not just leg room, it’s body length, arm length and size of the person in there (I’m a 17stoner)

The diablo was by far the best of the bunch, even with offset pedals, the response of the engine, steering, the way the back rises when you brake hard, the sheer force out of corners

That said, it’s comparing apples to oranges, but I’ll stand by my verdict on the viper, I was gutted.

Like I said, blue and white stripes, or the Oreca flip of white with blue stripes on a GTS is lovely to look at. A guy I used to know called Craig Maxfield used to own one, probably still does, never got to see it and compare it to the RT/10for size though

[alexrowe2000]

Not really my cup of tea and I've always thought the proportions are *slightly* off.

Nevertheless, I'm glad these types of cars exist.

[unsprung]

leglessAlex said:

sonicbloo said:

I've had Mustangs for over 30 years, but a Viper was my dream for over 20 years until I finally got a gen 3 in 2015. 11000 trouble free miles since then, and so cheap to run. Comparing a modern hatchback (no matter how fast) to a Viper is crazy talk

That's just fantastic. I can only imagine you never get tired of opening up the garage doors and seeing that!

out. standing.

[QBee]

Always fancied a Viper, for its power and sheer presence.
Never had the budget, so bought a TVR instead.
RWD, analogue, no traction control, no ABS, never missed them.
My right foot is both in the TVR.
So driving the Viper would be a sheer joy for me.
Though I do agree about the 4 wheel alignment comment - turns a killing machine TVR into a joy to drive, so i imagine the same could be true for the Viper.

What does surprise me is the BHP/Ft Lbs, or rather the lack of them.
For an American muscle car packing an 8 litre V10 in 1500 kg of car, 400/450 for the early cars just seems poor.
Ok, I have gone the turbo route with my TVR, but at very low pressure (7.5 psi), so it drives like an NA car.
I have 400 bhp and 525 ft lbs from a stock 4.6 litre Range Rover engine in 1100 kg of car, and my 0-60 time is a tad under the Viper's.

Can someone please tell me how much they improved the later cars vis-a-vis power output?
I could be tempted.......

[Don Colione]

QBee said:

Can someone please tell me how much they improved the later cars vis-a-vis power output?

??

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/how-the-viper-engi...

[ChemicalChaos]

Ooooft yes

Somewhere at home I have a video "Performance Car of the Year 1995", where PC mag staff each chose a car and did a group thrash on the Isle of Man. The noise of the Hennessy Viper that one bloke brought, and effortlessly quick 0-130mph demonstrated (try getting away with that these days!) will always stay with me

For me, a GTS in red/silver stripes or blue/white stripes.
I'd do some mild N/A tuning to take it to a better, but still useable, 600ish bhp.
Now I just need to win the lottery!

[iacabu]

Love these.. as others have said, nostalgia plays a big part.

There was a red twin turbo gts around Thornton-Cleveleys a few years ago. No idea what happened to it.

[QBee]

Don Colione said:

QBee said:

Can someone please tell me how much they improved the later cars vis-a-vis power output?

??

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/how-the-viper-engi...

Thank you. Gives all the details.

[sonicbloo]

unsprung said:

leglessAlex said:

sonicbloo said:

I've had Mustangs for over 30 years, but a Viper was my dream for over 20 years until I finally got a gen 3 in 2015. 11000 trouble free miles since then, and so cheap to run. Comparing a modern hatchback (no matter how fast) to a Viper is crazy talk

That's just fantastic. I can only imagine you never get tired of opening up the garage doors and seeing that!

out. standing.

Thanks, and not yet !! I love the car from every angle. The gen 1 and 2 were previous poster cars for me, but there was always a certain 'something' that I would change if I had one. I didn't like the gen 1 (3 spoke) wheels, and the gen 2's in standard form need to be lower IMO.

As for the earlier comment about waking neighbours, Vipers are (too?) quiet in standard form, that's the first mod a lot of owners do, mine used to have an aftermarket exhaust but it was too loud for me, I've had a Mustang with a Borla exhaust and the drone was dreadful. Next year we are taking it to Europe, meeting up with 47 Vipers in Germany for a few days then carrying on maybe to Switzerland/Italy.

I said 'troublefree', but there were a few teething issues with a siezed blower motor and had to replace the oil cooler pipes as they were weeping. Apart from that, a new battery, tyres, and a new foglight, it's been so reliable as a weekend toy and gets 23mpg on a run.

Sure, it feels clunky and a bit old school, especially the gearbox, but I can't fault the handling in the right conditions. I did struggle to keep up on a PH run when I first got it, but it was damp and the roads were narrow, and I wasn't going to risk breaking it. Mine is one of only 2 or 3 'First Edition' 2006 Vipers in the UK (total production of 200)

Apart from organized meets, and the odd American car show, I've only ever seen a handful on the road, even in 8 visits to America.

What can they be compared to? Corvette possibly - but a bit mainstream and comfortable, TVR more likely - handbuilt in relatively small numbers, quirky/wacky styling, minimal driver aids.

I think in future years the current prices will look cheap. Production stopped in 2017, roughly 30,000 made over 25 years, racing pedigree, poster car, manual, rear wheel drive etc.For many years I've watched prices, and I only ever saw one under £20k, and that was a gen 1 in a dark green and didn't look in good condition. At current exchange rates you couldn't import anything under £30k, and probably £40k+ for a nice unmolested one with clean history.

There is great support Stateside for these vehicles, with forums, clubs, and parts suppliers, all with an unbelievable wealth of knowledge.

It's a car for someone who really wants a Viper, and only a Viper will do, not for someone who browses the internet thinking 'what is the best car I can buy for £30k'

[427James]

The other thing is that the Viper feels very fast due to the torque. It idles at 400rpm and will snap your head back from those revs. Just gently lift the clutch to get the car rolling and then nail the throttle. It never gets old. Its also far closer to a TVR than a Z06 is in terms of feel (I have had both). The Viper is less capable than a Z06 in most ways, but is still the one you will pick up the keys to when you have them side by side in your garage.

Edited by 427James on Sunday 6th January 11:00

[Don Colione]

QBee said:

Thank you. Gives all the details.

Don't mention Your inquisitive question provoked my search, which enlightened me as well!

[J4CKO]

They seem fantastic value if you can get one for 30 grand or not much more, I would imagine thats a very safe place for that cash and a lot of fun in the meantime.

Its not a car you can compare to a modern hatch other than the price, you buy both using the same currency but Golf R vs Viper is not a dilemma many people are faced by. I wonder how the Golf R stealing scrotes would fare nicking a Viper and ragging it round ?

They need to not have overly shiny wheels though, some have polished alloy rims and it makes them look a bit "yee-har" and the arch gap looks a bit much one some.

[Shnozz]

Cambs_Stuart said:

20+ years ago popular beat combo the prodigy's Keith Flint had a yellow viper with blue stripes. I passed it most days in my way to college. It sounded fantastic, you could hear him coming for miles...

He was on PH too.

[sonicbloo]

Shnozz said:

Cambs_Stuart said:

20+ years ago popular beat combo the prodigy's Keith Flint had a yellow viper with blue stripes. I passed it most days in my way to college. It sounded fantastic, you could hear him coming for miles...

He was on PH too.

Wonder if it was this one, which ended up stolen and set on fire, then brought back to life as a coupe and converted to RHD

[dunnoreally]

I don't know what it is about these, but they're just cool. They just are. The kind of the cool that makes me not give a toss if all kinds of stuff is better in more or less every way.

[myhandle]

big_rob_sydney said:

For me, I'd be looking at whatever alternatives £30k can buy. And the answer is, a lot. The performance benchmarks are easily hit by a lot of other cars in standard format, never mind modified. Any forced induction car can be made to hit them incredibly easily.

The only thing that appeals to me about this is the noise, and even that, I'd have to worry about upsetting my neighbours, and attracting the attention of the boys in blue, along with potentially having it stolen.

Big pass on this, and would prefer something a bit more discreet.

I don’t think you would like the supercar experience, at any price. This car is just about a supercar, and has the presence and the general X factor that goes along with that . It’s not a Golf R rival even if they cost about the same.

[jpmatrix36]

big_rob_sydney said:

For me, I'd be looking at whatever alternatives £30k can buy. And the answer is, a lot. The performance benchmarks are easily hit by a lot of other cars in standard format, never mind modified. Any forced induction car can be made to hit them incredibly easily.

The only thing that appeals to me about this is the noise, and even that, I'd have to worry about upsetting my neighbours, and attracting the attention of the boys in blue, along with potentially having it stolen.

Big pass on this, and would prefer something a bit more discreet.

This has to be the dumbest post ever. Why would you even post this comment if you are looking for something more discreet🤣🤪?

[myhandle]

big_rob_sydney said:

For me, I'd be looking at whatever alternatives £30k can buy. And the answer is, a lot. The performance benchmarks are easily hit by a lot of other cars in standard format, never mind modified. Any forced induction car can be made to hit them incredibly easily.

The only thing that appeals to me about this is the noise, and even that, I'd have to worry about upsetting my neighbours, and attracting the attention of the boys in blue, along with potentially having it stolen.

Big pass on this, and would prefer something a bit more discreet.

I don’t think you would like the supercar experience, at any price. This car is just about a supercar, and has the presence and the general X factor that goes along with that . It’s not a Golf R rival even if they cost about the same.

[Blayney]

100% my number 1 dream car. Gen 2 GTS coupe in blue with white stripes...

GTS-R in white with blue stripes for the weekend.

[Don Roque]

big_rob_sydney said:

For me, I'd be looking at whatever alternatives £30k can buy. And the answer is, a lot. The performance benchmarks are easily hit by a lot of other cars in standard format, never mind modified. Any forced induction car can be made to hit them incredibly easily.

The only thing that appeals to me about this is the noise, and even that, I'd have to worry about upsetting my neighbours, and attracting the attention of the boys in blue, along with potentially having it stolen.

Big pass on this, and would prefer something a bit more discreet.

I don't think the Viper was made for people as boring as you.