Corvette Forum and Car & Driver slap down new Viper!
Discussion
Yes, despite predictions from CF's Viper boys, the less expensive (by $15,000) ZR1 simply trounced the latest Viper by 2 seconds at the 2.24 mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca track.
According to the folks at Car & Driver,
Quote:
The ZR1 feels substantially lighter than its piddling three-pound actual weight advantage implies. It feels smaller and more agile, though its wheelbase is a yawning 6.9 inches longer.
The vipers biggest detractions came from its seats:
Quote:
And after five hours in it, you feel like you've been run over by the Budweiser Clydesdales. Your ears ring, your head pounds, and your heart palpitates. If you don't wear socks, you might even brand red rings into your ankles with the side pipes.
and its brakes:
Quote:
And speaking of stoppers, the Viper's iron brakes had neither the bite nor the endurance of the ZR1's ceramic jobs.
Regarding the suspension of each:
Quote:
Certain refinements, such as the ZR1's self-regulating magnetorheological shocks, plus many more decades of developement pay off in a feeling of heightened sophistication. Where the Viper's body shudders and bucks over rough track surfaces, the Vette is smooth and flat. Driveline shock during hard upshifts in the Viper can loosen the grip at critical moments, but the Vette's pressure plate somehow rams the clutch into the flywheel with a velvety softness that keeps power flowing evenly. We've experienced this in other hi-po GM products and consider it engineering magic.
Behold the reigning king - the Corvette ZR1.
According to the folks at Car & Driver,
Quote:
The ZR1 feels substantially lighter than its piddling three-pound actual weight advantage implies. It feels smaller and more agile, though its wheelbase is a yawning 6.9 inches longer.
The vipers biggest detractions came from its seats:
Quote:
And after five hours in it, you feel like you've been run over by the Budweiser Clydesdales. Your ears ring, your head pounds, and your heart palpitates. If you don't wear socks, you might even brand red rings into your ankles with the side pipes.
and its brakes:
Quote:
And speaking of stoppers, the Viper's iron brakes had neither the bite nor the endurance of the ZR1's ceramic jobs.
Regarding the suspension of each:
Quote:
Certain refinements, such as the ZR1's self-regulating magnetorheological shocks, plus many more decades of developement pay off in a feeling of heightened sophistication. Where the Viper's body shudders and bucks over rough track surfaces, the Vette is smooth and flat. Driveline shock during hard upshifts in the Viper can loosen the grip at critical moments, but the Vette's pressure plate somehow rams the clutch into the flywheel with a velvety softness that keeps power flowing evenly. We've experienced this in other hi-po GM products and consider it engineering magic.
Behold the reigning king - the Corvette ZR1.
I'm not entirely surprised.
When I boughtmy C5 Z06, I pored over tests comparing it to the Viper and the Mustang R and every test said the Vette was best so I bought it.
Both the Viper and certainly the Mustang R are both worth far more now.
I still kind of wish I'd bought the Viper too.....
When I boughtmy C5 Z06, I pored over tests comparing it to the Viper and the Mustang R and every test said the Vette was best so I bought it.
Both the Viper and certainly the Mustang R are both worth far more now.
I still kind of wish I'd bought the Viper too.....
With regards to pricing don't forget the Viper was an $80k car when the Vette was $40-50k. Viper was always very limited production (2-3000 per year) and effectively hand-built. During this period roughly ten times as many Vette's were built.
I'm a massive Vette fan, but I have a bit of a soft spot for the Viper. Did a fair bit of work on the new one going back a few years when I was in Detroit. I'm excited to see battle commencing again between Vette and Viper. Can't wait for 1.13.13!
I'm a massive Vette fan, but I have a bit of a soft spot for the Viper. Did a fair bit of work on the new one going back a few years when I was in Detroit. I'm excited to see battle commencing again between Vette and Viper. Can't wait for 1.13.13!
the small amount of vipers in the UK is the key that helps them hold their value (if you buy right the 2nd hand model) there's plenty of our clubs guys who have had their money back when selling on, some have even made money after several years of ownership
one of my mates sold his 1997 blue/white GTS in september for just about the same money he paid for it after owning it for 5 years.
Before he got his GTS he looked at 6 other sporty'ish marques worth the same value, those same cars would of lost 2/3rd's of his money over the 5 year period
one of my mates sold his 1997 blue/white GTS in september for just about the same money he paid for it after owning it for 5 years.
Before he got his GTS he looked at 6 other sporty'ish marques worth the same value, those same cars would of lost 2/3rd's of his money over the 5 year period
Edited by Viper on Friday 4th January 21:46
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