Does the Viper still excite?
Discussion
I've owned my Viper GTS since 2001 and in that time there have been massive advances in car performance. Once a bona fide supercar the Viper now sits alongside many executive cars in the performance stakes. Driving the Viper used to create some drama but nowadays it almost seems tame. Maybe I'm just used to the acceleration, the noise and the unique handling characteristics. Do other owners still find their Vipers as exciting to drive as they used to?
When I first got mine 2 1/2 years ago I would drive it just for the sake of it - short shopping trips, taking round to show mates, or just getting in it and driving aimlessly with no destination in mind when I had any spare time.
Now I don't feel the need to drive it all the time, and use it maybe once a week - this way it still feels special when I take it out.
Technology has moved on so fast, 510bhp doesn't sound that impressive when I take it shows and park next to more modern stuff. It certainly attracts many fans though, as they have a certain mystique - many people have never seen one apart from on computer games/Magazines/TV etc
It doesn't feel fast anymore, but the figures are still impressive (sub 4 seconds to 60 if they are to be believed) I only appreciate the power of the Viper when I drive my 'slow' car (2003 Mustang GT)
Question is what do you replace them with? For me, the only thing for the same sort of money would be a C7 Corvette. An F-Type would be another alternative, but they are just too plentiful and I like something a little 'different'.
Now I don't feel the need to drive it all the time, and use it maybe once a week - this way it still feels special when I take it out.
Technology has moved on so fast, 510bhp doesn't sound that impressive when I take it shows and park next to more modern stuff. It certainly attracts many fans though, as they have a certain mystique - many people have never seen one apart from on computer games/Magazines/TV etc
It doesn't feel fast anymore, but the figures are still impressive (sub 4 seconds to 60 if they are to be believed) I only appreciate the power of the Viper when I drive my 'slow' car (2003 Mustang GT)
Question is what do you replace them with? For me, the only thing for the same sort of money would be a C7 Corvette. An F-Type would be another alternative, but they are just too plentiful and I like something a little 'different'.
Cars have definitely advanced markedly. I was in a Tesla the other day and it was very impressive, I'm tempted to look into one for my daily commute as it will handle the stop go of the m25 for me. I was also lucky enough to be passenger in a Nissan GTR on a driver training day at North Weald last week being driven completely balls out round a course - neither the owner/driver nor I expected it to do what it did and my god the grip and speed was just out of this world!
There is still nothing like twisting the key in the ignition nor pushing the button on that big V10 though. Sure, its not as quick as some other cars on the road but is that what its all about? I don't think I'll ever tire of sitting at a junction or in traffic (cause that's what a lot of driving is now!) and being bucked about by the lumpy idle or setting car alarms off as you rumble by. Or the surprise on passengers faces as they realise how wrong the misconceptions are about American cars, or little children (and quite a few men) pointing and mouthing 'Viper' as you drive by. Or that lovely solid feeling as the T56 slots into gear and you feel the clutch bite as you raise the pedal (no clutch delay valves here!)
I was a bit reflective this week and was looking through my photos. I found pictures of us going round the Nurburgring during the Rudolph Carraciola event - what a blast that trip was (feeding out of the paddock onto a live race track while 300,000 people watched!), going round and round the top gear track time and time again and filling in while the Ferrari's cooled down, the Lambo's got dragged away by the AA and the GTR's and McLarens went for their 3rd tank of fuel. Being an on the track spectacle at CarFest, being at countless Sporting Bears events and making friends for life, the countless Goodwood breakfast clubs that I have been put in the prime spots for. And then there is the other static shows, Wheels Day, American Speed Fest, Silverstone, the recent Horsham Americarna - the Viper is almost always instantly recognisable and yet unusual even at big shows.
You can do all that in a Viper and to top it all I even take it to work every now and then - 70 miles each way round the Surrey section of the M25 and when I do that I wake up before the alarm because after 10 years I'm still excited to drive the car, whatever the journey is
And what has that cost me? All in all, its really nothing. The car is appreciating and this so far has covered the insurance, fuel and maintenance over the last 10 years. While I anticipate costs as they get older so far I've only really spent money on oil and fluids. Sure, I've changed a few things out - reverse switch, temperature sender, PS pulley and bracket, number plate but that is pretty much it tbh, for now anyway...
People change, life moves on and 16 years is a long time to own anything but I bet you have no regrets! And for those who are debating a purchase, you could do far worse than a Viper. It took me 2 years to take the plunge and even then I was nervous but I would never want to change that decision, it changed my life and gave me experiences I wouldn't even have dreamed of.
There is still nothing like twisting the key in the ignition nor pushing the button on that big V10 though. Sure, its not as quick as some other cars on the road but is that what its all about? I don't think I'll ever tire of sitting at a junction or in traffic (cause that's what a lot of driving is now!) and being bucked about by the lumpy idle or setting car alarms off as you rumble by. Or the surprise on passengers faces as they realise how wrong the misconceptions are about American cars, or little children (and quite a few men) pointing and mouthing 'Viper' as you drive by. Or that lovely solid feeling as the T56 slots into gear and you feel the clutch bite as you raise the pedal (no clutch delay valves here!)
I was a bit reflective this week and was looking through my photos. I found pictures of us going round the Nurburgring during the Rudolph Carraciola event - what a blast that trip was (feeding out of the paddock onto a live race track while 300,000 people watched!), going round and round the top gear track time and time again and filling in while the Ferrari's cooled down, the Lambo's got dragged away by the AA and the GTR's and McLarens went for their 3rd tank of fuel. Being an on the track spectacle at CarFest, being at countless Sporting Bears events and making friends for life, the countless Goodwood breakfast clubs that I have been put in the prime spots for. And then there is the other static shows, Wheels Day, American Speed Fest, Silverstone, the recent Horsham Americarna - the Viper is almost always instantly recognisable and yet unusual even at big shows.
You can do all that in a Viper and to top it all I even take it to work every now and then - 70 miles each way round the Surrey section of the M25 and when I do that I wake up before the alarm because after 10 years I'm still excited to drive the car, whatever the journey is
And what has that cost me? All in all, its really nothing. The car is appreciating and this so far has covered the insurance, fuel and maintenance over the last 10 years. While I anticipate costs as they get older so far I've only really spent money on oil and fluids. Sure, I've changed a few things out - reverse switch, temperature sender, PS pulley and bracket, number plate but that is pretty much it tbh, for now anyway...
People change, life moves on and 16 years is a long time to own anything but I bet you have no regrets! And for those who are debating a purchase, you could do far worse than a Viper. It took me 2 years to take the plunge and even then I was nervous but I would never want to change that decision, it changed my life and gave me experiences I wouldn't even have dreamed of.
Edited by Ginja on Friday 24th November 21:20
deVAS said:
I dont know, i love going in the garage and seeing the beast sitting their.Would be a shame though, never saw you while in my car but did spot you a couple of times near sprowston fire station, looked great. Well i presume that was you if not i'm a t
t, 
Yes, that was me. But in 17 years I have never seen another Viper on the road...t, 
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