Ohh yeah, forgot teh reply...mod vette for a year then buy viper!! have both

 

Having experienced both, you MUST drive the car first. You'd be suprised how many walk away disappointed (not from a power standpoint) after driving it. This car is NOT a Vette and never will be (alouth the Gen III's are pretty close with their cup holders )

If you have ever driven a Big Block C3 the Viper is VERY close to this experience. It has loads of torque, will pull in any gear, and you will have HOT feet after driving it for 20 minutes. The A/C doesn't put out much and the stock radio blows. The ride is of that of a 1990 C4 corvette, firm but nothing like a C5, and with the wide tires tends to dart when you hit ruts in the road. Mods to these cars are quite expensive $3,000 for headers, $800 for a cam $700 for roller rockers, $15,000 for a new hood.

After all of that my biggiest disappointment was the exhuast not. The cars sounds like a UPS truck w/ a busted muffler, I kid you not.

Having said all of that, if I were buying a sports car tomorrow I'd buy a '96-'99 GTS in a heartbeat. If I want comfort I'll buy a Caddy.

 

[QUOTE=Corey_68]After all of that my biggiest disappointment was the exhuast not. The cars sounds like a UPS truck w/ a busted muffler, I kid you not.

[QUOTE]

actually the UPS truck with a busted muffler sounds a LOT better.

I always thought the Viper was the best looking car around until someone referred to it as a clown's shoe. I've never looked at it in the same way again. I'd go with a new Vette before the Viper now. I would think it would be relatively easy to make a new Vette outperform the Viper by just adding a supercharger or stroking it.

 

Why not go with a nice Big block C-2 roadster.

 

Buy one. Sell both Vettes.

 

Buy the Viper...

 

Vipers are nice...

Buy a C3 maybe a nice one... 10-20K
I would stuff a wicked motor in a C3 with a modern 5 or 6Speed transmission Voia!!

No computer. No Fuel injection. No Hassle...LOL

 

I love the viper - but damn 700 a month for a 1997... ugh. Go lease a new vette for less, and buy a newer viper in a few years. I think that is just throwing money away. If you get sick of it in a year, you will most likely be upside down and forced into a loss. This is just my .02. Also, you most likely won't have a warranty on the viper, and maintenance ridonculous on those things. I do all my own on my vette, but again - my .02. My personal plan is to sell my tahoe next year, and get into a C5, or a station wagon(don't tell anyone, but I love the S4 avant, allroad, and BMW 540 wagons) it all depends on whether my girlfriend gets an SUV - that opens up room for a second vette

anyway.. I am rambling - have a great weekend everyone!

 

If you want a modern hot rod and still love your 74, find a way to do both. You can pick up a used C5 for less than 1/2 the cost of a viper and keep the 74. At least, that's the approach I took.

 

BUY THE VIPER... and give ME your 'vette!

 

You guys are made of money or something buying an Effing Viper. We had a guy rent one for grad, I got a ride in it. It isnt the fastest car Ive ever been in, that honor goes to the Porsche 911 GT3 - yes GT3 - but its an incredible ride. You have to be one helluva good driver to control it though, its got more torque than you know what to do with and the rear breaks loose on a dime. I think it IS a very beautiful car, one of the most amazingly designed american cars of the last decand EASILY.

Would I buy one...only a new one... I dont like the logic in buying a newer used car that youre not going to mod up or that doesnt have a warranty and has rarish, expensive parts. Its like a Lambo or a Ferrari as far as new parts go so, it just becomes a REALLY expensive daily driver that is already somewhat outdated. My .02

 

It all depends on the rider. Any idiot (well most any idiot) can stomp on the gas pedal of a car, but only a skilled rider can get the most out of a modern sportbike (especially one like the hyabusa). A very good rider on a 600 will eat up a novice on the hyabusa, ZX-10, etc. etc.

 

"Itchin' for a Viper...what to do? "
I thought you were trying to find a Viper to race your Vette. dumb me

 

LOL, you need to get out more
I've seen some real cars kick some real A**
on crotch rockets
and to see it in person is simply amazing
and I am talking street cars.

 

buy the viper!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats one cool car and if i could afford one i would do it... all new stuff new technology not whetted to any previous conceptions... i say go for it..

 

I drove a Viper and was underwhelmed. There was power, but not brutality. The pedals are too close together, and off to the side. It sounds like a vacuum cleaner at full throttle. The older ones with no windows are really useless. I'd think about a lot of other cars for $40 grand before I bought a 97 Viper.

Have you driven one or just looked at pictures? Find a Skip Barber driving school, they use Vipers as well as Neons and Magnums, and for $800 you can beat the poopie out of all three for a day.

Joe

 

Thanks all for the input...

I'm not looking to go fast, so power doesn't interest me. My regular cruise is along the beach at 20 ~ 30 mph (or slower if there's babes walking). The fastest I've had my vette was about 65 (the one time I drove it on the freeway). Just looking for a beach cruiser. My go-fast days peaked around 1980 when I turned 18 (that's about the same time I started paying for my own insurance).

I wouldn't be caught dead in a C5/C6. They may be sweet cars, but in these here parts, the typical (I said "typical"...you may be different...no flames, please) driver is either a) older mid-life crisis man or b) gold-chain abundant cologne man (or A + B man). Not my style.

Made of money? My girlfriend's new Lexus RX-330 cost $42k. Almost any new BMW or "economy" Mercedes is in excess of $42k. Escalades, Hummers, etc. You'd think these were selling for a dime-per-dozen based on how many you see every day. I think $42k is a bargain for such a car.

$700 mo. (roughly) includes insurance. Looking at '97 and up GTS'. They seem to be available on the Internet for around $42k with low (under 20k) mileage. As gas prices rise (and as everyone's adjustable rate mortgage payments rise), I believe prices may come down a little:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Yes, the C3 (even rubber-bumper'ed) gets loads of attention, except when there's a Viper parked nearby...

Either way, I'll post pics of the end result. An awesome poop-brown '74 roadster or a silver/black Viper GTS.

Thanks again,

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

 

Only in Miami!!! I love it...

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but to me the Viper just looks ugly. The hood looks like something from a Nissan and that big opening in front of the door looks stange. I do like that wide track. Someone made a comment that they could smoke their Viper's tires in third gear. I would imagine that there's some big block Corvettes that could do the same. The V10 engine is a little off putting. I wonder if this is a truck engine with two extra cylinders. (I know it's aluminum). The difference is that Viper people can just buy their cars - just write a check -Corvette C3 big block people build their cars - themselves.

 

Park a 427 Cobra S/C next to Viper and see where the eyes go...