I goofed up
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
I goofed up
I went and test drove a Viper yesterday.
Was in the middle of a blower install trying to reignite that flame with the vette and now I don’t even want to look at it; it seems so impossibly vanilla.
Great.
Was in the middle of a blower install trying to reignite that flame with the vette and now I don’t even want to look at it; it seems so impossibly vanilla.
Great.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 29
Likes: 9
From: Minnesota
Vipers are supposed to be so visceral. Just all big motor. Both the c5 and the viper have legendary race car credentials. The viper has 2 times the stock horsepower of a c5 and 200 more on the z06. Has to be a total different feel when you stand on the load pedal. I wanted both but the Vette seemed easier to own.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
I’ll have to type more thoughts when I’m not using my phone - autocorrect loves to fudge things...
The short of it is that the two cars should not be compared to each other (the viper and the c5). They are far too different. Sure, you can quantify based on hard numbers but that’s about where it ends.
I would describe it as the world’s craziest diesel Miata.
Generationally, the 93 that I drove is far closer to driving a c4 ; when the corvette was arguably more a hard core type sports car.
The c5 is heads and shoulders a better ‘car’, but it’s not to say the Viper is that horribly harsh - at all. The c5 is just that posh and civil.
The short of it is that the two cars should not be compared to each other (the viper and the c5). They are far too different. Sure, you can quantify based on hard numbers but that’s about where it ends.
I would describe it as the world’s craziest diesel Miata.
Generationally, the 93 that I drove is far closer to driving a c4 ; when the corvette was arguably more a hard core type sports car.
The c5 is heads and shoulders a better ‘car’, but it’s not to say the Viper is that horribly harsh - at all. The c5 is just that posh and civil.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
Earlier gen 1; a 93
Id prefer a 95 on paper. I was 6yrs old when the Viper ‘debuted’ in 1989. I was in love with them. I just really regret not buying one 6+yrs ago when I got my c5. One went up the other has tanked.
Unfortunately I never drove one and gave up before I started as it was already hard to buy a decent more common c5.
Id prefer a 95 on paper. I was 6yrs old when the Viper ‘debuted’ in 1989. I was in love with them. I just really regret not buying one 6+yrs ago when I got my c5. One went up the other has tanked.
Unfortunately I never drove one and gave up before I started as it was already hard to buy a decent more common c5.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 375
From: San Jose, CA
I find it a bit hard to say that the C4 gen was a more hardcore sports car than a later version. Sure, they got more "stuff" in 'em, but the C4 was not a light car - in fact, google tells me it's around the same as the C5. You can get a lighter weight C5 from the factory, I imagine C4s varied over the many many years ...
Anyways, I don't think it's at all unfair to compare the corvette to the viper by metrics, if metrics are your thing. Consider:
- Two seat sports car
- American
- Big displacement (well, bigger than most)
- Fairly manual control and feeling (used similar transmissions or even the same model transmission, for example)
- Not too dissimilar in price, when comparing higher-end corvettes
- Not too dissimilar in power, when comparing higher-end corvettes
- Similar weight
- Similar dimensions
The corvette sold way better, because the corvette is way cheaper and a better car to drive around town, and at the end of the day most cars are driven around town and most people can only afford so much.
Personally I think the gen 5 viper ACR is one of the coolest cars ever made, but I wouldn't go about trading my C5 for a gen 1 any time soon ...
Anyways, I don't think it's at all unfair to compare the corvette to the viper by metrics, if metrics are your thing. Consider:
- Two seat sports car
- American
- Big displacement (well, bigger than most)
- Fairly manual control and feeling (used similar transmissions or even the same model transmission, for example)
- Not too dissimilar in price, when comparing higher-end corvettes
- Not too dissimilar in power, when comparing higher-end corvettes
- Similar weight
- Similar dimensions
The corvette sold way better, because the corvette is way cheaper and a better car to drive around town, and at the end of the day most cars are driven around town and most people can only afford so much.
Personally I think the gen 5 viper ACR is one of the coolest cars ever made, but I wouldn't go about trading my C5 for a gen 1 any time soon ...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
Well I say c4 because the c5 is very much made to be human friendly vs what you’d traditionally find at a racetrack.
You gave the clamshell hood, the traditional drivetrain layout with a pumpkin in the rear, more exposed suspension, short wheelbase and tight quarters. Hip hugging seats and aggressive sills etc. It’s ‘hardcore’ vs utilitarian
Numbers aside they just are. Viper embodies the lack of refinement. It’s what makes it what it is and keeps them at bay of most.
Nobody on the planet will argue a corvette isn’t easier to live with. It’s why they sell tons and are so successful.
The c5 itself feels like a totally different generation of vehicle vs an early rt/10
You gave the clamshell hood, the traditional drivetrain layout with a pumpkin in the rear, more exposed suspension, short wheelbase and tight quarters. Hip hugging seats and aggressive sills etc. It’s ‘hardcore’ vs utilitarian
Numbers aside they just are. Viper embodies the lack of refinement. It’s what makes it what it is and keeps them at bay of most.
Nobody on the planet will argue a corvette isn’t easier to live with. It’s why they sell tons and are so successful.
The c5 itself feels like a totally different generation of vehicle vs an early rt/10
Last edited by RSbeast; Jun 13, 2019 at 08:39 PM.
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I pretty much feel the same way, I absolutely love the gen 5 and if I ever get out of vettes that's probably what I would try to go for but I can't afford both lol... but if he likes the gen 1 I have no qualms about that since it's what he prefers
Last edited by StingrayRebel; Jun 13, 2019 at 08:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
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I’ve actually two friends on the design team for the Gen 5. One of which designed the Stryker logo specifically and actually had a c5 while we were in college together. He got an rt/10 upon graduation...my guess is that he’s in a Gen5 by now. Dude always had money.
The other owns a bespoke gen5 in Ferrari Grigio gray, when dodge let you basically build any viper you want for the last run. It’s stunning.
I schooled in automotive design and am an industrial designer by trade; so lines and outrageous design language in general speaks to me. I worked in the industry for awhile and life took me other places. Run a small firm now. I guess it’s just a bucket list car from my youth.
The other owns a bespoke gen5 in Ferrari Grigio gray, when dodge let you basically build any viper you want for the last run. It’s stunning.
I schooled in automotive design and am an industrial designer by trade; so lines and outrageous design language in general speaks to me. I worked in the industry for awhile and life took me other places. Run a small firm now. I guess it’s just a bucket list car from my youth.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,024
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From: Port Charlotte Florida
I have never owned a Viper, but I have had so much fun in my supercharged (P1 SC1) 2000 C5. if I ever bought a first gen Viper, it would be as a supplement to my supercharged C5, NOT a replacement.
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I don't see a Viper on the road but maybe twice a year, I see Vettes almost daily.
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Vipers are pretty rare around here and when you do see one, it will grab your eye. But, I’m just not enough of a Viper fan to want to give up my Corvette for one.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
Id love to just ‘add one to to the collection’ but I’d need a bigger garage. On one hand I should just move, the other I have this c5 holding up space that’s a constant point of contention for me. I loathe the paint quality and color. I really enjoy driving it and it’s sounds. I made the mistake of involving it in my engagement pictures and wedding 5-6yrs ago and it makes me feel guilty for wanting to rid of it.
Maybe if I rid of the wife first? Lol...