Vette or Viper
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 181
From: Menifee (I.E.) CA
Originally Posted by thebiggman
And just to add to your confusion, what about the new 2005 saleen mustang? I saw one in person yesterday, I don't like the new mustang shape, but the Saleen version caught my eye, it looks nice. The Extreme version is rumored at 500bhp around 50K
http://www.fast-autos.net/saleen/05saleens281sc.html
http://www.fast-autos.net/saleen/05saleens281sc.html
That is a tough decision. A $40,000 Cobra GT500 w/450 HP or a $45,000 Saleen w/400 HP...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,244
Likes: 850
From: Hamilton Square NJ, Ocean City N. J. Key Biscayne Fla.
Originally Posted by Z-Rated
The "new" Viper coupe has received a very cold reception. The car does not even come close to the Viper/Race coupe showcar that debuted in 2001. The V-coupe has drab late sixties styling cues and does not offer a single "high tech" detail. The new 2006 Z06 is by far a better car for the times. Test drive both then make your decision. 
Is this "cold reception" you speak of as cold as the Kool Aid you drink?
My comment was about styling alone. Not the overall car.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 110
Likes: 3
From: Carmel NY
I have an 02 final edition Viper. I love it if POWER and EXCITEMENT is what your looking for it has it. I have a C6 Z51 totally different cars. You cannot compare them. C6 is a very civilized car I enjoy driving it and it's a no brainer. The Viper you have to be alert the whole time your behind the wheel it's unforgiving no active handeling buttons. It's all you if you screw up it's all over. I went to Skip Barber and did a day class with the Viper and you have no idea what this thing is capable of until your doing the track with an instructor. I didn't know I could do that. But the vette can do the same when you learn how to handel it. Not as quick and you need to turn off the active handeling but it has potential. I can only imagine what the Zo6 will be capable of. the final decission is yours I love em both.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: www.EXOTICVETTE.com - FL Cruise-In VI, VII, & VIII
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St. Jude's Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by Z-Rated
Test drive both then make your decision.
Sorry to get off on a tangent there! Good luck with your decision!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
look at auto trader and note all the Vipers almost new with very low miles. I can tell you the reason since I made that same choice earlier. The Viper is a great american TRACK car but much to unpredictable for the road and the long histoty of wrecks iis for real. Jumping on a Viper is like firing a skud missle "it wil usually fire but no idea where it will land". Moreover it looks like an exotic but has the reliability of a Yugo. Coming back home to a Vette has been great.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Originally Posted by TOPGON
look at auto trader and note all the Vipers almost new with very low miles. I can tell you the reason since I made that same choice earlier. The Viper is a great american TRACK car but much to unpredictable for the road and the long histoty of wrecks iis for real. Jumping on a Viper is like firing a skud missle "it wil usually fire but no idea where it will land". Moreover it looks like an exotic but has the reliability of a Yugo. Coming back home to a Vette has been great.
You guys are missing the most exciting feature of the Viper, that is when you take it on a road trip or run it at the track you can cook lunch on the door sills, avoid going out to eat!
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Sunnvyale CA
Happy I'm not the only one who feels this way.....
Originally Posted by PA Coach
Slam dunk for the Vette. When the Viper was just in the sketch and drawing stages, and upon its subsequent release, it was THE bad-*** car in a production sense. But as the years have gone by, Viper barely garners a turn of my head now. It's been domesticated and its radical shape and cuts have been toned down.
Sorry, but Viper does nothing for me now. But the Vette.....well, I like what Chevy has done.
Sorry, but Viper does nothing for me now. But the Vette.....well, I like what Chevy has done.
Viper style has fallen apart. In the first editions, the car looked AMAZING. So radically different than all others. But in the last couple years they appear to be trying to mellow it out for a larger audience, but I think in the process they have destroyed the car.
The vette? I'll be honest, I haven't liked a vetter since the 60s. But this new C6 is just awesome. Such great styling. Such a great look.
I worry on the c7 the will take the headlights back to the old style as porsche is backing out of their move too. But for the time being, the c6 is a MUCH better looking car.
As to performance, I've never driven a viper, so I can't say either way
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Viper vs Vette Cont'd
Although I own a silver C6 vette and love it, have to admit if I was 30 years younger (22 or so yrs of age) and wanted a real bad looking car the viper either the 'o5 roadster or '06 coupe would be difficult to ignore. The C6 vette is a lot more conservative in looks, which suits me fine. One thing is, the C6 Z06 should be a faster and more capable racing machine. It will have similar power and will be a good bit lighter. You could take the Z06 and put a wing on it and add special graphics, like the Indy 500 pace car and be as bad as the viper coupe. However if you have to have a roadster, it would be hard to find a C6 vette as wicked as the viper.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 12,952
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From: Greer SC
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by V Vette
..Was ready to get Z but Viper is appealing especially with the vert. Talk to me..... 
Good Luck!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 1
From: Central FL
I have been a Corvette owner for years but, I still love the Vipers, especially the GTS coupes and SRTs. I seriously considered buying one or the other this year. After talking to owners, doing a lot of reading and taking a few test drives in friends' cars, I bought a new C6 coupe. Most of the reasons have already been stated or discussed but, my main reasons for the choice were comfort, better technology, and reliability. Although I love the look of the GTS and the newer SRT, it is a dinosaur compared to the C6. It is quick and is agile through the corners but there are a hundred ways it can kill you. It has no stability control or traction controls. The refinement of the C6 makes it far easier to live with on a day to day basis. The Viper is more expensive but, I would be hard pressed to say that is a better car. (Of course, I know that better means different things to different people). One of the reasons for the higher price is the limited production number of Vipers. Corvettes would probably cost much more if only a few thousand were made each year. GM has been building the Corvette for over 50 years, the Viper has only been made for 12 or 13 years. Dodge still has a lot of ground to make up before they are as good at it as the General.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
Originally Posted by Desmoden
Viper style has fallen apart. In the first editions, the car looked AMAZING. So radically different than all others. But in the last couple years they appear to be trying to mellow it out for a larger audience, but I think in the process they have destroyed the car.
The Honda S2000 comes to mind when I look at the new Viper. 
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,706
Likes: 5
From: Toronto Ontario
I would go with the Z06. It will be much more civilized for day-to-day usage. It all depends on which you like better and what purpose it is going to serve you. If future modification will be done, I would say the Vette would be the better way to go. I see a lot more support there than I do for the Vipers myself, personally.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,912
Likes: 1,425
From: Any City USA
This is a tough one.. If the Z06 was a vert or coupe (Even a sun-roof ) The choice would be clear.. I intend to use car only on weekends, not everyday. Money is not an object,, so....
) The choice would be clear.. I intend to use car only on weekends, not everyday. Money is not an object,, so....
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Need 4 Speed
If you got the money then go Viper..It is the better car but costs more..Unless your thinking of the Z06, then it's a toss up.
The Corvette offers so much more in terms of technology, refinement, quality, driveability, creature comforts,.............. etc., all at a lower price!
Now I like to hear what the Viper offers over the Vette. Please do not say performance because at those level, it pretty much boils down to driver skills!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: Pa
I have owned 6 vettes and am on the list for the new Z -- I struggled with the same issues - I would recommend checking the local papers for an exotic rental place and rent one for a few days - I did and quite frankly did not like the car (SRT 10) - its tight, its hot, it rides like a steamroller and after a while its not that much fun - sure the torque is powerful but thats where it ends - the car also looks very similar to a BMW z4 or a Miata. Additionally, check out the many stories about viper owners loosing control and crashing - its easy to do in that car - you push the go-pedal down a little to much and you are doing a 180 or 360 no problem - get that going at 90mph and see how much fun that is!! Anyway, the vette is the best bang for the money - drive it in competition mode if you want that much control fun - best advice is to rent one for a few days and draw your own conclusions - keep the extra $20k in your pocket - the new z will be very capable however the only downside is no open air driving - that is my current diliema - for now I remain content with my triple black z51 C6 convertible - it turns heads, its very fast and its very comfortable. Good luck in your decision!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: [Enter Unoffensive Comment Here]
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by Lazerwolfe
Hey, keep your hands off my fancy! 