Corvette vs Viper
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 4,811
From: Camden SC
You know, I really like the Viper. Almost bought a used one before I purchased my last C6. At the end of the day, the asking price for a new one is a bit more then most can afford. Add to that it STILL does not have the marketability of the 'Vette...
But I really don't want to see it go....Pretty awesome car given half a chance...
But I really don't want to see it go....Pretty awesome car given half a chance...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,432
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
There's a fellow in Salem, OR who owns a high performance car shop and is really into Vipers.
A few years back, he asked if I wanted to race my '07 C6 against his Viper. I said "You bet but I get to pick the road".
He backed off
A few years back, he asked if I wanted to race my '07 C6 against his Viper. I said "You bet but I get to pick the road".
He backed off
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 21
From: Durham NC
I think the Viper is great. I've loved them since the gen ii gts came out, and will probably pick up a gen v pretty soon. When I bought the C7 a few months ago, it just fit the bill better than the Viper. My wife wanted to drive the car as well, and she wasn't a well seasoned manual driver, so I didn't feel comfortable with her driving the Viper. We still got a manual, but the C7 has those nanny you guys hate like hill assist, which she appreciates. The Vette would make a better daily driver if we ever wanted or needed to DD it. The Vette is a more practical car. Factor in the price, and it was a no-brainier.
Now that dealers are taking $30-40k off the sticker in the Viper, they're priced much more attractively, like they should've been from the start. SRT is also shooting themselves in the foot with their (so-far) untuneable PCM. Many Viper owners like to mod their cars, just like Corvette guys. It's a shame, since they built the motor with forged internals. Maybe they're planning on adding FI from the factory in the future, and maybe that's why sales last month were in the toilet. We know a refresh is coming for 2015, and they just released the stats on the hellcat making more power than the viper. Maybe buyers are holding off to see what's new for the '15 model.
Now that dealers are taking $30-40k off the sticker in the Viper, they're priced much more attractively, like they should've been from the start. SRT is also shooting themselves in the foot with their (so-far) untuneable PCM. Many Viper owners like to mod their cars, just like Corvette guys. It's a shame, since they built the motor with forged internals. Maybe they're planning on adding FI from the factory in the future, and maybe that's why sales last month were in the toilet. We know a refresh is coming for 2015, and they just released the stats on the hellcat making more power than the viper. Maybe buyers are holding off to see what's new for the '15 model.
Last edited by Mr Guns; Jul 9, 2014 at 11:41 PM.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,134
Likes: 17,983
From: DFW Area TX
Not surprised C7 is outselling the Viper. What is surprising is just how poor Viper sales are:
In the same month (June) where General Motors sold 2,723 examples of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, the Chrysler Group managed to sell just 36 examples of the 2014 SRT Viper. Since the Viper hit the market full force in April of 2013, the worst sales month prior to June 2014 was in November 2013 when just 41 Vipers were sold. In other words, June 2014 was the worst month for the SRT Viper ever…and there is really no good excuse.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
They also seem to have less features than the corvette. So as a daily driver, its not that practical. Not saying the C7 is "practical" but it tends to be more comfortable, more featured, and a lot less expensive.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,396
Likes: 15
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
I received a dyno there. He has a 4 wheel dyno jet!
There is a idiot Viper owner here too! My 2008 blown ls-3
dusted him off badly. So he stays on the gas to catch up after I had shut down. Then cut around me at triple digits almost wiping out both of us. I got back the gas trying to catch him to punch him!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 16,684
Likes: 1,193
From: La Center WA
In an absolute sense, there's a lot to like about the Viper. The problem IMO is that once you factor in price it becomes quite unattractive. I can't come up with a single reason to buy one vs. a Stingray at half the price.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,396
Likes: 15
It needs to be a $75K car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 43
I have owned 4 generations of vipers except the Gen V. The last being a 08 ACR. I looked at a Gen V for the first time last week and it still suffers from the same cramped cabin, hot door sills and needs more amenities like an auto trans and ventilated seats. The Viper has never been a daily driver. I think the Gen V is the best looking out of the Gens. Hopefully they can revise the car and fix some of its issues.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 296
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles Ca
Scraping the splitter.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,111
Likes: 1,029
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Dodge and SRT will be consolidated.
S.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Texas
In an absolute sense, there's a lot to like about the Viper. The problem IMO is that once you factor in price it becomes quite unattractive. I can't come up with a single reason to buy one vs. a Stingray at half the price.
The Viper never sold in quantities anywhere near the Vette
The Viper has never been a daily driver
Shame that the C7Z was not out when I bought the viper. Always good to have choices and what a choice that would have been!!!
Last edited by forensicsteve; Jul 10, 2014 at 07:22 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 1
From: Danbury CT
Well said Steve! Until a person has owned as Viper they'll never know what it like to drive one, the car demands that you respect it and it makes the person a better driver.
No doubt they priced it too high, as you said they were never about selling volume even when it did sell very well. For you guys that have never driven one, try it if you ever get the chance but do it preferably on a track.
No doubt they priced it too high, as you said they were never about selling volume even when it did sell very well. For you guys that have never driven one, try it if you ever get the chance but do it preferably on a track.
Last edited by Big Dan 427; Jul 10, 2014 at 07:30 AM.
