What Viper owners think of mustangs
05-08-2011, 02:00 PM
#21
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LA
Posts: 1,201
When is your car gonna be racing again?
This build HAS taken a very long time. It has been really 3 builds that have just blended into each other. The car has been completely rebuilt from bumper to bumper.....fuel, motor, transmission, interior...all dramatically changed. The transmission is GM (2 speed glide) so had to fashion brackets and such to get it to fit and work. Car is 300-400 lbs lighter now in the process and no longer licensed for street use. The end goal is have a dragcar that will run mid 9s all day long and maybe a low 9s pass for the slip, while not breaking something all the time. There are plenty faster S197s out there, but we are looking for durability as well.
Vipers are often misunderstood. I am on my second one and you definitely do not get one to street race from light to light or take to the dragstrip. They do make awesome track cars though. Vipers do not come with traction or any stability controls. You do not see many on the road because production averages about 900 per year (compared to 150,000 for S197s) and lots of them are totalled. The survivability in my area for vipers is 50%. Half of them sold from my local Dodge dealer have been totalled. In fact, it is highly recommended that you take a driving course (in your Viper) offered through the Viper Club of America, that goes around the country. You get instruction from a professional racecar driver on a closed course.
Vipers are expensive to maintain. An oil change takes 11 quarts. Tires are about $2K for a set of 4 and with over 8 liters and 10 cylinders, it sucks premium gas...lol
This build HAS taken a very long time. It has been really 3 builds that have just blended into each other. The car has been completely rebuilt from bumper to bumper.....fuel, motor, transmission, interior...all dramatically changed. The transmission is GM (2 speed glide) so had to fashion brackets and such to get it to fit and work. Car is 300-400 lbs lighter now in the process and no longer licensed for street use. The end goal is have a dragcar that will run mid 9s all day long and maybe a low 9s pass for the slip, while not breaking something all the time. There are plenty faster S197s out there, but we are looking for durability as well.
Vipers are often misunderstood. I am on my second one and you definitely do not get one to street race from light to light or take to the dragstrip. They do make awesome track cars though. Vipers do not come with traction or any stability controls. You do not see many on the road because production averages about 900 per year (compared to 150,000 for S197s) and lots of them are totalled. The survivability in my area for vipers is 50%. Half of them sold from my local Dodge dealer have been totalled. In fact, it is highly recommended that you take a driving course (in your Viper) offered through the Viper Club of America, that goes around the country. You get instruction from a professional racecar driver on a closed course.
Vipers are expensive to maintain. An oil change takes 11 quarts. Tires are about $2K for a set of 4 and with over 8 liters and 10 cylinders, it sucks premium gas...lol
Last edited by forensicsteve; 05-08-2011 at 02:24 PM.
05-08-2011, 04:45 PM
#23
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 55
Chevrolet has Camaro and Corvette, Dodge has Challenger and Viper, Ford has Mustang. Its too bad that Ford doesnt offer anything in that category; front engine, rwd, 2 seats. For 40 of the past 60 years, Chevy had that to itself. Ford needs to get in on the game, they should have done it when they had Aston.
Of course that never would have happened, AM would never have given Ford the 6L V12. And the cost to do so would have been prohibitive. Although, Ford did use the AJV8 in the 02-05 Tbirds, and in 00-06 Lincoln LS's. The AJV8 forming the basis for the 4.3L V8 from the 2005-2008 (iirc) Vantage. So, there was some sharing there, primarily through Jaguar.
Which brings me to the engines that could possibly be used. The one I think I'd most like to see is the Triton V10 that was put into a New Edge, Boss 351 concept. That engine would be sweet in something light, rwd, good looking, with exceptional handling and priced starting at near (but over) the costliest of Mustangs. It could of course use the 5.0, or 5.4SC, and have a few engine options like a vette.
Of course that never would have happened, AM would never have given Ford the 6L V12. And the cost to do so would have been prohibitive. Although, Ford did use the AJV8 in the 02-05 Tbirds, and in 00-06 Lincoln LS's. The AJV8 forming the basis for the 4.3L V8 from the 2005-2008 (iirc) Vantage. So, there was some sharing there, primarily through Jaguar.
Which brings me to the engines that could possibly be used. The one I think I'd most like to see is the Triton V10 that was put into a New Edge, Boss 351 concept. That engine would be sweet in something light, rwd, good looking, with exceptional handling and priced starting at near (but over) the costliest of Mustangs. It could of course use the 5.0, or 5.4SC, and have a few engine options like a vette.
05-08-2011, 08:10 PM
#24
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
Vipers owners aren't like the typical 50 year old Vette owner moron that jams the left lane. That stereotype still holds, lol.
Viper guys tend to be a younger crowd but under skilled for that type of ride for the most part.
Those cars are tricky because they're heavier than one think... you break traction in cornering on one of these, you ain't bringing it back.
05-08-2011, 10:21 PM
#25
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ofallon, IL
Posts: 502
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05-09-2011, 12:17 PM
#27
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LA
Posts: 1,201
Are Viper parts really that expensive?
Guide to buying a used Viper
At any one time, there are usually only 200 or so used ones available in the US. KBB suggests an excellent condition 2006 (gen III) coupe with 8-10,000 or so miles could be in the $59000 range. None were produced in 2007. 2008 birthed the 600 hp gen IV. New they are listed between $90 and 110K.
When buying a used viper, most folk look for something unmolested, never tracked, and as close to 100% stock as possible, and preferably one that has not been wrecked. There are a handful of Viper specialists around the US that are highly regarded. It is understood that you will pay a premium for their cars. Then of course you have to add shipping to your door.
I bought my present one, from the Dodge dealership 10 minutes from the house. I contacted them and they called someone who was thinking of selling because car was rarely driven. It was bought new at the dealership in 2006 with sticker of $84K. Five years and just 4048 miles later, I bought it from the Dr. that almost never drove it. It is like brand new. Wasn't the color and year I really wanted, but I knew the previous owner and car's limited history.
Guide to buying a used Viper
At any one time, there are usually only 200 or so used ones available in the US. KBB suggests an excellent condition 2006 (gen III) coupe with 8-10,000 or so miles could be in the $59000 range. None were produced in 2007. 2008 birthed the 600 hp gen IV. New they are listed between $90 and 110K.
When buying a used viper, most folk look for something unmolested, never tracked, and as close to 100% stock as possible, and preferably one that has not been wrecked. There are a handful of Viper specialists around the US that are highly regarded. It is understood that you will pay a premium for their cars. Then of course you have to add shipping to your door.
I bought my present one, from the Dodge dealership 10 minutes from the house. I contacted them and they called someone who was thinking of selling because car was rarely driven. It was bought new at the dealership in 2006 with sticker of $84K. Five years and just 4048 miles later, I bought it from the Dr. that almost never drove it. It is like brand new. Wasn't the color and year I really wanted, but I knew the previous owner and car's limited history.
