2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Rocks 600 Ponies

You just knew that with the arrival of the Ford Shelby GT500 and rumors of Chevrolet's "Blue Devil" Corvette, Dodge wasn't about to let the Viper slip into limbo.

[Eddie Vetter]

Note to Edmunds article writer: The guy buying a new Viper likely 1)makes more than you and your closest 3 staff writers combined and 2) will use the car as a weekend/track event toy and 3) already owns 2 or more other cars. In light of this, do you really think an increase in gas prices will keep the target buyers away? What's 75 cents extra a gallon when you're buying an $80K car and burning up $1200 worth of tires every 10K miles?

[Eddie Vetter]

Alright how the freak did this get posted in the Vette forum same applies to a new Z06 though

[Vettegirl]

The 2009 Corvette Z07 will kick the Viper's ass.

[James]

The current zo6 wont be any competition for the 08 viper. I doubt the 09 will either, it will be interesting to see.

[Vettegirl]

The new Z07 is 650 HP. Vipers are very cheaply built cars.

[James]

650 HP using a supercharger. Thats just 50 more HP than the 08 viper which is N/A. There is nothing cheap about the viper, it has stayed the same since 1992.It dosent need traction control and all the other luxeries the vette has. You must not remember when they had to recall the C6 zo6 because the roof was flying off while driving.

[Viper]

It's GM turn to answer to the 08 viper first.

[Vettegirl]

My husband sells both Dodge and Chevrolet. They sell lots of Vettes every year, including a few Z06's, but in 5 years they have sold only one Viper. And the guy traded back in right away. He said it was terrible to drive. Horsepower doesn't mean much if the car drives like crap. I like other Dodge products but not that one.

[GeneMachine]

Ummmm the new 600HP Viper will have it's hands more than full with a current 505HP Z06. Sorry the Z06 is on another level when compared to the current 500hp Viper. Another 90HP isn't gonna cut it and if you think it will you're either in denial or brand loyal.

Bone stock Z06's have gone as low 11.2@128 in not so great conditions. They went 10.8@129 bone stock with drag radials. On top of that this car pretty much walks everything. It's as fast as a Ford GT. I'm a bit with disappointed with the Viper. The interior is of dodge Neon quality, they didn't do anything for the next model year except add more power. Big fuggin deal. Teh car is still over 300lbs heavier than a Z06. There is no exotic technology to justify the Viper costing close to a 100k. Low Volume production and exclusivity is about all it has on a Z06.

Just to show how crazy the Z06 is..... a swedish auto mag ran the new Z against the new 997 twin turbo. Teh Z06 put over 2 seconds a lap on the Porsche, I forgot which track it was. The mag went on to say how the Z06 is just in a different class of speed, and this a Euro mag, they aren't too fond of American cars. The 7:42 sec N-ring lap time speaks for itself..... few cars can even come close.

[James]

The viper is not meant for everyone thats another reason why I like it. Ive never herd anyone say the viper is terrible to drive. Even most corvette owners say they like the viper better because its raw. The viper was rated as one of the most exciting cars to drive. Plus they also prefered the viper over the zo6 on the track.

[James]

GeneMachine wrote:

Ummmm the new 600HP Viper will have it's hands more than full with a current 505HP Z06. Sorry the Z06 is on another level when compared to the current 500hp Viper. Another 90HP isn't gonna cut it and if you think it will you're either in denial or brand loyal.
Bone stock Z06's have gone as low 11.2@128 in not so great conditions. They went 10.8@129 bone stock with drag radials. On top of that this car pretty much walks everything. It's as fast as a Ford GT. I'm a bit with disappointed with the Viper. The interior is of dodge Neon quality, they didn't do anything for the next model year except add more power. Big fuggin deal. Teh car is still over 300lbs heavier than a Z06. There is no exotic technology to justify the Viper costing close to a 100k. Low Volume production and exclusivity is about all it has on a Z06.
Just to show how crazy the Z06 is..... a swedish auto mag ran the new Z against the new 997 twin turbo. Teh Z06 put over 2 seconds a lap on the Porsche, I forgot which track it was. The mag went on to say how the Z06 is just in a different class of speed, and this a Euro mag, they aren't too fond of American cars. The 7:42 sec N-ring lap time speaks for itself..... few cars can even come close.

LOL now thats funny the zo6 beating the 08 viper. They didnt shutdown for no reason.
1. 2008 Viper: 3,400 lbs / 600 hp = 5.667 lbs/hp
2. Ford GT: 3,400 lbs / 550 hp = 6.182 lbs/hp
3. 2006 z06: 3,130 lbs / 505 hp = 6.198 lbs/hp
4. 2006 Viper: 3,400 lbs / 510 hp = 6.667 lbs/hp
Z0 who?

[Vettegirl]

Do any of you actually have a Viper?? Or have you at least driven one. I've driven both and I have had two Corvettes.

[Eddie Vetter]

Vettegirl wrote:

Do any of you actually have a Viper?? Or have you at least driven one. I've driven both and I have had two Corvettes.

Driven several 1st gen Viper GTS's and drove 2004 Z06 (405 hp), both on street and track (Solo event) Sorry but the Viper was sharper, sharper+quicker steering, less chassis flex, firmer brakes + suspension, less body roll, more low end power. The difference is small but there if you know what to look for. The Viper is just a harder edge animal that the 405 hp C5 Z06. Haven't driven the new 505 hp C6 Z06 though, or the new Viper GTS.

[Eddie Vetter]

Vettegirl wrote:

The new Z07 is 650 HP. Vipers are very cheaply built cars.

The Vipers I've been around, while not Mercedes quality, are actually put together as good as C5 vettes and better than the C4's. The Viper chasis dosen't flex any more than a C5's, and is far more solid than a C4 or C3 Vette. This is coming from a Vette owner/fan.

[James]

There you have it coming from a vette owner/fan.

[Vettegirl]

I can't compare the Viper to the C4 Corvettes as I have never driven one. I've only experienced the C5 & C6. The Viper to me was just way to race car like, I'm all about the luxury and the ride. I don't care how fast it is as long as I love the way it drives. And of course the top must always come down!!! I have had several Dodges in the last few years:
1998 Ram SST
1999 Ram 1500 4X4
2005 Dodge Ram Rumble Bee 4X4
I love most of the Dodge products. If I get a new truck, I will always pick the Dodge. I would just never pick the Viper over the Vette. I guess it's just a personal preference.

[James]

Thats what sports cars are supposed to be like like race cars, not luxury cars (C6 Z06). For me its all about performance.Forget all the luxuries and drive. Same here I would never pick the vette over a viper.

[Eddie Vetter]

Vettegirl wrote:

I can't compare the Viper to the C4 Corvettes as I have never driven one. I've only experienced the C5 & C6. The Viper to me was just way to race car like, I'm all about the luxury and the ride. I don't care how fast it is as long as I love the way it drives. And of course the top must always come down!!! I have had several Dodges in the last few years:
1998 Ram SST
1999 Ram 1500 4X4
2005 Dodge Ram Rumble Bee 4X4
I love most of the Dodge products. If I get a new truck, I will always pick the Dodge. I would just never pick the Viper over the Vette. I guess it's just a personal preference.

Don't take this the wrong way, but you'd probably be better off with a Toyota Solara convertible--higher quality and reliability, much better ride, and cheaper to buy and own. Much better lux and ride than a Corvette. Unless you're a certified car nut like myself who enjoys not braking for expressway ramps and seeing how fast one can go on empty curvy roads then frankly the expenses and drivability issues of Vettes, Vipers, Porsche's and the like really aren't worth it. I've seen numerous guys buy these cars for primarily the image, and it most never fails that within 3 years they're back in luxury sedans or SUV's.

[Vettegirl]

I WOULD NEVER BUY A TOYOTA!!! Those riceburners are NOT real cars. If I cared how much it cost to own a Vette, I wouldn't have one. I certainly wouldn't settle for a half ass car just cause it's cheaper!! There's nothing about the Corvette that I don't love, it's worth every penny. Before I had the Vette, I had Mustang GT's and I would got back to that before I would buy a toyota. At least I wouldn't be embarassed to be seen in it!

[luke]

dont down on toyota i now of 2 or 3 supras that would walk any of your vettes supras also cost more than a c5 bone stock. stock to stock the supra holds its own i love vettes but a lingenfelter and a single turbo supra is about on the same page i have seen it for my own eye a supra is not a drag car but at the track i have seen them go 9.00 all day on the high way lol dont joke about that supra tail lights all over that vette well one thing that is awsome about vette is they hold nitrous like a champ ls1 are beast ls motor in genral are beast if u want to here my opion on vettes and vipers well for the price a vette owns a viper. all i do is drag race so going around corners could not tell u. but stright line viper will never hold up to vette vipers just dont have it 2008 2009 dont think they will ever be at the top vettes will always win at the 1/4 mile track any way but top fuel dragsters are based off a hemi so that is nice that is a dodge product.I do like the srt-4 i just would never pay that for a car that is so slow 12.5 is no wear near to being worth 80,000 my ls1 s-10 runs mid 10s on slicks and nitrous and i have not even put over 10,000 in that thing my 95 dsm with a turbo that put a 10.5 down at the track only cost me 15,000 so all in all viper needs to step it up please dont down on imports i have seen u do that alot u have never seen a fast one i wish u would go to race track lol becase if i sall u in my dsm i would not wast my 110 octan on that vette with a exhaust and my s-10 lol when the left front wheel came off the ground lol u would ask ur self y is my vette not moving so please imports are cool i like them for daily drivers my wife a a toyota avalone it does really good she likes it.