Dodge Viper: R.I.P.

In reply to T.J.:

What?

I've driven the 1st two gens on track and always liked them. Never even saw a later one in person. It's a shame as the 1st two gens are really quite good, and certainly all American in the way that they feel. This is not totally unexpected as the way it has been treated by Fiat / Chrysler in the past few years. If you already have Ferrari and Alfa, why do you need the Viper. The Hellcat and Challenger line are more in keeping with the Dodge tradition anyway.

I'm still considering a Viper, but it always seems I get side-tracked into something else, most recently the possibility of a 23k original mile AC 911. One of these days I'll end up with one and, personally, I don't like it that they're going away.

There was always something raw and nasty about the Viper. Something that gave the rest of the world's sports cars the middle finger. It was built in the same vein as the Cobra, and it showed. Sure there were equally nasty Corvettes, but they had to change to get that way, the Viper started there from day one. Will we look back on the Viper the way we do the Cobra?

The very earliest Vipers (without roll-up windows, ABS, etc) will become very valuable cars one day---- as will this:

The 1996 Viper GTS

When these first came onto the scene it sparked a renaissance for Chrysler. The Viper (especially the GTS) proved that the Chrysler Corp could build something to run with the big dogs, at a time when no one had any respect for the company. The GTS went over and kicked the ass of Europe's best at the 24 Hours of LeMans--- just like the Cobra Daytona Coupe that inspired it. It couldn't have been more patriotic if it had an american flag painted on the roof. Remember, it won LeMans before GM got serious with the Corvette--- those victories came later.

The GTS was too much....too curvaceous, too badass, too powerful, and too damn cool. It was nearly impossible to update and revamp as time went on, as the original nailed the styling. (especially the GTS) The newer cars still command attention, but nothing like the originals--- they were a phenomenon.

I'm sad to see the Viper go away, but the street cars had become irrelevant. The ACR Vipers are still loved by rich track-day guys.....but there aren't enough of them out there to satisfy the bean counters.

Look for original GTS Vipers to go up in price.....way up. They deserve it. One of the most badass machines ever made in the U.S.

RIP Viper---- you made us proud!

Joe Gearin wrote: The very earliest Vipers (without roll-up windows, ABS, etc) will become very valuable cars one day---- as will this: The 1996 Viper GTS When these first came onto the scene it sparked a renaissance for Chrysler. The Viper (especially the GTS) proved that the Chrysler Corp could build something to run with the big dogs, at a time when no one had any respect for the company. The GTS went over and kicked the ass of Europe's best at the 24 Hours of LeMans--- just like the Cobra Daytona Coupe that inspired it. It couldn't have been more patriotic if it had an american flag painted on the roof. Remember, it won LeMans before GM got serious with the Corvette--- those victories came later. The GTS was too much....too curvaceous, too badass, too powerful, and too damn cool. It was nearly impossible to update and revamp as time went on, as the original nailed the styling. (especially the GTS) The newer cars still command attention, but nothing like the originals--- they were a phenomenon. I'm sad to see the Viper go away, but the street cars had become irrelevant. The ACR Vipers are still loved by rich track-day guys.....but there aren't enough of them out there to satisfy the bean counters. Look for original GTS Vipers to go up in price.....way up. They deserve it. One of the most badass machines ever made in the U.S. RIP Viper---- you made us proud!

Dude. That is some good E36 M3. You should totally work for a car magazine!

When it came out, the Viper had power levels matched only by exotics across the pond. Over the last decade, we have seen a horsepower Renaissance of sorts that makes the Viper a bit less special.

I kind of miss mine, was always my childhood dream car. In reality it drew too much attention for me. I just wanted to drive not sit around talking to everyone about the car. Also extremely hard to get in and out of even for a young person.

On my bucket list for sure, but there's a lot of cars on there and I think this might be one of those "don't meet your heros" scenarios for me. I agree, cars have just gotten faster and faster, and it makes the Viper seem less crazy nowadays. Same deal with Evo/STI, they were world beaters (relatively) in 2004 but times have changed while the cars really didn't.

I always liked the style and the idea of the Viper, however, potential buyers got tired of the unrefinement and relative lack of handling, or maybe it was the way the chassis responded that people didn't like. According to Gran Turismo 6, they don't handle very well.

In reply to Mr_Clutch42:

I think they handle great in GT6

Nick (Not-Stig) Comstock wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: The very earliest Vipers (without roll-up windows, ABS, etc) will become very valuable cars one day---- as will this: The 1996 Viper GTS When these first came onto the scene it sparked a renaissance for Chrysler. The Viper (especially the GTS) proved that the Chrysler Corp could build something to run with the big dogs, at a time when no one had any respect for the company. The GTS went over and kicked the ass of Europe's best at the 24 Hours of LeMans--- just like the Cobra Daytona Coupe that inspired it. It couldn't have been more patriotic if it had an american flag painted on the roof. Remember, it won LeMans before GM got serious with the Corvette--- those victories came later. The GTS was too much....too curvaceous, too badass, too powerful, and too damn cool. It was nearly impossible to update and revamp as time went on, as the original nailed the styling. (especially the GTS) The newer cars still command attention, but nothing like the originals--- they were a phenomenon. I'm sad to see the Viper go away, but the street cars had become irrelevant. The ACR Vipers are still loved by rich track-day guys.....but there aren't enough of them out there to satisfy the bean counters. Look for original GTS Vipers to go up in price.....way up. They deserve it. One of the most badass machines ever made in the U.S. RIP Viper---- you made us proud!

Dude. That is some good E36 M3. You should totally work for a car magazine!

I was thinking of the exact same post!

A 1st Gen GTS would definitely be a cool car to own. I wish I had room for one, but it won't fit in my garage, width-wise (I have the same problem with Vettes).

bmw88rider wrote: Hate to say it but a good part of it has to do with no automatic offering. Most of the cars in that segment are bought and driven by the over 50 crowd. If you look at the other sports cars in that segment, they sell mostly automatic or PDK style gear boxes. I know it's not the pure thing but most people don't care about the "pure" driving experience when they are mostly driving them around town.

I'm over 50 and not offended. I think that you're spot on. The Viper is too expensive for most middle class car enthusiasts and too big and unrefined for most of the sports car crowd. 65 percent of Corvette's sold are equipped with automatics. The logical target audience is the guy who wants a beefier Vette. The successful businessdude who likes to think of himself as baddass and wants the broad shoulders without the hassle of shifting.

tuna55 wrote:

Nick (Not-Stig) Comstock wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: The very earliest Vipers (without roll-up windows, ABS, etc) will become very valuable cars one day---- as will this: The 1996 Viper GTS When these first came onto the scene it sparked a renaissance for Chrysler. The Viper (especially the GTS) proved that the Chrysler Corp could build something to run with the big dogs, at a time when no one had any respect for the company. The GTS went over and kicked the ass of Europe's best at the 24 Hours of LeMans--- just like the Cobra Daytona Coupe that inspired it. It couldn't have been more patriotic if it had an american flag painted on the roof. Remember, it won LeMans before GM got serious with the Corvette--- those victories came later. The GTS was too much....too curvaceous, too badass, too powerful, and too damn cool. It was nearly impossible to update and revamp as time went on, as the original nailed the styling. (especially the GTS) The newer cars still command attention, but nothing like the originals--- they were a phenomenon. I'm sad to see the Viper go away, but the street cars had become irrelevant. The ACR Vipers are still loved by rich track-day guys.....but there aren't enough of them out there to satisfy the bean counters. Look for original GTS Vipers to go up in price.....way up. They deserve it. One of the most badass machines ever made in the U.S. RIP Viper---- you made us proud!

Dude. That is some good E36 M3. You should totally work for a car magazine!

I was thinking of the exact same post!

I regret selling my 06 coupe so much lately. Not as raw as the old cars but still no nanny's and the ECU was cracked so you could make stupid stupid power