Hey all. I'm a previous C5 corvette owner and i loved the handling, speed and looks of the vette. But now i guess i'm ready to step into the viper world with an 03' viper. I've been researching quite alot about the car but i want some feedback about the overall performance of the car from current Viper owners. I heard alot about how bad it is on a bumpy road and with no traction control you could lose handling very easy, i think those are aspects of a race car. If anyone is interested in giving me more feedback before i purchase this beauty.
Thanks
To be more specific about what i need to know about the 03' Viper generation is handling and control. I want to know how does the car drive and respond under rainy conditions for example. Would it skid out of control because there is no traction control? How does it handle on turns ? Is it responsive to fast turns at the same time in control ?
Being a previous Z06 owner myself this guy has it down..... Go rent one for a day and play a little bit. Better than getting a 50k car you don't like.
Chris
Well said. It's worth the $300 or $400 to rent one for a day to make sure the car is everything you want. No one will argue that the Viper is an amazing looking car and will turn heads anywhere you go. But you have to remember that the Viper is not a car for everyone. If you're planning on using the car everyday, stick with the Vette.
On the other hand some of us do use our srt10 as an every day driver... i purchased mine in feb to use as a weekend car ... well that never lasted.. my srt10 is easy to drive, comfortable, maybe it's the spring weather.. Only problem has been stopping for gas twice as often..
Just bought an 03 SRT/10 to replace my dearly departed 02 RT/10 and am very pleased. Drove the car home from NC to NJ without any fatigue or problems. Try one out if you aren't sure.
I do have a second car to drive back and forth to work with. I'm not worried about the comfort in the ride cause i don't plan on driving it far distances. The only thing i am worried about is if it's a reliable car to get and if it's worth the money invested in it. I've seen how the interior looks and i think Dodge could have done alot better, so the money invested is basically paying for looks and power. But overall, where does the Viper stand when comparing it to other sport cars ? Do i get similar handling like other cars, a Vette or an M3 for example ?
Besides how reliable are Vipers on high mileage ? I have'nt seen any with high miles and few people drive those cars like they're meant to be driven, maybe that's why not alot of people complain about them in general.
I do have a second car to drive back and forth to work with. I'm not worried about the comfort in the ride cause i don't plan on driving it far distances. The only thing i am worried about is if it's a reliable car to get and if it's worth the money invested in it. I've seen how the interior looks and i think Dodge could have done alot better, so the money invested is basically paying for looks and power. But overall, where does the Viper stand when comparing it to other sport cars ? Do i get similar handling like other cars, a Vette or an M3 for example ?
George, this is a drivers car. I went through 7 M3's. I would drive one, get bored, put a AA kit on one, get bored and so on. I would build one, and sell it because it is a great car to drive for work, but that is it. I finally just bought one to putt around in and keep, and finally came to the realization that it isn't capable of what I was wanting it to do. Great car, great handling, boring as fuck.
The Viper on the other hand isn't a boring car. Sure, not the most comfortable thing on the road. It isn't a Vett. From a fit and finish standpoint, it is a hell of alot better than anything Chevy has ever produced., and not far off from the M3. If the occasional bumpy road is a problem, I would just buy another Chevy, M3, or AMG car. I wouldn't ever want to drive the Viper every day. It wasn't built for that. It will hold up fine, just get keyed, door dinged constantly, etc..... Drive your M3, Camry, whatever, and keep the Viper for nice days.
Not trying to be a dick here, but seriously....bumps shouldn't be the reason you shouldn't buy the car.
I recently made the switch from my c5 to a 2000 Gen II.
Was recently caught in heavy rain and was told that it was a beast to handle etc... Not true at all ! It handled fine ! In fact I felt very safe in it !.
Only thing I've noticed is, if on very busy stop and go roads, the car can tend to pull you side to side and you must control that wheel or it will control you.
Only time I've noticed it is driving in the city of Boston. Stop and go traffic everyday.
I recently made the switch from my c5 to a 2000 Gen II.
Was recently caught in heavy rain and was told that it was a beast to handle etc... Not true at all ! It handled fine ! In fact I felt very safe in it !.
Only thing I've noticed is, if on very busy stop and go roads, the car can tend to pull you side to side and you must control that wheel or it will control you.
Only time I've noticed it is driving in the city of Boston. Stop and go traffic everyday.
Other than that, you will love the car !
I agree. Handling in the rain can be dependant on the tires. If you have very little tread left, it can be a bear. It also makes a difference how you drive it. If it rains and you drive it like it is raining, you will be fine; but if you drive it like it is sunny, that is asking for trouble.
I think the pulling side to side is due to the tire width. They tend to grab everything on the road. That also takes some getting used to. I don't even notice it anymore, and had not even thought about it until you mentioned it.
I like what Tucker said. The last 2 days I was going to get into my 06 Lexus GS430. Great car but then alongside it is the beast. I drove the Viper again today. There are a lot of trailer queens and people worried about miles on there Viper. This car was made to be driven hard and then driven some more.
Well, yesterday was my first time driving the 03' Viper i plan on getting. You guys are right, there is nothing uncomfy about the car. Well let me rephrase that, for a guy like me who's 5'9 i have no problems getting in and out of the car and fit with comfort, but i would think it's really hard for taller people to fit, but who cares. The car drives like a beast and is smooth at the same time. I put the offer on it and i'm waiting for the response. The only thing i noticed which i had expected is the hood gets really hot after a while to a point i where i could see a slight mirage on the wind shield. Now i kept it running for like 2 hours and the temp guage stayed stable. But would the V10 at a sunny day after running for a while cause any overheats ?? I made sure that the car was taken for the recall of the fuel pump...
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