and it was incredible. As I posted previously on the morgue:
We are hosting the VCA folks attending the Belle Isle Grand Prix here in Detroit. After the ALMS race ended the Vipers (and others) were invited to run a couple "pace laps" around this beautiful road course. Well, having recently wrapped up a 5,000 mile drive in our own SRT10, we decided not to drive up to Detroit from Kansas City in it. As such, we were perfectly content to watch the Vipers take the track from the sidelines. Much to my shock, the folks from SRT asked if I would like a ride in a 2008. I had an emphatic "yes" out before they hit the "t" in "eight". So as the time got closer the gentleman from SRT said, "Why don't you drive it and see what you think." That "yes" was just a little bit faster - having shouted it so loudly he is probably deaf in one ear now...
First things first: The pace laps rarely took us up to high speeds (never triple digits) but if you hung back you could play "catch up" pretty quickly. So no Chuck-style action. But it didn't matter. You see, we are on our third Viper and our second SRT10. We owned a 2003 and now have a 2005. I think I was one of the first owners to post driving experiences and pictures when we got our 2003 in January of that same year. So I feel pretty confident in saying that I am very familiar with how the SRT10 is set up and drives for the most part (sorry, no racing experience other than 1/4 mile).
My friends, I am very confident in saying that the 2008 truly deserves a "Gen IV" designation, as it really is a different car altogether. Oh sure, the skin is the same and the interior unchanged in the basic model. But the very second you hit that "Start" button you know this isn't like any SRT you have driven. And here is why:
The car fires up instantly due to what I think is a smaller flywheel (sorry, too tired to look up the specs right now)
The idle is more smooth - not luxury-car smooth, but certainly more "refined"
The exhaust - WOW! I have heard 1,000 Vipers and none sounded like this. Without the cross-over behind the seats I fully expected the "UPS truck" sound that 5 cylinders can make. But it was anything but. While I never went full throttle (crashing a pre-production car with an SRT exec at your side is baaaaad), everything from idle up to 5,000 RPM's sounded incredible. It didn't strike me that different from outside the car, but from inside there was a drastic difference. While I love the "lumpy" idle and sound I get from my SRT these days (708 cam), this one sounded like a deep, tuned Ferrari or something. Impossible to describe and do it justice, but it sounded wonderful.
The cockpit was noticeably cooler without the crossover and those new hood vents really cool down that engine bay. I suspect that it cools everything else down as a result, including keeping those side sill temperatures within reason. Where I can see some lazy "heat lines" coming up from the vents on my 2005, the 2008 looked like it was venting out heat like a blow dryer. And that is a wonderful thing - that same heat escaping never gets a chance to heat up everything else it touches.
Throttle response is quick and the torque comes on much faster than my previous SRT's. Not sure if it is the new rear-end or how the power is delivered, but that powerband seems to have even MORE grunt on the bottom end than in years past. Thankfully those PS2's can better address it. The gentleman from SRT probably thought I was an idiot as I was feeding the throttle more (and then less to overcompensate) to get rolling and maintain speed. Totally different throttle experience and in a good way. It was like a cat that simply wanted to pounce and which you had to restrain. And rest assured that is a good thing. No - a GREAT thing: Even with all the work done on my current SRT (1000 HP), the 2008 seemed as though it would trounce my car if you nailed the throttle. Sure hope it doesn't, as I can't afford any more mods to my '05.
The shifting was phenomenal and again unlike any Viper I have driven. The throw was shorter, 10x smoother, and it almost seemed like it would pre-select the gears for you as you shifted. Indeed, one time I started out in 3rd by mistake and the car's torque brought it up to speed as if though it was in first. I was trying to figure out how first could last so long when I figured out my error (once again showing the SRT guy that he might have picked the wrong guy to drive this new beast). A quick click back into second really woke it up - and surprised me with how smooth it would transition.
The ride was yet another totally different animal. Different shocks and springs undoubtedly played a HUGE role, but those non-runflats certainly did their part as well. The car rode more smoothly, handled better, and no longer "tracked" the ruts a fraction as much as they have with my other Vipers. Again, luxury car it ain't (purists can breath easily), but it just felt more controlled and was even smoother on the corners than what I can ever recall my other cars were. A few bumps on the apex wouldn't "jump" the car sideways - it would stay planted and continue down the turn unaffected. Hard to believe an even more competent track car could have such an improved ride. But it did.
Whew! I am sorry I can't give you a more detailed review or even one that is better worded (after 1 AM here). All I can tell you with the utmost assurance is that the 2008 is VERY different than any previous generation Viper. It may look largely the same as your 2003-2006, but it truly is a different car as soon as you fire it up. And that, my friends, is a good thing. A very, very, very good thing. From a driving and performance perspective this Viper is the best ever and by a good margin. I didn't expect it and was genuinely shocked from the moment I hit the start button until the minute my adventure ended.
For those of you that ordered 2008's, you are in for a real treat. For those of you on the fence - better jump quick as I wouldn't be surprised to see this model year "sell out", especially as other new owners post their own reviews. As for me, well, looks like I will have to have a heart-to-heart with my lovely bride. Hopefully she will leave mine intact.
For an early morning reporter I give you an A+. Enjoyed the write-up and it was great hearing it from an experienced Viper owner then some dickweed journalist.
and it was incredible. As I posted previously on the morgue:
We are hosting the VCA folks attending the Belle Isle Grand Prix here in Detroit. After the ALMS race ended the Vipers (and others) were invited to run a couple "pace laps" around this beautiful road course. Well, having recently wrapped up a 5,000 mile drive in our own SRT10, we decided not to drive up to Detroit from Kansas City in it. As such, we were perfectly content to watch the Vipers take the track from the sidelines. Much to my shock, the folks from SRT asked if I would like a ride in a 2008. I had an emphatic "yes" out before they hit the "t" in "eight". So as the time got closer the gentleman from SRT said, "Why don't you drive it and see what you think." That "yes" was just a little bit faster - having shouted it so loudly he is probably deaf in one ear now...
First things first: The pace laps rarely took us up to high speeds (never triple digits) but if you hung back you could play "catch up" pretty quickly. So no Chuck-style action. But it didn't matter. You see, we are on our third Viper and our second SRT10. We owned a 2003 and now have a 2005. I think I was one of the first owners to post driving experiences and pictures when we got our 2003 in January of that same year. So I feel pretty confident in saying that I am very familiar with how the SRT10 is set up and drives for the most part (sorry, no racing experience other than 1/4 mile).
My friends, I am very confident in saying that the 2008 truly deserves a "Gen IV" designation, as it really is a different car altogether. Oh sure, the skin is the same and the interior unchanged in the basic model. But the very second you hit that "Start" button you know this isn't like any SRT you have driven. And here is why:
The car fires up instantly due to what I think is a smaller flywheel (sorry, too tired to look up the specs right now)
The idle is more smooth - not luxury-car smooth, but certainly more "refined"
The exhaust - WOW! I have heard 1,000 Vipers and none sounded like this. Without the cross-over behind the seats I fully expected the "UPS truck" sound that 5 cylinders can make. But it was anything but. While I never went full throttle (crashing a pre-production car with an SRT exec at your side is baaaaad), everything from idle up to 5,000 RPM's sounded incredible. It didn't strike me that different from outside the car, but from inside there was a drastic difference. While I love the "lumpy" idle and sound I get from my SRT these days (708 cam), this one sounded like a deep, tuned Ferrari or something. Impossible to describe and do it justice, but it sounded wonderful.
The cockpit was noticeably cooler without the crossover and those new hood vents really cool down that engine bay. I suspect that it cools everything else down as a result, including keeping those side sill temperatures within reason. Where I can see some lazy "heat lines" coming up from the vents on my 2005, the 2008 looked like it was venting out heat like a blow dryer. And that is a wonderful thing - that same heat escaping never gets a chance to heat up everything else it touches.
Throttle response is quick and the torque comes on much faster than my previous SRT's. Not sure if it is the new rear-end or how the power is delivered, but that powerband seems to have even MORE grunt on the bottom end than in years past. Thankfully those PS2's can better address it. The gentleman from SRT probably thought I was an idiot as I was feeding the throttle more (and then less to overcompensate) to get rolling and maintain speed. Totally different throttle experience and in a good way. It was like a cat that simply wanted to pounce and which you had to restrain. And rest assured that is a good thing. No - a GREAT thing: Even with all the work done on my current SRT (1000 HP), the 2008 seemed as though it would trounce my car if you nailed the throttle. Sure hope it doesn't, as I can't afford any more mods to my '05.
The shifting was phenomenal and again unlike any Viper I have driven. The throw was shorter, 10x smoother, and it almost seemed like it would pre-select the gears for you as you shifted. Indeed, one time I started out in 3rd by mistake and the car's torque brought it up to speed as if though it was in first. I was trying to figure out how first could last so long when I figured out my error (once again showing the SRT guy that he might have picked the wrong guy to drive this new beast). A quick click back into second really woke it up - and surprised me with how smooth it would transition.
The ride was yet another totally different animal. Different shocks and springs undoubtedly played a HUGE role, but those non-runflats certainly did their part as well. The car rode more smoothly, handled better, and no longer "tracked" the ruts a fraction as much as they have with my other Vipers. Again, luxury car it ain't (purists can breath easily), but it just felt more controlled and was even smoother on the corners than what I can ever recall my other cars were. A few bumps on the apex wouldn't "jump" the car sideways - it would stay planted and continue down the turn unaffected. Hard to believe an even more competent track car could have such an improved ride. But it did.
Whew! I am sorry I can't give you a more detailed review or even one that is better worded (after 1 AM here). All I can tell you with the utmost assurance is that the 2008 is VERY different than any previous generation Viper. It may look largely the same as your 2003-2006, but it truly is a different car as soon as you fire it up. And that, my friends, is a good thing. A very, very, very good thing. From a driving and performance perspective this Viper is the best ever and by a good margin. I didn't expect it and was genuinely shocked from the moment I hit the start button until the minute my adventure ended.
For those of you that ordered 2008's, you are in for a real treat. For those of you on the fence - better jump quick as I wouldn't be surprised to see this model year "sell out", especially as other new owners post their own reviews. As for me, well, looks like I will have to have a heart-to-heart with my lovely bride. Hopefully she will leave mine intact.
The exhaust note is nothing new to those with corsa track nor are the improved heating issues.
The Tires also are an easy upgrade
Interested to feel the new shift gate and how the engine responds...because I do think my RT 10 had more of a low end grunt than my SRT....would be nice to have that back...I just remember scaring people more when I used to floor my RT 10 without warning....or could be I am just used to the power now
PS. Thank you for the in-depth explanation of the shifting. I was wondering how the new transmission would feel in the hands of one of "ours" rather than some journalist who may or may not have a motive. Double Thanks for that.
Great review, like the others stated it's nice to see a *real* Viper guy behind the wheel rather then some journalist required to test it with unrealistic results to report. Although I've been somewhat impressed with the mag/internet company reviews of it thus far.
Nice pic by the way...
Also, thanks for making it more then obvious that this is NOT just an 06 car with more HP thrown in it but rather a completely different machine under the skin.
Last edited by Viper4Christ : September 3rd, 2007 at 04:26 PM.
I am getting more and more excited about this new viper. And the green is becoming sooooo appealing!
That red vert looks a whole lot better (IMO) than the first red genIIIs. The subtle differences, 2 of which were added in 06, really give the car a new look. I like it.
Last edited by BgCk13 : September 3rd, 2007 at 04:59 PM.
Reason: Left somethin out
In that picture the new hood looks bad ass.....5 stars are nice too....I wouldnt say it looks a whole lot better than an 06...they essentially look the same...and to non-car-people they look exactly the same
I am sure you would have been able to get that baby past 180.84 mph.
Danika couldn't on a 5 mile oval!
and I thought only Motor Trend sucked!
Her comments were SO negative. Ugh. Read on, if you have a strong stomach:
"I really had to be hard on the throttle to feel the grunt," she says. "I felt torque, for sure. But I'd be coming off the corner at a decent speed, and you'd be flat, and it wasn't really grunting. It wasn't going much faster; wasn't picking up speed like it sounded like it was."
"In the corners the car went over the bumps softly, but it didn't recover. You need to have grip on the other side of the bump (?), and this car didn't have that, so it felt a bit unstable. If the track was smooth, it might be more like the Corvette where you put the power down, and it sits the rear down. I didn't feel that attitude with this car as much as in the Corvette. It just didn't take the bumps well enough to carry speed through the corners"
My impression? No balls.
On the cover, it has a small picture of her with the title: Danika Patrick takes then to the limit!
WHAT A JOKE.
Last edited by Viperfreak2 : September 5th, 2007 at 09:51 AM.
But I'd be coming off the corner at a decent speed, and you'd be flat, and it wasn't really grunting. It wasn't going much faster; wasn't picking up speed like it sounded like it was."
On the cover, it has a small picture of her with the title: Danika Patrick takes then to the limit!
WHAT A JOKE.
I just bought that mag as well. What was she doing? Driving in 6th gear the whole time?
Hey Danica, if you press that pedal on the way left and then move that lever thingy ma jig near your right arm, then you just might start going faster.
Drove the 2008 yesterday at the track...
That "yes" was just a little bit faster - having shouted it so loudly he is probably deaf in one ear now...
