2009 Dodge Viper: Driving Off Into the Sunset

+1 firstwagon I agree that Vipers will be held and kept. If I found a roughed up one 10 years from now, I'd absolutely consider restoring the beast. Funny though, I wonder in 10 - 20 years if 600hp will seem paltry?

(Right now, I want to buy and restore a 1969 Datsun 240Z. In its day it had power and handling, but now its just a classic line.)

Kevin

+1 firstwagon

@yellowmiata, I hadn't ever thought about that in terms of the Viper, but you're right it probably won't seem like such a best fifty years from now. It is funny how once powerful cars seem only adequate by today's standards. I have a 1969 280SE 3.5 coupe that I fully restored myself and in its heyday it was an immensely powerful car. With 200-hp from its 3.5-liter, V8 it can rocket from 0-60mph in just a smidge over 9 seconds. Today nearly any compact car could destroy it in a straight line, but back in 1969 that was serious power and speed.

@ Ed

"I ripped through second and hard into third and completely scared the crap out of myself. Not that many cars are capable of this, and yet the Viper can do it in just about any gear."

=Awesome

This is why I am in love with cars. Not many things in life make you feel this way.

I assure you, 10-20 years from now 600hp will not seem paltry, or 'just adequate'. It won't be long before rules and regulations bring about the end of the sports car that we know today. Cars like the Viper, the Z06, the 911 GT3/GT2, the Elise are really most likely the last great hurrah for 'true' sports cars. I mean look how they are already getting- paddle-shifted, electro-nannied guided missiles w/ about as much soul as a Camry. The GT-R and newer Ferraris for instance. It's a shame really.

If given the opportunity, you absolutely have to experience a Viper and just about any gen 911. They are as raw, primal, pure, undiluted sportscar as you can get. Def a driving experience to remember.

"I assure you, 10-20 years from now 600hp will not seem paltry, or 'just adequate'. It won't be long before rules and regulations bring about the end of the sports car that we know today. "

I'm not worried. I learned to drive back in the 70's and I've heard all the doom and gloom before. People always said you will never see cars with big V8 and performance like the 60's... and they were wrong big time.

The only way performance cars will disappear is if the demand for them goes away.

I generally agree with you, firstwagon... not very into doom and gloom. but to a1c_scg's point, i do fear a loss of "soul" in future cars, as far as the driver feeling connected to the cars. electronics put the driver further and further from the rubber and the road, and we've yet to see any electric with more than "one" gear.

in terms of speed, i expect electric cars to far outpace ICE engines in the not too distant future. just look at how much torque they make. once we have truly next-generation battery packs, they'll be ripping people's faces off just like V10s. they just won't sound as lustful, or have as much personality, is my guess.

I love the Viper, it is a timeless classic. I hope Chrysler brings it back someday.

the Dodge Viper is the automotive epitome of the word Legend...and a Legend it shall be whether production continues in later years or not. There will always be people who want to get their hands on one, same way people treat classic muscle cars like the Challenger and Charger etc etc...Dodge created a great thing when they started selling the Viper, and I feel it is the greatest expression of Modern American Muscle on the road today...

America. Fuck Yeah.

The trick now is to find a perfect 1996 GTS with under 10k miles and store it away for 40 years. Or if you could a viper GTS-R in white with blue stripes. I have a feeling the 96 GTS and the GTS-R that followed with be the real collector pieces.