anyone know if there is a top gear or similar program on the viper srt-10? If so do you know where i could find it?

What do you all think of this car? Apparently it outhandles the Z06. I think it looks pretty sweet. And check out this dyno graph of a stock car...pretty nasty.

 

If I recall correctly, the initial reviews all said the opposite, actually -- that the Z06 could outrun the SRT-10 on a racetrack despite its power deficit because the Viper's a handful...

Steve

 

the only comparison review i saw said the Viper handled better

 

Interesting -- what comparison was that?

It's a snow day here, so I have nothing better to do than look up old magazine reviews.

I don't think that Car and Driver compared the two cars directly, but in their November 2002 review, they dinged the Viper for being too harsh ("rental-truck ride, annoying bump steer") before concluding "a Corvette Z06 -- some $33K less costly -- is not only miles more comfy but is more effective in real-world A-to-B blasts, simply because it's half as difficult to drive."

Automobile did compare the two cars head-to-head in their November 2002 issue, and they liked the Viper's handling. However, despite that and the Corvette's 95 hp deficit, they lapped GingerMan faster in the Z06, and wrote that "the Vette provides more thrills and day-to-day driving pleasure than the Viper in a package that feels more chuckable, more easily accessed, and more practical."

Don't get me wrong -- I think the Viper's a cool car, but any car aspiring to outhandle the Z06 has its work cut out for it. I think that, like old 911s and to a lesser extent the S2000, people like the Viper because its handling is raw and hard to master; they view the tricky handling as a challenge as opposed to a liability.

Steve

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0211_vv/

that's the one. you'll notice on page 6 or 7 they have the "what's hot what's not" boxes. They say the corvette has "super handling" and the viper has "super dooper handling".

In my opinion "more difficult to drive" does not in any way mean worse handling. The gist of that car and driver article if i remember correctly is that the corvette is just a much better all around performer if daily driver/comfort is a requirement. I completely agree with that. However that is not something that i care about in a sports car.

Anyway, again in any Z06 vs. X argument, when you take into account the price of the Z06 it is tough to be it in the value for money catagory. However, the viper is much more exotic, much better looking, a convertible, and much more raw...all things i enjoy.

BTW i'm bored too which is why i bring this up. Also i saw a silver SRT10 last night and it made me think about it.

-Steve