Has anyone ever had the opportunity to drive a viper? My wife and I have been toying with the idea of trading in our S2000 for a used Viper. This is my 2nd s2000-I do love it, but I just have had the urge for something more heinous. It would be used purely for a fun weekend car, driven on sunny days only. Well, I found what looked to be a well taken care of, low mileage 7800 '01 Red Viper GTS at a local dealership. Prices of the GTS's are starting to soften, due to the release of the new Viper body style. I took it for a ride this morning, and I can say it was nothing like I expected. Torque like you can't imagine, yes. HOLY MOLY! You don't need RPMS! Talk about a big, sloppy shifter & pedals so close together and off to the side that I scared the $$** out of the salesman by coming too close to a slowing vehicle in front of me. The clutch had huge amounts of travel, as did the gas pedal. I now appreciate how precisely the S2000 shifts-great testament to Honda engineering. Chintzy looking interior plus lots of weird noises coming from the brakes. The tires are so wide which caused the car to creep sideways with any ridges in the road--so much so, I had to concentrate on keeping the thing pointed straight on the merritt pkwy. ..I'll pass on it, keep the S2000 another year. Glad I'm over the viper, and glad I got it out of my system-It is not the car for me!

Mike

 

Cool!

 

I've driven a Henessey Viper,.. 600hp and 600 lb/ft TQ.... I only wish I had the money!!!

If you can get one go for it!!

 

If you want something faster than the S but more precise than the Viper go test drive the US version Lotus Elise. Should be at dealers soon.

 

I'm looking forward to see the elise when it shows up in dealerships. The other car I'm considering is a new M3 convertible with the SMG gearbox-my wife does not drive a six speed and I feel badly I always have all the fun! Seems like a good compromise. Thanks-
Mike

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Legal Bill
If you want something faster than the S but more precise than the Viper go test drive the US version Lotus Elise.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bang2nd
I'm looking forward to see the elise when it shows up in dealerships.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mosesbotbol

 

I have to agree Bill, the new Lotus Elise will be faster than the S2000 as well as a host of other cars. They also said in the Road and Track that it did 0 - 60 in 4.8 seconds.

I had the opportunity to sit in the European version of the Elise at the New York auto show last spring. The seat was a racing seat and the steering wheel had to be removed to allow entry. My 6'2" frame fit in, but not adequately to allow me to drive it. From the pictures in R/T it looks like the seats are more friendly for a fuller frame. The pedals in the Euro version, were much closer together than the Viper.

Now as far as the Viper, I had the opportunity in the spring of 2001 to take the Skip Barber 2 day driving school and had a chance to drive a 2001 Viper coupe on their autocross course. The car you first described in the first entry in this thread did not resemble the car I drove. The car I drove was a precise monster. Is it possible that the car you first described was in an accident? The only part that I agree with is the description of the pedal placement, but the car has so many adjustments that you can make that after proper adjustment that was not a problem either.

The S and the Viper are two different cars for two different missions. To quote someone else "I like a girl that can drop her top in 6 seconds", but if I could afford it the Viper would be a good second choice.