Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Ok, lets hear your thoughts of a Viper vs the ZR-1. Strengths, weaknesses of each. I noticed Vipers have dropped down to the $24-29K range, from what I recall the 93s topped out at 165MPH....

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

In what regard exactly, Lee? Performance alone, buying-selling, resale, collectability etc., good question & i do have an opinion just wondering from what angle your asking :confused:. One thing i will say right now is the mid-ninties one's with the power increase, starting with 96, the GTS' i believe had 450 HP, definatly have an advantage off the line compared to our Zee's. Can't compare 488 cube V-10 to a 350 V-8, the Viper's TQ. help's to get it rolling so much better, our's on the other hand is generally a bog or spin show, when stock.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Looking more from a performance perspective.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

The early Vipers run neck and neck with the ZR-1, but as Ryan pointed out, with the HP increase with the introduction of the GTS, the Viper never looked back.

The early Vipers are crude, have the fit of a kit car, are hot, temperamental and are a rough ride. I still want a early RT/10 though. Because of those things.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I ran an early 2000's Viper on the street once. Guy said it was stock. I have a ported top end (not heads) and headers. Stayed pretty even with him, he couldn't get by me. Maybe he couldn't drive though.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

:sign10: :sign10:...You are one of a kind Jeff ;).

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I raced around with Viper last week and he flat out kick my a$$... I don't know what Mods it may have had, But the car was fast..and the guy could drive.



By the way, I don't like snakes. They creep me out.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

We can get that taken care of.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Isn't your wife still pissed about the 90? Or is the Viper for her? :sign10:

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Why not take a look and see, Germany last year

http://www.corvetteclips.co.uk/site%...rman%20VOI.wmv

and some more

http://www.corvetteclips.co.uk/site%...highlights.mp4

These take a while as they're quite large

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Jeff/I had a girl friend who was hot,temperamental and a rough ride,dumped her after a long weekend in vegas/

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I have never had anyone beat my Viper. It isn't exactly stock though.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Your not looking hard enough. Always somebody faster around the corner :neutral:

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Here is your chance to own a Viper cheep! There is a 2001 Viper with 14000 miles for $4000. on craigslist in Stockton CA. Just needs alot of body work...

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I always liked the look of the GTS, but a truck engine vs the LT-5...I'll take the sweet sound of the LT-5

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

To me The viper demands attention, but looks like crap. Sorry

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I wouldn't mind one but not as a replacement to my Z.
I love my Z!
However, if I can afford another car, my preference would be 96 or 97 GTS in blue metallic with white stripe. Those cars sort of remind me of Harley.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I always wonder how easy they are to work on. If you've ever seen the hood open, it does not open very far. Nowhere near the almost 90-degrees that the 'vette hood opens.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

True enough, luckily Julio lives 1500 miles away from me. I do have a mode of transportation which displaces 1000 cc that will give the GTS a real run for its money on the high boost setting. There isnt much point in comparing the Viper to a ZR-1. They have too many differences between them. I like each one individually for what they do differently. I don't see how a true car guy can dislike either one, unless brand loyalty clouds your decision.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I would love to have a Testarossa parked next to the Z in the garage but they are still up there in price. So the viper would be my second choice. And I'm sure there are plenty of viper forums that would be full of knowledge on making repairs just like this forum has been.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I like the viper too and would like a new viper next to my vette. I think it's one of the best looking convertables out there. As for the Testarossa I'm with you on that but after seeing a friends friends 512 I'd rather have that. Looks about the same just larger wheels and more up to date.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Oh yeah! The 512 is even better. Ever since I saw one on Miami Vice I've wanted one ever since. Back in the days when real men wore pastels and white flip flops. Hehehehe! A Viper would a close second.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Ferrari=$65K rust bucket..they have issues on some models from that era

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I don't think there's much on them to rust. But I have heard you have to let them warm up for at least 20 minutes before driving them otherwise you run the risk of blowing head gaskets. And the shifter can give you fits going into gear. But I don't care I still want one. I'd be wrenching on it just like my Z when something breaks. Wouldn't bother me one bit.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

A friends Diablo has just been in to have it's doors sorted and resprayed. Cost thousands and will need doing again in the future. The steel and ally react and blister the paint apparently.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Who's Harley :confused:.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Davidson.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Buddy/Customer of mine has a 96 GTS, Blue w/White stripes, 6000 miles, it's a decent looking car. Has that look the comes to mind when you think of a Viper, sort of timeless, ya' know? He runs it a little on the ¼ mile up here at 2200 FT. altitude, usually more like 3500-4500 corrected, bone stock including tires except for a Hurst short throw shifter, it can/has run 12.6's, hard to be able to compete with that. To be fair though our cars are not ¼ mile terror's, from 660 FT. on...well that's a different story, as you all on here know. I like the fact the exhaust comes out the back on his 96 as opposed to the newer one's that have side exit exhaust. Funny how the new ones have a conventional opening hood too, never understood that dumb rear lift ½ open style :cool: :confused:. Actually another Customer of mine has a newer one, 2002/2003...something like that, I can never seem to remember :neutral:. Yellow w/Black stripes, Bumble Bee :mrgreen:. These two Viper guys are always surprised at the creature comforts in my Zee's, even my 90! The fellow with the newer Viper doesn't even have power seats & the lumbar control is a black egg you have to pump up manually with your hand...nice :cool:. Again it's a cool car in it's own right, but a little raw.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

I always thought that the Lotus Elise was a cool looking car to. But the more I researched them the more I realized that the LT-5 has nothing in common with them at all. Its in name only. Their engines are made by Toyota and only put out 190hp. And I could have two used vipers or two ZR-1's for the price of a Lotus Elise.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Actually after ZR-1 production had stopped and Lotus left GM, Lotus decided Turbo 4 was holding back their Esprit model. There was an article in either Road & Track or Car & Driver that Lotus approached GM over purchasing LT5s for use in their Esprit. When GM flat out turned it down, so the story goes, Lotus designed their flat crank V8 (I think it was 4.4 liter and around 1998).
Had GM gone along with Lotus we may have seen LT5 developed to the next stage.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Hhmmm....,Really,...very interesting.

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Interesting.

I wonder if they just wanted to buy the design? I'd think any tooling and such would have been gone by the time Lotus was putting a V8 in the Esprit. :dontknow:

It was a 3.5L TT though, that they came up with. Around 350hp. I don't think it started out with a 180-degree crank though, I remember when they had advertisements about adding it (the ad talked about the wail the engine made).

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

You are right. It was 3.5 TT (excuse me for saying 4.4. got confused w/ BMW V8 - it's been a while...).

Good catch!

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Lotus did used to build their own engines. The switch to Toyota was probably a good thing. Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious - Lotus. Came from their reliability issues.

As for lotus using LT5's they did. There was a Le Mans Elise built that was running a flat plane crank but rule changes meant it wasn't used. I have seen the engine. Jeal got it from a guy that bought the Elise and wanted to put it back to a more original configuration. I believe there are still pictures on my site somewhere. From memory the engine was mounted by brackets on the cam covers.

Interestingly I also heard that Jaguar purchassed a zr1 some years ago whilst working on the then new XK8 engine. The lt5 does kind of live on.

Likewise a mate Tim that works in car design (was at the gathering with us a few years back) formally at Detroit ended up coming back to the uk got a new job with Merc. In Germany. He was working on the new sport model. There was a C6 Z06 there as that's their target car for weight and performance

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Here you go found the link

http://www.corvetteclips.co.uk/Modifications.html

bottom of the page is photos and it's history

Re: Dodge Viper vs ZR-1
 

Thanks for sharing this with us. That is cool!