Quote:
Originally Posted by Vigilante375
You know the Viper was way better off a car than a Challenger or Charger ever was. When the Viper was in production as the same time the Hellcat was just coming out and the Viper would destroy it in the turns and in a straight line. Dodge already knew they were discontinuing the Viper so they needed to get something ready to take its place.
The GT500 was still a Mustang, it had nothing else to compete against in Ford's lineup. What about the Ford GT you say? That would easily beat the GT500.
With Chevrolet always having the Camaro and Corvette, they've always needed to walk that fine line.
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Yes, I can tell you the Viper community for the most part loved the Hellcats but was pissed at Dodge (mostly Kuniskis) for not developing the Viper engine further and essentially shifting gears to the Hellcats. Yes the Vipers days were numbered as most buyers aged. Dodge was loyal to the point that it lost market share because they would not adapt to the softer generation of drivers who needed an automatic and or paddle shifters and or cup holders and nanny controls. It is truly the last real drivers car, and exactly for those reasons it’s gone.
Viper ownership was like nothing that will likely ever happen again, the manufacturer, engineers, technicians and owners were a unit. What I experienced was somethng that was heaven for a gearhead like myself. Socializing with the designers and engineers of the car on a regular basis and actually having your feedback make a difference was something I know will likely never happen again. Good times
Sorry I’ve taken this thread way off track….. back to the regularly scheduled programming
So that Panther in the emblem is so cool…..