any word on Car and Driver 2014 Lightning Lap? TA

[Scot]

I assume the Viper TA should kick everything's ass this year.... curious if it will top prior ACR lap time?

I googled 2014 lightning lap and nothing comes up. They are late this year! :( maybe the shit weather has something to do with it?

[Lawrenzo]

They're probably waiting for a Z06 to be available.

[ViperSmith]

No idea. Don't have high hopes for the TA in the rags, unless someone like Randy is driving it, they won't hit the limits.

[Shooter]

No idea. Don't have high hopes for the TA in the rags, unless someone like Randy is driving it, they won't hit the limits.

Randy races an AWD Volvo. And fyi, SRT's own engineer Chris Winkler was faster around Laguna in the ACR then Randy's joke of an attempt in an 09 ACR. He was afraid of the Gen V and terrified of the Gen IV. Lets let Kuno or Dom drive it. And let Chevy bring whatever hotshoe they want with a Z06.

[Coloviper]

Randy is NOT doing SRT any favors. Too busy giving thumbs up and driving with one hand on the wheel giving commentary during runs to even attempt to drive the car to any limit. Yes he is much better than me, by a country mile but as far as professional drivers go, there are much better. Remember the car can only be as fast as the driver driving it or as fast as the car is. In the case of the Viper, Randy is the weakest link.

[Simms]

TA probably had the fastest lap and they need time to figure out how to complain about the car.

[ViperSmith]

Randy races an AWD Volvo. And fyi, SRT's own engineer Chris Winkler was faster around Laguna in the ACR then Randy's joke of an attempt in an 09 ACR. He was afraid of the Gen V and terrified of the Gen IV. Lets let Kuno or Dom drive it. And let Chevy bring whatever hotshoe they want with a Z06.

But that isn't the point of what C&D is doing. Whoever is driving will be too scared to push it to the limit.

[brianmakse]

But that isn't the point of what C&D is doing. Whoever is driving will be too scared to push it to the limit.

Indeed.

[GuitarSteve2112]

I can just see it: "The reason we decided to not include a Viper, was due to the fact our new hotshoe driver only knows how to drive without a clutch. Sorry Chrysler." There's a reason I haven't bought an auto mag in years.

[Hothonda]

Road & Track was asked by a disappointed reader (March/April 2014 pp 6), who was touting the new Viper's performance prowesses, why there was no TA tested in their 2014 "Performance Car Of The Year"
issue? ..... Here was their response:

"We're not just talking numbers - and as for feel, the Viper is less brutal than it used to be & less refined than we'd like. And anyway we asked: Chrysler
didn't want to lend us a new TA."

Regardless of what you think about the magazine, many potential Viper buyers do read it (including me) & file info like this away for future purchase plans.

[ViperSmith]

Sounds like Chrysler is predicting a stacked deck and refusing to play. The refined comment says it all. No matter how well it did, would have been buried in results

[ViperSmith]

More so if the TA already has good press and is selling well - why jeopardize it? Cop out, maybe but better than placing after a Fiesta because the ride is harsh.

[Hothonda]

Generally it's "show up or shut up"

[VENOM V]

It was said the TA will be in the Lightning Lap, but here we are almost in March and still no comparo! Bizarre.

[slitherv10]

Generally it's "show up or shut up"

Totally agree !! You want to sell a 100K+ car and shut all the naysayers up, then "PUT UP or SHUT UP" should be the response.

Everyone else has had no problems sending their cars out to play win or lose. They sent them out years ago when they new the Viper would eat them alive so, why shouldn't SRT play nice as they did back then and face the fire.

[ViperSmith]

Totally agree !! You want to sell a 100K+ car and shut all the naysayers up, then "PUT UP or SHUT UP" should be the response.

Everyone else has had no problems sending their cars out to play win or lose. They sent them out years ago when they new the Viper would eat them alive so, why shouldn't SRT play nice as they did back then and face the fire.

I tend to agree with you. But look at it from this angle. The "refined" comment says it all. No matter how well the TA did (could have beat everything driving in reverse), it wouldn't have placed high.

If sales are up and the TA is moving, what do they gain by it?

I would have liked to have seen it run, but such is life. If it placed bad because they thought the interior of the base Mustang was better, people would be here raising hell. They don't run it, people raise hell.

Oh well.

[slitherv10]

I tend to agree with you. But look at it from this angle. The "refined" comment says it all. No matter how well the TA did (could have beat everything driving in reverse), it wouldn't have placed high.

If sales are up and the TA is moving, what do they gain by it?

I would have liked to have seen it run, but such is life. If it placed bad because they thought the interior of the base Mustang was better, people would be here raising hell. They don't run it, people raise hell.

Oh well.

Definitely two sides to this story. Your point is well taken. Considering the past results from the critics and what they perceived to be the Vipers downfall, I am sure as you say, they would have found some excuse as to why it placed where it did.

It does say a lot about the Viper though in that regard. This car was always looked at as the "slayer". The expectations were always high and continue to haunt this car in some of our minds and obviously the critics. Taking 2nd is not an option and when it does, it's a disappointment unfortunately. It shouldn't be, but it is what it is.

I for one admit to being a naysayer in the past. I have since (through the power of the internet, forums and the like) started to realize that the Gen 5 was never given a chance. it was put up to very high expectations and because it did not meet them in some ways, it was a flop. In no way shape or form is this car a flop. It is in its own right trying to find its new identity and be excepted for what it is and what it has become not, what it was. It is far better than any Viper produced and that is a Goal every manufacture tries to strive for and hopefully produce. Which is exactly what SRT has done considering its options in the last few years.

[ViperSmith]

Definitely two sides to this story. Your point is well taken. Considering the past results from the critics and what they perceived to be the Vipers downfall, I am sure as you say, they would have found some excuse as to why it placed where it did.

It does say a lot about the Viper though in that regard. This car was always looked at as the "slayer". The expectations were always high and continue to haunt this car in some of our minds and obviously the critics. Taking 2nd is not an option and when it does, it's a disappointment unfortunately. It shouldn't be, but it is what it is.

I for one admit to being a naysayer in the past. I have since (through the power of the internet, forums and the like) started to realize that the Gen 5 was never given a chance. it was put up to very high expectations and because it did not meet them in some ways, it was a flop. In no way shape or form is this car a flop. It is in its own right trying to find its new identity and be excepted for what it is and what it has become not, what it was. It is far better than any Viper produced and that is a Goal every manufacture tries to strive for and hopefully produce. Which is exactly what SRT has done considering its options in the last few years.

I think the problem is journalists don't get the POINT of the Viper. They don't understand what the TA is. If they do, those guys are few and far between (Like the guy with the TA video which was awesome). In reality, if you don't think the loaded GTS is refined, you are blatantly foolish. Sure, the SRT and TA might not have the fine leather appointments as other cars, but it isn't bad at all.

But if the Viper is going to get dinged because it lacks a cup holder or only has two, then I guess Ralph figured why play their games.

Disappointing as I said not to see it do a run, but why subject yourself to bad press if you know you'll get slammed in the end.

It looks as if the tide is turning for the car. The bad press from late 2012 has wore off, how many people have registered here to show off their brand new TA's, many new owners. It seems people are finally realizing it is a great car, even with shortcomings.

[Late Apex]

Might be a TA re post video but this is interesting.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLa3l_UX77c

[Russ Oasis]

I think a lot of the problem is the driver the rags use for the tests. Kuno or Dom should drive the Viper and let whoever Chevy wants, drive the Corvette. This should be about which car is fastest around the track, not the same driver's impressions of each car. It's not about the driver, it's about the car.

[Stealth]

Lightening Lap! Lightening Lap! Where is it? How about leaks?

[VENOM V]

October issue it will be out, which means it won't be long! Only about a year late, lol.

I asked a couple of the SRT folks at a Viper event about the results. All they could say was that they were pleased. I'm guessing that means the lap times were good, but who knows how the journalists will spin it.

[Stealth]

October issue it will be out, which means it won't be long! Only about a year late, lol.

I asked a couple of the SRT folks at a Viper event about the results. All they could say was that they were pleased. I'm guessing that means the lap times were good, but who knows how the journalists will spin it.

This is consistent with the reactions of my SRT sources. Just hard to believe there are no result leaks anywhere.