TA vs 4C

[ACRucrazy]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x29uthn_drive-plus-dodge-viper-ta-vs-alfa-4c_auto

[345s-bspinnin]

Interesting comparison. Thanks for sharing.

[CarolinaViper]

Nice...Viper needs more like this, but without the commercial in the middle. But I guess the commercial help produced the video. Thanks for sharing

[City]

I guess it's interesting, but mostly due to the oddity of the comparison. This is essentially the classic discussion of the relative extreme ends of the field; huge power with associated weight vs. minimal weight with (the most possible) minimum power.

It interesting as individual reviews rather than comparative reviews. JMHO.

[98intrigue]

Was he driving a 2002 and older model? He mentioned an 8L V10 :(

[ViperSmith]

UPS truck sounding engine? Check

Good review. But, he was right. I think part of the Vipers sales problem is the fact people write it off as a "widow maker" - extremely intimidating and scary to drive. I was petrified at first when I got mine, but in reality with ESC it is quite tame - instead of killing you it just politely lets you know it can kill you. I think that is a big part of the problem that Dodge needs to overcome with the car to get them moving. Not many want a car that could kill you.

[Canadian venom]

Cool video, SRT should take note and send the cars to guys like this instead of guys like those anti-Viper at Motor Trends...

[Canadian venom]

Not many want a car that could kill you.

Actually, I like that about the car. It deserve respect and it's rewarding to drive !!

[TrackAire]

According to the video, the Alfa is 2" wider than the Viper......would have never guessed that.

[SlateEd]

...Not many want a car that could kill you.


I think you're absolutely right, and that's the real problem... why don't they? Any car that's capable of doing 140+ puts you at risk of instant death if you use it like a moron but I feel like people don't look at it that way -- as if a GTR won't kill you because it has AWD?

[Snakebit10]

Cool video, SRT should take note and send the cars to guys like this instead of guys like those anti-Viper at Motor Trends...

You probably don't want to see the review these same guys did with the GTS vs Porsche 911 Turbo. That was a more plausible comparo than pitting it against a 4C. They weren't as fond of the snake in that compare.

[ViperSmith]

I think you're absolutely right, and that's the real problem... why don't they? Any car that's capable of doing 140+ puts you at risk of instant death if you use it like a moron but I feel like people don't look at it that way -- as if a GTR won't kill you because it has AWD?

I mean more the old "30% of Vipers crash driving home from the dealership," "tap the gas too hard and you'll end up in a telephone pole" stories that rang true for previous generations.

99.999% of people don't want that and it really isn't as big of a concern with the Gen V. While you can still get in trouble, ESC makes it much harder to do so.

People aren't afraid to drive the GT-R, people are afraid to drive the Viper. Sure, some oddly think it is a badge of honor, but Dodge needs to overcome that if they want people to consider the car. With all the choices out there, it doesn't help.

[MtnBiker]

"The key to a Viper is driving really, really fast".

I enjoyed the video, thanks OP.

[swexlin]

Good video. As an aside, the guy driving the Viper is in another video out there, which compares the 911 Turbo to the Gen 5. Except this time, he's driving the Porsche, and not the Viper. Interesting to see what he says about the Viper in that video compared to this one.

[Bill Pemberton]

We are our own worst enemy, ViperSmith, as your statement that 30% of the Vipers leaving the Dealership never made it home is a statement you said rang true - in reality it never has. I have sold over 1500 new Vipers since 1999 and countless used ones, and not a single one was wrecked on the way home or right after we delivered it. Did a few get wrecked later, at some date, sure, but no where even close to the numbers folks come forth with. So far I don't remember a single Gen V that we sold has been wrecked --- might be one , but don't know of any. The car needs to be respected and that is part of the mystique and love of the car, but when we on Forums repeat items like this ,we are guilty in part of precipitating the myths. Not trying to be rude, just saying over the years the numbers and comments many owners have thrown out with no real justification are part of the legend of the machine, and though not close to the truth, have now become the fabric of the car , that even we are stating the rumors as if they are fact. Most of the Vipers I have seen damaged happened at the track, but then that is the same for Vettes, Mustangs and Porsches.

[MR Viper]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x29uthn_drive-plus-dodge-viper-ta-vs-alfa-4c_auto

Matt Farah seems like he's becoming more of a Viper fan, as he gets more Viper seat time. Imagine that! :) I feel he gave a pretty fair review. He's calling out other journalists for their critical & narrow views on the Viper, it seems to me.

I have driven both of these cars at speed on closed tracks, and in my honest opinion, the Viper is much easier to drive quickly.
What they didn't discuss in this review is that the Alfa has less brake feel, less ability to comfortably modulate the brakes on a track. And that the highly-boosted turbocharged Alfa engine has a very non-linear throttle response, which makes it more difficult car to balance the car with throttle when you're making subtle corrections mid-turn. You can rotate the Viper with the throttle predictably, because the throttle response is very linear (a hallmark of normally aspirated cars), but I found the Alfa very difficult to subtly correct (at first, it was not enough throttle, oh wait, now the boost is up and its too much, lift off again now, wait, lifted off too much and lost the boost,... arrrrgh!) I'm a big fan of turbo cars, and like Matt Farah, I'm certain that with more time in the car, I'd better learn it's power delivery boost curve, and better adjust, but it was a lot different than driving a normally aspirated car. (And as you guys know, I've driven 280hp turbo SRT4 Neons on tracks for years, but FWD is a totally different driving style than RWD, and is not a fair comparison to the 4C at all). But there is a reason that Walter Rohrl prefers a turbo on the street, but wants a normally aspirated car on the race track.

In summary, both great cars,...and like great humans, they are rarely without sin! But that is probably why we love these types of cars - very sexy, viscerally exciting to drive, and both challenging to master in different ways. They force you as a driver to raise YOUR game.

[sammyv]

Bill Pemberton, Thanks for clarifying!

[v10enomous]

Yep... and it's easier to say you don't like the car than admit that you are afwaid of the car.


UPS truck sounding engine? Check

Good review. But, he was right. I think part of the Vipers sales problem is the fact people write it off as a "widow maker" - extremely intimidating and scary to drive. I was petrified at first when I got mine, but in reality with ESC it is quite tame - instead of killing you it just politely lets you know it can kill you. I think that is a big part of the problem that Dodge needs to overcome with the car to get them moving. Not many want a car that could kill you.

[Fatboy 18]

I mean more the old "30% of Vipers crash driving home from the dealership," "tap the gas too hard and you'll end up in a telephone pole" stories that rang true for previous generations.
If you have ever watched the old Video 'Viper a Legend in its own lifetime' This was one of the things I liked about the car, Viper was supposed to be a no thrills all power car 'a throwback to the old AC Cobra' that was another reason they got Carol Shelby involved :) A lot of 'Car Guys' ordered the car because of that factor :)

I understand the Brand has now moved on a bit, but the Automotive Journalists out there still refer to this, Same as they keep referring to a Truck engine, God that last one really gets my back up :(

[345s-bspinnin]

According to the video, the Alfa is 2" wider than the Viper......would have never guessed that.

That's because its not. The viper is about 3" wider. Matt Farrah is just full of hot air. How much could it really have to hurt to peruse through a simple press release?

Alpha 4C:
L x W x H : 157" x 73.4" x 46.6"
Source: http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-reviews/car-comparison-tests/comparison-test-alfa-romeo-4c-vs-porsche-cayman-vs-lotus-elise-road-test-review

Viper:
L x W x H : 175.7" x 76.4" x 49.1
Source: http://www.roadandtrack.com/cm/roadandtrack/images/xK/ROA07014FEA_CAMARO_PerfomanceReport2.jpg