Only one thing remaining

[I Bin Therbefor]

With the announcements from Dodge and Prefix, most of the things people were asking to be available now are - convertible, Targa top, ACR in a variety of levels, custom paint colors, and one of one customization. At market competitive prices. So there should be a rush of orders?

The only thing I can think of is the lack of an AT.

Is the market responding?

[Nine Ball]

Convertible and targa cars aren't factory built, they are aftermarket modified. If you want to spend the money, it isn't that difficult to get an automatic transmission installed in a Viper. It just takes money, just like the convertible and targa conversions.

[Coloviper]

As clean as the Prefix Medusa is (and it is a nice conversion), my days of buying tuner cars have dried up. I only buy factory offered vehicles if I am buying new.

[ViperSmith]

While the targa and vert are options, it isn't the same as factory. It is nice to see someone filling the niche, but as others have said - 2/3 of Vipers ever sold were not coupes.

But, getting there. Will we see the Targa from the factory this year? Maybe.

[I Bin Therbefor]

Convertible and targa cars aren't factory built, they are aftermarket modified. If you want to spend the money, it isn't that difficult to get an automatic transmission installed in a Viper. It just takes money, just like the convertible and targa conversions.

I'm aware of the role that Prefix plays in providing the conv and the Targa. I was not aware that an AT was doable with the apparent ease and relatively low cots that Prefix charges for the conv and I guess will charge for the Targa. Too bad Dodge doesn't just "factory authorize and warranty" those two Prefix versions. Or let Prefix build factory engineered and warranted versions. Back in the DB days, the Crossfire was assembled by some European coach builder and sold out of the Chrysler showroom.

As for the AT, I think the SW might present an interesting challenge without the factory doing the job. I'm talking about an AT similar to the ZF 9 speed for GT cursing and as a daily driver.

[Nine Ball]

The "more convertibles sold than coupes" argument is a statement taken out of context. The reason that statement is technically true, is because there were several years of Viper production that did not offer a coupe body.

The real fact is that in every single full production year that the coupe was offered, it sold more than the convertible did. Every year.

https://theviperstore.com/Information_Viper_Production_Stats.htm

Just making a point with the data here.

[Dman]

The "more convertibles sold than coupes" argument is a statement taken out of context. The reason that statement is technically true, is because there were several years of Viper production that did not offer a coupe body.

The real fact is that in every single full production year that the coupe was offered, it sold more than the convertible did. Every year.

https://theviperstore.com/Information_Viper_Production_Stats.htm


Just making a point with the data here.


Are you seriously going to try to start using facts and statistics in the gen5 forum? Internet breaking in 3, 2, 1, .... beeeeeeeeeeeeep.

[ViperSmith]

The "more convertibles sold than coupes" argument is a statement taken out of context. The reason that statement is technically true, is because there were several years of Viper production that did not offer a coupe body.

The real fact is that in every single full production year that the coupe was offered, it sold more than the convertible did. Every year.

https://theviperstore.com/Information_Viper_Production_Stats.htm

Just making a point with the data here.

True. Then again, I am sure Dodge did the research and figured more would buy coupes anyway, thus why they built coupes first.

Will more buy Verts? Who knows really.

But, basically all the options are there now. The only thing missing is a DCT transmission, but overall everything everyone has wanted is now available. The biggest complaint seems to still revolve around the car not being free.

[Nine Ball]

Unlike every other brand on the market, the Viper convertible actually cost less than the coupe. So, maybe that just makes them a little closer to free? haha

No doubt they would sell convertibles, probably nearly 30% more sales. But, I agree the DCT trans would sell a lot more. I'd love a sequential factory option.

[Steve M]

There are just too many options.

[I Bin Therbefor]

True. Then again, I am sure Dodge did the research and figured more would buy coupes anyway, thus why they built coupes first.

As I recall, Ralph said that the coupe was built/introduced first because they needed it for the racing program. The race car and the production car were developed simultaneously. Remember, all marketing $s were in the racing program for at least the first year and maybe a lot longer. The convertible was designed and styled all along, just the production engineering and parts were delayed. Some folks got to see some things interesting about the convertible before the Gen V introduction and have honored Ralph's request not to talk about it. The chassis is convertible strength and needs no modification. The body is styled to be convertible friendly. It appears that the decision on coupe introduction was driven by the marketing direction chosen (racing) not by which would sell more initially.

[I Bin Therbefor]

But, basically all the options are there now. The only thing missing is a DCT transmission, but overall everything everyone has wanted is now available. The biggest complaint seems to still revolve around the car not being free.

:t1236: :t1236: :t1236:

[Viktimize]

Having a vert as an option is great. But when it costs 30k extra and it isn't even made by the factory, then it might as well not be available at all. If it costs me 160k to go get a vert, it's getting to the point of making more sense to get a Lambo instead.

If Dodge offered a vert from factory, priced at the same levels as the coupe like it is supposed to be, I am fairly certain you would see some extra orders rolling in.

[MBG2.0]

The only thing I can think of is the lack of an AT.

The cars already a beast, and the factory manual is a rock star of a transmission
But good god, this car would be a track monster and post even quicker times with a good DTC box or even a 8 speed auto the hellrat has in it...the bottom line is that no person even a seasoned pro can post the times as quick as a auto gearbox setup for motorsports use.

I never have been a fan of autos, but in the last few years owning a gtr, 2015 M3, 2015.5 Denali, and seeing how fast these units shift and how well the programming and shifting up and down is done, I have been converted.

It would open the market up a little for the posers

[Viperawi]

I agree with the Auto transmission notes. The viper might sell more and can have higher track numbers.

But there are few of us who actually went from other cars to the vipers because of the manual transmission, at least I know I did.
The thought that every record number the viper scored or every race the viper won, will always praise both the car and the driver as we know he had to do a lot of work to achieve it.
I guess what I am trying to say is that with an auto transmission, not every one will be happy about it.

A convertible? now this is an option that I can't see it hurt anyone. Just my thoughts.