A funny thing happened with my 98 rt/10.

[crackleking]

When my rt arrived via an enclosed carrier, all my friends were there. Finally, when it was on the ground, after checking it out, had to get into it and go for a drive. My friend, who is a car enthusiast, got into the passenger. I DID NOT drive a stick for 35 years or more. Got into the car, did not even know how to start it, that you had to engage the clutch. Got it started, and went down the road to get out of the development. Wait for the car to sufficiently warm up, and nailed it. It was strong and fast, but not the way it should have been. I turned to my friend and said, "I was expecting much more out of the Viper" or maybe, "I have a compression problem". Then, I realized, I started off in third gear. So, the Vipers are awesome even starting out in third gear.

[City]

No disrespect, but I'm thinking you might want to go to the nearest driving school ASAP? Nice color! Easiest to keep looking clean.

[Troublemaker]

Learn the car, it bites hard. Some stories I would keep to myself, but its nice to know I'm not the only one that does this kind of stuff.

[Sybil TF]

Funny!

[Rare Snake]

That makes you the second person I know to buy one after 30+ years of not touching a manual trans, that's quite the car to refresh with! You're a bit more brave than I was, it took me over a year to feel the carpet behind the gas pedal.

[uvbnbit]

welcome to the Silver '98 RT/10 club. 1 of 137 I think

[Anonymous]

Becareful in first!

[01sapphirebob]

Congrats! That would have been my first choice in a viper.

[wedge500]

Great color choice!!

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Congrats on the new toy, but be careful or it will ditch you. Thankfully when you "nailed it" as a newbee you WERE only in 3rd gear!

And if your tires are more than 3 years old, the traction is diminished. If older than 6-7 years, you have little or no traction to match your torque. Old, hard tires with good tread are the demise of many a newbee Viper owner. (And most of them can drive a stick.) And cold, damp weather makes your odds of an off-course even higher.

So, HAVE FUN, but be careful out there, and determine the age of your contact patches.

[crackleking]

actually, it is 1 out of 127.

[crackleking]

the car had 4,700 miles on it when I received it. It had the original tires from 98. They were brand new looking. Replaced them immediately.

[Newport Viper]

Been there ...done 3rd gear start many times LOL

[plumcrazy]

best color IMO. be safe, dont wreck it !

[99RT10]

best color IMO. be safe, dont wreck it !

Best advice ever!!!

[Space Truckin]

best color IMO. be safe, dont wreck it !

^^^^^what he said^^^^^

[VYPR BYT]

Start out in 3rd is nothing in a viper... tons of torque.
Be careful and congratz on a really cool car!

[Fatboy 18]

I've started out tin 3rd only once, it was slightly up hill, I smelt a bit of clutch and immediately realised my mistake and quickly corrected the situation

Getting used to the way the shifter works in the viper is a challenge, Just when you think you have got it, it will bite back at you.

I think there are a whole bunch of cars out there in the salvage yards where Vipers have bitten back through its driver miss shifting As an owner for now for some 6 years, mine still catches me out every now and again. Having not driven any other Vipers, I have nothing to compare my viper shifter with. I ended up swapping out my stock shifter to a Hurst one, my Hurst shifter I think must have been made for Arnold Schwarzenegger, its much heavier to shift than the stock shifter.

Be careful changing from top of 3rd to 4th, if you don't palm the shifter away from you will hit 2nd and the car will want to throw you into the nearest ditch!

Enjoy your new ride

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

When you take off in SNOW, use 3rd. It takes torque out of the equation.





When you get to the mailbox, use reverse carefully and go back in the garage.

[Anonymous]

Fat boy the Ipsco shifter is great!

[eucharistos]

was expecting engaged parking brake instead of 3rd

congrats

[Torquemonster06]

Funny story OP. Im glad you were in 3rd gear or this could have been a "completely" different story. We are also glad you swapped the OLD tires out. I don't know your prior car selection ie: High HP/Tq vs Prius. LOL. I don't want t be the guy that tells you how to drive but please learn your snake before you "Nail it". None of us want to see or hear about another person or snake that is no longer. As JohnB stated the car "will ditch you". Anyways.... congrats on the new toy, welcome to the VOA and enjoy your ride.

[crackleking]

why would I drive this car in snow?

- - - Updated - - -

I've done the engaged parking brake also once or twice.

[City]

When you take off in SNOW, use Delta Airlines.

Corrected.

[sparkrn]

If you think starting in first can be hard. Tryout a Ford GT sometime, if you don't push the shifter knob down there is no first.