Is SRT really paying attention to what's going on?

[Troublemaker]

I don't mean this to be a jab, more constructive criticism. The code issue is a dead horse, but I think it's really hurting the sale of all of their new cars, the Viper included. When I was looking for a car anything after 06 was completely out of the question. As much as I wanted a Gen IV, that platforms computer put it at the back of the list as the car just was what it was, no further potential. Now the new car has exactly the same limitations.

I think a lot of buyers look at what the car can be sold at a few years down the road, and any used car buyer that has any interest in performance modifications won't even give anything from 08 up a second look because of the tuning, which in turn causes the used car market to dwindle which drives down the used car price, which means more depreciation and a more apprehensive buyer of the new car. It had to be a run on, sorry.

But it does and is effecting the new car purchase in more ways than one. Disregarding the poor magazine reviews, the new car is great as almost every GenV buyer will attest to. But at this point you are not going to be able to do much more with the car to make it much faster than what the mags tested.

It really is a shame to watch such a great car fail for reasons other than the car itself. If it was a bad car, so be it. But the fact that the car is great makes it that much worse. We all know the car has great potential, but as it sits right now nobody outside the passionate Viper community ever will see much more than the piss poor track tests that have taken place.

[Janni]

I fully believe they arereally, REALLY paying attention. The past 12th out of 12 and the problems with the press car that was provided - well...

I hope the VOA can help get the word out about this car,help the dealers sell them and rekindle some passion.

As an FYI - Jalopnik did an article about the Viper - and it told the magazine writers to put their big girl panties on and stop placing the Viper poorly because of MPG and ease of entry and start focusing on PERFORMANCE. Not fogiving the poor quality car debacle- but it did provide a better "real driver" perspective.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/mot...ame-1444722597

[Troublemaker]

I do hope your right. The manufacturer built a great car but has done enough damage to kill the car by itself, let the end user and/or the aftermarket take it from there and show its true potential which means releasing the codes. The Vette to me is direct competition for the Viper and the base model from GM with just bolt ons is going to be right on the Vipers bumper if not pulling on it. Once the Z06 and ZR1 are out, the Viper is going to need a little help.

Is SRT/Mopar capable of making a computer(for offroad use) that can replace the factory neutering unit? To me they are the only hope if the codes can not be released?

[XSnake]

Is SRT/Mopar capable of making a computer(for offroad use) that can replace the factory neutering unit? To me they are the only hope if the codes can not be released?

The Mopar controller is the only option now without going Motec, or AEM Infiniti. SCT is working on something new for the Viper platform but the Gen 4/5 cars will be awhile.

[Troublemaker]

The Mopar controller is the only option now without going Motec, or AEM Infiniti. Tis working on something new for the Viper platform but the Gen 4/5 cars will be awhile.

Its good to know they are at least working on it. But they are so far behind, it really is hurting their cause and has been hurting their cause since 08.

[FLATOUT]

Unfortunately SRT will continue to lose market share if they don't make the gen 4-5's programmable. I know I'll switch if it doesn't change by the time I'm ready to get something else (2-4 years).

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

ITS COMING! SRT is LISTENING and acting......

I know for an absolute FACT that a Gen 5 Mopar Performance PCM is in the works, probably for a near-term release. SEMA is in 2 weeks, and I suspect that info about the unit will be released there. A well-known and respected SRT engineer was testing/calibrating this PCM in the Viper Cup Pace Car at Watkins Glen a couple months back. It was cool to see him and a vendor-collaborator making realtime changes to the exhaust note via his laptop in the Viper, by changing the fuel-cutoff timing and other parameters..... We even "displayed" the resulting BURBLE to a convoy of Vette owners parked on the front straight. I have pics of the Car, the Vettes behind, and the actual programming going on. I may need to get a baby-sitter to post for me? {Im still a dinosaur about posting pix. I never succeeded on 3 other forums, and just dont get it. }

http://i.imgur.com/8E2ARBE.jpg


q: "I'm not stupid, I just have not learned it yet" Martin Sheen as Pres Bartlett/West Wing

I do hope your right. The manufacturer built a great car but has done enough damage to kill the car by itself, let the end user and/or the aftermarket take it from there and show its true potential which means releasing the codes. The Vette to me is direct competition for the Viper and the base model from GM with just bolt ons is going to be right on the Vipers bumper if not pulling on it. Once the Z06 and ZR1 are out, the Viper is going to need a little help.

Is SRT/Mopar capable of making a computer(for offroad use) that can replace the factory neutering unit? To me they are the only hope if the codes can not be released?

[Westxsrt10]

Photo posted just fine Jon.
I'm looking forward to the day I can data log and tune my Gen 4..... please listen SRT!

[99RT10]

I highly doubt SRT had the forsight to make the Mopar controller useable under boost. So in the end, the car will be upgradeable but only to a certain point.

[FLATOUT]

That's good Jon hopefully that will at least keep guys from going into reduced power mode after a burnout at the drag strip.

[Troublemaker]

At the rate this is going they are going to need to get inside the software just to keep up with the base model Vette with bolt ons. This is nuts and not a peep out of SRTs engineers to even set the record straight. Maybe it's being judgemental, but SRT seems to have botched this car up from the get go. It's a great car, but they haven't seemed to have gotten anything right after the initial build. They really need to throw the owners something here, or the handful of cars actually built right now will become the final FEs. I don't mean to come off completely negative, but it's hard to stay positive.

[SmoknTires]

Yes, PCM is indeed on it's way for the GenV. There are also some other goodies that they're working on for the GenV.

I can tell you by talking to Ralph and the gang is that they listen AND are aware. There is a dynamic we all need to know, it doesn't make it better but it's a big part of the reason for certain decisions, is that the corporation drives much of this. For instance... you want a paddle shift? (I've been lobbying Ralph for some time!) Well it costs unbelievable cash to make one that'll fit/work in the viper, but the kicker is that most of the car needs to support itself financially. Being a halo car and providing benefits to all car lines, isn't all they're looking at - it's got to be viable on it's own. But toys are on the way. I can't wait to get the PCM so I can throw the belanger headers/exhaust on there too.

Can't wait for SEMA, there will indeed be a Viper there (actually more than one - but outside of Chrysler). The color, will be cool...

[FLATOUT]

Sounds good at least a PCM will be available for the Gen V platform so they can get out there and run them without the car shutting down on them.

[NEWREDRT10]

I agree about the Viper taking a fall. They seem to keep giving it to people who are known to dislike Vipers. As a result bad reviews are given. But true believers there are some little things in the works like maybe 900 BH. I just can remember where it was at the time, I just know it being done by the right people. I'll make inquires as to how the passionate Viper can get things started to break light speed.

[Nine Ball]

I know for a fact that some SRT engineers monitor these sites, I've had contact with them. They are just reluctant to respond in public. I always try to share what I learn, however. A few others here do, also.

I'm not really interested in a Mopar PCM, that is just a temporary band-aid mod for a couple bolt-ons like headers. The Gen 4/5 really need the ability to be custom dyno tuned. Canned tune PCM's have to consider climate and density altitude for worst-case regions, to prevent the cars from running lean or rich. They also have to target for worst-case fuel octane, as some states only have 91 vs 93. Some might only have 89? These generic tunes aren't nearly as good as a custom dyno tune, based on your specific vehicle, in your specific area/climate. They are probably leaving 10-15% on the table, by trying to make things conservative/safe enough for living on top of a mountain, or in the middle of a desert.

We need to be able to custom tune the fuel maps, timing, injector sizing, and the availability to at least go to a 2 Bar MAP sensor for boosted applications. Toss in a few toggle switches to handle the OBD2 check engine codes on/off/ready. Basic SCT tuning type software. If Mopar doesn't wish to market this type of software, perhaps they could team up with a company like SCT or HPTuners and share what they know, to keep the R&D costs down. Let the aftermarket do the packaging, GUI, and marketing of the product. Just help make it available, that is all we are asking (begging?) for.

[F2V]

Yes, PCM is indeed on it's way for the GenV. There are also some other goodies that they're working on for the GenV.

I can tell you by talking to Ralph and the gang is that they listen AND are aware. There is a dynamic we all need to know, it doesn't make it better but it's a big part of the reason for certain decisions, is that the corporation drives much of this. For instance... you want a paddle shift? (I've been lobbying Ralph for some time!) Well it costs unbelievable cash to make one that'll fit/work in the viper, but the kicker is that most of the car needs to support itself financially. Being a halo car and providing benefits to all car lines, isn't all they're looking at - it's got to be viable on it's own. But toys are on the way. I can't wait to get the PCM so I can throw the belanger headers/exhaust on there too.

Can't wait for SEMA, there will indeed be a Viper there (actually more than one - but outside of Chrysler). The color, will be cool...

Thank you for the positive and rather informative post...good news!

[mjorgensen]

The PCM has long been done and ready, unfortunately the real problem is being made by people completely outside SRT and unless the suits can be convinced to let it out we will have to just wait. On a positive note it looks like the new Belanger headers with Cal spec cats will likely be usable without a PCM and without a CEL. I have 3 sets coming to install and evaluate probably be here in a week or so, according to Lou they pull extremely hard so I can't wait, and will dyno them while they are here.

[FLATOUT]

The PCM has long been done and ready, unfortunately the real problem is being made by people completely outside SRT and unless the suits can be convinced to let it out we will have to just wait. On a positive note it looks like the new Belanger headers with Cal spec cats will likely be usable without a PCM and without a CEL. I have 3 sets coming to install and evaluate probably be here in a week or so, according to Lou they pull extremely hard so I can't wait, and will dyno them while they are here.

Well if the management wants to know why so many Viper performance nuts are switching to Corvette they can rest assure knowing that a good deal of it has to do with the aftermarkets ability to tune the platform.

[mjorgensen]

Well if the management wants to know why so many Viper performance nuts are switching to Corvette they can rest assure knowing that a good deal of it has to do with the aftermarkets ability to tune the platform.

Management knows what is being asked for, the people that make legal decisions probably don't think about things like this though so the good people at SRT have to hope just like the rest of us that decisions will be made taking that into account...

[FLATOUT]

Management knows what is being asked for, the people that make legal decisions probably don't think about things like this though so the good people at SRT have to hope just like the rest of us that decisions will be made taking that into account...

Thanks for the insite, it's tough when your hands are tied behind your back when it comes to decision making.

[mjorgensen]

Thanks for the insite, it's tough when your hands are tied behind your back when it comes to decision making.

Yeah especially when you are the ones taking the beating because of it. I feel sorry for the SRT guys on the front lines, the ones that have true passion for what they've created and have had to sit and watch the dissing they are getting...

[Nine Ball]

If they don't sell vehicles, then there is no budget for the legal team. Selling vehicles should be priority #1. Legal team should take the backseat, not the steering wheel.

[mjorgensen]

If they don't sell vehicles, then there is no budget for the legal team. Selling vehicles should be priority #1. Legal team should take the backseat, not the steering wheel.

Agreed Tony, but not reality in this day and age you know that ;-)

[FLATOUT]

Agreed Tony, but not reality in this day and age you know that ;-)

It will be when the pink slip hits them in the face, or we as a community no longer have a Viper buy, and you no longer have a Viper to sell.

That's the reality.

[mjorgensen]

It will be when the pink slip hits them in the face, or we as a community no longer have a Viper buy, and you no longer have a Viper to sell.

That's the reality.

Agreed... although I just want the aftermarket business!! :-) that would help everyone right?