Gen4 vs. Gen5 question

[Stealth78]

Well as you can see some people love the Gen 5 seats while others hate them. Previous Gen seats did not garner the same reactions. Most people it seems felt the Gen 2,3, and 4 seats were fine while about half of the people hate the Gen 5 seats while the other half love them. In any event if you end up hating them a small pillow for your lower back fixes the problem. I use a foam lumbar pillow from O'Reilly's Auto Parts.

Other than the seats the Gen 5 is more sophisticated, better stereo, Navigation, rear view camera, cruise control, and more power. Gen 5s do tend to run much hotter on track than previous Gens so be forewarned.

I have only owned GenIII and GenIV and have only sat in GenV's. The only real complaint is that I always felt the seat bottom was too long. I always felt if I had the seat set where I could comfortably depress the clutch all of the way then the seat bottom was almost up against my calf of my right leg when my foot was on the gas pedal. Granted I'm only 5'8" so that might be part of the issue. My fiance is only 5'1" and she hates the Viper seats for this reason. I have a slightly wider back than most people at my height and I always thought the seats in the SRT Ram's we're great, both variations, with the 2006 being perfect.

[William craun]

Thanks for all the replies with the seats aside do you all find much difference between the two mode suspension in the Gen 5 I assume it’s just a different shock absorber setting Can this touring mode becset up manually someway in the Gen 4?

[Nine Ball]

Gen 3-4 seats are more comfortable and offer more bolstering for the track than the Gen 5 seats. Gen 5 has more legroom because of the thinner seat back design. I used to think my Gen 5 seats were uncomfortable and they would hurt my lower back on road trips, until I learned how to sit in them better. With the Gen 5, you have to scoot the rear a bit closer to the pedals, and recline the back more. If I sit more leaned back, it never hurts my back. Strange, but true. Give it a try.

[chris_lee]

My wife and I have found the Gen V TA to be quite comfortable and well equipped (and have just enough luggage space) for long distance road trips. Longest was Canada to the Gulf for NVE2 over 13 days with a bunch of extra touring on the way down and back, and we've done numerous other road trips lasting up to one week. We both have bad backs and found the seats unusually comfortable but obviously some find they need a pillow. I didn't need a pillow but did enjoy the use of ear plugs on occasion. No experience with a Gen 4.

Reading this makes me realize how little I drive my car... I need to stop paying attention to the miles and being worried about driving this damn thing in the rain. Feels like I'm just keeping it perfect for the next owner. I've never sat in my long enough to even notice the seats :-( The Gen V feels so raw on the road to me, I can't imagine what the older ones were like.

[SRT_BluByU]

no manual suspension adjustment on any trim gen v besides an ACR. coming from a gen iv youre not going to be dissappointed with the suspension at ANY trim level!

[Bruce H.]

Reading this makes me realize how little I drive my car... I need to stop paying attention to the miles and being worried about driving this damn thing in the rain. Feels like I'm just keeping it perfect for the next owner. I've never sat in my long enough to even notice the seats :-( The Gen V feels so raw on the road to me, I can't imagine what the older ones were like.

These sentiments are very broadly shared, including by myself years ago when I limited myself to the pride of owning impeccably detailed and coveted collectible sports cars. One day I decided it was okay for me to responsibly and fully enjoy all aspects of these cars. If you have the funds and opportunity to put miles on your Viper it's incredibly robust... and sheds water like a duck! Horrible road and weather conditions and the average distracted city driver are the real threats, but these cars really shine swallowing huge expanses of open road...and the odd track day

Bruce