What have you been told about your Viper?

[Vprbite]

What have you...ahem...learned about your Viper at car shows, gas stations, street lights, etc by non-owners? I assume we get a lot of the same ones but here are my favorites and the three that really stick out to me. 2 are common, one is a fact straight out of outer space. I say fact because to those telling me, they are damn certain.


1. IT'S THE EXACT SAME MOTOR OUT OF THE 94 TRUCK. Oh is it? Well shit, I better get rid of my ram pickup and tow with my GTS instead. If someone told me it had the same bore and stroke, I would be impressed. But that never happened with my Gen II. I was just told over and over that it is a truck motor just stuck in the car.

2. IS THIS ONE A V-10 OR A V-12? Well, being the outright liar or full blown idiot that I am (depends on what they think of me as I answer) I tell them that all Vipers all aluminum V-10s. It is at that point I am informed that they have a V-12 option, I must not know about it because these people sure do. It is again at this point my pathological lying comes into play as I say that they have always been aluminum V-10s but that displacement and power has increased over the years, but still they are aluminum V-10s. People stick to their guns pretty hard on this one, so I find it no worth the effort.

3. IS THIS SOME KIND OF CORVETTE? (It was a Gen II, 2002 GTS) Me: No, this is a Dodge Viper. THEM: YEAH BUT VIPER IS MADE BY CORVETTE. CORVETTE OWNS THE BRAND. It was at this point where I think I had an aneurism or a stroke or something like that because all I could see was white hot rage and then I passed out.

I am thankful for these good Samaritans, for without them I would know so little about the car that I have lusted after from 92 to 2009 and owned some variation of since then.

Please share what these "shade tree lunkheads" have enlightened you with over your time of ownership.

P.S. I of course find most non-owners to be very nice people who ask legitimate questions about the vehicle or express their appreciation for it/other great automobiles so the good interactions outweigh the bad by about 99 to 1. It's just the people that are so certain they know these things about these cars and I am nothing but a clueless rich guy (neither of those accurately describes me at all) who has no idea about his V-12, Truck-Motored but rebadged Corvette.

[BlknBlu]

Wow it goes 220 MPH, dang that is fast.

Bruce

[Shooter]

I was told that they are ordered as "kit cars" that the dealer then builds to your specification... really. Blew me away.

[Vprbite]

I was told that they are ordered as "kit cars" that the dealer then builds to your specification... really. Blew me away.

I heard something like this now that you mention it. Someone was asking me if I bought it or built it. I said that the exhaust mods (my previous Viper) were done before I bought it and he said that a friend of his bought it as the parts and put it together himself. I tried to follow up with questions like "did he buy one wrecked and fix it?" or "do you mean he converted a 92 vette with a kit or something like that?" and he said he ordered it from the factory as a kit and put it together. I had no idea what the hell he was talking about. Probably some 1995 issue of motor trend referred to it as a glorified kit car and people have held on to it since.

That's how it seems to be. People read some strage remark and hold on to that pseudo-fact for dear life.

[Dajerseyviper]

I heard something like this now that you mention it. Someone was asking me if I bought it or built it. I said that the exhaust mods (my previous Viper) were done before I bought it and he said that a friend of his bought it as the parts and put it together himself. I tried to follow up with questions like "did he buy one wrecked and fix it?" or "do you mean he converted a 92 vette with a kit or something like that?" and he said he ordered it from the factory as a kit and put it together. I had no idea what the hell he was talking about. Probably some 1995 issue of motor trend referred to it as a glorified kit car and people have held on to it since.

That's how it seems to be. People read some strage remark and hold on to that pseudo-fact for dear life.

I walk away from people like that. I had people ask me why I didn't just get a Z06 , I just reply that if I wanted to look like every other middle aged Guido on the road I would have..

[venomous08]

I have been asked if my 08 ACR was a real ACR before at the gas station.....

My reply was it has the wing, splitter, canards, and paint like one so I think it is one.

[Venom]

I was told that the wing on my car was from a HONDA !!!!!!

[v10enomous]

I was told that the wing on my car was from a HONDA !!!!!!

Wow that guy was confused. It's off a Supra... haha

[Vprbite]

I was told that the wing on my car was from a HONDA !!!!!!

That's ridiculous. Everyone knows it's the same spoiler off of the Acura NSX with the V-12 package. I am surprised you didn't know that.

[Vprbite]

I have been asked if my 08 ACR was a real ACR before at the gas station.....

My reply was it has the wing, splitter, canards, and paint like one so I think it is one.

How many ACR Clones have they seen? That's a pretty expensive retrofit. Even being in the Viper community I have only seen a few. And I mean like 3.

[Fatboy 18]

Truck Engine! Check.

Wow look at that Corvette! (BEFORE THE STICKERS WERE ON THE CAR)

Didn't know GM Made these!

[v10enomous]

I guess we all get a lot of the same stuff. It's one of the entertaining aspects of Viper ownership. What's really funny is when people say stuff to other people that they know you can hear trying to bait you into a discussion or debate.

[01sapphirebob]

I once had someone try to tell me (BTW this person claimed to work for a supplier on the Viper program) that the Vipers came with a V8. I told him that there never was aviper that was sold to the public that had a V8 in it but this person swore up and down that he was right. There was nothing that I could say to change this persons mind It was the weirdest thing.

[Fatboy 18]

I once had someone try to tell me (BTW this person claimed to work for a supplier on the Viper program) that the Vipers came with a V8. I told him that there never was aviper that was sold to the public that had a V8 in it but this person swore up and down that he was right. There was nothing that I could say to change this persons mind It was the weirdest thing.

That might have something to do with this! Thereis a brief mention of a V8 on the 1989 concept car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGDdBFbikUQ#t=444

[firefighter196]

When i was in Florida in about 93-94 on a vacation the guy across the road from were we were staying took delivery of a Black Viper and this car did have a V8 in it with a supercharger on it. The car was brand new it was delivered on a flatbed. This may have been a prototype I dont know but I did see this car and the engine. I even had a ride in the car it was impressive to a 24 year old.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

When i was in Florida in about 93-94 on a vacation the guy across the road from were we were staying took delivery of a Black Viper and this car did have a V8 in it with a supercharger on it. The car was brand new it was delivered on a flatbed. This may have been a prototype I dont know but I did see this car and the engine. I even had a ride in the car it was impressive to a 24 year old.

V8 TRIVIA:

Anyone remember the TV Series "VIPER" about the futuristic cops who had a normal Viper that morphed into a DEFENDER mode crime fighter? Filmed in Vancouver B.C. environs, that series had several mule cars, 1/2 cars, dolly cars, etc etc, and two of those stunt cars that were destined to be crashed DID have 360-Mopar V8s.

[Vprbite]

V8 TRIVIA:

Anyone remember the TV Series "VIPER" about the futuristic cops who had a normal Viper that morphed into a DEFENDER mode crime fighter? Filmed in Vancouver B.C. environs, that series had several mule cars, 1/2 cars, dolly cars, etc etc, and two of those stunt cars that were destined to be crashed DID have 360-Mopar V8s.

Wow. Good to know. So it is possible that due to the short run of the series, they weren't crashed and are still alive. I suppose unlikely, but possible.

[HobokenViper]

Wow. Good to know. So it is possible that due to the short run of the series, they weren't crashed and are still alive. I suppose unlikely, but possible.

There is still at least one alive out there as it was for sale about a year or so ago. The V8 car from the show. I know there was some reason why they put a V8 in it, but can't seem to remember (or understand) why that would have happened. Think they had a really tough time selling the car.

[arizonajack]

V8 TRIVIA:

Anyone remember the TV Series "VIPER" about the futuristic cops who had a normal Viper that morphed into a DEFENDER mode crime fighter? Filmed in Vancouver B.C. environs, that series had several mule cars, 1/2 cars, dolly cars, etc etc, and two of those stunt cars that were destined to be crashed DID have 360-Mopar V8s.

Yes, I remember the series. That's what inspired my desire to own a Viper. Wasn't in the cards for me until just recently. Ironically, about a month before I found the Viper I just bought, I watched the whole series on YouTube.

Starts here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HKRfFz60Sw

[Sybil TF]

V8 TRIVIA:

Anyone remember the TV Series "VIPER" about the futuristic cops who had a normal Viper that morphed into a DEFENDER mode crime fighter? Filmed in Vancouver B.C. environs, that series had several mule cars, 1/2 cars, dolly cars, etc etc, and two of those stunt cars that were destined to be crashed DID have 360-Mopar V8s.

Yes, my husband went to Highschool with one of the cast members

[chesapeake07]

It truly amazes me but most of the public I talk to about the cars are convinced they are V12 motors.

[VoodooRob]

I had the same with someone asking if it had the "optional" V12 engine. Have no idea where people get that from? I told him all Vipers produced come with V10 only and he said he knew that the V12 was an option.

[BlknBlu]

Do they still make Vipers?

Bruce

[Fatboy 18]

Oh and this one........"They don't handle well"

Muppets in Europe still consider American cars as big Tanks that go fast in a straight line are Rubbish at cornering.

I then remind them about Le mans wins and Ring Records. Which they never knew!

[mitchdob]

Them: "How many miles did you drive the car last year?"
Me: "Yea, only drove it about 200 miles."
Them: "But why, with that car you can drive that far in an hour."

True story....