Ordering a new Viper - suspension questions, T/A 2.0

[dasvolk]

Hey all, as you may recall I had a myriad of failures on my new '14 including the rod bearing. Chrysler has been really cool about setting me up with a new car, and I have quite a bit of wiggle room with options. Mark Jorgenson gave me his 2 cents on suspension options for the car, and the choices I have in front of me are thus - Either I order up a T/A 2.0, or I order a GT with the upgraded brakes (and some other toys) and buy MCS dampers for the car. I felt the SRT was way too soft out of the box and had planned to replace the suspension and brakes before the mechanical problems started.

For those of you with the MCS suspension, have you compared to a T/A of either iteration before? I don't have any frame of reference because these cars are so rare. What I want to avoid is a car that's so stiffly damped that it's skittish. I have about 10 years of road racing, hillclimbing and HPDEs under my belt so I know my way around the track, but it's a tough choice because I don't know enough about either setup. Help would be greatly appreciated.

[Nine Ball]

I've had the '13 SRT and now the '14 TA. In order of ride stiffness, with the most stiff on top:

1. TA in Track Mode
2. SRT base model
3. TA in Street Mode

I really like the electric shocks, best of both worlds. They also have less wheel hop than the SRT does, when in either mode. I drag race in Track Mode, tires stay planted better. SRT gets far more wheel hop and loses traction easier.

Tony

[Bruce H.]

I'd consider the TA brakes as a minimum if you're quite skilled, and not sure they're available on a GT. The TA's sway bar is 35 percent stiifer, but I do think a considerably stiffer spring rate and better shock would be very beneficial in corners and on exit where more grip under throttle would be very welcome. Nambo recently spoke of this benefit with his MCS upgrade on his TA. ACR spring rates are much stiffer than the TA's, and then there's all the other benefits of a fully adjustable suspension. If you could swing a TA 2.0 with MCS then you'd have it all.

[BLUETA#1]

I was facing the same decision and I decided to run the TA on the track this year with the OEM suspension, then upgrade to the MCS, headers and tune for the '16 season.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

And the TA 2.0 you are considering will have even more downforce than TA, almost certainly requiring a stiffer spring/valving package vs 2014 TA and even 2015 anecdotes here.

PS Adding the dang TA/Brembo OE rotors is 'stupid expensive' vs Track-Pack StopTechs, and unless you are an advanced, tracking driver I dunno why you would. I would opt for value unless making record runs.

[VIPEREPIV]

I just wanted to jump in on this thread to say thanks for all the info!

I have a 2.0 on order and can't wait! My plan is to get a feel for the car by putting around 500 breakin miles on it by cruising up my local mountains, back down through the desert and then back home... followed by an oil change shortly after.

[slitherv10]

I just wanted to jump in on this thread to say thanks for all the info!

I have a 2.0 on order and can't wait! My plan is to get a feel for the car by putting around 500 breakin miles on it by cruising up my local mountains, back down through the desert and then back home... followed by an oil change shortly after.

What color did you order?

[Policy Limits]

Since these manufacturers build such crapola I have been considering a factory five racing build. 2.0 is sexy in blue though.

[allans]

I have tracked both the SRT T/P car and the 2014 T/A with both the stock shocks and the MCS dual adjustable shocks. On the road any of the three set-ups will do, although you need to run the MCS's on pretty soft settings. On the track the MCS set-up is clearly superior. Tracking, braking and corner exiting are all better. On track, I run them pretty stiff, but the car handles like it's on rails. The car is also sensitive to tires and for track, I run Hoosiers - the new R-7s are now available. Bottom line, If you are buying the car mainly for track then install the MCS's. If not take your time and decide when you have first hand experience. Good luck, Allan

[VIPEREPIV]

What color did you order?

Although I prefer last years orange, I still like this years shade, Y'orange. Aside from a few slightly over exposed pics and one 480p video, I can really only go off the 1 pic of the new Y'orange color that is up on drivesrt and pictured below. Also, I think all the black highlight pieces will set this color off which include the matte black sidewinders, black and orange wing, black dive planes, carbon fiber splitters, carbon fiber rear applique, the 6 black hood vents, black calipers with orange viper, black interior with orange stitching and a few other black pieces.

[dasvolk]

Sounds like I should start with the T/A 2.0 and then graduate to the MCS once I'm used to it, if I need better than the T/A can give. This car's ultimate purpose will be to kill a (much heavier) 1000hp GTR on my hillclimb event. BTW if any of you want to join us, google the Virginia City Hillclimb, we're doing 8/29-30 this year.

I've always wanted a car that looks like Mexico Blue (porsche color) so competition blue is my color.

[Zybane]

I just wanted to jump in on this thread to say thanks for all the info!

I have a 2.0 on order and can't wait! My plan is to get a feel for the car by putting around 500 breakin miles on it by cruising up my local mountains, back down through the desert and then back home... followed by an oil change shortly after.

When I take delivery of my TA 2.0 I think I will change the oil right when I get home, then again at 500 miles. Just to make sure there is no funny business with "break-in" lube, grease or any other sort of stuff used during the build process. Probably not needed, but for $70 it's worth the peace of mind.

[bluesrt]

And the TA 2.0 you are considering will have even more downforce than TA, almost certainly requiring a stiffer spring/valving package vs 2014 TA and even 2015 anecdotes here.

PS Adding the dang TA/Brembo OE rotors is 'stupid expensive' vs Track-Pack StopTechs, and unless you are an advanced, tracking driver I dunno why you would. I would opt for value unless making record runs.

yes but they look cool...... have ta look cool......................

[Bruce H.]

The TA brakes won't be required by most occasional lappers, but frequent and advanced drivers will definitely benefit from them. Eric (SRT track guru) looked at my TA brakes at the Homecoming auto-X event and said "wow, you've been using these brakes!" At that point I think I had about 8 track days on them, 2 in the rain, 2 or 3 more get acquainted days, and then some more serious ones where I started running out front among the quickest production cars. While the rotors were turning blue, showing the extreme heat that had been put into them, the front pads had only worn down about 1/8", and the rears had negligible wear. I'm an advanced driver, but not pushing it anywhere near as hard as some will, and I would not want any less braking capacity than what the TA brakes offer for my use. Not having to replace rotors and pads regularly adds up to real value and major convenience.

I don't think anything on the TA is over-kill for those who want to track their cars, and there's no such thing as too much brakes on the track.

[ACR Steve]

"Since these manufacturers build such crapola I have been considering a factory five racing build"

I hope that was sarcasm?

[dasvolk]

The TA brakes won't be required by most occasional lappers, but frequent and advanced drivers will definitely benefit from them. Eric (SRT track guru) looked at my TA brakes at the Homecoming auto-X event and said "wow, you've been using these brakes!" At that point I think I had about 8 track days on them, 2 in the rain, 2 or 3 more get acquainted days, and then some more serious ones where I started running out front among the quickest production cars. While the rotors were turning blue, showing the extreme heat that had been put into them, the front pads had only worn down about 1/8", and the rears had negligible wear. I'm an advanced driver, but not pushing it anywhere near as hard as some will, and I would not want any less braking capacity than what the TA brakes offer for my use. Not having to replace rotors and pads regularly adds up to real value and major convenience.

I don't think anything on the TA is over-kill for those who want to track their cars, and there's no such thing as too much brakes on the track.

I agree, and I guess count me with the more aggressive drivers, because any time I really stood on the brakes I've been unpleasantly reminded of the lack of stopping power edit: (compared with other high end sports cars I've driven, that is.)

[ViperDC]

Definitely jealous of you guys getting 2.0s

[Zybane]

Definitely jealous of you guys getting 2.0s

It's a never ending cycle though. Those of us with TA 2.0's will be jealous of those that get new ACR's. etc..

[steve911]

what is the expected ship period for the 2.0's?

[Blue T/A 2.0]

what is the expected ship period for the 2.0's?

I have a tentative ship date of mid February, but who knows.

[yellowmz3]

According to Bill P at Woodhouse: Unknown build/ship dates as of now. Trust me, I've been bugging him on a frequent basis.

[Policy Limits]

They're still at that huh? Glad those days are over for me. It takes six months to build a Rolls Royce, not a Dodge.

[cashcorn]

Bruce, are the TA rotors the same as the Gen 4 ACR Rotors? thanks in advance

[yellowmz3]

Agree 100% with you Policy!!

[Steve M]

Bruce, are the TA rotors the same as the Gen 4 ACR Rotors? thanks in advance

Negative...they are essentially the ACR-X rotors. More mass in the rings (smaller hats) with bigger pads.