Tackling A 2014 Viper On The Track: A Scary Proposition

[FrgMstr]

Tackling A 2014 Viper On The Track: A Scary Proposition

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/tac...46496/+pgeorge

One word came to mind as I found myself in the driver's seat of this orange 2014 Viper: terrifying.

This was the "Time Attack" edition meaning that it was built specifically to be even faster around the track than the regular version. This car is ready to eat you alive unless you really know what you're doing.

Oh God.

What was I doing driving this??

Clearly this was way more car than I could handle - an 8.4L V10 animal that sounds like an angry lion pumping out 640 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

As I drove this car around the track like a scared 5-year old, I kept thinking "Please don't crash", "Please don't crash", "Please don't crash"...

Luckily I didn't crash.

I'm only exaggerating. Fortunately there wasn't much to crash into - the track had no walls or barriers and the pavement was surrounded by lots of grassy fields.

Driving around the track in 3rd and 4th gear was enough for me to get just a little taste of what the Viper has to offer. There was plenty of speed and torque for me to enjoy myself thoroughly.

Then it came time for me to hand the car over to someone who truly knows what they're doing - the Stig.

[FLATOUT]

The comments to these articles always crack me up. The article itself reeks of weakness. Dude needs to stick to VW beetles with flower vases in the dash.

[Stealth]

So Smurfs write Viper reviews?

Too many errors and confused statements to correct. At least the smurf enjoyed himself!

[ViperSmith]

It was so loud.

Stick to the p85d bro.

[FrgMstr]

The comments to these articles always crack me up. The article itself reeks of weakness. Dude needs to stick to VW beetles with flower vases in the dash.

Did you see him drive??!?! LOL! My grandmother would have driven circles around him on the track. Hard to go from a Yugo to a Viper most likely though.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

I'm NOT the Stig (dammit) but I probably have well over 50,000 track miles in Vipers since 1992.

I only have about 1200 track miles in Gen 5s (Atlanta, The Glen, VIR, Sebring included) and found it to be the LEAST 'terrifying' Viper you could ever want to take on a race track. And the rate of which the G5s are being totaled is far less than the rate at which Gen 2-3-4s are biting the dust, proving my claim: Gen 5 is just a safer, more confidence-inspiring Viper, despite the 640+ HP and Pre-2013 reputation for Snake Bite.

The author must be a hack.....

[FrgMstr]

The author must be a hack.....

Not a hack, just likely ZERO EXPERIENCE with anything other than his boyfriend's VW.

[ViperSmith]

I think one of the biggest problems the Viper has is, it's reputation of being unwieldy and dangerous. I think this contributes quite a bit to poor sales, among other things (not many want a cat that'll kill them)

But, that's much undeserved. The author was obviosily intimidated by the Vipers reputation, that it could kill him on the track - when at his skill level he'd probaby do the same lap as one would in a C7Z, GTR, GT3. He just pussy footed it because "omg it'll kill me."

The car can bite you - but it is very manageable if you don't drive like a moron.

[Bruce H.]

I think the writer probably is a scared 5 year old, and definitely a real tool. He, or she, obviously has no credible or useful knowledge or experience with this level of performance or exotic car nature, and his review makes that painfully obvious. Just when I thought Carlos and Motor Trend represented the worst in automotive journalism, this guy comes along to challenge their position. I urge you to not waste your time reading the full review.

[ViperJon]

That's pretty funny.
If he thinks that is terrifying he should have rode in a Gen IV ACR with no nannies at full tilt.
Then he'd know what scary is.

[v10enomous]

Just going with the popular narrative of the car for lack of driving skills and original thought.

[Dman]

Yea, yea, yea, but those driving gloves though. Burt Reynolds called, he wants his gloves back.

[ViperTony]

"It's kind of a struggle to drive this around town because of the limited visibility and you have to tweak your driving style because the front end of the car sticks out much further than most vehicles."

This guy has serious issues with the front end length. Harsh ride? Good lord. Who did they pick to drive this Viper, Nathan Lane? 2002799,MqveFMRzikFV7Hc_8n63Uc1ipmVb1vLp9msrFhS3XaFwpWgi6UYEvgJgPeOS3+TzP7qqwCcLyODdR79920XjOw==.jpg

[Vprbite]

I have had people tell me that the Viper is not known for its good handling or that it's known that it's not good at turns. People just assume this because they hear about wrecks that happen probably because someone going too fast for the street they were on and it always makes the news when it does. This writer sounded like such a scared little wimp.

[Zybane]

This guy writes like a Prius owner.

[Voice of Reason]

"The Viper is good-looking, and pretty quick around a track, but it's a handful due mainly to the weight of the thing." - one of the comments in the article.

Do people think it's a heavy car or something? They see the long hood and V10 and must think it weighs 2 tons. I think it would blow most of their minds that they're actually slightly smaller than a Porsche 911.

[Trainerdave]

Tackling A 2014 Viper On The Track: A Scary Proposition

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/tac...46496/+pgeorge

One word came to mind as I found myself in the driver's seat of this orange 2014 Viper: terrifying.

This was the "Time Attack" edition meaning that it was built specifically to be even faster around the track than the regular version. This car is ready to eat you alive unless you really know what you're doing.

Oh God.

What was I doing driving this??

Clearly this was way more car than I could handle - an 8.4L V10 animal that sounds like an angry lion pumping out 640 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

As I drove this car around the track like a scared 5-year old, I kept thinking "Please don't crash", "Please don't crash", "Please don't crash"...

Luckily I didn't crash.

I'm only exaggerating. Fortunately there wasn't much to crash into - the track had no walls or barriers and the pavement was surrounded by lots of grassy fields.

Driving around the track in 3rd and 4th gear was enough for me to get just a little taste of what the Viper has to offer. There was plenty of speed and torque for me to enjoy myself thoroughly.

Then it came time for me to hand the car over to someone who truly knows what they're doing - the Stig.

Sounds like the author should buy a Vette

[Zybane]

"The Viper is good-looking, and pretty quick around a track, but it's a handful due mainly to the weight of the thing." - one of the comments in the article.

Do people think it's a heavy car or something? They see the long hood and V10 and must think it weighs 2 tons. I think it would blow most of their minds that they're actually slightly smaller than a Porsche 911.

Or that in general it's lighter than about any sports car out there.

[Viktimize]

So if someone with this little driving skill or experience can get a job as an automotive journalist, then why don't I have a job as an automotive journalist?

[GOTSRT?]

I cannot stop laughing at the comments!

[Snakebit10]

How does one become an automotive journalist? It seems that one does not require skill in writing or driving to get the job. I am embarrassed for this guy and for the rag.

[The_Greg]

I cannot stop laughing at the comments!

Glad someone can find them funny. I can't.

I bet 99% of comments on car articles are from people who have never driven the car. "the Viper is dangerous" is a statement that will echo forever regardless of accuracy.

[yellowmz3]

Problem with these articles is that people actually believe the crap that's written as gospel.

[V1P3R]

problem with these articles is that people actually believe the crap that's written as gospel.

sheep!

[bluesrt]

think he needs the Walmart electric viper first