[DeTomaso] 03/04 Viper NPC

Kirby Schrader kirby.schrader at gmail.com
Thu Jul 1 09:10:52 EDT 2010


I'll weigh into the fray here....

I have driven a Viper. Lemme' see now... probably back in 2000 or so.
It was not a convertible.
I drove down the road about a mile and a half, tried brakes, acceleration,
zipped around a couple of corners and took it back to the guy who offered it
to me for a drive.

Got out and he said, tell me truthfully what you think of it.
I said I'd take my Pantera ANY day over it.
Heavy. Felt like my old '64 Ford.
Handled better than the old Ford, but the Pantera is _so_ much better.
Very front end heavy. Easy to get the rear out where you don't want it.
Brakes I thought were very marginal.
Rattled and banged like an old Corvette.
Had lots of torque.
The sound sucks. Some like it. I think it sucks. it doesn't roar. It buzzes.
I'm 6'2" and I felt like I could barely see over the damned hood.
Couldn't stand the car.
Never had the desire to drive one or want one since.

FWIW,
Kirby


On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 22:49, Jeff Udelson <jefude at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Will,
> I have always liked the early Vipers. To me they were modern day Cobras.
> Crude with monster motors and at the time very unique styling.
> I could not afford 2 “toys" (still can't) but actually considered selling
> my Pantera to buy a Viper. My thought process was that the Viper would be
> more dependable and I would really enjoy the open top. After much thought I
> decided to keep the Pantera. What has always drawn me to the Pantera (my
> first in the 70s and #4134 for 16 years) is the car’s timeless styling and
> unique personality. Pantera's just have "soul”. Even that very unique smell
> of "plethora that comes with a 35 + year old vinyl interior. The sound of
> the Cleveland is truly fantastic.  All this adds up to why I own a Pantera
> and always will.
>
> Now all this said "if" I could keep the Pantera and afford another "toy" a
> Viper would be on my list. Yes Mike Viper owners are some what like Vette
> owners. (Very much a not so fair generalization). But definitely better than
> snooty Ferrari owners. The Vipers are very good values because of heavy
> depreciation. For the all around fun factor, a car that is limited in
> production and unique they are hard to beat for the money.
>
> If you want an unbiased opinion on Vipers go on the PI forum and pm Adams
> Hudson. He owns a Viper GTS, Pantera, 911 and a couple of classic "F" cars.
> He has told me of all the cars he owns the one he feels most comfortable
> taking on a long trip is the Viper. But I think the Pantera is still his
> favorite.
> Great guy shoot him a PM
> Jeff
> #4134
> Atlanta GA USA
>
>
>
>
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