New Dodge Viper - Do you like it? Hate it? Don't care?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve seen partial shots of the new Dodge Viper body style here and there, but until I picked up this month’s Motor Trend comparing the Viper to the Corvette Z06, I hadn’t seen a full body shot - I know there have been articles on it, but between the kids, the job, etc. I don’t have a lot of time to pick up the car magazines.

When the Viper first came out, I loved the styling, and the thought of an American car (not truck) with a V-10 just gave me chills. Not to mention the fact that here is this $80k car that blows the doors off most $200k+ cars. I also love Vettes, so when I saw the MT issue with a Viper-Vette comparison, I bought it, without even really looking at the cover. I open it up when I get home, only to see what looks like a half-assed attempt at making the Viper look like it was styled in a Toyota think-tank. Mechanically speaking, it seems to have made leaps and bounds beyond its first iterations, but I think it looks bland and overprocessed.

So, in a nutshell, I hate it. But I’m no design major, just a car buff. So I figured I’d find out what the Dopers thought. Not that it’ll make a whit of difference in my opinion: I still think it lacks the insectile look, and brute gracefulness of the original.

So, whaddaya think?

2

The Loaded 2003 Penis

3

That car’s new? Looks like an 80s BMW to me, no curves, stupid looking bonnet vent, and that front grill…

I’ll have a TVR over that any day.

4

Suppose it depends where it is parked.

(Ducks and hides.)

5

Not so bad as all that, I think. I understand the Toyota comparison, although Toyota’s moving beyond that. It does, however, remind me of something… I can’t quite put my finger on it…

Wait…

That peculiarly slab-like body… the depressions on the door…

It looks like a Mustang…

Noooooooo!

[Runs off crying, rending garments.]

6

I’ve always preferred Corvettes over those.

7

Not bad…just don’t park one in a handicapped spot.

8

The new Viper looks waaay uglier than the older models. The Viper GTS-R was a dream looking piece, this new one looks quite bland.

here’s the new Viper in a drag race against the F-16:

http://www.dodge.com/inside/news_awards/news_viper_race.html?tsrc=viper&tgrp=promo3&tname=viper_vs_viper

9

Looks like a normal boring car that’s been squished flatter for no apparent reason.

What does everyone think of the new Thunderbirds? I think they look sweet, but too expensive and too big (like an old man car.)

10

It looks like an old Porsche to me. But I thought the other models looked like the Batmobile.

And as far as the new Tunderbirds go, did they make another change to that contrived thing they drug out last year (2002). Yikes, what pretense. I know, “everyone” else loves it.

11

Definitely less attractive than the older Vipers. Supposedly, Mitsubishi is supplying alot of the parts for the new ones (to save costs for Daimler-Chrysler). Apparently, they’re also supplying the styling :frowning:

12

For some reason, Vipers do have a certain coolness factor for me. I’ve seen dozens of Corvettes or Porsches on the road, but only maybe 2 or 3 Vipers. Another real sweet car I almost never see is the Acura NSX.

13

How does de new viper clean vindows?

14

The world needs Vipers. I liked the older rougher one, but I still appreciate the new one.

15

It’s not bad but I prefer the older models. Those fin things (air vents? yah real technical aren’t I? :rolleyes: ) on the hood make it look like has gills… I have a poster of the GTS-R I picked up at a car show… I really need to get it back from Grandma so I can put it up…