superbmtsub

jp7464

I thought the Viper was immortal somehow, but I suppose stupidity triumphs over logic here. Farewell, Viper - sad part is, Dodge'll soon follow.

FuzzyPlushroom

skulldriveshaft

Plus, all the dealers who keep a Viper in the showroom to sell cars are going to be parking Challengers in that spot. I bet there are a TON more people coming in wanting to see the new Challengers than there are people who want to see Vipers.

The Viper served its purpose well and it's just time for it to go.

squablow

petersterncan

ezwinner

TheGuinnessTooth

INTERNETRACECAR

danio3834

The bulk of Japanese cars that pass the new CAFE standards always would have, since theyve always made small cars. The Germans just pay the fines, they have no interest in making their cars pass, pick on them if you want.

In this case, its just not possible to make a 600hp Viper get 35mpg. I suppose you could give it a smaller engine with less power and more fuel economy, but in that case, they might as well just kill it, because its better to burn out than fade away.

danio3834

danio3834

Sundance44

Benson2175

NICKNICK

BeefSupreme22

bmoredlj

And if you've ever seen one of these pull quickly into your rear-view mirror, you'll know why these cars are still relevant. Its the ONLY car my GN gives way to...
-W

Turbo Driver

It's an awesome car, but they've paid a price to get that free advertising and reputation. Personally I'd much rather have a Challenger hemi when the manuals come out than a Viper. I'd drive it a lot more. The Challenger isn't a weekend toy, and they are gonna sell a lot of em with that styling and power options.

Hello_Newman

They got so much street cred from the Viper. Someone brought one to an Audi Club track day I was at and it was greeted with a mixture of awe, admiration and... fear.

billybobster

GreenVanMan

Think about it people, we wouldn't even have the ZR1 if it wasnt for the Viper. Thats the beauty of competition. And look at the Ferrari 599, it also has 600 hp, so does the Viper. Yet compare the prices!

However, you cant get a 599 Cabrio. Nor can you get a ZR1 Cabrio. But you can get a Cabrio Viper & it costs Less than the hardtop!

Why dont they subcontract it out to a third party?

The Next Gen Viper surely would have been an Amazing vehicle. One designed to trump the ZR1. Now we will never know. And for certain they will never bring it back. With gas prices skyrocketing & no sign of coming down, it will only get worse. These are the good old days people. Help Yourself! Bon Apetit!

CARBONFIBER

DoctorNine makes tires squeal in terror

smokyburnout

kdaviper

Y2K6SRT

Driving the 2006 Viper convertible made me a man.

Driving the 2nd generation Viper GTS/R made me a dragon.

AbulicRage

UDMan

Sixpackdan

b33g33

Perhaps a coporate sized silver bullet and stake through the heart will work.

CEman

Whitless

Ray Wert

Here's to hoping that V10 makes its way into the Challenger to offset the sheer amount of pork that vehicle has to sling around. Challenger SRT10 ACR, anyone?

DragoonRaven

This thread warrants the inclusion of our dearly departed Lieberman's analysis of the Viper (pardon the large copy-paste):

"Professional racecar drivers and terminal cancer patients only, please. No computer and no ABS means you shouldn't go near it. Yes, you. Cramped insides mean the pedals are in a bad position -- too far to the left, which makes heal-and-toe downshifts a contortionist's affair. World's most expensive toaster oven. Everything you've ever read about the Viper being hot inside is true. (And it was magnified in Vegas.) The metal "oh shit!" handles are only half a foot above the exhaust pipes - literally too hot to handle. And the transmission tunnel is worse. The metal speaker-grills burn your calves. Engine smoke pouring through vents into the cockpit is "normal." Too expensive and too much car for 99.9% of the population; therefore I want one.

What's not to love/fear about a snarling, spitting snake?"

Mad_Science

(You know NO ONE at the General has a soul when they kill off the oldest still-extant American car company.)

And the homogenization of the automobile world continues unabated...

mechimike

I can't. They work for Tesla now (lol).

allenparkpete

Frank

STR8SIX

Dr. Spaceman, Esq.

Rabbi Dave

At the end of the day, it made around 730whp and 950wtq before it blew a 3-foot fireball out of the intake manifolds at 5500rpm. Both air filters caught on fire, all the hoses blew off the intake manifolds and a huge freeze plug was jettisoned in the process.

After I managed to put out the fire the customer checked his nitrous jets, shrugged and said "guess I didn't size them right." I helped him put the freeze plug back in (it idled at 3000rpm without it) and he drove it home!

After that experience, I learned that a Viper, no matter what, demands respect, as I've never seen an engine survive a nitrous backfire like that. Fuckin' A. R.I.P

beta.rogan

But don't worry, I smell a Bob Lutz smackdown in process for the aforementioned fool.

mikedrawcar

JHJVJR

STR8SIX

Brash, brutish, a tough son of a bitch that's a menace to society and liable to kill you? Love it. It's just so bloody American too, no ABS, no traction control, just body panels and a big low slung truck engine in the front shoving a teraton of power to the big fat tyres at the back.

If that's not beautiful, than I don't know what beauty is.

Madness (Possibly Sparta, maybe baggy trousers.)

I'd love to see another one, I really would. But the newer Viper never did it for me, especially since the Corvette has been dragged out of mediocrity and the first one's swagger had been replaced by Nick Hogan-type douchebags.

My only hope is that Chryslerebus doesn't kill off anything vaguely sporting (minus the Challenger) and turn Chrysler into the next Toyota, in terms of depressingly dull car lineup.

bzr

FredTheGreat

vr6john

Jeb_Hoge

FredTheGreat

Mokers

Halo cars can't have a halo effect continuously.

In the early 90s, the Viper was part of a string of new/different/innovative vehicles that Chrysler pushed to say "we're back." It worked great there. Unfortunately, it was never designed for mass production or shared parts with the rest of the line (the way the Vette is).

The purpose of a halo car is to get people who otherwise wouldn't consider your brand to say "That's a Dodge?!". Once "Dodge Viper" is a common term, the effect is dimished.

Mad_Science

SpudMills

I don't think so. The Viper is just played out.

johnnyichiban

j6r

I'll miss you! You sweet dark prince of twisted burning metal and death, you harbinger of pain and being flipped over in a shallow ditch when it's raining, I'll miss you.

Even in death, o'sweet Viper, you'll always be a superior piece of automobile in comparison to the Corvette.

Now get me some alcohol, this is nearly as bad as the Loverman leaving.

Madness (Possibly Sparta, maybe baggy trousers.)

I believe so, time to start praying to the car gods.

Markstre302

allenparkpete

jbarrow

Bluegoose

i drive a dodge stratus!!!

I know it's a hearse in Europe, but here it would be the ultimate two door coupe/party van.

no_slushbox

allenparkpete

Rabbi Dave

Shadowmaster

reefer

velocecrat

AustinMiniMan

allenparkpete

harumph

Rabbi Dave

maybe they're redefining dodge, not as the cut-throat performance brand it used to be; or just giving it a new design language, as stated a moment ago. There's a million reasons why they should've and shouldn't have. We'll see if it was a good thing or not soon enough i guess.

suzq044

mikedrawcar

MagnificentBastard

I think DCx has been changing its design language so much, people don't have time to adjust, and the sales numbers reflect that.

[sorry about the 2 responses, but this was a totally different thing than the above post of couch-executorship..

suzq044

The Compass, Patriot, and Commander must go. They should have redesigned the Pacifica (the original crossover) instead of bringing out the crappy-looking and half-baked Journey. The Sebring, Caliber and Avenger need new interiors ASAP. The Durango needs to be redesigned ASAP or dropped. The HHR proves Chrysler should have redesigned the PT Cruiser instead of letting it rot.

Chrysler needs to be streamlined, but this doesn't seem to be the right direction they need to go in.

TriShield

mikedrawcar

His parents were not pleased with the insurance rates.

Mad_Science

Where this to be replaced with a turbo 4-cyl car, or better yet a 3l v-10, with the same power-to-weight ratio as the current car, would anyone even bat an eye?

Let's just content ourselves that this marks the beginning of a shift to smarter performance cars. Instead of 3500 lbs, 500 horsepower, and A mile per gallon, let's shoot for 2100 lbs, 300 hp, 30 mpg.

We can then put the money we save in gas, tires, and brakes into college funds for the next generation, so they will be smart enough never to revisit the egregiousness that is the gen-2 viper.

Feds

I want RWD back for ChryCo, dammit. Screw this cheap and easy stuff.

Easy for me to say, i know:
Keep Dodge as Muscle/Go-fast cars and the usual, capable trucks. Keep Chrysler turn up the heat on the "luxury" part of the Luxury brand in the trio. Keep Jeep as what it has been for decades - the offroad wonder of the world.

I almost want to say add a small brand ala' Scion for the cheaper small cars, tuners/hybrids. Hornet, Demon, Zeo, [something to replace PT], Caliber 'twins', etc. Although I would NOT recommend bringing back Plymouth, because it was remembered as a muscle-car brand; maybe AMC, because they were the monetarily cheaper version of the other ChryCo brands, bang-for-the-buck category I guess.

suzq044

gadgetfanatic

mikedrawcar

j6r

i think you're all with me where when i say that at least they chose to name the new line differently (nitro, caliber... etc.) let's just hope they don't f*ck it up *knocks on a japanese vinyl dash for lack of wood*.

if it comes back.. it had damned better be what it was.... and better... (cummins quad turbo AWD... i know my diesel fans are out there)

chrystlubitshi

I need one in snakeskin green with black stripes. 540rwhp with 10 second potential at 129mph for $85k? That's the bargin of the century.

@WheatKing: COTD

Torqahontas

You were the first person to mention Chrysler pulling in the reins by dealer and product consolidation and it goes to the cancellation of the Viper and other product lines. I wanted to ad my two cents about how effective the Viper was even though many people did not realize its internal contribution to Chrysler product development but also that it was known for some time internally that car/truck lines were planning to be consolidated for quite a while. Consider it a "hybrid" of comments.

allenparkpete

Many of us have mused what we would do if we were billionaires. Well, here's a call to some billionaire out there - make Chrysler an offer for the Viper, the factory and all the tooling. What better idea do you have for your money? Buy another Veyron?

TR3-A

the traction control works somewhat how you want it to in nasty weather.. and if it is switched off.. it almost works like it isn't there... until 3-5 seconds into your drift/burnout... but disconnect the circuit and it's gone... and wonderful... though... your tires are gone shortly there after...

i say keep the magnum.. (which i know is pretty much dead) but i love me some wagons!

the viper made my jaw drop when i was a teen (when it was first coming out) and my first ride was damned fine.. but nothing that hasn't been equalled by a number of imports with low budget mods to power and handling...

the viper is/was sexy. and a good idea... but i understand that it isn't financially viable for the failing company that made my SN (aside from the 't'... that is a play on words for how i look.... long brown hair and full beard.. ((my friends tell me i look like jesus))) they just can't seem to get ahead in recent years...

i had always hoped that the daimler buy out would be good.. but it just seemed to drag MB down... aside from a few wonderful machines that were given strong ass engines on stable platforms.. (like the magnum... my dad bought one (the one i've driven) b/c it is essential an E-class wagon with a lot more power...)

always hope that the mergers bring the best for any company.. even if it means spending a alot of time researching what came from where... there always seem to be 'little' "diamonds in the rough"

i think the post from a day or two ago w/the rebadging issue covered a lot of what i think on this issue... would love to see the euro and australian "american" brands brought to america....

chrystlubitshi

neredowell

Ive been crying "Malaise II!" for months now.

danio3834

Sydscraper

not the Viper.
[blogs.cars.com]

etc.

Rabbi Dave

lascauxcaveman

BSAKat

Wes Siler

Mysterious Utility Bento

Even two years ago, there was a 210 days supply of the Viper. It served its purpose by being a loss leader and puffing up a sorry image Chrysler had in the late 80's. The Viper did something else as well. It served as a testbed for the future product development organization that spread through the rest of Chrysler. Smaller groups, ad hoc meetings and a get it done attitude. This was based from Francois Castaing who headed up Chrysler Engineering at the time and was the early leader of Renault Racing's return to F1 back in the 70's. As well, if you read my comments from October 9th of last year, the Genesis "fix" was in the works even then. Now how come a lowly blogger like me would know that....

[jalopnik.com]

allenparkpete

rdgibson

Cerberus isn't in the business of managing a car company and it's pretty obvious that the U.S. market is no longer large enough to swallow the production capacity of GM, Ford and Chrysler with the foreign makes (namely Toyota) being the new de facto standard here.

Imagine Toyota launching the Tundra in Texas ten years ago, it wouldn't have happened. Now even Texans drive furrin cars and trucks without shame.

Welcome to Dick Cheney's America.

graverobber- My Yugo Nova!

For all the lusty desires heaped on the V-10, the original Viper was distinctive for that wild front clip hood. A real knuckle buster to open and close for sure, but drop-dead sexy. I've been told that doghouse cost more than the 8-liter beast engine underneath it.

The car originally was awful to drive, and while the 2nd gen was a little less awful to drive it was a whole lot less sexy.

The ZR1 was going to embarrass it any , R.I.P.

eastaboga

goatrope

SwatLax

.: R32-PΩWER ™

General Halfshaftery

LuciferV8

Viper sells more like Lambo than Chevy. I'm guessing that's the kicker. Even a super-limited-special-edition Challenger will probably sell more than 400 examples a year.

brandegee

As much as I love the new Genesis and the sheer balls of it's existence in the face of Lexus et al, I'm afraid it will suffer a similar fate.

TX Law

Ray Wert

Mad_Science

Ray, what's holding up the introductions? Hardigree is listed as an editor, so at least let him write up a nice background story.

Also, if you click on "About" at the bottom of the page, you'll see that you have some updating to do.

SwatLax

TPSreports

WheatKing

arowsell

It's not like the Viper was a real sophisticated car, the R&D budget couldn't have been that big.

something_unique_and_descriptive

dtremit

I guess that's the point.

It sucks to see it go, but in a lot of ways it makes sense. When the Viper first came out, Vettes were still a joke, and neither Ferrari nor Porsche had mind-blowing power (at least not at the Viper's price).

The world's a different place now, where it's not good enough to have rips-your-balls-off torque attached to a joke of an interior for $100k.

As much as I love the Viper, if this means they can improve the rest of their product line (keep the Magnum?), more power too 'em.

Mad_Science

Tomsk the red-nosed reindeer

Rabbi Dave

If they can funnel the Viper development budget into making cars that people want to buy and can buy, it's a no-brainer.

badco/LoJ

These can be used with the Challenger in the same manner feeder fish are used with Oscars and Pacus.

Yurikaze

BartMack

Bret

harumph

Al Navarro