Weekend Trip to the Masters--Review of Viper (long)

[VNMOUS]

What better way to break in the new snake than a nice 600 mile roundtrip to the final round of the Masters. I could not have asked for a more perfect opportunity. It just so happened that I lucked into 2 free badges for Sunday's round. A friend and I packed light, dropped the top, and headed for Augusta. There was not a cloud in the sky Saturday through Monday with the temperature in the low 70's during the day and 50's at night. The day before we left I ordered a Valentine 1 radar detector which I had overnighted. It came in very handy as the route to Augusta from Thomasville is all winding back roads--the V1 saved me twice as I was cruising between 80 and 95 mph.

The Viper is everything I had dreamed it would be. The roads were smooth and I noticed very little steamroller effect. The car handles very impressively. No body roll in the corners and the ride is not at all to "bumpy". It rides like a sports car should. The wind is a little heavy with the windows down, but with them up you can hear the stereo fine and hold a conversation without yelling--even at 95 mph. I find the torque response in this car exhilarating. It is simply incredible that the torque band is so wide in this car. Every gear except 6th has that put you back in your seat feeling from 2000 rpm up. If you don't feel like downshifting to pass you don't have to. 6th gear has a little to be desired, but I imagine it is the way it is for gas mileage purposes. Unless you are over 100 mph you are running less than 1800 rpm in 6th. This makes the for a little bit of an add sensation while cruising in 6th gear. I don't know how to explain it, but the ride tends to resemble the sensation of a rough idle with very little throttle response. I did not calculate the gas mileage yet but a rough estimate would be 18 mpg. The exhaust note above 4000 rpm is like a 10 cylinder symphony. I did not care for the exhaust note when I first got the car but it is growing on me. The sound above 4K is the sound I have been looking for.

Unfortunately, I was quickly brought back to reality on Monday. I found out that my car is one of the ones affected. Apparently they were wrong the first time when I was informed that it was not. All I can say is wow, I was very impressed with the performance the way it is. Now I can't wait for the extra HP and torque.

[garolittle]

Just curious ... did you sustain any rock chips on your round trip?

[VNMOUS]

Extensively detailed the car today and went over every inch of it. No chips at all to be found. I make a conscious effort not to get behind any 18 wheelers or trucks if at all possible. If I happen to get stuck behind one, I stay way back and the open it up when a passing opportunity presents itself.

[DEVILDOG]

Hmmm....SRT at the Country Club...seems I've read about that before.