SRT-10 Gawk Factor (or lack thereof)

[George Murray]

I followed my buddy Dave home from the dealership today after he took delivery of his '03. The dealer was supposed to display the car in their showroom for two weeks (car arrived from CAAP a week ago), but they had no stanchions and asked that he go ahead and take the car, which had been stored in their service department. I think they were just relieved to have the car gone so they would have no liability for it.

As I followed him home, I noticed that the rear view of the car is rather boring. It doesn't have the same visual impact of earlier Vipers. It was a rather short drive of eight miles, but there was enough traffic that it took about 30 minutes to get to his house.

I've been ahead of, in, and behind many a Viper over the past seven years, and I'm used to seeing gawkers and excited, overexuberant people do stupid things in cars to be near Vipers on the road. I noticed none of that today. The car appeared to have no special presence on the road. It was rather disheartening.

Maybe that's not such a bad thing. Is the SRT-10 a "sleeper" Viper after all?

Anyway, the car is for sale (has nothing to do with gawk factor). A whopping 30 miles on it. Grab it before Dave changes his mind. See the VCA classifieds. I'm the point of contact.

This new body style SCREAMS for yellow paint!

[Viperzilla]

Since you brought up paint colors- I think the Sapphire, Emerald, and Grey of 2000 would look great on the car as well as yellow. My personal taste on the car is a dark color.
It depends on who gawks at the Viper and who's around at the time. There are other Viper owners, the Viper knowledgeable (I'd put myslef in this category), the car knowledgeable (car mags readers [sports car enthusiasts] and sports car owners), then there are the kids and adults that can tell it's something special. And of course, the last category or the unknowing (people who are only interested in keeping the car they drive to last and only look at certain categories when buying a new car).

I've been riding in the Viper and just looking around to see the stares people give, sometimes I can't find but two the entire trip. Then I've seen others mouth words (like "look at that Viper"), kids giving thumbs up, kids heard yelling from minivans, people craning their necks around like owls, ALL IN ONE DRIVE! Just depends on the luck of the draw that day IMO.

[knuk]

hmm...I am having a totally different experience than you describe. When I sold my RT/10 and GTS and bought my SRT I welcomed the idea of having less people gawking at the car and asking the usual 100 questions everywhere I stopped! Now with my red SRT people are WAY more into gawking at the car than they were with my gen 1 & 2... people constantly give the thumbs up, scream and even drive into things when they see the SRT. When I first saw pictures of the SRT I thought they had ruined the looks but it sort of grew on me and now I think it is a totally awesome car - the car looks HOT!!!

[Daffy Duck Viper]

This is a typical case of:
* Those that LIKE the SRT-10 tend to notice that others make a big deal about the new Viper.
* Those that DON'T like the SRT-10 tend to notice that others don't make a big deal about the new Viper.

[knuk]

Not sure about that...I have not met one person who has run down the new SRT. They all like the car, a number like the gen 1 & 2 better but the majority love the SRT. Bottom line - they like ALL the Vipers, gen 1,2 & 3 and so do I!!

[George Murray]

I personally like the Gen 3 car. I just noticed that it doesn't get the same reaction I've seen from Gen I/II cars. And that may not be such a bad thing.

[MiamiJeff]

Did some significant gawking today...at a black Cayenne S...but stared at it so very long wondering how Porsche managed to build something so very, very ugly???

[Frank 03SRT]

IMO, the SRT gets as much as or more attention than the GTS. I even egg people on when they ask about the car --- even at stoplights --- by saying, "A lot of people don't like the new style." At least 4 times I have done this, and they have all said they don't agree, and that they like the new style better. I believe most people like the SRT's looks better.

[fred]

The only opinion that counts is yours.

[BlueGTS]

I think color has a lot to do with it.

George what color was the SRT-10 you were following?
aspviper, What color was your Gen II?

I just saw my first SRT-10 at Tator's Dodge a few weeks back and in black I really did not think it stood out that much. I personally like black as a color but if gawk factor is what you are after I have found that black does not deliver versus brighter colors. I really like the car but it has lost the edge that made the Viper so unique. Is it a better car? Yes. Is it a better-looking car? I say no, but obviously a lot of SRT-10 owners would not agree with me. I look forward to seeing more at Tator’s meet.

[Janni]

Watch the fire start with this one.....

We've taken the new SRT to 2 car shows recently. The comments have been overwhelmingly positive. Now, somoe of that is the fact that folks have not ever seen one in person and thisis the first, so they may not be as critical, I understand. But you know how there is always "one" at a car show that proceeds to either tell you 1) all about your car (always wrong) and 2) the person that explains everything that ius wrong with your car and why XXX is better. Well, we've run into neither. I am certainly enjoying the top down driving, and the handling of the car is almost subtle. It takes curves with an amazing lack of fanfare, even when you start to push it. Haven't been on it too hard yet, as we're doing extra anal break in, but initial thoughts are acceleration is more subtle, as well. Not that it's not there, but it gets thre without feeling as edgy as our GTS's.

Another couple of observations. Took tha car to the store to grab a few drinks for he car show. Top down. Parked somewhat far out in lot. Was followed into the area by 2 kids- they circled the SRT, checked it out and drove off. As I was coming out of the store, noticedan older couple in a Mercedes E class. they drove past the car, stopped, backed up, stared for a while, then drove on. You can be assured they never would have gawked at the Gen I/II. Also, took the car out to a local dyno shop on it's maiden voyage. Tons of people there - young to not so young (?). The young guys and girls LOVED it. They weretaking pictures and doing some serious gawking, as were the 4 boys in a Mustang I saw on the way over. My point it, that I thinkthe appeal is more universal as opposed to outrageous. One can see that as either good or bad depending on what you want. I have no doubts that the performance will speak for itself.

OK, here's the part that will get me in trouble. Of the first 2 cars in Raleigh, they are both ending up being driven mostly by women. There are also 2 more women in the club that want an SRT for themselves, and have hubby's keep the RT / GTS. I think the visibility and the convertible have really started to add more women to the fan base.

Let the fun begin....

[ViperRon]

I got mine about 6 weeks ago and drove it from Denver to Cheyenne. I've done this a hundred times with anyone of the 4 Vipers I've owned. No Gawk factor. My wife was behind me and my son was driving and I was interested to see people's reaction, very little. I was pretty sure this would be the case. Silver 03 gone. Yellow 01 still knocking their socks off.

[shifter]

Janni makes an interesting comment about ownership in Raleigh. I don't particularily care for an SRT, but my wife has been begging me to consider getting one for her (not a bad position to be in, if I do say so myself). She loves the car, it's more docile look, it's more elegant interior, the convienent top. She finds it refined enough for her to handle regularily, whereas my Gen II she struggles with. The GEN II feels bigger to her, harder to drive, park, get comfortable in, etc, generally "more work". She loves the SRT for that reason.


Similarly, my best friend has a GEN II and he loves it, but HIS wife (covertly planning with mine) has been on him to get her an SRT. She considers it a wolf in sheeps clothing, and a car she can manage better as a daily driver.

Hmmmm....

[Janni]

And a little bird told me there are many more SRT's being confiscated by the ladies... Hopefully, this broadening of appeal with be good for everyone involved.

[Casey]

Same deal here with what Joe mentioned. When my wife and I got a chance to get up close to an SRT last summer at a VCA parade lap at the RT66 NASCAR race, her comment to me was "I want this Viper, it is more of a Womans Viper, not as Mean as your Viper"

I like the SRT-10, but I agree with my wife!