PacificSEASnake
Enthusiast
In 1989, my dad came home from work and handed me a magazine with the quintessential American muscle car concept on the cover. He was (and is) 40 years, 8 days my senior, but he always knew what was cool.
I, however, was sitting on my butt with nothing to do but mope around thinking “I’ll never be able to have something like that”. I stuck with that line of thought until about 11 years ago, when I stopped dreaming my dreams and decided to make them come true.
I met my future wife – or maybe this happened first. I went back to college full time (no more one-class-a-quarter-then-take-it-again-‘cause-I-forgot-what-I-learn’t).
I worked my butt off and worked through school, two new babies, and graduated with a degree in Architecture without owing anything for student loans and completing a complete remodel on our second home. My partner and inspiration put forth the same or better effort.
I got a day job with benefits, she started selling real estate (24/7), and together, we have built a very nice life with our boys. I quit smoking a few months ago (finally) and we decided together that a Viper would be my reward (and the carrot-on-a-string). The last three weeks have been utterly amazing. I made the remark to a few co-workers recently (absolutely honestly) that every day for me now is like Christmas morning. As they pondered what it would take to make them feel that way (aloud – not some bizarre self-made flashback sequence), I replied, “…probably something that you’ve wanted and worked toward for the last 15 or 20 years.”
Well, this particular dream of mine came true about 3 weeks ago. My endorphins still have a tough time trying to soothe the adrenaline rush that explodes every time I cross the threshold above the halls of horsepower (yes, I’m talking about the side pipes, rookies – try to keep up).
I picked up my black ’04 SRT-10 on August 29th at 7:30 pm. (after a strange period of price negotiations that I still don’t quite understand). I was still shaking with anticipation from the test drive a few weeks earlier. I took back roads with my eldest son (who left the candy at the dealership alone when asked) on the stretch of highway 202 between Bothell and Redmond and ended up cruising through our local “open air mall” (strange concept considering the amount of rain….). The most impressive stare was that of a father, about my age, grabbing his ~4 year old son’s shoulder and frantically pointing at us – that was me a few years ago! After a dinner with the family where all that I could think of was getting back into the Viper, it was my younger son’s turn to take a ride. This was my next surreal moment - since he is the one that state, as fact, (while shopping around with his older brother claiming boredom) that he would eventually own a Ferrari, a Lambourgini, Original Cobra GT, AND a Viper BumbleBee… To heck with the exhaust note – let’s crank up the ROCK’n’ROLL!
So far, the biggest complaint that I have is that it is hard to get used to the amount of attention that I get. I’ve read about it so many times, but never was able to appreciate the reality of it. I’m also still getting used to the Viperness (can’t come up with any other description - closest thing I ever had was a ’77 vette – stock – no comparo…) it handles waaaaay better than I can drive it,… I think I heard it start to cry the first couple of days out. Daily driver? AB-SO-LUTE-LY! Unless I get freaked out by the streams in the middle of I-90. Got caught in a surprise (to me anyway) rainstorm yesterday… guess I’ll need to brush up on my detailing skills with the Black paint…… until next time.
I’ve really appreciated all of the honest information on this board that helped to shape my decision of which Viper to purchase (well, the first one anyway…….
I, however, was sitting on my butt with nothing to do but mope around thinking “I’ll never be able to have something like that”. I stuck with that line of thought until about 11 years ago, when I stopped dreaming my dreams and decided to make them come true.
I met my future wife – or maybe this happened first. I went back to college full time (no more one-class-a-quarter-then-take-it-again-‘cause-I-forgot-what-I-learn’t).
I worked my butt off and worked through school, two new babies, and graduated with a degree in Architecture without owing anything for student loans and completing a complete remodel on our second home. My partner and inspiration put forth the same or better effort.
I got a day job with benefits, she started selling real estate (24/7), and together, we have built a very nice life with our boys. I quit smoking a few months ago (finally) and we decided together that a Viper would be my reward (and the carrot-on-a-string). The last three weeks have been utterly amazing. I made the remark to a few co-workers recently (absolutely honestly) that every day for me now is like Christmas morning. As they pondered what it would take to make them feel that way (aloud – not some bizarre self-made flashback sequence), I replied, “…probably something that you’ve wanted and worked toward for the last 15 or 20 years.”
Well, this particular dream of mine came true about 3 weeks ago. My endorphins still have a tough time trying to soothe the adrenaline rush that explodes every time I cross the threshold above the halls of horsepower (yes, I’m talking about the side pipes, rookies – try to keep up).
I picked up my black ’04 SRT-10 on August 29th at 7:30 pm. (after a strange period of price negotiations that I still don’t quite understand). I was still shaking with anticipation from the test drive a few weeks earlier. I took back roads with my eldest son (who left the candy at the dealership alone when asked) on the stretch of highway 202 between Bothell and Redmond and ended up cruising through our local “open air mall” (strange concept considering the amount of rain….). The most impressive stare was that of a father, about my age, grabbing his ~4 year old son’s shoulder and frantically pointing at us – that was me a few years ago! After a dinner with the family where all that I could think of was getting back into the Viper, it was my younger son’s turn to take a ride. This was my next surreal moment - since he is the one that state, as fact, (while shopping around with his older brother claiming boredom) that he would eventually own a Ferrari, a Lambourgini, Original Cobra GT, AND a Viper BumbleBee… To heck with the exhaust note – let’s crank up the ROCK’n’ROLL!
So far, the biggest complaint that I have is that it is hard to get used to the amount of attention that I get. I’ve read about it so many times, but never was able to appreciate the reality of it. I’m also still getting used to the Viperness (can’t come up with any other description - closest thing I ever had was a ’77 vette – stock – no comparo…) it handles waaaaay better than I can drive it,… I think I heard it start to cry the first couple of days out. Daily driver? AB-SO-LUTE-LY! Unless I get freaked out by the streams in the middle of I-90. Got caught in a surprise (to me anyway) rainstorm yesterday… guess I’ll need to brush up on my detailing skills with the Black paint…… until next time.
I’ve really appreciated all of the honest information on this board that helped to shape my decision of which Viper to purchase (well, the first one anyway…….
