mnc2886
Enthusiast
Finally, I got to see the Gen V in person. I went to C&C this morning and I have to say that I am impressed.
I have been critical of the Gen V. I do like it and I have liked it all along. There are a few things about it that I didn't like and a few criticisms that made me feel like SRT went 90% of the way instead of all 100%. After seeing the car in person, which I knew I needed to do to make an honest assessment, I have decided to share the following.
First off, it was a Launch Edition. I'll start with the positives.
1) The Paint --- The paint was different than what I saw on Vipers previously. The flakes looked fantastic in the sun and the Viper tech was explaining how the paint is thicker and so is the clear coat. This is something you see on higher end cars. The washing he said he put the car through would have made previous Vipers need to get buffed, but this one didn't. The stripes look great as well being under the clear coat. I will say this though, the $5k to add them still seems stupid and I don't think I would ever have them painted at the factory. Too many reputable paintshops that do quality work that can accomplish the same thing for about half of what SRT wants.
2) Over all details --- I was not a fan of the headlights, but they didn't bother me either. After seeing them in person, I could tell lots of thought went into them. I actually think they compliment to flow of the hood as where previously I didn't. I guess it is one of those things I needed to see in person. The body lines of the car have a unique flow to them. Again, not something pictures do justice for. In pictures, we see a Gen 2 trying to be part of the 21st century, but in person the body lines seemed like endless flow. It is hard to put in words, but almost like a wave beginning to peak starting at the back of the car. Lastly for this category, The double-bubble roof. By far, the best roof line of all Vipers, maybe any car period. Just looks exotic and I have no other word to describe it.
3) The interior --- This was the most impressive part. Now, believe it or not, though I thought SRT did an excellent job on the interior, I really felt they were over selling it. I felt a good interior is not hard to do. I also felt like they didn't do anything revolutionary. They took a simple interior design and wrapped it with nice leather. Big deal, calm down. Now, that was how I felt up until this morning. Look, it is a simple interior, but I spent all morning looking at Ferrari's, Audi's. Lambo's, and this interior is truly up to par. I have to admit it. I have been in a DBS before and I was very impressed with it. I have to say I am absolutely impressed with the Viper interior. The steering wheel, the console, it really looks like a luxurious cockpit. The stitching, fit, and finish of the interior is what SRT was selling it as. I think it is the simplicity of it that makes it so nice. When you look at a 458, it has a gorgeous interior, but it is very simple and all business. The Viper is no different. I could use a little more carbon showing though. Some interior carbon trim that matches the under-hood and rear hatch would knock it out of the park for me.
Now that isn't to say I don't have some criticisms.
1) The front grille --- I will say this first. In person, it is much smaller than it looks in pictures and is much, much better than pictures show. However, you have this nice car all over and it feels interrupted at the grille. Partly because of the design doesn't flow with the car, but it is also because of the finish. It just looks cheap. However, I must stress, it isn't so bad in person.
2) Rear body panel --- Seeing this panel finished in a matte black looks just as cheap as the front grille and it seriously interrupts the flow of the stripes and the car. In carbon trim, I liked it. In the plain finish, it looks really bad.
3) Wheels --- I didn't like the Launch edition wheels in pictures and in person doesn't help either. SRT really, really missed the mark on this one. It would be safe to bet that if I bought a launch car, those would last only as long as it took for the replacements to get there.
Overall, I really like the car. Much, much more than I did yesterday. What I'm really excited to see now is the ACR version. For those that are lucky enough to be driving their own Gen V in the coming weeks, congratulations. I didn't see a ZR1 that could handle a candle to the presence that Viper had, let alone plenty of other exotics.
I have been critical of the Gen V. I do like it and I have liked it all along. There are a few things about it that I didn't like and a few criticisms that made me feel like SRT went 90% of the way instead of all 100%. After seeing the car in person, which I knew I needed to do to make an honest assessment, I have decided to share the following.
First off, it was a Launch Edition. I'll start with the positives.
1) The Paint --- The paint was different than what I saw on Vipers previously. The flakes looked fantastic in the sun and the Viper tech was explaining how the paint is thicker and so is the clear coat. This is something you see on higher end cars. The washing he said he put the car through would have made previous Vipers need to get buffed, but this one didn't. The stripes look great as well being under the clear coat. I will say this though, the $5k to add them still seems stupid and I don't think I would ever have them painted at the factory. Too many reputable paintshops that do quality work that can accomplish the same thing for about half of what SRT wants.
2) Over all details --- I was not a fan of the headlights, but they didn't bother me either. After seeing them in person, I could tell lots of thought went into them. I actually think they compliment to flow of the hood as where previously I didn't. I guess it is one of those things I needed to see in person. The body lines of the car have a unique flow to them. Again, not something pictures do justice for. In pictures, we see a Gen 2 trying to be part of the 21st century, but in person the body lines seemed like endless flow. It is hard to put in words, but almost like a wave beginning to peak starting at the back of the car. Lastly for this category, The double-bubble roof. By far, the best roof line of all Vipers, maybe any car period. Just looks exotic and I have no other word to describe it.
3) The interior --- This was the most impressive part. Now, believe it or not, though I thought SRT did an excellent job on the interior, I really felt they were over selling it. I felt a good interior is not hard to do. I also felt like they didn't do anything revolutionary. They took a simple interior design and wrapped it with nice leather. Big deal, calm down. Now, that was how I felt up until this morning. Look, it is a simple interior, but I spent all morning looking at Ferrari's, Audi's. Lambo's, and this interior is truly up to par. I have to admit it. I have been in a DBS before and I was very impressed with it. I have to say I am absolutely impressed with the Viper interior. The steering wheel, the console, it really looks like a luxurious cockpit. The stitching, fit, and finish of the interior is what SRT was selling it as. I think it is the simplicity of it that makes it so nice. When you look at a 458, it has a gorgeous interior, but it is very simple and all business. The Viper is no different. I could use a little more carbon showing though. Some interior carbon trim that matches the under-hood and rear hatch would knock it out of the park for me.
Now that isn't to say I don't have some criticisms.
1) The front grille --- I will say this first. In person, it is much smaller than it looks in pictures and is much, much better than pictures show. However, you have this nice car all over and it feels interrupted at the grille. Partly because of the design doesn't flow with the car, but it is also because of the finish. It just looks cheap. However, I must stress, it isn't so bad in person.
2) Rear body panel --- Seeing this panel finished in a matte black looks just as cheap as the front grille and it seriously interrupts the flow of the stripes and the car. In carbon trim, I liked it. In the plain finish, it looks really bad.
3) Wheels --- I didn't like the Launch edition wheels in pictures and in person doesn't help either. SRT really, really missed the mark on this one. It would be safe to bet that if I bought a launch car, those would last only as long as it took for the replacements to get there.
Overall, I really like the car. Much, much more than I did yesterday. What I'm really excited to see now is the ACR version. For those that are lucky enough to be driving their own Gen V in the coming weeks, congratulations. I didn't see a ZR1 that could handle a candle to the presence that Viper had, let alone plenty of other exotics.
Chance = None. Over drama = A lot. 
But, don't over-dramatize the whole thing... LOL
That means someone on this board please drive theirs nice--put a couple thousand on it a year--and take good care of it for me while I wait. 
