2013 SRT Viper vs. 2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Comparison Test

Edmunds.comEdmunds.com Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 10,315
edited September 2014 in Chevrolet

image2013 SRT Viper vs. 2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Comparison Test

Edmunds' comparison test of the 2013 SRT Viper and 2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

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Comments

  • fordson1fordson1 Unconfirmed Posts: 1,512
    So exactly why are you testing two 200-mph cars that have over 600 hp each on a course like Streets?

    It's like assessing the Saturn V by how quickly it climbs out to 35,000 feet - interesting, but not reflective of its capability.

    Kind of embarrassing that the chassis engineering honcho at SRT has to come out and tell you this to your face, isn't it?
  • nefariousnigelnefariousnigel Member Posts: 13
    "The Viper controls this part of the contest to the same extent that Tito Ortiz would dominate Nancy Pelosi in an MMA cage match."

    Did and 11th grader write this? Or was this the result of some natural language processing algorithm spitting out awkward, computed prose?

    One more ridiculous example:

    "*Yes, we know. It's not possible to precisely convert thrust to horsepower. We could have used gigawatts to express the energy released by the Saturn V, but then you'd have no idea what we were talking about. Even though you saw Back To The Future."

    ....hmmmm...Back to the Future...Saturn V....rocket ships...someone tweak the algorithm...it's search pattern is unfocused.

    These are two magnificent cars going head to head. Describing this unique event deserves better than Edmund's Orange County brand of wit and sophistication...you guys make Car and Driver read like Vanity Fair...
  • bassracerxbassracerx Member Posts: 188
    so the viper is supposed to be a track car i wonder how it would do with some R compound rubber i bet it would give you more confidence then the zr1. i know you have to compare stock for stock but anyone taking their viper for a "track day" is sure to have an extra set of wheels with some R compound tires. i guess you could say the same for the zr1 but it alrady comes with barely-legal tires.
  • zr1manzr1man Member Posts: 19
    Yes! Another win for the ZR1. Over a year ago I went on the record and said the ZR1 would blow the doors off the new dodge viper and the ZR1 does not dissipoint. The viper is ugly and awkward. The Corvette body style is sleeker and sexier. I am sure the new C7 ZR1 will be even faster.

    Chevy Runs Deep
  • zr1manzr1man Member Posts: 19
    Oh........... Speaking of rockets. A wise man once said, "Once a pun a time , a bunch of guys got a crazy idea - go further and faster than mankind had ever gone before, They dreamt with their hands, shaped aluminum with their minds and the world watched with bated breath. While time has marched on, and priorities have changed, it's nice to know that America still builds rockets."
  • ford_hondaford_honda Member Posts: 9
    How do I view comments without posting a comment first on this article?
  • ford_hondaford_honda Member Posts: 9
    .
  • duck87duck87 Member Posts: 649
    This is the second time I heard that the Viper's (admittedly more street-oriented) tires fall behind the ZR-1's, and these Pirellies are already very expensive tires dedicated to the beast.

    SRT may benefit from a new tire package. Suspension tuning will probably occur over the life of the vehicle (maybe a revision of the dual mode system), but I'm looking forward to another ACR.

    Beyond that, it's too bad you guys couldn't go on any longer tracks. The Streets really benefits the Vette's rubber selection, but I'd like to see how they'd both perform on a longer circuit.
  • stovt001_stovt001_ Member Posts: 799
    Are you unable to use ACS's Roval course? I know you do some instrument testing there so I'm wondering why not track testing as well?
  • vantagemanvantageman Member Posts: 7
    I'm all for saying the ZR1 is a better car than the VIper simply because SRT insisted on appeasing people that liked the last viper instead of simply making the Viper the best sports car it could be but your closing statement is a flat out lie not because of my opinion but because of your review which is the problem with edmunds. You say the ZR1 is better than the vette in every way but your review doesnt reflect that. Maybe thats the opinion of the writer but it certainly wasnt supported by testing
  • vikasdesaivikasdesai Member Posts: 6
    the viper has always been a car to be tamed (like the old 911) it doesn't need to be "better" it just needs to be unique. maclaren's, boxster's, 911, ferrari's, GT-R's , and most likely the new vette can pretty much turn everyone into vettel, shuey, hamilton. The viper needs to mastered, so in that it holds it's own spot. The new ACR should top out all the track times like the old one did
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