Which Would You Rather? - 2015 Dodge Viper GT Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Which Would You Rather? - 2015 Dodge Viper GT Long-Term Road Test

A Corvette Z06 comes to town and challenges our 2015 Dodge Viper GT's supercar bona fides. Can the Vette keep up? Which American all-star would you rather have in your garage?

Read the full story here

bankerdanny

It is pretty amazing that Dodge doesn't simply drop the Hellcat V8 right into the Viper to replace the V10. More power, less weight, smaller engine to allow for an expanded pedal box. All I can see are positives.

defyant15

Good point Josh. A lot of folks forget, one of the key things to a good track car is endurance - ability to reliably maintain handling, braking and power lap after lap allowing the driver to get better. NA engines in that regard are much better, all things equal.

Seems the Z06 is neither here not there : too powerful and wide to exploit on the street, not exactly a drag car (Hellcat) and not consistent on the track although track is what its purpose is (like the Viper) . From where I sit, for a track machine a Viper ACR or even Z51 Corvette with some mods might be a much better choice.
The last C6Z06, despite its roughness was a very capable track car.

boff

The Viper with the blown V-8 is silly IMO...it reminds me of when people said Mazda should put the turbo 4-cylinder from the 'Speed 3 in the RX-8. In both cases, the engine is inseparable from the mission and the aesthetics (not to mention the low hoodline) of the car. What Dodge should do is make a base Viper with a lot more attention paid to comfort and to get the price down a little more, while preserving at least a few of the existing performance trims for track day people and masochists. They'd get an uptick in sales while not alienating exisiting aficionados.

misterfusion

^ What Boff said. For better or worse, the V-10 is basically item 1 on the Viper's mission statement. Personally, I would love for Dodge to make a sports car with Hellcat power, better creature comforts, and Viper looks -- but if they did, then it would not be called "Viper".

metalmania

Though I've never owned one, I'm usually pro-Corvette all day long. But the new Z06 with it's reported engine issues is surprising and disappointing. Don't know how GM could let that monster go on sale with such an issue. So I guess points to the Viper there, but since I wouldn't be likely to be pushing the Corvette to its limit I'd probably still take it over the Viper. It just seems like everything else about it is a better driving experience. So, I'd save some money and buy a Corvette Z51 instead - which is still more than fast enough for anything I'd ever need.

mej2

I'm a Corvette fan from way back. Owned 2 C3's and was seriously considering the C7. But with all the reported issues (and there are a lot) including dead engines, blown trannys, squeaks and rattles (thought they fixed that), tire issues, and even paint problems, I would never consider buying one. GM has completely lost me as a fan. It's too bad because the C7, especially the Z06 is one of the most gorgeous cars I have ever seen in person (Maybe second only to the new Jaguar F type.).
Oh well, I guess we'll see what they do with the C*.

csubowtie

I'd still take the Corvette any day of the week. Let's face it, while I think I am a better driver than most, I doubt I would be able to fully wring out either car. I'd be lucky to push them to 8/10ths. On public roads, pushing either car to even 8/10ths would be highly dangerous and hugely illegal. To quote a magazine article intro for the Z06 "Do I really need to take this on-ramp at a buck-twenty", no and you really shouldn't, but either car could easily. However, the Corvette is consistently reported to be the easier car to drive, to approach it's limits. It's PTM is supposedly awesome, both at keeping people out trouble, but also at letting them push the car without it negating theirs skills and minor slip-ups. Factor in that it's a better car in pretty much any other practical, day-to-day way, it's the clear winner in my book. Besides, I'm guessing the 2017's will be plenty more reliable, and a quick aftermarket hand held tuner will fix that limp mode issue.