Z-06 Corvette: Top end; 160+, Quarter mile E.T.; under 12 seconds. Highway MPG; 26.
Z-06 Corvette: Midlife crisis car that won't kill people with dulled reflexes. Y'know a juiced 6cyl import can get past 160+ with an 11-second quarter mile, right? Hell, even some 4cyls can.
Dodge Viper: 186 - 192 mph, 4.0 - 4.2 sec, 450hp, 8.0 liters. It WILL kill you if you screw up, as any sports car will.
And Nissan's import Skyline GT-R is a 500hp V8. Also look at BMW's offerings.
Sorry. The Vette ain't all that anymore.
I'm sorry but I just had to post to correct some things here.
I want to mention that I love Dodge Vipers and think they are exceptionally fast sports cars. I will also mention that I still think the Corvette is THE iconic American sports car. I have been in the car "scene" for enough time that I wanted to post some of my observations.
I'm not sure where you're going with your argument about "juiced" imports. Any car can be made to go fast with enough money. A Ford Pinto will go 200mph if you dump enough cash into it. What does that prove in regards to Corvettes? It's a valid fact yes, but I don't see the point.
You mention that a Corvette is a midlife crisis car and in a lot of cases you're correct. However, you're using this fact to disparage it versus a Viper? A Viper is even MORE of a midlife crisis car. How many 20-somethings can afford a $90k Viper vs a $45k Corvette? If anything, I see at least twice as many whitehairs driving Vipers than I see driving Corvettes. Plus, Corvettes are very plentiful so that the used market is even more attractive for younger drivers (like me, who bought my first Corvette at 23).
You also mention that the Z06 Corvette is for someone with "dulled reflexes" so they won't kill themselves with it. Keep in mind, that the Z06 Corvette has 500hp and weighs several hundred pounds less than the Viper, but then you talk about the Viper with 450hp that "WILL kill you if you screw up." How does that make any sort of logical sense?
This is of course, ignoring the fact that Vipers haven't had 450hp in what, 5 years or more anyway? They were upgraded to 500hp in 2003-ish (don't feel like checking my facts) and very recently (this year or last) went to 600hp. Chevy has also come out with the ZR1 Corvette to put the Viper away at 638hp. Granted, it does cost a bit more than a Viper.
The logical pricing and performance breakdown is like this:
$45k - 430hp Corvette
$75k - 500hp Corvette Z06
$90k - 600hp Viper
$100k - 638hp Corvette ZR1
Anyway, I didn't want to post all day. I like the Viper a lot, it is fun to drive but unfortunately it wasn't very livable. When I was buying a new car in 2003 the Corvette won out. It's a more livable car: better ride, better gas mileage, you don't burn your leg on the door sills (exhaust passes through them on the Viper), I can actually fit in them (more interior room, especially at the pedals!), etc.. Plus, I got very similar performance for half the price. Actually, my Corvette was faster than a stock Viper due to modifications I made (but still came in cheaper overall). Oh yeah, and Vipers sound like crap compared to a Corvette. It was pretty much a no brainer. They're both great cars, it's just that the Corvette has more options for price/performance and appeals to more people. It is THE American sports car of the last 55 years in my opinion.
Dope
