The short wheelbase and excessive overhang in the rear of the car. Since its conception, Dodge Viper increased its wheelbase from 96.2 to 98.8 while the rear overhang remained consistently excessive.
At the same time, the front overhang decreased noticeably. Does this make any sense? The problem with reducing overhang is that it can interfere with the aerodynamics of the car but... this is usually a problem with the FRONT of the car, not the rear. All Vipers have real bad Cd, the new car has Cd of 0.37 IN ITS BASE FORM, without aero add ons which make Cd even worse. So why not extend the wheelbase, increase interior comfort and improve handling characteristics of the car instead?
Very simple explanation, Fiat is too cheap to bring Viper in the 21st century, keeping this car in the 1980's. Somehow GM got the hint and improved Corvette in this aspect significantly since C4 and its short wheel base but somehow Fiat and Gilles refuse to spend the money to modernize the car. This was fine up to Gen 4 but the buck stops here-this is just too archaic and actually dangerous, considering the handling characteristics of this car. Good for novelty item like Morgan but even Morgan figured this part out already. Gheez...
So what are the real life results of this archaic design?
"Far and away the Viper's biggest fault, though, was how it communicated with the driver. While the nose was always stapled to the pavement, the rear end liked to do all sorts of funny dances when you lifted off the throttle and went to the brakes. That's disconcerting in a 640-horsepower car, to say the least, but what makes it truly frustrating is the car is lying to you. The back end isn't going anywhere. It's glued down nearly as well as the nose is, but the car is telling you it's about to come loose and fling you off the road. You have to constantly remind yourself the car will stick, and ignore what every sense is telling you"
Now, chances for majority of Viper enthusiasts comprehending this part is beyond slim, they are pretty brainless regarding laws of physics but it seems like there are people out there who understand what is happening.
Oh and gotta love the Fiat BS regarding the short wheel base:
"When it comes to on-track performance, smaller is often smarter. In a world of ballooning supercars that dwarf their predecessors, the SRT® Viper confidently holds one of the shortest wheelbases in the segment at 98.8 inches. Retaining the important attribute helps to return lightning-fast lap times."
Now, come on Gilles, let me provide the correct translation: when it comes to being really CHEAP, less progress and technology is always cheaper. The SRT Viper confidently holds profits ahead of performance improvements and owners safety.
In reality, it is not short wheelbase that matters, it is the overall design of the car that prevents unsprung weight from getting mind of its own, going one way while the rest of the car goes the other.
Oh and the rest of this BS from SRT:
http://www.drivesrt.com/news/2013/01/size-matters-a-short-wheelbase-enhances-the-srt-vipers-track-capability.html
LOL at that "size matters" notion, yes, it is true but only with regards to the mentality of the dim witted buyers mistaking size of their penis with IQ number...
Come on Gilles, even Russian owners of TVR get this part
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