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SRT Viper Named “Collectible Car of the Future” by NAHC

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SRT Viper

Last month, the SRT Viper was honored by the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC) as a “Collectible Car of the Future,” the third time the Viper has received this award.

The SRT Viper beat out 19 other vehicles from 2013 to receive the award. NAHC members voted on the vehicles based on perceived longevity, specifically which vehicle will receive more attention at the Woodward Dream Cruise in 25 years. The Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day automotive event where car enthusiast take their classic cars for a cruise along Woodward Avenue through eight different host communities in Southeast Michigan. Additionally, there is live music, events for the kids, exhibitions, and more. In short, the Woodward Dream Cruise is the ultimate destination for classic cars, making it the perfect judge of a vehicle’s popularity and longevity.

Ralph Gilles, the President and CEO of SRT Brand and Motorsports, received the award from the President of the NAHC Board of Trustees at a recent ceremony. In response to the award, Gilles is quoted, “With fewer than 30,000 Vipers built since the nameplate’s launch in 1992, the Viper has earned its place as a unique, hand-built American exotic supercar. The National Automotive History Collection further recognizes the exclusivity and collectability of our flagship performance machine from Chrysler Group.”

For more information on the 2014 SRT Viper, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for monthly specials and auto news.

Grand Cherokee SRT or SRT Viper GTS: Which is Better for Road Trips?

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srt-viper-gal-070Going on a road trip was a regular occurrence for me for the holidays.  Every year we’d travel the 6 or so hours to get to the grandparent’s house.  I just could never find a way to figure out how to make sitting in the backseat for such a drive comfortable.  We even had a big minivan with the whole backseat just to me.  Comfort is important when traveling for such long amounts of time.  I can’t imagine being in a Viper for that long, but Jalopnik put the popular new supercar to the test.

Jalopnik writer Travis Okulski hopped in a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and a SRT Viper GTS in order to get to SxSW.  That meant one killer road trip in two very different powerhouse vehicles.  Which one ended up being the better one to travel a fair distance in?  The answer is a tad surprising.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRTThe first portion of the drive was in the Grand Cherokee.  Okulski noted that the Jeep was all about comfort.  One of the most interesting things that he writes about is that how good it was for his passengers.  It was such a smooth ride that they could work on laptops and not get car sick.  For anyone traveling with a family, I can see the advantages of this.  Thanks to multiple outlets and having a mobile hot spot, the ability to have various kinds of technology running during a long drive is a huge plus.  As Okulski put it, “It’s the fastest office I’ve ever driven.”

Next up was the SRT Viper GTS and that drive couldn’t have come at a worst time.  His turn to get behind the wheel was right at rush hour at dusk.  To make it worst, he was unfamiliar with the dashboard and didn’t know that he had the high beams on due to the fuel needle blocking out the indicator when the tank is full.

Even with these obstacles, he came out loving the Viper.   He describes it as “a tight, loud, and warm cocoon…” and a comfortable one at that.  A much different level than what’s offered by the Grand Cherokee, but comforting nonetheless.

A major criticism of the Viper, both the previous version and current, is that the leg room is cramped.  Not a good thing to have for a long drive.  Not the case according to Okulski.  His legs felt just fine and so did his back.

His expectations for which would be the better one to drive on road trip turned out different than he originally thought.  The SRT Viper GTS came out ahead of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.  A passenger would feel better in the Cherokee, but the driver will love the experience.  It’s one of a kind, no matter how far you’re traveling.

Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge offers the Queens Area top quality customer service.  If you’re heading off on a road trip with the family, bring it into our service department to make sure everything is in proper working order.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more SRT updates and for monthly special offers.

SRT Viper Hasn’t Lost Any Bite

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srt-viper-gal-088Edumunds got a chance to unleash the 2013 SRT Viper on the test track and had a message to deliver to anyone who believes that, somehow, the super car has gone soft. It hasn’t plain and simple.

Just because the design has been reworked doesn’t mean the changes have taken the bite away. Quite the opposite as the new SRT Viper is setting out to prove. All the bells and whistles that have been included that might make it seem like the Viper was tamed don’t do the job. As Edmunds puts it, “All those electronic nannies can only do so much when there’s 64- horsepower on tap. “

Speed demons take note, the 2013 SRT Viper is up there with the fastest production cars in the world. It can reach from zero to 60 in just 3.7 seconds. The drivers at the website managed to get an 11.5 second quarter mile at 127.3 miles per hour.

The writer continues on to note changes that have been made to give the Viper an edge to people who don’t spend their days out on a test track. Seating is much nicer than it was in the previous model. The SRT Viper is much easier to just get in to. It’s also much easier to find the perfect position thanks to the level of adjustment. Comfort is much better. The shifter is at a reasonable height and the materials used make the ride much easier to handle than it previously was.

Final thoughts on the SRT Viper are positive. While some things might not have passed fully under their magnifying glass, such as the steering not being as precised as they’d care for it to be, the Viper is still one of the finest cars they’ve driven. “Anyone who was worried that adding modern technology to the Viper would kill its reputation for eating amateurs alive can rest easy. It’s still a barely compromised track car with the performance to take on anything with a license plate.”

Anxious to get your hands on the new Viper? Stop by Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge and we’ll help get you into the super car. Like us on our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for more SRT news, including the Viper, and for special offers only available at our dealership.