Changing from the V10? Blasphemy. A dual cluth paddle box? ewww....blasphemy. It is depressing enough that they are forced to stuff in the traction/stability controls. An automatic Viper would make me vomit. At least the value of my old man and I's would go up then.
Not blasphemy at all. The V10 is nice, but by no means is it particularly stupendous. Chrysler has V-8 crate engines that are probably better in just about every respect (lighter, more powerful, etc). They were seriously considering dropping it for a V-8 before. I like the V-10 but I'm not so in love with it that I would hate if they put a lighter more powerful V-8 that shares the same character (lots of power and lots of torque).
Did you read what I wrote? I said specifically no paddles and make it function like a manual but be able to operate like an auto (hell for that they could make it effectively just have like 2-3 gears, say first and second for lower speeds and sixth for highway cruising). You do realize sequential race transmissions are pretty close to what I'm talking about?
Plus, more and more, they need it to be able to function like an auto for sales and also just to keep competitive. Take the SLS, by using a dual-clutch auto, they were able to make it remain competitive, and I don't see how it is any less fun. If Dodge could do the same thing but give it a more manual feel (like using a stick instead of paddle shifters), I think it would get raved about and actually improve the image of the car. The only thing keeping you from using it as a manual is you so bitching about it would just be straight up stupid. But then that seems to be the standard when discussing stuff like this anymore (see solid rear axle on the Mustang, leaf springs on the Corvette).
The problem is, the Viper, despite its simplicity has always also been a world class performance car. If they don't change some they could very well lose that, and in the case of TC they have to do it just to sell the car in the first place. Its not the end of the world at all. If you have to have a barebones car like that then buy a kit Cobra and put a huge crate engine in it.
Yes, I realize the Viper is different, but I don't think it needs to be barbaric either. It never really has been that much so compared to its competition (even the original, its not like Lambos, Vettes, and Ferraris were exactly light years ahead on anything at the time). Part of the reason I stopped liking it as much is that it wasn't near the top in performance categories any more. It was still good, but it wasn't embarrassing $200,000+ Italian cars any more. It finally got better and returned to that with the ACR but the wing sucks and it would be practically unlivable to cruise in.
I honestly would not mind them making it more world class, its worked great for many others (Mustang, Vette, CTS-V), and those cars are every bit as fun as ever if not moreso.
Why should you care how someone else configures his car?
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