1st Gen Viper vs LSx Swapped FD
03-11-2014, 10:20 PM
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1st Gen Viper vs LSx Swapped FD Looking for a weekend toy and I think I'm debating between 1st Gen Viper and a LSx FD
Criteria what I'm hoping the car to fulfill:
Budget: $30k budget
Characteristics (no order): Rare, head turner, fun to drive, low end torque over peak HP
Most Have: SMOG legal in CA
My thoughts on the Viper: I've found a clean 1994 Viper in the $25-$26k range. From stock dyno runs, it looks as though they put down close to 400rwtq at a low 2-2500 rpm range. I think the looks of the car is timeless and it is rare to see any Vipers in my area, let alone, 1st gens.
My thoughts on the FD: I've owned 2 rotary based FDs so I know the chassis and have grown to love the timeless looks. With my price range, I would think I could maybe find an LS3 swapped FD but the problem is the car would have to be CA BAR'd. With that, I think it might take me over my price range.
Any of you have experience with the two cars and which would you pick over the two.
Criteria what I'm hoping the car to fulfill:
Budget: $30k budget
Characteristics (no order): Rare, head turner, fun to drive, low end torque over peak HP
Most Have: SMOG legal in CA
My thoughts on the Viper: I've found a clean 1994 Viper in the $25-$26k range. From stock dyno runs, it looks as though they put down close to 400rwtq at a low 2-2500 rpm range. I think the looks of the car is timeless and it is rare to see any Vipers in my area, let alone, 1st gens.
My thoughts on the FD: I've owned 2 rotary based FDs so I know the chassis and have grown to love the timeless looks. With my price range, I would think I could maybe find an LS3 swapped FD but the problem is the car would have to be CA BAR'd. With that, I think it might take me over my price range.
Any of you have experience with the two cars and which would you pick over the two.
03-12-2014, 02:54 AM
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Viper and if/when it's deemed not fast enough just add Turbo and it still be better money spend then the FD in the long run.
Last edited by Blackbob; 03-12-2014 at 03:33 AM.
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03-12-2014, 04:49 PM
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From a performance standpoint, I would say LSX FD, purely because the LS motor is more easily (cheaper) modded to make better power.
Where as the viper will cost a hell of a lot more and be a little more difficult to find the parts list an LS motor will have.
From a style standpoint, that VIPER!, but seriously they are cool as hell.
Not to say that the FD isn't a cool looking car, but when someone drives by in a viper I would say almost EVERYONE would look, drive by in an FD I would say a large portion would look for sure but only people who truly appreciate the car.
/personal opinion.
Where as the viper will cost a hell of a lot more and be a little more difficult to find the parts list an LS motor will have.
From a style standpoint, that VIPER!, but seriously they are cool as hell.
Not to say that the FD isn't a cool looking car, but when someone drives by in a viper I would say almost EVERYONE would look, drive by in an FD I would say a large portion would look for sure but only people who truly appreciate the car.
/personal opinion.
Last edited by 23_hellfox_23; 03-12-2014 at 04:59 PM. Reason: Grammar
03-12-2014, 08:57 PM
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I would consider how you plan on driving this "week end" toy. If you want something you can go out and thrash on, tinker with/upgrade, do some track events, ect go with the FD.
Just a cruiser, wash & shine, along with the occasional high speed highway blast, go with the Viper....
It would seem that the Viper (if well cared for) would be better as an investment if and when you ever try to resell it. LS swapped cars like FD's (and the like) you dont always get a good return on what you paid/put in to the car...
Just a cruiser, wash & shine, along with the occasional high speed highway blast, go with the Viper....
It would seem that the Viper (if well cared for) would be better as an investment if and when you ever try to resell it. LS swapped cars like FD's (and the like) you dont always get a good return on what you paid/put in to the car...
03-12-2014, 11:16 PM
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As someone mentioned before, it depends on what you want to do with it.
Vipers are a handful. They have gobs of front end push on a road course and snap oversteer is a fact of life. We've had many come through our race schools and they all have this problem unless the owner has done some major suspension changes.
The FD on the other hand has very good handling characteristics but is very small inside.
It's a tough one and I think they are different enough (aside from looks) that it will be hard to choose.
Vipers are a handful. They have gobs of front end push on a road course and snap oversteer is a fact of life. We've had many come through our race schools and they all have this problem unless the owner has done some major suspension changes.
The FD on the other hand has very good handling characteristics but is very small inside.
It's a tough one and I think they are different enough (aside from looks) that it will be hard to choose.
03-13-2014, 12:43 AM
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Viper all day long. I even considered swapping a Viper V10 and auto trans (from the SRT truck) into my Impala. Modeled my custom dash after the Viper dash. I thought better going through with the swap knowing it would be hard (and expensive) to gather all the parts needed.
If someone offered me a gen 2 Viper for my Impala....I would throw my keys at him before he finished the sentence....and that's the ONLY car I can say that about...well I guess gen 3 as well. Gen 1, I would have to think about it.
If someone offered me a gen 2 Viper for my Impala....I would throw my keys at him before he finished the sentence....and that's the ONLY car I can say that about...well I guess gen 3 as well. Gen 1, I would have to think about it.
03-13-2014, 01:02 AM
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The "weekend" car is going to be primarily just a driver with spirited driving here and there. I'd likely drive it every Friday to work and then cruise the back roads during the weekend on nice sunny days in California.
I think the first thing I need to do is actually drive a Viper. I've driven and owned FDs so I understand their characteristics however every person has told me to go drive a Viper and then make a decision. They always say how dangerous and easy it is to wrap these cars around a telephone pole. I don't quite know what people are doing with these cars, but what is so "difficult" about these cars that make them so dangerous based upon every person I've talked to (even Viper owners).
I think the first thing I need to do is actually drive a Viper. I've driven and owned FDs so I understand their characteristics however every person has told me to go drive a Viper and then make a decision. They always say how dangerous and easy it is to wrap these cars around a telephone pole. I don't quite know what people are doing with these cars, but what is so "difficult" about these cars that make them so dangerous based upon every person I've talked to (even Viper owners).
03-13-2014, 01:02 AM
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The "weekend" car is going to be primarily just a driver with spirited driving here and there. I'd likely drive it every Friday to work and then cruise the back roads during the weekend on nice sunny days in California.
I think the first thing I need to do is actually drive a Viper. I've driven and owned FDs so I understand their characteristics however every person has told me to go drive a Viper and then make a decision. They always say how dangerous and easy it is to wrap these cars around a telephone pole. I don't quite know what people are doing with these cars, but what is so "difficult" about these cars that make them so dangerous based upon every person I've talked to (even Viper owners).
I think the first thing I need to do is actually drive a Viper. I've driven and owned FDs so I understand their characteristics however every person has told me to go drive a Viper and then make a decision. They always say how dangerous and easy it is to wrap these cars around a telephone pole. I don't quite know what people are doing with these cars, but what is so "difficult" about these cars that make them so dangerous based upon every person I've talked to (even Viper owners).
03-13-2014, 07:33 AM
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