I guess from the article in motor trend that Dodge is releasing the Viper truck for 2003. I think that is what they are saying, at least that is what I got from it. Has anyone heard the latest news? Is Dodge already making the Viper truck for 2003? If it's true Ford won't be able to say they have the fastest production truck on the market anymore. I can't wait to see what they will due for 2004!! They are going to have to make some big performance changes if they want their title back.

 

This has been discussed endlessly already, but I still maintain it will be stillborn. Who in the heck will spend $40K++ for a Dodge Ram? What advantage will it have? Better weight distribution? (no) Lower price? (no way!) Better handling? (arguable for street use) Greater reliability? (it's a Dodge) A threat on the street? Maybe, if I ever see one.

I predict they will sell 175 of them.

IMO they should have dropped twin turbos or a twinscrew blower on a Dakota RT 5.9 and sold it for $32K. Or, they could have done like Toyota and offered the forced induction kit at the time of purchase from Mopar for $6000. Either way, it would be do-able, extremely competitive, and they'd sell a bunch of 'em. I guess it must be those German's leading Dodge into the 21st century.

 

the latest magazine "tests" of tuned up prototypes are saying $50,000. I vote stillborn, or Blackwood one year wonder status.

Most will end up in collections, not on roads.

 

Good points guys, but no one has yet to answer the question; are they releasing it for 2003? I don't think we need to sit here and talk about it anymore, the topic has been talked to death. I just wanted to see if it is coming out. We already know it won't be able to compete with the Lightning just because of the price alone. Sure it will be faster but like you guys said they probally will be pretty rare.

 

People will buy it. They buy the Aztec don't they? That thing is hideous. Lot of Mopar loyalists and if that's all they offer....

 

Falcon11
I really doubt they are being made for 03 if they are even made at all. My friend who was interested in getting one and was gonna trade his 01 Lightning in for one ,i told him big mistake to, when he called the dealer they said they were taking orders but didnt know the sticker Also cars usually are always a year ahead of time like 03 models come out in 02 and so on. I think if they dont have a price by now for the truck this late in 02 with 03 cobras already showing up i doubt it will be out for 03. I vote stillborn to.

 

I really have doubts on this vehicle.
How can Chrysler justify it? If I had spent $70,000.00 on a Viper
knowing it to be a unique vehicle, and then Chrysler tells me they are putting the engine that is unique to my vehicle in a truck, Im
gonna be pi$$ed.
I could care less if they sell a million of them, but it seems like a
bad move to me.

Marc

 

Good points guys, I think they would have announced it by now if it is coming out for '03. Unless someone else has heard something we haven't?