Base price: $85,745
As tested: $86,500
8.3 liter V-10, 510hp
12 city / 20 highway
More info: www.dodge.com/viper/
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This super-low, ultra-wide rocket ship is one aggressive beast. With a hood that goes on forever (to accommodate the 510-hp V-10 power plant) and swooping side scallops, the Viper is dressed for serious white-knuckle acceleration. The side exhaust pipes look cool -- just watch your ankles -- and the louvered hood helps increase airflow to the massive engine and adds to the menacing feel of the front end. Our drop-top tester turned heads with it up, but the SRT-10 is surely sculpted with top-down riding in mind.
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Buckle up tight in this low-slung missile -- trust us, you'll appreciate the vice grip of the Viper's bucket seats once you stomp on the gas. The Viper's white-faced gauges are easy to read -- a big plus because you'll want to keep your eyes on the road. The Viper's satin-chrome accents, leather trim and plastic dash aren't particularly luxurious, but we were too amped on adrenaline to really notice. The heavy-duty drive train takes up a lot of space between the seats, so any smooth moves on your female passenger will have to wait until your destination. But that's okay; you'll get there very fast. The car's V-10 generates a ton of heat in the cockpit and makes running the AC more of a necessity than an option. Even with the top down on a 50-degree night driving at highway speeds, it was still noticeably warm.
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Words almost can't describe how this animal attacks the road -- think Mike Tyson biting off ears. This is not a car you drive to Home Depot to pick up window treatments. It is stiff, loud, hot and hard to see out of -- and maybe the most fun you will ever have behind the wheel of a car. Dodge's massive 8.3-liter V10 can hit 60 miles per hour in under four seconds; 100 miles per hour is barely 12 scary-fast seconds away. The massive four piston caliper disc breaks will stop you so quick you expect the airbags to deploy. While its competition, the Z06 Corvette, is almost docile until you hammer the throttle, the Viper is all attitude, all of the time. You will pull more than 1 G of force before the Viper's massive 19-inch wheels lose their grip in a corner. This is pure testosterone, with a healthy dose of adrenaline.
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If she's into speed and thrills, this baby will have her motor running hot.
-- Chad Doering |
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