# 006 - in a Limited Edition of 360 Our Viper's aluminum-block 8.0-liter V10 engine delivers over 500 horsepower / torque. That means 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds, 1/4 mile in under 12 seconds. An estimated top speed of 190 mph, and completion of the signature SRT 0-100-0 mph test in just over 12 seconds. The Viper GTS is one solid performer. An amazingly stout structure in roadster form—made even more torsionally rigid with the addition of the coupe's double-bubble roof-and lightweight aluminum fully independent suspension combine to deliver razor-sharp handling on the road or on the track. Spec's and Numbers Sheet email us

     "BigRatDaddys" - VIPER THINKING    

Pros: Obscene power, stunningly attractive, potential to be the quickest car under $200K
Cons: Obscene power, dangerous for inexperienced drivers.
The Bottom Line: The most visceral supercar experience this side of $200 Grand.

A throaty bellow resonates from the engine compartment as the tach shoots past 4500, a Jekyll-to-Hyde transition from the subdued exhaust burble seconds prior. I slam-shift into second as the rear end snaps into place and the car begins to stabilize. At this point, it's all I can do to hang on. By the time I've crested the tach a second time, it has become blatantly obvious that this isn't just any sports car. It's THE Sports Car.

Driving Impressions

Wide rubber makes for sharp but heavy steering, a skittish rear end and tracking that'll follow road paint given the opportunity. 3550 pounds of Detroit Iron and Carbon Fiber preclude the nimble response of, say, a Lotus Elise, but because the Viper sits only five inches above the pavement, absolute grip is phenomenal. And indeed, the suspension contributes in no small degree.

It's truly an exercise in sensory distortion to discover lateral limits, but when you do straddle that line, the Viper becomes borderline unpredictable. 10 cylinders and 8.0 liters rest of the front axle, with none of a BMW's throttle-by-wire gimmickry. The front end lifts under 9/10 acceleration, inducing understeer.. but push to 10 and your chances of doing a sudden about-face increase exponentially as the rear tires skitter sideways.

Now.. We've heard the Viper can powerslide and Drift GREAT.. but certain clauses in my rather limited insurance policy dictate that it would be unwise to attempt such a feat on public roads. To be continued.. [evil laugh]

Let me dwell a moment on power. This car has it by the bushel and it has it everywhere. With exception to the ludicrously tall EPA 6th ratio, every gear pulls hard. The lower you go, the more it'll kick. Donuts are effortless. Off the line acceleration is absolutely unreal. If you're quick with the clutch, 60 MPH will fly by in 4 seconds flat. The quarter mile will happen at almost 120 MPH in less time than it takes to skim this paragraph. It's that frickin' fast. Which leads me to my next point..

You must respect the car.

If you don't give it your full attention, it'll bite and it'll bite hard. Ford's diesel dualies don't have the torque this monster sports. Nothing from the late '60s can handle a Viper. Neither can 9 of 10 drivers. This car should never be driven in the rain. It should never be driven by anyone under 20. And it should never be raced on the street.

In an attempt to retain every aspect of the classic muscle car experience, Dodge chose not to equip the Viper with any form of traction or stability control. The temptation to make use of that massive V10 overpowers reason. The Corvette's thundering V8 engages with restraint thanks to GM's Active Handling electronic godfather; the Viper has no such luxury. Nor does any model prior to 2001 have ABS. It's the only supercar with 13" rotors that'll slide half the length of a football field before reaching a stop from 60 MPH, writhing like a fish all the way. Edmunds managed to haul down a 2001 GTS in 115 feet, proving that it can indeed stop well with ABS. Hallmarks to the musclecar genre are gas mileage over 25 mpg @ 70 mph, with minimal ground clearance.

Interior

Dodge faced a bit of a quandary when designing the Viper's interior. On the one hand, their entire project inspiration was an old-school, balls-out, put-up-or-shutup muscle car. Serious side bolstering keeps one's hindquarters securely planted while pulling a hard right into the local Cafe or Hot Spot. General feel is about an A+. You wouldn't mind a couple hours in the driver's seat. :)

Styling

The Viper's styling is the industry benchmark for sex appeal. I've yet to meet a soul who wasn’t immediately rendered speechless by the menacing countenance and rear flanks. Next to a Honda, the Viper looks like a UFO. Massive 335mm rubber out back and a floored 'Hey, look, I can touch the road!' stance coalesce into the most outrageous road-going vehicle available. As your local Pontiac dealer would say, wider is most definitely better.

Kudos to the design team for this one, they knocked the ball out of the park.

The Viper was a classic before the first one had even rolled off the assembly line.

Bottom line?

There is nothing else quite like it.

:) Just My Thoughts :)