Is a Twin Turbo Dodge Viper Really as Dangerous as People Say?
This relatively modest twin turbo Dodge Viper proves that these cars are just misunderstood in the grand scheme of things.
From the day it launched, the Dodge Viper quickly earned what one might call a reputation for being a bit, shall we say, difficult to control. However, that’s to be expected for a lightweight vehicle packing a V10 under its ultra-long hood, driving the rear wheels with no electronic nannies there to help when things go south. However, that hasn’t stopped people from modifying Vipers and making them even more unwieldy, and it’s not like they can’t be controlled. When he recently got the chance to drive a twin turbo Dodge Viper, YouTuber David Patterson – or That Dude In Blue, as he’s otherwise known – had the perfect opportunity to answer that ages-old question – is such a machine truly as dangerous as people think, or is the whole notion overblown?
Patterson admits that the Viper can be a bit scary to drive as-is, or at least unpredictable. He also points out that the second-generation model was a big step forward in that regard, a far more refined yet still brutal machine. In the case of this particular twin turbo Dodge Viper, it isn’t stock by any means, but it also isn’t modified to the point where it’s too crazy, with an output of around 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque at the wheels.
Unlike the 1,000 or even 2,000+ horsepower twin turbo Vipers running around from outfits like Calvo, this example is a bit more mild and easier to control, though still undoubtedly quick. Patterson notes that it’s far less intimidating than some of those other modified rides, and is perfectly calm just taking cruises around town, and when you want to dip into the power, delivery is perfectly predictable.
The car hooks quite nicely, giving Patterson a lot of confidence when it comes time to stretch the Viper’s legs. With a mere six pounds of boost, a second-gen model is clearly not the monster most people make it out to be – a car that simply wants to kill you – and instead, it’s just a misunderstood model that still looks and sounds like nothing else on the road today.
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