Dodge Viper packs torque, thrills for the road racers
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05-08-2006, 07:46 PM
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Dodge Viper packs torque, thrills for the road racers
Dodge Viper packs torque, thrills for the road racersThis Viper is a lot like the classic 'guy you love to hate.' Like, say, the cold-hearted J.R. Ewing from the nighttime drama Dallas. He was a rat, and viewers loved to see him smirk and destroy his foes.
This, however, is a car that you may love to hate, and hate to love at the same time.
What's there not to like about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe? Try getting into it, several times a day for a week, for starters. Then hop out -- but watch you don't burn a racing stripe into your calf on the wide door sill. The exhaust pipe's right under it.
Oh, they even added a warning sticker, but it's still hard to avoid contact.
And what about that 10-12 mpg this sexy, red beast achieves around town? That's easy to dislike, too. I had to check under the car -- there must be a fuel leak, I reasoned, the way that needle plummeted in two days. The Viper's mighty thirst is a taxing experience, too: You get socked for a $3,000 gas guzzler tax.
Truth be told, this luscious sports car really isn't designed for everyday driving, certainly not commuting. There's a cup holder, for instance, but try sipping that bottled water under the influence of a super-stiff four-wheel independent suspension.
Rather, the Viper SRT-10 Coupe is designed for extraordinary performance and pure power, masterful cornering and giant brakes that get the job done quickly and firmly. And, once you bend and fold yourself into the hip-hugging leather seats and drive this bad boy, well, you won't want to get out. The experience is euphoric. This is the love.
The big news this year on the Viper is the return of the coupe. The SRT-10 Coupe (that's Street and Racing Technology; the 10 is for the monster V10 under the hood) returns to share the stable with the SRT-10 convertible. The last coupe, the GTS, was dropped after the 2002 model year.
It was the right thing to do for a car that really is built for racing.
'Many owners go racing, and a coupe is required under some racing-series rules,' said Dan Knott, director of the Chrysler's SRT group. This gives them 'outrageous power, stunning performance, awesome looks -- and a hardtop,' he said.
No one will argue about its looks with its fabulous stance, low hood, swept-back fenders and deep scallops on each side. Wraparound tail lights complete the racy design that states in no uncertain terms this car means business.
And it gets down to serious business with a 505-cubic-inch developing 500 hp and 525 foot-pounds of torque. The 8.3-liter V-10, which alerts the car in the next lane with its deep, resonant burble, is capable of zero to 60 in less than four seconds, Dodge says. (For the truly race-inspired, a 520-hp version is available).
Acceleration is literally neck-jarring, exciting and sure to elicit a tough-to-wipe-off smile.
But 60 to zero is also impressive -- less than 100 feet when the 14-inch brake rotors with Brembo calipers are put to the test.
However, you will get to know your neighborhood's gas station employees. Expect mileage no better than 12 mpg around town, mid-to-high teens on the highway.
The level drops further in direct proportion to how much fun you're having. For those who weren't paying attention earlier: This is no commuter.
Once situated inside, the Viper has a superb cockpit feel. It is race-inspired from the get-go, with its red push-button starter and center-mounted tachometer and speedometer that numbers up to 220 mph.
The roof structure offers plenty of headroom to accommodate a safety cage or a helmet. Legroom is equally abundant, and you'll need it to hit depress the 12-inch clutch. I kept inching up the seat so I, despite my six-foot-one frame, could reach the floor.
The six-speed manual shifter is also connected to a bigger gearbox than it ought to be for a racing machine. And the shifter will, by the way, intrude on any drinks in the cup holder. Might want to drink first, drive later.
Safety is not high on the marketing list when you talk about a brute built for high-speed performance. Beyond air bags, Dodge starts to mention things like keyless entry.
The Viper is available in red, black or blue only. The Coupe is base-priced at $83,145, and when you throw in the guzzler tax, it comes up over $86,000.
There are better values in the sports-car market, but it's hard to beat the Viper for sheer heart-pounding thrills.
miami hereld.com
This, however, is a car that you may love to hate, and hate to love at the same time.
What's there not to like about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe? Try getting into it, several times a day for a week, for starters. Then hop out -- but watch you don't burn a racing stripe into your calf on the wide door sill. The exhaust pipe's right under it.
Oh, they even added a warning sticker, but it's still hard to avoid contact.
And what about that 10-12 mpg this sexy, red beast achieves around town? That's easy to dislike, too. I had to check under the car -- there must be a fuel leak, I reasoned, the way that needle plummeted in two days. The Viper's mighty thirst is a taxing experience, too: You get socked for a $3,000 gas guzzler tax.
Truth be told, this luscious sports car really isn't designed for everyday driving, certainly not commuting. There's a cup holder, for instance, but try sipping that bottled water under the influence of a super-stiff four-wheel independent suspension.
Rather, the Viper SRT-10 Coupe is designed for extraordinary performance and pure power, masterful cornering and giant brakes that get the job done quickly and firmly. And, once you bend and fold yourself into the hip-hugging leather seats and drive this bad boy, well, you won't want to get out. The experience is euphoric. This is the love.
The big news this year on the Viper is the return of the coupe. The SRT-10 Coupe (that's Street and Racing Technology; the 10 is for the monster V10 under the hood) returns to share the stable with the SRT-10 convertible. The last coupe, the GTS, was dropped after the 2002 model year.
It was the right thing to do for a car that really is built for racing.
'Many owners go racing, and a coupe is required under some racing-series rules,' said Dan Knott, director of the Chrysler's SRT group. This gives them 'outrageous power, stunning performance, awesome looks -- and a hardtop,' he said.
No one will argue about its looks with its fabulous stance, low hood, swept-back fenders and deep scallops on each side. Wraparound tail lights complete the racy design that states in no uncertain terms this car means business.
And it gets down to serious business with a 505-cubic-inch developing 500 hp and 525 foot-pounds of torque. The 8.3-liter V-10, which alerts the car in the next lane with its deep, resonant burble, is capable of zero to 60 in less than four seconds, Dodge says. (For the truly race-inspired, a 520-hp version is available).
Acceleration is literally neck-jarring, exciting and sure to elicit a tough-to-wipe-off smile.
But 60 to zero is also impressive -- less than 100 feet when the 14-inch brake rotors with Brembo calipers are put to the test.
However, you will get to know your neighborhood's gas station employees. Expect mileage no better than 12 mpg around town, mid-to-high teens on the highway.
The level drops further in direct proportion to how much fun you're having. For those who weren't paying attention earlier: This is no commuter.
Once situated inside, the Viper has a superb cockpit feel. It is race-inspired from the get-go, with its red push-button starter and center-mounted tachometer and speedometer that numbers up to 220 mph.
The roof structure offers plenty of headroom to accommodate a safety cage or a helmet. Legroom is equally abundant, and you'll need it to hit depress the 12-inch clutch. I kept inching up the seat so I, despite my six-foot-one frame, could reach the floor.
The six-speed manual shifter is also connected to a bigger gearbox than it ought to be for a racing machine. And the shifter will, by the way, intrude on any drinks in the cup holder. Might want to drink first, drive later.
Safety is not high on the marketing list when you talk about a brute built for high-speed performance. Beyond air bags, Dodge starts to mention things like keyless entry.
The Viper is available in red, black or blue only. The Coupe is base-priced at $83,145, and when you throw in the guzzler tax, it comes up over $86,000.
There are better values in the sports-car market, but it's hard to beat the Viper for sheer heart-pounding thrills.
miami hereld.com