First 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 road/track test

[teletubby-warrior]

Full Test... be sure to check out the video.

Performance:

0 - 30 (sec): 1.7
0 - 45 (sec): 2.7
0 - 60 (sec): 3.7
0 - 75 (sec): 5.2
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 11.8 @ 125.3
30 - 0 (ft): 27
60 - 0 (ft): 104
Braking Rating (Excellent, Good, Average, Poor or Very Poor): Excellent
Slalom (mph): 74.2
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): .99
Handling Rating (Excellent, Good, Average, Poor or Very Poor): Excellent
Db @ Idle: 60.6
Db @ Full Throttle: 91.1
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 76.5
Acceleration Comments: Brute-force engine is never subtle. Louder, more powerful (and worse sounding) than the Z06. Tall 1st gear makes launching the Viper easier than anticipated. Tranny is high effort and requires strong, deliberate movement.
Handling Comments: On the skid pad, the Viper refuses to balance on the edge of oversteer. It won't hold a constant slip angle with the rear tires. It's either understeering or spinning out. Still, with R-compound rubber, it can understeer its way to a good number. Through the slalom field, I never thought I'd say it, but this big, powerful, heavy car is awfully precise through the cones. Again, sticky tires (and super-stiff suspension) make it so. Feels like when it "goes" there will be no catching it, which is what happens on the skid pad.
Braking Comments: Powerful, consistent and intuitive brake pedal. Quiet ABS.






The performance figures are nearly identical to those of a Z06, which is surprising. I think it's actually a bit quicker than these figures suggest, not that I'm complaining or anything.

[GraemeH]

Sounds the same as before, fast in straight lines because of power, fast in corners because of grip, but not controllable or fun when you get to the edge. That's the way it should be with a Viper no doubt, but they gave it an "Excellent" handling rating despite this?

Is the new super-Vette (ss, blue devil, stingray, whatever) being designed to match this, or is it aiming to slot in above?

[teletubby-warrior]

Originally Posted by GraemeH

Is the new super-Vette (ss, blue devil, stingray, whatever) being designed to match this, or is it aiming to slot in above?

Lutz has said that he won't lose this horsepower war... expect around 650hp.

[Viper007Bond]

Man that's one sexy beast. The exact model (hardtop) and color I'd get too.

[cdbob]

Nice car, they should make their own Special Edition Model to beat the SS.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by GraemeH

but they gave it an "Excellent" handling rating despite this?

The video seems to contradict the quick blurb in the original post.

From the article

At VIR, these tweaks allow us to stab the new Viper aggressively into low- and high-speed corners alike without speed-sapping understeer. The steering is sharp and direct, and you can use a quick lift of the throttle or trail braking to make a quick entry into a corner, as the 2008 Viper seems less likely to surprise you with snap oversteer.

Within a lap or two, the predictable responses of the 2008 Viper's new suspension tuning make fast driving almost effortless. Even with 600 ponies underfoot, this new Viper is far from being the handful we'd imagined on the way here. It just hauls butt and makes no excuses.

Originally Posted by cdbob

Nice car, they should make their own Special Edition Model to beat the SS.

Isn't that what SRT/10 is for?

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by thedguy

Isn't that what SRT/10 is for?

No. All Vipers are the SRT-10.

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

The exact model (hardtop) and color I'd get too.

Me too...those figures are almost scary.

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

No. All Vipers are the SRT-10.

Yea it's kind of redundant (in the US at least).

This is easily the coolest domestic car on sale today. Yea it's more expensive than the Z06 but can't keep its value if its life depended on it. You can find 2006 Vipers with a few thousand miles on the clock for $20K less than original value. It's crazy to think that in a few years, you could be getting a 600hp car for just $60K.

[Karoug]

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

Yea it's kind of redundant (in the US at least).

This is easily the coolest domestic car on sale today. Yea it's more expensive than the Z06 but can't keep its value if its life depended on it. You can find 2006 Vipers with a few thousand miles on the clock for $20K less than original value. It's crazy to think that in a few years, you could be getting a 600hp car for just $60K.

Or you can get a new 500hp car that's faster for just $60K

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by Karoug

Or you can get a new 500hp car that's faster for just $60K

MSRP for a Z06 is $70K without options, and you'd be hard pressed to find a Z06 for less than $75K USD. And this is in Michigan where there are probably more Z06's than anywhere else. It's almost unanimous that the Z06 is a better car than the Viper. But if I had to choose, I'd take the Viper over the Z06 every time. It's one of those cars that doesn't make any sense but I would love to own one.

[Necx0]

I would have the Z06 anyday. I will wait until I see a non-American review of it before I make up my mind i.e EVO, CAR.

Horsepower races never end well either. Mr Lutz should pull his head in.

[Mopar Man]

If they ever put the Viper Mopar into production that would knock the new Super-Corvette down a few rounds.

[poptya]

the Mopar viper is in my top 3 sexiest cars ever list

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

Yea it's kind of redundant (in the US at least).

This is easily the coolest domestic car on sale today. Yea it's more expensive than the Z06 but can't keep its value if its life depended on it. You can find 2006 Vipers with a few thousand miles on the clock for $20K less than original value. It's crazy to think that in a few years, you could be getting a 600hp car for just $60K.

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

MSRP for a Z06 is $70K without options, and you'd be hard pressed to find a Z06 for less than $75K USD. And this is in Michigan where there are probably more Z06's than anywhere else. It's almost unanimous that the Z06 is a better car than the Viper. But if I had to choose, I'd take the Viper over the Z06 every time. It's one of those cars that doesn't make any sense but I would love to own one.

So which is it? Can't keep it's value, or worth more on the second hand market?

The benefit to the Corvette has always been it's potential. If you don't like it, it's easily, and cheaply made better. The Viper doesn't quite have that.

[bartboy9891]

^ I was saying that the Viper can't keep it's value on the second hand market, hell a Ferrari dealership was selling a 2006 with like 3,000 miles for $58K or so. Then I was saying that a new Z06 would probably cost more than a barely used Viper and that a Z06 costs more than $60K new. But when you have this kind of money to spend on a sports car, it might not matter.

[IVIaster]

much better looking as the current viper

[Hidden_Hunter]

looks good externally and seems like a good car but my god what a crap interior (queue comments like "it doesn't matter cause of the driving experience" etc) but yeah I'm sorry for a car that costs that much even with all that power it's still far far far too low rent.

[lamehonda]

The viper always manages to stay a few steps behind the vette.

[Mopar Man]

not this time