2001 Dodge Viper Review
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By Dan Carney

Overview

If this isn't the ultimate sports car, then surely it's the ultimate muscle car. With outrageous styling and brutal power, the Viper is a behemoth among sports cars.

The Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette may be more refined and easier to drive. They may possess nearly unmatched pedigree in the sports car world. But they each convey a different image than the Viper. If the Porsche is Wagner and the Vette is Bob Seeger, then the Viper is Mettalica.

The Viper could care less about pedigree. It's about big torque and not much else. Yet, despite its sledgehammer approach to life, a dedicated enthusiast could still manage the commute to work.

Model Lineup

The Viper line has two models, the original Viper RT/10 Roadster ($69,225) and the newer Viper GTS Coupe. The RT/10's inspiration was the Shelby 427 Cobra, while the Coupe is clearly modeled after the Shelby Daytona Coupe.

Base price for the GTS Coupe is $72,225. The test car included the racetrack ready American Club Racing competition package, a $10,000 option that adds 10 horsepower, stiffens the suspension and deletes features such as air conditioning, stereo and fog lights. The $910 comfort group re-adds the A/C and the stereo.