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Summary
To be sure, Porsche's 911 and Chevy's Corvette are more comfortable and livable as commuter cars. But the Viper works surprisingly well from a comfort standpoint. It suffers from a rough ride and climbing in and out is difficult. But it steers easily; the engine will chug happily around town at legal speeds; the seats are very comfortable; the heater, wipers, and other foul weather gear all work well. And the stereo cranks out tunes loudly enough to drown out the omnipresent exhaust note.For those only mildly interested in maximum performance, the Corvette is a bargain and is more comfortable to drive than the Viper. The 911 is about the same price, and is great fun to drive, but it is an entirely different breed of animal. This car demands constant driver involvement, which can be viewed favorably or not. For maximum performance and maximum impact on bystanders, the Viper has no domestic equal. Where else can you get a V10?
(Source: New Cars Test Drive)
Model Line Overview
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Model Lineup:
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RT/10 Roadster ($69,225); GTS Coupe ($72,225) |
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Engines:
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8.0-liter V10 |
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Transmissions:
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6-speed manual |
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Saftey Equipment (standard):
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dual airbags, five-point racing harnesses |
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Saftey Equipment (optional):
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|
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Basic Warranty:
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3 years/36,000 miles |
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Assembled In:
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Detroit, Michigan |
Specifications As Tested
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Model Tested (MSRP):
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Viper GTS Coupe ($72,225) |
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Standard Equipment:
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leather bucket seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power steering, power brakes, adjustable pedals, security system, tilt steering wheel |
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Options As Tested (MSRP):
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Competition Group ($10,000) includes five-point restraints, competition suspension, low restriction intake; painted stripes ($2,500); Comfort Group ($910) includes Alpine 200-watt CD stereo, air conditioning; gas guzzler tax ($3,000) |
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Destination Charge:
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775 |
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Gas Guzzler Tax:
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|
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Price As Tested (MSRP):
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89410 |
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Layout:
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rear-wheel drive |
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Horsepower (hp @ rpm):
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460 @ 5200 |
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Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm):
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500 @ 3700 |
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Transmission:
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6-speed manual |
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EPA fuel economy, city/hwy:
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11/20 |
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Wheelbase:
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96.2 |
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Length/width/height:
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176.2/75.7/47.0 |
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Track, f/r:
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59.6/60.6 |
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Turning circle:
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40.5 |
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Seating capacity:
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2 |
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Head/hip/leg room, f:
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36.8/53.8/42.6 |
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Head/hip/leg room, m:
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|
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Head/hip/leg room, r:
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|
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Cargo volume:
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9.2 |
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Payload:
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|
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Towing capacity:
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not recommended |
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Suspension, f:
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Independent |
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Suspension, r:
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Independent |
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Ground clearance:
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5.0 |
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Curb weight:
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3447 |
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Tires:
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P275/35 ZR18 - P335/30 ZR18 |
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Brakes, f/r:
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vented disc/vented disc |
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Fuel capacity:
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18.5 |
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