Car Sight

2009 Dodge Viper
2008 Dodge Viper

Introduction

When it comes to super cars, European automakers typically represents refinement, couture style and technological development, to the point of sterility. Here in the States, super cars is relatively raw, visceral and robust to the point of brutality. We are the ankle to their scalpel, that bucking Bronco to show their horse and Bourne for their Bond. For better or worse, this is how we roll.


The current third-generation Viper maintains tension and soul in 1989, Carroll Shelby-inspired concept, with the required low-slung body, long hood houses a massive V10, comically wide tires and gruff side exhaust pipes. The Dodge Viper not ask for permission and makes no excuses. Despite the technological advances in the last two decades, the Viper has just enough safety to make it legal to delegate the remaining responsibilities to the hands and feet of the driver. If efficiency is in itself not enough to cause palpitations, believes that traction and stability control are not available, and circumstances can go from exhilarating to terrifying in short order.

It is this unfiltered, uncomplicated character, which makes the Viper so attractive to enthusiasts, hearkening back to epochs when the driver was heroic, rugged and based on the seats of their pants instead of electronic aids. For those seeking more comfort, refinement and everyday driving manners, there is always the Corvette Z06, various European offerings such as the Audi R8 and Porsche 911, and even Nissan's new GT-R. But the 2009 Dodge Viper best the Z06 in almost every relevant performance metric and is significantly cheaper than something similar from the old world. Ultimately it comes down to what you're willing to compromise - performance or finesse.