Dodge Viper 2010
Dodge are a true American car company who have been in the game for many decades. Whilst in recent years they have fallen behind their rivals somewhat, they still have a few gems in their line-up that allow them to compete. Dodge owners; Chrysler have fallen into difficult times of late and recently sold a controlling interest in their company to Fiat, who are looking to revitalise the Dodge line-up.The Dodge Viper is next up for review and is probably the car that Dodge has been known for best in recent years. The iconic sports car has been a favourite of hardcore petrol heads. In recent years the hype that has always surrounded the car has not been backed up by solid performance, with the car always struggling, as many American cars have, with handling and quality of the drive.However, with the success of American companies of late, perhaps the Dodge Viper has itself turned a corner and finally realised its huge potential. From the outside, the Viper looks like it always has, which is mean and sporty. This design has served it well and certainly makes it look the part with its loud curvaceous features. It oozes “American”.The interior is bare, without luxuries and somewhat “cosy”. It wont deliver the most comfortable ride, nor the most practical one and those who want satellite navigation and other techno wizardry better look elsewhere, this is a high-speed performance car to thrash around in and little more.Under the hood sits a massive, and I mean a massive, 8.4 litre V-10 that can power out around 600 ponies. In a car whose chassis is made from fibreglass and comes without any electronic equipment inside, the speed at which this vehicle can go is astonishing. It should hit 60mph in under four seconds and keep going from there right up to around the magic 200mph mark.Rear-wheel drive helps to push this car along and the six speed manual should give the driver plenty of fun behind the wheel. Whilst the tires do provide plenty of grip, the car is not equipped with much in the way of safety features. Only ABS and front air bags come with the car, so being careful to keep the car within its limits should be a difficult-to-adhere-to priority.The price for the Dodge? Well you will be getting supercar performance and speed at high-end sports car prices. The Dodge starts at around $90,000 and can get up to around $105,000 if one opts for a convertible. The fuel economy is also poor, as one would assume, with the Viper getting no more than around 22 mpg with some careful driving.The Viper is a true, blue-blooded, American performance vehicle; it is both loud and obnoxious. It is bare of any modern comforts and isn’t particularly comfortable, but it certainly flies. The handling has been improved slightly making the drive decent, but you better be confident of your skills when you hit the high 100’s. If you are wanting a car that produces an exhilarating and hair-raising ride, and one to thrash around a race-track in, look no further than the Dodge Viper.
