2003 Viper Review, you'll like this quote:)

[Supra]

This is a quote from a 2003 Viper review:

"The Viper V-10 is teamed with a 6-speed manual. No automatic. Never had one, never will if Dodge wants to keep its loyalists from storming the doors in protest. An automatic is for the Corvette crowd."

Of course Supras came in with autos too so I guess I should be "insulted" too

Here's the link to the article and the rest of the artilcle below that.
http://www.auto.com/reviews/viper17_20021217.htm

CHICAGO -- The 2003 Dodge Viper is the best rendition of the sports car that bowed in the 1992 model year.

The 8.3-liter, 20-valve V-10 now delivers an awesome 500 horsepower, a considerable upgrade from the mere 400 h.p. in the original.

And the V-10 develops 525 foot-pounds of slap-you-back-in-the-seat torque, a much more than modest upgrade from the 450 foot-pounds of torque in the original.

The '03 Viper SRT-10 is the first product of Chrysler Group's new Performance Vehicle Operations. It will be followed by a turbocharged, 215-h.p. SRT-4 version of the Dodge Neon early next year and an SRT-10 version of the Dodge Ram pickup that comes out sometime next year and shares the 500-h.p. V-10 with Viper.

Dodge will start delivering the Viper SRT-10 in January after the Environmental Protection Agency gives the car its official mileage rating.

Hop in, turn the key, press the starter button and enjoy the rumble coming from under the hood.

It's powerful and certainly visually appealing thanks to tweaks that refine the traditional design cues, such as the swept-back fenders and deep-cut side scallops, without diminishing any of the Viperness that had folks sending the automaker blank checks from Day One.

Ride is a tad stiff and handling requires some steering effort, but that's how Dodge and its Viper following want it. This isn't an everyday commuter. Isn't supposed to be.

Viper is still a high-performance image car, a niche it hasn't strayed from since it bowed in '92. Some loyal fanatics still grouse that it could use more power, because, they contend, you can never have too much.

The Viper V-10 is teamed with a 6-speed manual. No automatic. Never had one, never will if Dodge wants to keep its loyalists from storming the doors in protest. An automatic is for the Corvette crowd.

It comes with four-wheel anti-lock brakes, but no traction control nor 'Vette-like stability control.

Only concessions to civility in a machine that originally came without top or side windows are standard air conditioning, power windows/door locks, power mirrors, power adjustable brake/gas pedals and AM/FM radio with CD player. The air bags have a cutoff switch for the passenger side.

There's a power outlet for your cell phone, but if you travel with a beverage, bring along a passenger to hold the cup, can or bottle.

For '03, rather than coupe and roadster there's but one model, a convertible that, in meeting the Viper philosophy of keeping it simple, is manually operated.

The top can be lowered/raised fairly easily by one person and, unlike the foldable softtop in prior years, doesn't require that all hands first read, then reread the directions.

The Viper SRT-10 has a base price of $79,995. Add $800 for freight and a gas-guzzler tax. The amount of the tax will depend on the final EPA rating, but it's not likely Viper will top the 11 m.p.g. city/21 m.p.g. highway figure that earned the '02 a $3,000 guzzler penalty.

There basically is only one drawback to the '03 Viper. Most of the unwashed masses can't buy one. Even most of the washed masses with $80,000 in hand plus change to cover the guzzler tax won't be able to buy one, either.

Sorry, all 1,800 to be built have been gobbled up by 1,800 chaps and chapettes among the roughly 14,000 who already own a Viper.

Dodge gave current owners first crack at the new vehicle, and 1,800 took it up on an offer they simply couldn't refuse.

Dodge says it has no plans to repeat the offer for '04.

First chance non Viper Owners Club members will have to get a copy of the 500-h.p. machine will be in the 2004 model year.

Though the sales numbers are low, Dodge says Viper will play an even more important role over the next few years as the division offers a wider array of performance cars.

Viper is the halo machine for the SRT lineup to attract folks into showrooms, where they'll pay homage to Viper, but drive away in a more affordable Dodge Neon SRT-4 or Dodge Ram SRT-10 or a high-performance Dodge Charger.

Keep in mind, notes Jim Schroer, executive vice president of global sales and marketing, that between the SRT-4 and SRT-10 there are other numbers capable of SRT status -- such as 6 and 8, with 8 also carrying a Hemi designation.

The '03 Viper SRT-10 isn't a car for everybody, which certainly should cheer those 1,800 who will get one. 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10

Wheelbase: 98.8 inches

Length: 175.6 inches

Engine: 8.3-liter, 500-h.p. V-10

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Fuel economy: Not available

Base price: $79,995

Price as tested: $79,995. Add an undetermined gas-guzzler tax and $800 for freight.

Pluses: The V-10 with its 500 h.p. and 525 foot-pounds of torque. Exceptional styling. With such low volume, a very image-conscious niche vehicle. As crude as Corvette is civil.

Minuses: As crude as 'Vette is civil. Have to wait to get one. The not available noted above.

December 17, 2002

[Steve Ferguson]

When the story appeared in the Chicago paper they had a Vett review directly following it. It was nice to see a writer get it! He made it clear that these are two very different cars for two very different owners!

[Supra]

Yeah I like the "stability control" dig too

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Steve Ferguson:
When the story appeared in the Chicago paper they had a Vett review directly following it. It was nice to see a writer get it! He made it clear that these are two very different cars for two very different owners!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[dblankenbaker]

Steve, here's the back-to-back reviews you mentioned:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classi...3169917.column

"You'd think that since Chevy had 49 years to prepare for this model, there would have been a knock-your-socks-off limited-edition version in which badges and embroidery were secondary to let-it-all-hang-out performance.... Oh, well, Chevy has 49 more years to prepare for the 100th anniversary model."

[Y2K5SRT]

Very interesting! And since it is about the SRT, I am going to respectfully move it over to that forum for additional comment.

Chris