Street Scene
by Larry Mason
Dodge Viper GTS Coupe ACR

Journalism | New Car Reviews

Raw power, unbridled running capability, scary at times, and kick ass fun almost always, the new Viper GTS Coupe ACR edition is all those things and more. It's an incredibly visceral experience every time you start the massive 8.0-liter V10. When you picture the muscularity of a thoroughbred with a tiny jockey on top awaiting the battle, think about this --the Viper is like harnessing 460 of those thoroughbreds and it was born to run.

The wow factor is off the scale, the chick magnet feature is over the top, and the temptation factor is immeasurable. Yes I survived my four days with the Viper without being hauled off to the slammer. It was one of the hardest cars to give up, yet one of the easiest at the same time. I could only imagine that it would be like taking massive amounts of drugs for four days and being way high (and paranoid) and then quitting cold turkey - going through withdrawals but glad to be out of the potentially dangerous lifestyle. Buckle up tight, this is one ride you don't want to miss.

Where do we start? With the beautifully sculpted body, or with the heart beneath the skin? It's funny but as I'm writing this I just keep thinking back to those "Bedazzled" billboards with Elizabeth Hurley in red. If you can imagine that, you can imagine the Viper - Beautiful on the outside yet devilishly wicked on the inside. This car is truly an all-American because of the excess. An 8-liter, V10 that pumps out 10 more horsepower thanks to this being the ACR edition and an incredible tree-stump pulling 500 lb-ft of torque. The torque and horsepower combined give the Viper an immense drivability advantage over any other car on the market. Still if you want that neck snapping acceleration feel, your best bet is to leave it in a lower gear. To give you a usable example of its low-speed acceleration, I was sitting in the right lane at a stoplight when it changed to green. There was another car in the left lane that was coming up to the light at 35 mph. By the end of the intersection, I was already up to speed! Now keep in mind that there's more to it than just sticking your foot in it. Even with gargantuan 335/30ZR18 tires in the rear, the Viper can easily smoke them in third gear!

Here's another example of the power that happened to me quite unintentionally. Cruising at 40 mph in first gear, I found myself needing to accelerate for a moment (a recurring moment for four days). The Viper lit up the rear tires as if it was raining outside!

The engine is loud and gets terrible fuel mileage (7.8 mpg), as you'll find out at the dealership when the Feds make your fork over $3,000 for a gas guzzler tax. One day while I was standing in front of the Viper with the engine idling, I could hear the air being sucked into the NACA duct on the front hood. If I could hear the air being sucked in, I knew that my money allocated for gas was also being sucked out of my wallet as well.

The six-speed manual transmission is mated to the engine by a 12" clutch. Unfortunately, the gearbox was a bit notchy between 2nd and 3rd gear. Also, the pedal placement was rather unusual. The brake and gas were set up great for heel/toe downshifting, however the clutch and brake were located too far to the left to be comfortable. As you sit in the driver's seat, your legs have to be positioned well to the left of in front of you. The Viper's pedals are height adjustable by way of a knob under the dash.

In the past, the Viper has received poor marks when it comes to handling by a number of journalists in the industry. Keep in mind that most of those journalists can't drive their way out of a wet paper bag. This is not to say that I disagree with them totally, however I think that the rap is worse than the Viper really is. To really find the absolute limit of adhesion in acceleration, cornering, braking, and transitional turns, this car has to be driven on the racetrack. Since I didn't have that chance, I'll just have to make due with what I was able to sense. The nice thing about the Viper is that with judicial use of the throttle, you can help steer the car with the rear. I found it easy to bring the tail end out in a smooth power slide but I also found where it would be real easy to turn that powerslide into a backwards adventure. The overall size and weight (3,447 lbs.) of the Viper limits its capabilities as far as quick and nimble handling are concerned, but it's still quite tossable. The big disappointment I had was with the brakes. No ABS here and to tell you the truth, this car needs it. It's way too easy to lock the brakes on this car when your average econoegg would stop without any drama. Minimal body roll, acceleration squat, or brake dive is apparent. But that harsh ride only enhances the squeaks and rattles.

Getting into and out of the Viper is a bit of a chore, but the reward is well worth the trouble. Little storage space, no cupholders, and poor visibility out the B/C pillars is offset by great analog gauges, a five-point racing harness, forward visibility, and nice elastic storage pockets overhead and above the mini-console.

The exterior bodywork is voluptuous to say the least. A massive front air dam starts at the bottom of the long and curvaceous hood. Huge fender flares are tastefully done to cover up the gargantuan tires in the front (275/35ZR18) and rear. A wide rear-end with spoiler and two "helmet bubbles" in the roof finish off the skin. This one was painted "Viper Red Clearcoat" but I suggest that they rename it to simply "Arrest Me Red" - especially after they have put two wide silver stripes from front to rear.

This car is fast - brutally fast. It was designed for speed and it unequivocally achieved its task. As the 2003 Viper has been unveiled recently, Dodge has upped the ante again with their world beater boosting horsepower to a clean 500. In the meantime, for a mere $86,860 you could have one now. Besides, if you drive it on the street, you'll probably be in jail 'till 2003 anyway!

The ACR Viper GTS coupe will have you saying, "The devil made me do it!" every time!

Is there a car review, or comparison test you would like to see? Send your suggestions, comments, and questions to:
Larry Mason