2009 Dodge Viper

Review

If you ever happen to see the long, sleek body of the Dodge Viper in your rearview mirror, do yourself a favor and get out of the way. Of course, you’ll want to move for your own safety, but you’ll also have a much better view of the legendary American performance car as it blasts past you. The 2009 Viper is faster and more powerful than any other sports car at its price point and can even contend with most exotic sports cars. Although not quite as refined and comfortable as other super luxury sports cars, the Viper has an appealing aggressive exterior and race-car-like handling. Read on for the results of our road test of the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT-10.

Improvements from the 2008 Dodge Viper

For 2009, Dodge debuts the track-tuned American Club Racer (ACR) package and four new body colors.

Performance

No other vehicle in the segment can outperform the dauntingly powerful 2009 Dodge Viper. In fact, the Viper can rival many exotics that sell for twice the price. The Viper comes equipped with a 600-horspeower V10 that blasts from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The Viper’s quarter-mile time, 11.8 seconds, is faster than many cars’ 0-60 times. Reviews praise the Viper for its responsive steering, race-car handling, and substantial brake pedal. The brakes bring the Viper to a halt from 60 mph in a stunning 104 feet, which is superb for the class. Only a six-speed manual transmission is offered.

Exterior Features

The Viper’s trademark long body sets it apart from other sports cars and will grab more attention than you can handle. You can view photos of this sleek speed machine in our gallery of the 2009 Viper. The body style of the Viper isn’t just aesthetically appealing—it’s also highly functional, as it maximizes the aerodynamics of the vehicle. One complaint reviewers have about the Viper’s design is that its trademark side exhaust pipes make the side sills of the car extremely hot and may burn the driver’s legs. Standard exterior equipment includes forged-aluminum wheels, sport tires (18” in the front and 19” in the back), dual side exhaust, power mirrors, and high intensity headlights. The 2009 Viper is available as a two-seat coupe or a soft-top convertible.

Interior Features

Car reviews call the interior of the 2009 Dodge Viper drab and Spartan compared to those of its competitors in the super luxury car class. No other car at this price point can beat the Viper’s performance, but the Viper lags behind in comfort and convenience features. Taller drivers may also find it difficult to exit and enter the vehicle because of the low-slung doors. Highlights of the Viper’s cabin include the easy-to-read black-and-white gauges and the beautiful two-tone color scheme, which is optional. Standard interior equipment includes a six-disc CD changer, race-inspired seats, tilting steering wheel, keyless entry, a 300-watt stereo system, and power adjustable pedals.

Safety and Specifications

Because of the Viper’s price point, the car insurance industry and the federal government have not crash tested it. Although specific data are not available, auto reviews have repeatedly expressed concern about the car safety of the 2009 Viper. The Viper includes only enough safety equipment to comply with federal law, such as multistage front airbags and anti-lock brakes. Conspicuously and disconcertingly absent from the Dodge Viper are electronic driver aids, such as traction and stability control, that have become standard on almost all other vehicles. The absence of these safety features further underscores the importance of driver skill and experience in staying safe in such a high-powered vehicle. Students may find that getting cheap student car insurance with a Viper can be difficult. An overview of the Dodge Viper’s specs is offered below.

• Car pricing: $88,755 - $89,505 MSRP; $82,457 - $83,139 invoice
• Engine: 8.4-liter, 600-hp V10
• Transmission: six-speed manual transmission
• Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds

Upgrade Options

Individual options available on the 2009 Viper include satellite radio, a navigation system, wheel and paint options, racing stripes, a two-tone interior, and instrument-panel trim. Dodge offers two performance-enhancing upgrade packages: the American Club Racer (ACR) package and the Hard Core Package. The ACR package adds aerodynamic carbon-fiber devices and a firmer suspension to the Viper. The ACR Viper is about 46 pounds lighter than the traditional coupe, which makes it ideal for track performance. Buyers can further enhance the ACR package with the Hard Core Package, which removes features that are not essential on the race track, such as the radio, tire inflator, and speakers, in order to shed an additional 42 pounds of weight.

How the 2009 Viper Compares to Other Super Luxury Sports Cars

The Dodge Viper is hard to beat in terms of brute force and raw speed. Although priced on par with or higher than its competitors, the Viper can’t compete with the comfort and convenience features that make its super luxury sports car counterparts easier to live with. The fuel economy of the 2009 Viper is average for the segment, with a city/highway rating of 13/22 mpg.

New car guide websites approximate the 2009 Dodge Viper’s Intellichoice 5 year cost of ownership at $93,080, which is average for a car of this caliber. The 2009 Viper earned a slightly disappointing score of 6.0 out of 10 on the J.D. Power Quality Ratings for predicted reliability. The Dodge Viper comes with solid warranty protection, including a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a lifetime powertrain warranty.

Conclusion: Is the Viper a Smart Buy?

Driving a Viper is a heart-pounding experience best reserved for highly skilled drivers who value visceral power and speed. The Viper has blistering acceleration, race-car handling, bold styling, and class-leading brakes. At less than half the price, the Viper can easily compete with any exotic sports car. Granted, the Viper is tough to get in and out of and is a bit too outrageous for daily driving. If you frequent the race track or just like the feel of 600 horsepower hurtling you through space every now and again, you can’t go wrong with the 2009 Dodge Viper.