2000 Dodge Viper R/T10 8.0L V10

Summary:

Unique, Drivable, Supercar

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong in 2 years and 16K miles. Which is impressive to me, especially considering that I drive the Viper every day, AND regularly race it at the track.

I just replaced the rear tires, which wear about twice as quickly as the fronts. Parts are not cheap for this car.

General Comments:

The Viper is an amazing car. It was a dream of mine to own one, and I still love the car after two years.

I've done some modifications and the car's acceleration is truly SCARY (about the same as a stock Saleen S7).

The handling is amazing, as you can go faster than you would think to try in other cars. But the Viper does NOT suffer fools well, so you need to really take time to learn the car before driving close to it's limits (which are not obvious with squealing tires). The car's chassis is the most solid of any open car that I've driven.

Most of the complaints that I've read about the Viper can be fixed with simple mods. Cabin heat goes away with high-flow cats, a great exhaust sound comes with aftermarket exhaust, better visibility (for taller drivers) comes with a seat lowering kit. And I added a B&M shifter for tighter shifts.

Contrary to most beliefs of the public, I get decent gas mileage (for the performance) in the Viper, averaging around 16MPG with 26MPG on long freeway drives.

The one thing that I hadn't been prepared for was the instant celebrity status of the car. People smile, yell and wave every single day, and stare at the car as if there was a nude supermodel in the passenger seat.

It's not a car for everyone, that's for sure. But it's a real blast!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th July, 2004

14th Feb 2005, 11:39

If I were to ever own an American sports car, it would definitely be a Viper. I like Corvettes a lot, as they can tear up the road very well and give a comfortable ride on a long trip. However, even in central Minnesota there are enough of those things on the road that they just blend in with the sea of lesser cars. Vipers are so uncommon and much more aggressive than the Corvette, and that is one of the reasons I am so attracted to them. Also, it is amazing how the Viper came about, as the original show car in 1989 had no production plans. The Viper debuted as a 1992 model, and to design and build such a fine automobile in less than three years is a triumph. The low-tech brute force of the car is the icing on the cake; I am a major torque junkie (My 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado dishes out 10 ft/lb more than your Viper, but has a 1,400 lb and 3 gear disadvantage).

1999 Dodge Viper GTS 8.0L V10

Summary:

If you can afford this $100,000 (Canadian Funds ) bad boy, and like fast cars... go for it

Faults:

I had to replace the head gaskets at 75,000 Kilometers.

Fan belt went at around 90,000 Kilometers.

That is about it other than usual maintenance.

General Comments:

This car is simply a BEAST!!

With the big, wide tires on the back that come stock, this car takes off the line super fast. This car is so fast I'm afraid to even put it into 4th gear, considering it will do around 50 mph in first!!

The look of the VIPER GTS itself is mind blowing, and the performance as I described before, will give you an extreme adrenaline rush. The only thing I don't really like about the VIPER is that 10 cylinder engine, it SOUNDS like a TRACTOR! Even with a High Performance Muffler it sounds bad.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th February, 2003

19th Dec 2003, 09:14

If you hate the 10 cylinder engine so much, why did you buy the car? It's a viper, what do you expect it to sound like, a civic!!

23rd Dec 2004, 21:27

I have to agree with him. The Viper and most V-10's are anemic sounding. Listen to the difference between F1 cars when they had V8's and V12's. Now they sound like a pissed off zipper. The GTS is the best pruduction American sportscar ever, but sounds like crap.

20th Jan 2005, 21:38

Why would anyone complain about the sound of that v10? It is a big engine that spins a relatively low rpm. All Big low revving engines sound like this. I love that sound personally, but I drive a '71 Challenger with the 440 six pack. There's just nothing else like an exhaust loud enough to shake the ground!

14th Feb 2005, 11:30

I have been in the presence of an idling Viper a few times, and I agree that the engine note is a little odd. It does not have quite the burble of a V8 nor the smooth, almost V6-like whine (not a bad thing) out of a V12. When the guy revved it up sitting, it made a very strange roar. He then slowly accelerated to about 15MPH and floored it; I lost sight of the thing in its cloud. I prefer the V8 rumble, but the Viper has a very distinctive noise.

1st Sep 2005, 01:01

I have never owned a viper, but I have heard them and I will say they sound amazing. They sound mean as hell and that's why I like them.

14th Aug 2007, 00:29

I have never owned, or seen a Dodge Viper in real life, but I currently drive a Cadillac Fleetwood with a 4.5 liter V-8 that, when idling, has the glug glug sound of a truck, which I personally love. If I pulled up to a Viper, I would probably shut my engine off so that the driver knows that I have serious RESPECT for a 8.0 liter 450HP V-10.