Those of you who routinely check our news blog, Straightline, you've already seen the results of our long-term 2009 Dodge Viper SRT-10's first trip to our test track. For everyone else, what's the holdup? It's free. Check it! But still, a long term car deserves a long term blog and the Viper is one helluva long term car....
Remember: This thing's got 600 horsepower from an 8.4-liter V10. It's got 560 lb-feet of torque. It's rear-wheel-drive, weighs just 3,400 lbs (yeah, that's a 'just' these days) and laughs in the face of lawmakers and their mandatory stability control reactionism. Live free or die, baby.
So what'd it do at our track? Follow the jump for results and a video.
If you have trouble viewing the video, click here.
Vehicle: 2009 Dodge Viper SRT-10
Odometer: 6,096
Date: 4/27/2010
Driver: Josh Jacquot
Base Price (with destination): $89,340
Options: Viper Very Orange Pearl Coat, Dual Graphite Painted Stripes ($3,000); Navigation System ($1,790).
As-Tested Price: $94,130
Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: 6-speed manual
Engine Type: V10
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 8,383/512
Redline (rpm): 6,000 6,250
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 600 @ 6,100
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 560 @ 5,000
Brake Type (front): 14.0-by-1.3-inch ventilated with 4-piston fixed calipers
Brake Type (rear): 14.0-by-1.3-inch ventilated with 4-piston fixed calipers
Steering System: Hydraulic-assist power rack-and-pinion
Suspension Type (front): Independent double-wishbone, coil springs, monotube dampers, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent double-wishbone, coil springs, monotube dampers, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 275/35ZR18 95Y (29 psi cold spec)
Tires Size (rear): 345/30ZR19 105Y (29 psi cold spec)
Tire Brand: Michelin
Tire Model: Pilot Sport PS2
Tire Type: Summer
Wheel Size (front): 18-by-10-inches
Wheel Size (rear): 19-by-13-inches
Wheel Material (front/rear): Cast aluminum
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,436
Test Results:
0 - 30 (sec): 1.8
0 - 45 (sec): 2.8
0 - 60 (sec): 3.7
0 - 75 (sec): 5.2
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 11.6 @ 125.7
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 3.4
30 - 0 (ft): 27
60 - 0 (ft): 107
Braking Rating: Very Good
Slalom (mph): 74.0
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.96
Handling Rating: Excellent
Db @ Idle: 58.5
Db @ Full Throttle: 86.1
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 74.0
Acceleration Comments: This is so cool. 11.6 @ almost 126 mph with virtually no wheelspin. Wow! Don't rush 3rd gear, however, or you'll find that its synchro isn't happy. Otherwise, the Viper hits 60 mph in 1st gear and goes through the quarter-mile in 3rd gear.
Braking Comments: Immediate pedal. No fade. Very consistent.
Handling Comments: Slalom: Very high limits and impressive stability. Very secure and even relatively easy sub-limit driving. Attitude doesn't encourage exceeding those limits, though. Skid pad: Balance favors understeer at this speed. No real shift in balance from lift-throttle at this speed, either. Doesn't want to powerslide.
carguy622 says:
01:20 PM, 05/26/10
"Remember: This thing's got 600 horsepower from an 8.4-liter V10."...
Thanks, but you really don't need to remind me.
audisport says:
01:21 PM, 05/26/10
Can't beat 0-60 in 1st gear!
chuckg says:
01:23 PM, 05/26/10
What an awesome sound the Viper makes! Turn the volume up when watching this video.
ndahi says:
01:25 PM, 05/26/10
Man, that is some tall gearing. Going through the traps in 3rd gear is impressive. That is what all this torque allows you to do: install really tall gears that will reduce the shifting and imporve fuel economy. My S2000 has the shortest gearing of any car I have driven to date.
stress83 says:
01:32 PM, 05/26/10
@ndahi:
That's because your S2000 has but a fraction of the torque that this creature produces!
carguy622 says:
01:33 PM, 05/26/10
S2000 ≠ Torque.
But it's no problem, you get to shift that sublime 6-speed more, no?
ndahi says:
02:01 PM, 05/26/10
@ stress
I thought it was implied in my comment that I know that my S2000 has no torque. You know when I said
Sentence #1: "That is what all this torque allows you to do: install really tall gears that will reduce the shifting and imporve fuel economy."
Then I followed it with the comment on the S2000 gearing:
Sentence #2: "My S2000 has the shortest gearing of any car I have driven to date."
What does that imply? Does it imply that I do NOT know that my S2000 is torque deficient!!! People need to learn how to read and not assume that owners do not know about their cars.
felonious says:
02:57 PM, 05/26/10
You and the Viper make that slalom look so easy! It looks like you could've gone 10mph faster.
td1105 says:
03:01 PM, 05/26/10
I second the comment on the sound this engine makes...heavenly. That low, throaty growl is fantastic.
uncanny_man says:
04:07 PM, 05/26/10
74 mph in the slalom is seriously impressive. That's faster than the gtr, 911 gt3, f430, m3 (not the zr1 though). Wow.
stress83 says:
04:22 PM, 05/26/10
@ ndahi:
If we were able to use smilies, you may have picked up the facetiousness I was "implying."
Meh... what all does the implying imply anyway?
yellowmiata says:
04:59 PM, 05/26/10
It sure is fun to watch that snake run! Thanks for the video IL.
I know, due to diminishing returns on investment, that to accelerate faster you need double (or exponential) more power. However the other metrics aren't as impressive. Braking, turning and slalom are all similar to cars costing 1/2. I guess I'm underestimating the difficulty of creating something with such a heavy engine cranking out those numbers...
And then again, I could just listen to her growl and I'd be satisfied.
gts09 says:
05:06 PM, 05/26/10
Love the Viper, but which would you guys take if you had the choice, this or the ZR-1?
gts09 says:
05:15 PM, 05/26/10
and also i think id vomit if i was in this and i was racing a CTS (v700 of course) and it started to leave me after the 1/4 mile mark. They both trap at 11.6 sec viper @ 125.7 V700 @ 127.6.
inlinesix says:
05:20 PM, 05/26/10
Wasn't the slalom from this thing 74 mph? Thats beating many Porsche 911's and the Lotus Elise?
Not bad yes?
stress83 says:
05:26 PM, 05/26/10
@ gts09
ZR1 or SRT10?
I'm taking the Dodge. While both have similar numbers, the Corvette does not give you rockstar status.
fundango says:
06:10 PM, 05/26/10
Fun video to watch.
uncanny_man says:
06:10 PM, 05/26/10
@yellowmiata:
What are you talking about? That slalom speed is one of the highest I've ever seen on insideline! The gtr did 72.9 mph, the 911 gt3 did 73.4, the f430 68.9 mph, the m3 coupe 73.3, and the zr1 74.7. How much more impressive does it need to be?
zcalvert says:
07:07 PM, 05/26/10
i think we're WAY overdue for dan's suspension walkaround for the viper
bodyblue says:
07:59 AM, 05/27/10
"Redline (rpm): 6,000
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 600 @ 6,100"
I assume this is yet another typo? co you guys EVER proof read your posts?
stingray454 says:
08:29 AM, 05/27/10
bodyblue catching typos. Now that's a laugh. You don't even proof your own posts dude.
Anyway, damned impressive numbers from that there Viper. It's a shame it's being retired.