2000 Dodge Viper - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	RT/10 Rating (See All Ratings)	Premium Sporty performance Car Average Rating

Acceleration	10	7.4

Fuel Economy	2	4.7

Ride Quality	2	3.4

Steering/Handling/Braking	8	7.6

Quietness	1	3.6

Controls	3	5.1

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)	4	4.7

Cargo Room	1	2.2

Value within Class	1	2.5

Total Score:	32	41.2

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

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2000 Dodge Viper Review

Dodge's high-performance rear-wheel-drive 2-seat sports car gets only minor changes for 2000, including a new silver exterior color and revisions to the ACR equipment group.

Viper comes as the GTS coupe and RT/10 convertible. They share a 450-horsepower 8.0-liter V10, America's largest and most-powerful production automobile engine. A version of this V10 is used in Dodge's Ram pickup truck.

A 6-speed manual is the sole transmission; its shifter automatically goes from first gear to fourth gear in light-throttle acceleration as a fuel-saving measure. The clutch, brake, and gas pedals are adjustable for reach. The convertible has a removable soft top above the seating area; a removable hard top is optional. Air conditioning and leather seating surfaces are standard, but antilock brakes, side airbags, and traction control are unavailable.

Vipers now have a child-seat tether anchorage, and the race-ready Viper ACR gets a new nameplate and a revised front suspension with stiffer spring rates.

Competition

This class features an interesting mix of hard-core performance models and more luxurious touring convertibles. Our Best Buys give you a little of both worlds. The Chevrolet Corvette is fast, comfortable, and reasonably affordable. Unlike previous models it doesn't beat you up with a hard ride, and it will cruise quietly at highway speeds. Our other Best Buy, the Mazda Miata, is a bare-bones roadster with few frills and average acceleration, but for weekend fun on a twisty back road it's hard to beat. If you don't mind spending a few more bucks, we recommend you take a look at the BMW Z3 and Mercedes-Benz SLK. Both are two-seat convertibles. The BMW is more sporty and the Mercedes is more luxurious. If you are interested in bang-for-the-buck our Budget Buys include the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. At any given price or equipment level the Camaro is a faster car, but the Mustang might be a little more user-friendly as a daily driver.

News

It's been the oldest car in the Dodge lineup for some years now, dating from 1991, but the Viper will finally get a complete overhaul for 2003, or so say Motor City tipsters. Likely be patterned on GTSR concept that wowed most everyone at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show, the next Viper will retain familiar styling themes in more exaggerated form, and will probably be lower and much wider than at present--but not much longer--judging by the concept design. The chassis will be strengthened to handle more horsepower--perhaps as much as 500--and suspension components will make greater use of lightweight aluminum. You can also expect bigger brakes and a roomier, more ergonomic cockpit. Despite rumors of a new V8 powerplant, a front-mounted V10 will continue, Dodge believing this engine with its unique sound to be an essential part of the Viper's character.

2000 Dodge Viper Road Test >

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