You Shake my Nerves and Rattle my Brain

It’s loud and uncivilized. The ride beats you up. It’s crude, has a cramped interior and is woefully impractical. I loved it — in small doses. Call it an automotive addiction only an enthusiast could love. I hated giving it back to Dodge after my weeklong love affair.

Viper began as a concept car in 1989 and was met by rave reviews from the public and automotive journalists. Viper production began in 1992 with the RT/10, which was powered by a 400 horsepower V-10 engine for about $54,000. The original was a targa-style roadster with zip-in plastic side windows and a horrible convertible top mechanism. All first year Vipers were red with gray interior.

The GTS was introduced as a 1996 Viper coupe. It was only available in blue with white stripes, and was a major upgrade with numerous improvements. The coupe was discontinued in 2002.

The second-generation Viper debuted in 1997 with horsepower upped to 450. In 2003, Viper went through its third and most significant change with a new body style and a larger 8.3-liter 500-horsepower engine. The RT/10 designation gave way to SRT-10, Dodge’s in-house performance company, Street and Racing Technology.

For 2006 the Viper coupe returns and features a “double bubble” roof (for helmet clearance) and distinctive rear styling. I drove the roadster, which is now a true convertible with a top that folds down flat and has a glass rear window.

While vastly improved over the original, the third-generation Viper is not a car for those who expect comfort and convenience in a performance car, as in the Corvette. Standard equipment includes a manual top, leather seating surfaces, power windows and mirrors, interval wipers, remote locking, tilt steering, fog lamps, AM/FM/CD audio system and power adjustable pedals.

Options are limited to satellite radio, polished wheels and choice of exterior paint color.

The base price is $85,745 for the convertible and $86,995 for the coupe. Prices include destination charges and a $3000 gas-guzzler tax.

Vipers come with a 510-horsepower 8.3-liter aluminum V-10 engine mated to a Tremec T56 six-speed manual transmission. Vipers are fast — very fast — screaming from zero to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. The quarter-mile takes just 11.7 seconds, reaching 123 miles per hour.

Dodge says the lightweight plastic-body Viper can go from zero to 100 and back to zero in just 12.5 seconds and has a top speed of 190 mph. It’s motorized insanity, at least to the sane. Huge 14-inch Brembo front and rear disc brakes can stop the Viper from 60 mph in just 100 feet, according to Dodge.

Behind the wheel it’s easy to understand why Viper loyalists are willing to spend crazy money for a car that can’t be driven every day. The power is addictive, and it’s hugely fun to drive. Handling, with Viper’s racetrack quality suspension and monster-sized 275/35R18s on the front and 345/30R19s in the rear, is the best I’ve experienced in any production vehicle.

Just getting behind the wheel requires careful skill. The doorsill, which also houses the side exhaust pipes, are wide and come with warning stickers not to touch while getting in and out of the vehicle. Very difficult for me and nearly impossible for shorter drivers.

The deep form fitting bucket seats are low and drivers over 6-foot will be cramped. The console is high and wide and houses a small storage area and switches for the power windows, with the gearshift residing next to the steering wheel.

The instrument panel features white-faced gauges that are canted to the left toward the driver. The gauges are easy to see but I found the speedometer numbers to be too small and difficult to read. Not good when it’s so easy to reach the posted speed limit, and then some.

There’s still too much cheap plastic throughout the dash, center console and door panels.

The pedals are set farther to the left than most vehicles, and are power adjustable but small. There’s a new dead pedal for resting your left foot.

Driving the Viper is a lot of work and requires the skill of an excellent driver. Triple digit speeds can be reached in a matter of seconds. The shifter isn’t smooth and requires precision to hit the gates just right. It’s hard to get into, so loud that it’s impossible to have a conversation with a passenger or listen to the stereo, the cabin gets hot from the massive engine, and the air conditioner isn’t much help. The ride is extremely firm. With so much power that you rarely need to use more than the first three gears, it’s hard to drive the Viper on the street. If the initial price won’t break the bank, the 10 miles to the gallon I experienced certainly will.

Safety features are minimal. There are no side airbags, traction or stability control.

Approximately 1000 Vipers are hand built each year at the Conner Avenue assembly plant in Detroit. They come with a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty.