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The upgrades of the ACR package work harmoniously to improve the Viper's manners around a track. Through corners and down the straights it feels as planted as a giant saguaro, the tires biting hard during turn-in and faithfully tracking the line unless you injudiciously prod the cast aluminum V-10 for too much power. With just 7.5 pounds for each horsepower to haul around, the engine will handily rip the massive 335 rear tires loose at command. But Chrysler, probably anticipating the result of such situations, gave the Viper a pair of smooth, linear throttles. Even in lower gears with the 10 cylinders wailing in their unique syncopated voice, oversteer control isn't as demanding as with the other cars here, especially the antsy Corvette.

Dodge Viper GTS ACR

Highs: Sticky, stable, and more nimble with ACR upgrades; engine doesn't care what gear it's in; your arrival is an event.

Lows: Shoehorn would help cockpit accessibility; perimeters are far away and invisible; if it were ever a bargain, it ain't now.

The Verdict: A potent track machine in a fabulous body.

That makes the Viper the sweetest and most stable of the boomers at speed. No surprise that it turned in the fastest acceleration numbers and lap times, beating the Corvette and the Cobra to the quarter-mile by 0.4 second.

But you still need titanium nerves to fully exercise the Viper on public roads. The tires never found a wheel track or rut they wouldn't follow to oblivion. With so much of the car's distant flanks out of sight, placing the leering snout between the yellow line and the guardrail is stressful exercise on narrow ribbons. "The car seems so big I can't tell where it ends or starts," commented one tingly-headed driver.

Folding yourself into the Viper is like sinking into a cast iron bathtub. The monochromatic gray walls are cold and encircle in some places to nostril level. The manual pedal adjuster increases the likelihood of achieving real comfort, although the left knees of tall drivers still meet the dash panel near the light switch. Frills are few, but an ACR can be "loaded" with air conditioning and a CD player as ours was. Actually hearing the wireless over the constant moan of the four rolling pins underneath is another matter.

Despite its flaws and its ever-climbing price, the Viper is simply lovable. It will do pretty much anything you ask of it except haul the family to the ski lodge. Just ask nicely.

FIRST PLACE
Chevrolet Corvette Z06


The Z06 doesn't win because it's the fastest (it isn't), it doesn't win because it's the prettiest (at least we don't think so), and it doesn't win because it's the most exciting (it's not bad).

The Corvette wins by a single point because it's almost as fast, just about as pretty, and certainly plenty exciting. It also costs almost eight grand less than the Cobra, a little more than half the price of the Viper, and has more amenities and space than either one.