Run to the Sun — Dodge Viper

NWAPA

Imagine driving a very cool new car for a distance between 9 to 25 miles, getting out and then into another very cool car for another 9 to 25 mile leg and then repeating the same routine through 23 cars in a two day period.

Welcome to the 2010 NWAPA (Northwest Automotive Press Association) Run to the Sun held recently in western Washington.? After 23 cars and more than 450 miles of smiles, here are our quick impressions of the Dodge Viper.


NWAPA

In some ways, driving the Viper SRT10 Coupe was like to paying a tribute to an old friend that was about to leave.? On July 1, Dodge produced the last of the 600-hp, 8.4-liter V-10 sports cars.? Our experiences with the Viper have never been overly pleasant ? the car is loud, uncomfortable and hard to get into, but when it comes to performance, it?s one of the world?s best.? We have to concede that during its 18-year life, the Viper has become a bit more polished and easier to live with, but it still has the kind of brute force that makes your heart beat faster, just by pressing the red start button. ?Over the years, the Viper has become the icon of fast sports cars, producing numbers that are nearly as good as you can get ? 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, top speed over 200 mph and cornering better than being on rails.? The Viper SRT10 Coupe has a base price of $91,935.? With a special green metallic paint, premium leather seating and the $1,700 Gas Guzzler Tax, bottom line on our ?Run? car was $97,230.? This is a collector?s car.

See the other 22 ?Run to the Sun? Cars here.

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