2008 Dodge Viper ACR: From L.A. to Bonneville

CHECK OUT THE VIPER AC-R ARTICLE:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=129907?tid=edmunds.il...

We're about to make our first high-speed run in the still-black 2008 Dodge Viper ACR when the old guy pulls up to our makeshift pit. He looks exactly like the guy you'd expect to meet in the middle of the Bonneville Salt Flats, like a worn-out Hank Williams, Jr.

Over the deafening cackle of his Cummins-powered diesel pickup, he yells, "What's you boys doin'?"

"We're going to make a few runs in this Viper here."

"Yeah, how fast will she run?"

"We don't really know. Maybe 190 or so."

By the expression on his face, it's obvious ol' Hank has figured out that we have no idea what we're doin'. He knows we're just a bunch of yahoos with a fast car. He takes a good long look at the big winged Viper, then he shuts off the truck's engine so we can hear him better.

"When you're going fast, the slightest gust of wind can flip you," he says. "That's why we only ran early in the morning when the air was calm."

We look up at the mid-afternoon sun and wonder what we've gotten ourselves into.

"And make sure you don't run out of room," he continues. "You think you have all the space in the world, then Floating Mountain is suddenly right in your face. I remember when I went for 300 mph back in 1978; my chutes didn't open and I almost didn't get her stopped." He runs his fingers through a white beard. "Didn't make 300 either," he adds. "Only 280."

Great. We thought this Bonneville thing was as easy as holding our foot down until the speedometer stopped moving. Now Mr. Monday Night has us imagining our $100,000 Viper sliding across the Utah desert on its roof.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 2008
• Dodge
• Viper
• ACR
• Chrysler
• auto
• car
• motor
• Edmunds
• Inside
• Line

[noshabibis]

ACR FTW. GT-R needs Twin Turbos, AWD, Paddle Shifters, Launch Control, Stability Control, and other crap to at least be behind the ARC's mirror.

ACR and ACR-X

Z06 and ZR-1 FTW

[noshabibis]

@Cripton805 LFA is a V10, in that case the Z06 Carbon Will still beat it for only $85,000 compared to LFA $500,000. CORVETTE FTW chances of you driving a LFA ($500,000) is like NEVER while me owning a Z06 well i already own a C5 Z06.

and who cares about the LFA LOL

[predatorpwr]

everyone is completely missing the point , everyone has different opinions and ideas about which car they like.

the bottem line is i guarantee that everyone here does not have, and has not drove any of the cars you speak of. the reason the LFA is so expensive is because your paying for exclusivity, yeah a zo6 beats it and a lot of other cars on bang for your buck.

but at the end of the day yours still driving a Chevrolet and everyone has a corvette.

to all the gtr haters, please just stop

[FullMetalOne]

@rforracing The Viper lapped the Ring in 7:12 .

wwwyoutubecom/watch?v=5STmCZT_­2E8

[SolidSnake3192]

you guys are freak . i hate some american guys who says japs cars are the best

EVEN IM NOT AMERICAN.you are american you sould be proud that you have the best cars in the world. but i love american cars soooooo much

especially the 70s and 80s MUSCLE CARS

i hate jap cars its craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap !!!!

and my fav cars i mean my dream car is DODGE VIPER

[Masudzz]

Wow

[Bduke1000]

@AvatarJizz ACR stripe is offset. Some think its ugly, I personally think it's pretty sweet.

[Howie262]

@gromislaw18 Yeah i agree man, even if the zr1 is faster then an ACR recently around the nurburgring id still have it.

I mean, i personally know what id rather be in at the limit of both those cars... the ZR1 will probably kill you...

but the ACR with its long ratio gears, tires and down force will never slip out from under you...

if you're driving a ZR1 at the limit, you'd better be awake.....

[rforracing]

@noshabibis Viper ACR might not need a stability control system or a dual clutch transmission, but it sure does need Sport Cup tires to achieve good times on the track. LF-A doesnt need R-compound tires to achieve a good time because it already lapped the ring in 7:14 with its stock summer performance tires.

[ellisfreedman]

This and the GT3 are the only contemporary cars left that you could consider true driver's cars. I would love to own one of these but I feel that it would scare. the fucking shit out of me lol

[xxMafia101]

@AvatarJizz Just so you can ask questions.