Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Vs. Dodge Viper RT/10 Comparison
A heated debate has raged pretty much since Dodge Viper came screaming onto the American muscle car scene with its bold looks, raw attitude, and plenty of ponies to back up both characteristics. The debate whether or not the Dodge Viper was conceived to be the ultimate Corvette killer exploded in the media, on the tracks, and on local streets. With each new generation the Viper grew more venomous. But could Chevrolet allow Dodge to take the checkered flag from the all-American Corvette? In 2001 Chevy answered with the Z06. The Z06 has not been seen as an option since 1963. And what a perfect time it was to revive the Z06 rpo. The 2001 Z06 debuted with 385 hp to challenge the snake. The following model year, the Z06 received a slight bump in power to bring the number of ponies to 405. And a great rivalry was born.
What I describe in the following paragraphs is a comparison of a 2002 Z06 and a 2001 Viper RT/10, their pros and cons, and their behavior on the drag strip. Please keep in mind that this is just one driver's opinion. As an owner of both vehicles, I try to be as unbiased as possible when comparing the two cars. Both are very different but they're also the same....... They're both fine examples of kick-ass American muscle!
Shopping for cars is a very emotional experience for any car enthusiast. Looks are what most people are attracted to so let's start the comparison with the exterior. The first and second generation Vipers possess bold, no-holds-barred, almost cartoonish looks. The enormous hood, side exhaust on Gen I cars, huge tires, flowing lines, and a wide stance just screams "I have arrived! Now get the #&%^ outta my way!" The car has beautiful lines and turns heads everywhere. It was shaped by an artist. One look at the car and there's no mistake it's a Viper! The Z06, however, is extremely similar in looks to the base C5. Subtle exterior touches distinguish it from its sibling; Z06 badges on the fenders, front and rear brake cooling ducts, distinct wheels, larger rubber, and a titanium exhaust with a more aggressive note. With an untrained eye, one has to look pretty hard at the Z06 to know it is a Z06. The exterior of the Viper differs quite a bit from the Z06 with the Z's rather bland lines, pop-up headlights, and, generally, not overly aggressive look. The Z was shaped by the wind tunnel. The Viper is a true head-turner and it gets the nod in the exterior styling category. If you're going for the "bling" effect, there's no bang for the buck like the Viper.
So let's step inside the cabin. Unfortunately, neither car excels in fit and finish although the quality of leather in the Viper is slightly better. The stereo in the Viper is just pitiful and drivers have to be content with listening to the roar of the massive V-10 engine (which so sweet). It is amazing that such poor quality stereo found its way into a $70,000+ car. Although drivers enjoy great sound coming from the Z06's Bose stereo and speakers, they're not too happy with the excessive use of plastic in the cabin. It's everywhere and it's not pretty. A rubber sheath that covers the power window and door lock buttons is just terrible. Ergonomically, Viper and Z06 gauge clusters are laid out fairly well although I prefer the Z06's layout. The Viper has several smaller gauges located on the dashboard that are slightly tilted towards the driver. The Viper lacks power seat functions. Both cars have seats with adequate support but the Viper's seat can not be adjusted as well as the Z06's. Climate control in the Viper was designed by someone with an IQ of less than 30. It is the least user-friendly system I have seen in ANY car. And it's unfortunate because the rumors are true; the car runs very hot. Even with the top off, a lengthy trip on the highway or in local traffic becomes uncomfortable at times. The amount of heat emitting from the Viper's foot wells is excessive and the clutch, brake, and gas pedals are shifted slightly to the left so drivers with wide feet may find themselves hitting the brakes when searching for the clutch. One more oddity in the Viper - the seatbelts are on the opposite sides (extend right to left on the driver's side and left to right on the passenger's side). Trunk space is similar in both vehicles but the Viper's trunk is partially cluttered by a "doughnut" spare tire while the Z06 has none (a repair kit is included in lieu of a spare tire). The Z06 scores points in cabin layout and general comfort. I would not choose the Viper over the Z06 for daily driving duties.
Under the hood, access to major service points is about the same in both cars. While we're looking under the hood, let's talk about performance. Viper, hands down, end of story. Nope, don't even argue with me. NO! VIPER WINS! That's right, boys and girls, that's how strongly I feel about the Viper's performance. Case in point, I ran an 11.71 @ 119 mph in a totally stock Viper, on street tires, with the top OFF. I couldn't get the Z06 out of mid-12 second e.t. in stock trim. So that's where I end straight line acceleration discussion. I don't road race so I can't say first-hand which car behaves better in the turns. However, if you don't feel like your driving skills are up to par, please step into the Z06. Viper is raw and it can bite you in the butt really fast. I've lost control of the Viper twice and I consider myself a decent driver. The Z06 is a much more forgiving vehicle. Traction control and active handling will help keep Z06 drivers in line. The lack of such features in the Viper makes it downright dangerous in certain situations (the gas pedal is NOT your friend when trying to steer out of trouble). Dodge didn't even offer ABS on the Viper until 2001. I find that the Viper, with its 335 rear tires, is much easier to launch than the Z06 on the drag strip. The Michelin Pilots provide much better grip from a standing start than the Z06's narrower GoodYear Supercar F1s. Hitting the Viper's accelerator is just pure joy. The gobs of low-end torque pin the driver into the seat and the 3.07 gears really allow him to feel that torque. The shifter is pretty sloppy and the throw is too long, in my opinion. The Z06 with its 3.42 gearing runs out of rpms a lot faster and the driver has to bang another gear quicker than in the Viper. The Z really shows her stuff in third gear. Third is my favorite gear in the Z because you can really feel the car pulling HARD. I shift the Z near redline when racing while the Viper likes to be revved only to about the 5500 rpm line. The shifter in the Z won't win any praise from me either but it's slightly better than the snake's. The Viper wins performance and overall "joy of driving" categories.
I covered exterior, interior, and performance. Like I said before, both cars are very different and have their own pros and cons. However, if you're a true performance car enthusiast who loves American muscle cars, you owe it to yourself to drive or own them. You won't be disappointed.