The new 2013 SRT Viper GTS has the show car presence for the every day. I experienced it first hand while driving from Denver to Morrison during the annual RMDE road rally. People would drive alongside, try to take a picture, or do a double take. Yes, this car is still new, but there is no denying it. The Viper has special presence that is reserved for the exotics.
| STATS | Starting Retail Price | As Tested Price | HP / Lb-Ft |
| 2013 SRT Viper GTS | $120,395 | $152,090 | 640 / 600 |
| EPA Rating MPG | As Tested MPG | ||
| 12/19 Combined 15 | na |
The striking looks come at a price of interior space. I had a difficult time getting my 6’2” frame into the GTS for the road drive. It was even more challenging to climb in with a helmet on for the track session. I had to practice some yoga moves, but I do fit with the helmet on. Once behind the wheel, I needed to adjust to short short windshield. If I sat straight up, then I was basically looking at the head liner above the glass. It took a few minutes of driving to find a good sitting position. I had plenty of leg room and pedal position was just right. I really liked the tall fenders over the front wheels that point out the dimensions of the long hood and allow you to place the car better into corners.
Driving the new Viper GTS is easy. The clutch pedal does not take much effort, and the gear lever is close at hand. The gear shifter throws are very tight and close together – this requires some practice to master. I also noticed that the gear ratios are very close to one another. There is very little difference between first and second. Also, with 600 lb-ft of twist on tap, it does not really matter which gear you are in while tooling around town. Any gear will do.
Perhaps, the most striking aspect of the new Viper is how quick and precise its steering is. The car reacts to each slight motion of the wheel, and steering feel is very direct and well weighted. This cat has lightning fast reflexes and you always have to pay attention and respect it. Yes, the GTS has several modes of traction control and it is more friendly than the previous generation. Nonetheless, this 640 horsepower monster in a force to be reckoned with.
The final $152,090 price tag on this Viper GTS included: $14,600 – Stryker Package, $7,500 – GTS Laguna interior, $3,500 – Track Package, $1,00 – 18 speaker Harman Kardon stereo, as well as $2,600 gas guzzler tax.
TFLcar and SRT got together to set a production car record at the High Plains Raceway. It was a success! Check this video to find out how fast a Viper can go around the circuit at a mile above sea level.
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been a contributor at TFLcar since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or scouring the internet and other media for various automotive, mechanical, and computer related information.
