Thats a pretty good writeup. But for the person who doesn’t have an expendable income, this can clearly put the ZO6 above the Viper in a “realistic” category.
Price, however, is always a factor. Our Viper wore the optional painted-on dual stripes and “razor” wheels and was socked with $1,300 in mandatory gas-guzzler tax. In total, these add-ons tally $5,000 and bring the Viper’s as-tested price to $89,745.
Not that it makes a difference in a contest where adrenaline matters most, but the Viper — in the grand Viper tradition — lacks any sort of creature comforts beyond the ubiquitous air-conditioning and power windows. Dodge also left out any kind of electronic lifeboats, like traction or stability control.
The Z06 is cheaper. It’s also packed with gadgets and gizmos that make it a more usable car. Our test car came with $8,585 in options, including a navigation system, chrome wheels, head-up display, heated seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, auto-dimming mirrors, side impact airbags and steering-wheel radio controls. Traction and stability control systems are standard. At $78,225 it’s a good value. No, it’s a steal. And it’s the only car to offer this kind of performance for under 80 grand.