2008 Dodge Viper SRT10

Most reviewers say the bold and brash Dodge Viper SRT10 is more of a race car than a street car. It lacks refinement, comfort and luxury amenities. But that's OK, according to many critics, because the Viper is built to be fast, and fast it is. For 2008, the Viper coupe and roadster's V-10 engine got an additional 90 horsepower to bring it to an incredible 600 horsepower total.

For the money, no other sports car offers that much power, reviewers say. Its closest competitor is the 505-horsepower Chevy Corvette Z06 (*est. $71,275), which auto writers say is a more-refined car, although not quite as fast as the Viper. Cars that compete with the Viper in terms of performance cost considerably more, such as the Porsche 911 Turbo (*est. $126,200 to $136,500). Some writers point out that the Viper's immense power and lack of stability control demonstrate the need for a skilled driver to fully exploit the car's potential and stay out of trouble.

The best overall description and critique of the Dodge Viper comes from Cars.com, which also includes a variety of technical and ownership information. Edmunds.com has a full road test and general review, plus a comparison test between the Viper and the Corvette Z06. Car and Driver magazine also pits the Viper against the Z06 and comes up with a different result.