Dodge Viper: Not Ready for Open Roads?

I read with interest Paul Dean’s article on the Dodge Viper RT/10 (Jan. 1).

A top speed of only 165 from 400 (horsepower) seems minimal; are the aerodynamics that poor?

Do you really believe that any dealer will sell the car for its listed price of $50,000? With only 200 cars available for 1992, any dealer who charges the list price should be nominated for a Nobel Prize.

I can hardly wait until the car begins to appear in the automotive section of the Times Classified with an asking price of $200,000. I can see the get-rich-quick speculators having a field day with this one.

Unlike the Miata, the Viper will prove a car to be relegated to the confines of a garage as being too hard to drive and (because of) the fun of trying to obtain insurance.

Chrysler had its chance to come out with a car that would compete with the Corvette, but I guess the egos at Chrysler got in the way.

The big three all have ego problems; look what Corvette did to the ZR1. One of the best cars in the world goes begging for buyers at less than $45,000 new because the new LT1 is almost as fast, looks the same, is available as a convertible and costs less. Hey, maybe this is why GM gave out performance bonuses to their decision makers.

It’s hard to keep the faith, but I try.

ALDEN JAY GLICKMAN

Ventura