A 2013 SRT Viper and dirt roads equal big, dusty fun

When it comes to high performance vehicles, the term “livable” gets tossed around more readily than a contestant on Wipeout. And for 2013, the SRT Viper has been lavished in praise for being just that. While the term remains relative, especially when comparing to the fiery-natured Vipers of old, I wondered how these claims could be proven. Can a group of journalists take an hour drive through the California hills to a racetrack where they’ll pound around lap after lap, and really declare the Viper “livable?” I didn’t think so either, so I decided to put the question to bed by utilizing a Viper GTS as my daily driver for two weeks — and taking it where few Vipers ever tread, namely off road.

Off-road? Yes, although we clearly aren’t talking about a Moab trip. But, if you’re claiming a car is more livable, then it needs to be able to handle things like gravel roads, or single tracks, especially when a buyer who can afford a $120,000 Viper may well have a place out in the country.

Simply, I wanted to discover if this new Viper can handle everything you might find on a summer adventure, and do so in relative comfort and with dignity. I also, just for my own amusement, wanted to know how the Viper does at rallying.

If you know anything about the old Viper, you’ll be forgiven for thinking I’ve gone mad. After all, Vipers are traditionally found wrapped around trees, where even the most competent of drivers have misunderestimated what more than 600 hp in a light, rear-wheel-drive car is capable of. How is this going to work, again?

For 2013, the Viper arrives with leather, comfier seats, a USB port and even a snazzy infotainment system. But perhaps the most sensible addition is the inclusion of traction control and, in the GTS model, a four-mode stability control system (the base SRT comes with either on or off).

The upgraded interior remains handsome and needed; the old Viper felt all performance with zero thought given to its occupants. The seating position boasts solid comfort, and the Sabelt seats – now upgraded from when we first drove the car last November – fit snuggly and keep backache to a minimum. While the cabin doesn’t exude German luxury, it also ditches the workman’s shed appearance of old.

When first stepping behind the wheel, the huge bulbous hood intimidates, but it doesn’t take long to feel at ease. The rear-view camera makes backing up a picnic, and steering lock is plenty sufficient to maneuver crowded areas with ease. And, if you keep the revs below 4,000 rpm, the Viper grumbles along, spluttering and moaning like a teenage boy en route to detention, but obediently follows orders to behave amicably. It’s only when you utilize the last 30 percent of throttle does the Viper truly come alive. And when it does, boy is it fast.