Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Vs. SRT Viper

There are plenty of very fast muscle cars that would like to contend with these two, but when it comes to track-carving capability and sheer on-road prowess, the heavier, lazier muscle cars can't compete with these purpose-built super sports cars.

But how do you choose between them? The Corvette Stingray is brand-new, offers 455 horsepower, and brilliant handling, for starting price around $52,000. The SRT Viper is much more powerful at 640 horsepower, but it's also much more expensive, up to $101,309 for the 2014 model year.

The price and the power aren't the only differences between the Viper and the Stingray, however.

The Viper is bred from genes that fall much closer to the racing branch of the tree than the Corvette's. That comes across in its on-track performance, which is brilliant, but also tricky. With 640 horsepower on tap from its 8.4-liter V-10 engine, even the new advanced performance-oriented traction and stability controls can't always keep up. There's massive grip and stopping power, but there's also a tendency to twitch and squirm at the limit that can be unnerving at speeds well over 100 mph.

2014 SRT Viper TA2014 SRT Viper TAOn the street, the Viper's race-bred genes come through too, though in a more unwelcome way. The cockpit is immensely refined from previous versions of the Viper, with quality materials and attractive, modern design--but it's also loud, low, and riding on a stiffly sprung chassis. Viper GTS models get an adaptive suspension that helps balance the street ride quality, but still tends toward the firm over the

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray first drive2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray first drivePerformance is surprisingly similar in some regards, despite the 185-horsepower difference. The Viper hits 60 mph from a stop in the low-three-second range, while the Corvette gets there in 3.8 seconds. That's a few more ticks of the stop watch, but in the real world, both are blindingly quick. Top speed for the Stingray hasn't been established yet, while the Viper's is known, at 206 mph. The Stingray will likely be close behind, as previous Corvettes have nudged the 200-mph mark with similar power levels.

Gas mileage is one major point of contrast. The SRT Viper's monstrous horsepower output comes at a cost, with EPA ratings of just 12 mpg city and 19 mpg highway for a combined 15 mpg. The Chevy Corvette Stingray is much more efficient, at 17 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined with the seven-speed manual transmission. The automatic loses 1 mpg across the board.