Corvette vs Viper vs Mustang - comparison test
The Old Nub's Journal. Issue #1.
(My genuine interest in these three models came from the game NFS HP 2, so I decided to review exactly them).
Today we're rolling out of the garage for hard testing not some new hatchback from Korea. No, we'll take a look at the three greatest representatives of 1990s automotive America – the fifth Chevrolet Corvette, the first generation Dodge Viper and the fourth Mustang from Ford. And we won't mess around – we'll take the best examples of these models: the Corvette Z06, the Dodge Viper GTS and the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R – all of them ruled the American highways at roughly the same time. Two of them – the Corvette and the Viper – were bought at official dealerships for $72,000 and $90,000 respectively, while the Mustang could only be found second-hand with some mileage, though it was handed over only at the price of a new one – $56,000. And the Performance Red color echoes its opponents.
As you can see, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive participant in the test is quite substantial. And we'll clearly show you what you're paying for when you choose a product from Chevrolet, Ford or Dodge.
First, let's take a look at the Corvette. Like the other cars, ours is red, or rather Torch Red – we considered this color the most fitting for the spirit of this car. It was in exactly this color that it was presented at the Detroit auto show in March 1997, replacing the previous model, the C4, which had served since 1984. The new car compared favorably with its predecessor – its soft rounded shapes transformed the familiar look of the Vette, so there are no complaints about the design. The model we have at our disposal is a 2004 Z06 coupe. The coupe was first presented a year after the roadster's premiere, and the sporty Z06 version in 2001, and since then its engine output was slightly increased twice, in 2002 and 2004. Ours turned out to be the last variant of the already retired C5 model, with a 5.7-liter V8 engine producing 395 (385, 411*) hp in the global classification.
The Dodge Viper first saw the world as a concept in 1989, and went into series production in 1992 – the first model was the R/T roadster. This car didn't have the history of its competitors considered here, and on top of that the first model turned out to be quite primitive technically. But you only have to look at it, and you immediately forget all the flaws of this Viper. It seems this car could be produced for decades and not lose its wildness, which makes passersby on the streets turn their heads. Even the second generation of this car, which saw the light more than a decade later, didn't go far in terms of aggressiveness. The long hood houses a crazy 10-cylinder 8-liter unit, which can be considered one of the largest-displacement production engines in the world. If not the largest. Our coupe, which appeared in 1996 under the GTS index and carried, besides a new body, many technical novelties, is equipped with exactly such a 435 (455*)-hp engine, which promises to tear the "small-displacement" competitors to shreds.
The last and rarest guest at our lavish buffet today, the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R from the last batch, produced in 2000. Very few of these cars were made – 106 units in 1993, the first year of the fourth-generation Mustang, 250 in 1995 and 300 in 2000. All batches sold out very quickly. The reason for such small series was the high production costs. The last batch had independent rear suspension and a more powerful engine – 347 (324, 395*) hp, with a displacement of 5.4 liters. The engine, like its competitors, is located at the front, and the driven wheels are at the rear. However, in terms of power-to-weight ratio the Mustang clearly lags behind its competitors – 1631 kg versus 1580 kg for the Viper and 1430 kg for the Corvette, with lower engine output. In other words, the Ford has only 212.7 hp/tonne, while this value is 276 hp/tonne for the Chevrolet offspring and 275 for the best Dodge machine – a complete parity.
But it's time to stop talking about numbers and get down to business – because numbers can be misleading!
Our test program consists of several laps around the well-known Japanese Tsukuba circuit, a check on the English Top Gear track, two fast laps at the American Laguna Seca and a top speed measurement on the 5.5-kilometer straight Ligne Droit des Hunaudières (or simply "Mulsanne") at the legendary French Sarthe.
As expected, the specific Japanese Tsukuba did not fully submit to the American monsters. And problems with handling in extreme mode immediately showed up in each of the cars. Thus, the Corvette showed an excessive tendency to deep slides, as soon as you slightly overdid it with speed, carelessly turned the wheel or hit a high curb without lifting off the gas. Plus, the driver's forward visibility is limited due to the raked windshield, with a sun visor that narrows the view. The lap time was 1.4,44, and the main problem is the slow long corners with sharp acceleration, which Tsukuba abounds in. With great effort you can shave off half a second, but more – hardly.
Next up for the exam we sent the Viper. As it turned out, visibility here is perfectly fine, despite concerns about the long hood. And on the track the car holds its line more confidently, breaks into a slide later, and is far easier to control than the Corvette – a sharp, short turn of the wheel is enough. Slightly shorter gears and a huge torque figure – 664 Nm – let it pull away on the straight, but not by much – 190 km/h at the end, only 4 km/h faster than the Corvette. But its overall stable behavior allowed it to show a half-second gap – 1.3,98, and, of course, that's not the car's limit. But we had no time for a proper shakedown, the next participant in the test was waiting its turn – his majesty, the Mustang.
As expected, the Mustang turned out to be the slowest of all. Because of the heavy engine, the front axle constantly tried to break away to the outside of the corner, and the heavy mass made braking and acceleration difficult. Lap time – 1.6,14, and the Mustang, pushed out by centrifugal force, lost the most in the last, high-speed corner. Speed at the end of the straight – 175 km/h. And yet, we recognized this car as the most reliable, understandable and predictable in its behavior. You'll simply find it hard to push it to the point where it becomes uncontrollable.
But be that as it may, Tsukuba is far from the decisive point of contact, and we headed to the Top Gear test track, renting it from the magazine of the same name. This track is a far more intricate combination of all sorts of corners than the short and monotonous Tsukuba.
The load on the axles and tires increased many times over, but the overall character didn't change – we saw the same picture. The Corvette, prone to sliding and spinning, spinning its wheels in first gear on the exit of "Chicago" and "Hammerhead", which, by the way, the Viper also suffered from, but to a lesser degree, whose main problem turned out to be the high-speed "Follow-Through" corner, and the same calmness (against its rivals, of course) and reliability of the Ford, which handled the high-speed "Follow-Through" – "Bentley" sequence better than the rest.
The times we set below can only be considered relative, as the gathering clouds called for hastily wrapping up the tests.
Viper 1.20,18
Corvette 1.21,54
Mustang 1.22,78
But what interested us far more was the test at the famous Laguna Seca, a track much closer to classic circuit racing venues.
And that's where the balance of power shifted. High-speed sweepers, uphill and downhill acceleration, a killer elevation change and lateral g-forces in "The Corkscrew", and here our Corvette showed itself in all its glory! The conclusion to draw is this – the faster the track, the closer it is to the Corvette's spirit! Admittedly, the Viper's deficit can't be called critical, but the Corvette turned out to be more interesting to drive, though it demanded heightened attention and concentration.
Our results:
Corvette 1.39,93
Viper 1.41,25
Mustang 1.43,58
And when it came to top speed, the Corvette came out the winner – 300 km/h! That's more than the claimed figure! The Viper punctually showed its rated 296 km/h, and the Mustang ended its run at 275 km/h. But it announced its presence to the surroundings with the most ferocious roar. The Corvette was a bit quieter, and the quietest of all… the Viper with its 8-liter engine. Who would have thought? But the Viper excels at something else – its timbre, unlike its rivals, has distinctly pronounced sporting notes. Though which is cooler, a sporty sound or a roar – that's a matter of taste.
So, all that's left is to draw the line.
Despite the American build quality typical even of sports cars, any of these cars can be recommended to well-off citizens as an everyday car without the need for an additional sports car for track days. And yet, each has its own nuances.
The Corvette is the closest of all to a race car. It's fast, elegant. You can calmly cruise around the city in it without giving anything away, and tomorrow – tear up the track, leaving everyone behind. But only if the track allows its best qualities to shine.
The Viper – devastating looks, a mighty tornado on the autobahn and a good lap time without superhuman effort. Perhaps the roominess and comfort of the interior, as well as the relatively high price, will put off some potential buyers.
The Mustang... In our opinion, its looks are even more "seething with anger" than the Viper's. At the same time, the Mustang is the closest of all to a "civilian" car – the highest ride height, roomy interior and trunk. High reliability and speed combine with exclusivity and the lowest price. So if you're a rare guest at the track – the Mustang Cobra will be an excellent choice.
This was the Journal of a Seasoned Noob. Stay tuned for new issues!
* - various data on engine power. Outside the brackets – GT 5 data, and only those are taken into account in the article.