Dodge Viper @ Elams.Org

When we left Rosegill we left behind the long gravel driveway that prevented me from owning a real toy car. So I started thinking about kind of car to get. The Viper made the short list, but where do you find one to learn about it? I happened to be in Florida one Spring where I tried to rent one, but some guy with reservations (pesky reservations) showed up about 5 minutes before I was to drive it away.

A few weeks later I was out for an annual trade show. This year it was being held in Los Angeles. As I picked up the rental car from LAX, I drove by Beverly Hills Motorcars, an exotic rental car place I had seen plenty of times before. The show lasted until Thursday. I was exhausted and had come down with a cold. But since I had to spend the weekend out there, what would I do?

I looked up the rental car place and asked about the Viper. Turns out a brand new 1996 was being delivered on Friday night. I could pick it up then. I think it was $495/day plus $0.50 per mile. (They charged extra since I was the first to drive it.) I was a little humiliated when I left the Dodge Neon on the street (I didn't have reservations with Hertz that week either), but I left the parking lot with all of 17 miles on the odometer and a smile on my face.

After learning the tight clutch, I headed out on the interstate towards Death Valley. After all, the car was new and needed to be broken in. I found some little side roads and got it up to speed. I won't confess here as to how fast I drove it, but I am not sure that the Mooney would have kept up that day! After playing in Death Valley I headed to Las Vegas. The nice cruise to the Nevada line included an average speed over 100mph.

This was a car that absolutely required your undivided attention. The big front wheels mean it wants to chase the road. I was a little disappointed with the sound (the 1996 marked the first year they moved the side tailpipes to the back - making it quieter to satisfy the EPA).

Cruising down the Vegas strip has a hoot, even if I did see another rental Viper. The next day was more playing in the mountains. I wisely decided that the Viper did not need to go in the snow, but other than that, I put the car through it's paces!

The rental car place is right next to a tunnel that most people know by Century Blvd. in LAX. The tunnel is great since it really makes the exhaust note crystal clear. When I took the car back, I think I drove back and forth through the tunnel at least 6 times. Each time I would slam the accelerator, listen to the gasp of air from the car, and then let off on the throttle to enjoy that booming rumbling in the tunnel.

The guy who took the rental car in didn't really speak English. He checked the odometer and the original mileage and just let out a giggle. It was like 1,000 miles in two very fun-filled days. I was a little nervous they might find a scratch, but fortunately, there wasn't a problem.

I got back into my little Dodge Neon and headed to the airport. I had to drive right by the Viper sitting in the lot. I have never had pangs of regret over a rental car, but it actually hurt to leave the Viper there. As I went through the tunnel, I strained to hear the exhaust rumble of the Neon. My heart hurt even more.