The Dodge Viper is a throwback to when the original muscle cars roamed wild and free in the 1960s and early 1970s. It lacks the finesse of modern sports cars; instead the Viper is a brutally quick beast that's a little bit frightening. The 8.4-liter, 645-hp V10 is a beast comes mated to only one transmission—a six-speed manual. This isn't a delicate instrument. Drop the hammer with the traction control system turned off and the car will be quickly engulfed in plumes of tire smoke. The six-speed doesn't offer the delicate throws of some sports cars. Instead, shifting requires commitment and some muscle to get the Viper in the right gear.