The Viper->ke1404 is unmistakably one of the great American sports cars.->ke506 Its more-is-better attitude, slippery styling, and racing pedigree add up to a car that’s as bonkers to drive as it is to look at. Unfortunately for Chrysler,->ke21 the snake isn’t selling that well, as customers are instead flocking to the Chevrolet Corvette->ke1280 and Nissan GT-R->ke1592 to get their performance fix. Can the Viper make a comeback, or is it a dinosaur on the cusp of extinction? Hooniverse set out to find the answer in this video.

After a few years on the sidelines, the fifth-generation Viper made its return in 2012 with all the same features we’ve come to expect: colossal tires, big power, and a massive, swoopy hood covering an equally massive V-10 engine. It also took a few steps closer to the modern age with electronic stability and traction control, both of which can be turned down for a little added fun. But at six figures, there wasn’t much that the Viper had to offer that its rivals didn’t already posses. While the logic of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is worth some consideration, consumers expect a modern sports car to be cutting edge. The only real advantage the 2013 Viper had over a Corvette or GT-R was its name. Its 640 horsepower isn’t as ludicrous as it was 10 or 15 years ago, and the only real standout features were the V-10 rumble and lovely styling. Sure, it’s a race car->ke148 for the road, but brute force is a hard sell compared to the technical wizardry of a GT-R or value of a Corvette.

This year, the Viper got five extra ponies and some nice interior features, like Sabelt seats covered in Alcantara and Nappa leather, and a Harman Kardon sound system. It also shed $15k from its price tag. At $85,000 for a base model, potential Corvette owners will have to take a second look at what Dodge has to offer.

In the end, the appeal of the Viper is that it’s outrageous, rather uncivilized, and potentially frightening. It’s got rear-drive, a row-your-own manual gearbox, and deafening side exhausts. Sure, it’s a bit dated, but that’s part of the fun. It’s like owning a t-rex: awesome in theory, but crazy in practice.

2015 Dodge Viper