American muscle is officially back. 2013 was a huge year for high performance and nasty speed thanks to the SRT Viper and Corvette Stingray being released. Both long-dormant models were revived and are better than ever. How do the two cars stack up? Which should you buy? Let's take a deeper look into what makes these two muscle cars tick.

Both cars ride relatively low to the ground. It not only makes the cars appear even sleeker than they already are, but it helps reduce drag. Every detail has been taken into account when it comes to performance. You'll also notice that the driver and passenger compartments are placed towards the middle of the body; the ultra-long hoods have to accommodate some series horsepower after all. The styling on both cars is also top notch.

In terms of pure power, the Viper annihilates the Stingray. It features a hulking V-10 engine with 640 horses. Chevy opted to put a small-block V8 engine in the Stingray, possibly to keep fuel economy relatively high by keeping the weight down. While 460 horses is no slouch, the Stingray is at least a half-second slower then the Viper from 0-60. The Viper also hits an important supercar milestone: 200 miles per hour. On the other hand, unless you are a real stickler for the 200 mph mark, the Stingray tops out at 195.

Straight-line speed is important, but if you can't control the car above a certain gear why bother getting it in the first place? Handling, after all, is part of the fun when owning a sports car. In that regard, the SRT Viper is a nightmare to control with stability control off. A Stingray, on the other hand, is a much better candidate for a daily driver. It's fully capable of going for a grocery store run without throwing your bags all over the trunk.

The biggest differentiator between the two models is price. The base 2014 Stingray Coupe starts at $51,995. Add 5 grand more for the convertible model. The 2014 SRT Viper on the other hand costs $102,485 and goes up their depending on trim. For a difference of 5 mph to cost double, the price is ludicrous. The Corvette Stingray is simply the better buy. If you purchase one and take it out on the town people are sure to stop and gawk. They will do the same if you purchase a Viper, yet you will be out 50 grand.

Which car would you want to buy? The Vette or the Viper? Let us know in the comments section below.