The market for new cars in America seems to have finally returned to pre-recession levels, though some cars are benefiting more than others. Compact car sales have surged as high gas prices become the new normal, while sports car sales are suffering. Just ask Ralph Gilles, boss of the SRT brand, which has seen tepid sales of the 2014 Viper since the car went on sale last spring.

You would think these low sales might motivate the production of a lower-cost Viper, or at least the option of an automatic transmission for those Baby Boomers tired of shifting. But in a recent interview with Edmunds, Gilles says no dice to either an entry-level Viper or an automatic transmission…at least for now.

Gilles claims that 2014 Viper owners (all 600 of them) relish the fact that it only comes with a manual transmission. That said, SRT has been paying attention to the rise of paddle shifter-equipped, dual clutch automatics overseas and abroad. Gilles maintains that the Viper is a distinctly different car from the Corvette, despite all the comparisons.

Gilles has said previously that SRT is “open” to the idea of adapting an automatic transmission to the Viper’s 640 horsepower V10. However, making a cheaper Viper with the more wallet-friendly HEMI V8 engine is a non-starter, even if it might help sales. Realistically, such a car would still be too expensive for 99% of the population anyways. SRT is all in with the Viper it seems, and they’re staying the course. Do you think an automatic transmission would make the Viper a bit less venomous?