<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by MRBBQMAN: G1 much lighter</font>
That still does not give any reason why it can handle better.
4000# BMW's can handle as well as 3000# Vettes.
From all the #'s I have seen comparing, the Gen2 is far superior in every aspect, and it handles better, as well as brakes better.
I would personally feel that on most tracks it would win overall, even if it isn't better is the corners. It has the outright power to walk all over the Gen1, and the braking power to dive in late.
What you have to understand is that the Gen 1 Lightning was much more of a truck than most people think. The truck was developed by the Ford truck team in 91-92 for release as a 93 vehicle. The truck was built to compete with the popular Chevy 454SS truck, as Ford noticed an upcoming trend is sport trucks. While the 454SS was sort of impressive in a straight line, it didn't handle and got about 9-10 mpg. Ford wanted to retaliate with a truck that was a complete performance package, not just a straight line truck.
In late 92, SVT was born, and was about to release the 93 SVT Cobra. SVT actually had absolutely nothing to do with the Gen 1 Lightning's development. They asked Ford if they could market the Lightning with the Cobra, and Ford agreed, so viola, the SVT Lightning is born.
As for the trucks stats, the only thing a Gen 1 Lightning shares with a regular F-150 is the main body parts. The chassis was a special unit which had thicker metal (.170" vs .140") and re-enforced plates over the rear axle section of the frame to reduce flex on hard cornering. The suspension was tuned for the truck, the wheels have a ZERO degree offest, the truck has a quicker sterring ratio, and it's also about 3-400 lbs lighter, with an almost perfect 51/49 wieght ratio. And the seats were made to hold you, with adjustable lumbar and bolster, and they are contoured for performance driving. This truck was built to handle. Ford advertised the Gen 1 Lightning pulling .89 G on the skidpad (the same as a 95-95 Vette) but according to engineers on the project, the truck would pull over a FULL G on the skidpad. Of course with a live rear axle, if you hit bumps on a hard turn, you were in trouble .
For the record, I have NEVER been outdone on a twisty road by any car I've ever messed with in my Gen 1. I've had Vettes, Zs, Stangs, and pretty much anything else try to lose me in twisty roads. I can take a tight cloverleaf offramp at over 80mph with no brakes. My 99 and my 01 sure can't do that .
I'm not trying to say the Gen 2 sucks for handling, because it doesn't. It's decent. But it's a different truck. In the Gen 1, you feel every crevis in the road, you hear every squeak, every bump, and you feel connected to the road, as if you are part of the truck. It feels like a true "sport" vehicle. The Gen 2 is plush, gooshy, and yet powerfull and refined at the same time. There is no road noise, the steering is a bit sloppy, and it's heavy and you know it when you're driving it. You KNOW the truck is capable of great driving, but with a Gen 1, you FEEL the truck is capable of great drving.
Those of you who own or have owned Gen 1s know what I am talking about, and know the passion for these trucks. And those of you who have never had the opportunity to own one, are really missing out on a REALLY fun truck; a different kind of fun than our Gen 2s. I think that every Lightning owner should own one of each .
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[This message has been edited by LightningTuner (edited 06-12-2001).]
Yea,
Number one the 93-95 had a lower center of gravity and
Number two the front twin ibeam suspension suspension is better than the GM aframe style on the current truck. That 93 would flat sling thru the corners and brake away (when it did) easily, predictably, and controlably. This new one feels like it wants to brake and roll over, although its better with the Bilestien shocks.
noelvm
------------------ "ANYTHING OTHER THAN 1ST, SUCKS" (D.Earnhardt)
99.5 Red Ligntning, Mobil 1, PRO-M 80 MM MAF/filter, Custom Superchip, Eldebrock 5512 muffler, CAL TRACS, MT ET Streets, best time (1/8) 8.19, Bugflector II, G&H Lens covers head & fog, 200 WT Pioneer 4 CH AMP, BOSE 301 SERIES IV SPEAKERS (IN BACK)LONESTAR RACEWAY 2000 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, STREET STOCK CHAMPION 01-01 TO 06-01 LONESTAR RACEWAY
I am lucky enough to have a '93L and a '01L. The difference is that the '93 you can stear with the throttle much like the earlier Trans Am series cars of the 69-70 genre. The seat in the Gen 2 were a Major disappointment. The difference is like between a BMW vs LS430. Both do their niche well.
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1993 Lightning,Complete Bassani,FoMoCo mass air conv,K&N,Bilsteins,pheno spacer, roller rockers
1994 Pace Car,full Bassani, K&N, 3.73, pulleys
2001 Lightning, box stock
2001 Saleen S281SC Speedster, box stock
I agree with Sal, My Gen 1 handled better. I think a lot of it has to do with the much stiffer frame on the Gen 1. Don't get me wrong I love my 2001, but the 93 was much more tossable.
I have to agree with Sal. My 93 would run and hide from the 99 in a corner. You had little to no body roll and the thing felt like it was on rails. But like Sal said, you felt every bump in the road but it was fun.
Also to me the 93 just feels faster than the 99 the reason being is you have a louder rougher ride where the 99 has a ride and noise level like a car. You don't feel like you are going as fast in the 99 because you don't get any special effects from it.
Don't get me wrong I would never get rid of a Gen 2 to get a 93-95, but if I could find a good deal on a clean Gen 1 I would sure have two trucks.
It would seem the Much Lighter G1 is winning in the twisties by the vote of 8-0 by owners of both models. the G2 was given a "decent" twisty rating by Sal. maybe if we could shed 400lbs from the G2, it might feel a bit more nimble thru the cones, possibly moving it toward a "good" rating, or something. maybe not
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by DreaminAboutL: Hmmmmm... lots of anecdotal evidence and how the Gen1 "feels". Let's go to a road-course, I'll bring the stop-watches.
Might just be a jealously thing... but I believe only in timing slips and lap times.</font>
I totally agree. I just have not seen evidence on paper showing it's faster on the road courses.
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Gen 1 outhandles the Gen2 in the twisties?
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