Pretty soon I'm getting a new truck and I want a lightning but don't know which one. The 95 are tight and look mean but don't have as much power and there cheaper to buy. The 2000 would be nice cause its sweet and powerful but that is alot of money. I'm leaning toward the 95 Supercharged Black Lightning because cheaper and cheaper Insurance than having a new truck like a 2000. What do you have and is it badass, I have a 2003 Sport now but soon I'm going to sell it to get a older Lightning or wait and save for a couple years and get a 2000.

 

ok i FORSEE a debate about which handles better. that aside.


are you concerned about resale value? the '95 is probably close to full depreciated.
the '95 with a supercharger will be a sleeper.
A '00 lightning people know they are damn fast.

I have a '99 so I'm partial to the new body style,
BUT.. the Gen 1 are growing on me..
(gotta get rid of gen 1 stock rims though)


I'd say go with '95 and mod the hell out of it

 

funny this came up-I was inches away from buying a pristine 93 Lightning from a guy in Gville not too long ago. I think the gen 1's are bad a$$. The 351 is a phenomenal motor, and can really be woken up with the big three-Heads, intake & cam. There's just something about those pushrod motors that I miss, but I've got another I'm building-A 93 notchback with a DSS 306, AFR heads, Holley intake and NASTY custom grind nitrous cam. I say go for the 95, and keep the payments low if $$$ is a concern.

 

I've had both at the same time. I loved my supercharged 94L, but the Gen2's are so much more fun and easier to go fast. This is just my opinion, but I enjoy the Gen2 much more.

 

I know where my vote goes.....





The black one is mine.....


The red one ran 11.86 on the stock 19lb injectors with not much more than a S-trim....


The white one was be hind me one day... I have no idea who it is....

 

I kind of want it to be a sleeper and slip a supercharger in it and turn it off around ****y drivers so they can't hear it and when I hit it I blow them away.

I kind of don't want to make payments so the 95 is looking pretty good right now cause I can get it and have money left over for exhuast and Supercharger.

But I can wait till my warranty is almost over and trade it in and get a 99 or 2000 lightning

So many decisions and both beautiful machines.

 

Okay, if I'm reading your post correctly Kevin2707, you aren't able to afford a 2000L at the current time but will need to save for a few years. I'd definitely go with a 93-95L. This'll get you into an L soonest, and as your finances improve you'll be able to add more go fast goodies and eventually upgrade to a 2000 or even the upcoming 2005!

I also agree with l-menace that the '95 L's are fully depreciated. If you buy one now for 12K, you could probably sell it in a few years for 10K+. I also must say that I'm not a big fan of the Gen 1 wheels, but the truck as a whole is an awesome package!

 

Gen1, supercharged. PowerDyne's are near silent, or a Vortech SQ-trim. And the 351 is just plain bulletproof. 205K miles on mine now, run VERY hard.

 

My best friend Joey has a 93 Lightning with 100miles almost and he hit it to get up and go and it threw a bearing, ouch!! The thing ran well before and he had no clue why? Now it won't even hold oil in the engine, it has to be rebuilt now and its been out for 4 months now. I'm worried about the older Lightnings breaking down easily if you push them to the edge once in a while.

 

I look at the loud pedal as a switch..... ON or OFF.


125000 on the clock and still going strong.

 

I would love to offer my opinion on this.I have been doing so much work to my new 46 X 36 garage+ 10X 10 office this year and am now expanding even larger so i have put every red cent into it.by next spring it will be finshed with black and white tile floor,Sheetrock walls and automotive decor.In fact it will be better than my house

The reson i brought that up is because it is the ONLY reason there is not a 94 or 95 lightning parked in my garage.$$$$$$$$ When my garage is finished it will be the first thing I will buy.Ive wanted one for many years and hope to find a nice one to park next to the 02.

These trucks are SOOOooooooooo much fun.They handle AWESOME and totally different from ours.The brute power is totally different and the truck still rides like a truck.YOu can see the hood lines from d. seat.everything about it screams TRUCK!!.They are such a bargain and I actually like driving the older more than the newer ones!The gears are alot shorter.The seats are way better than ours.They look mean.I LOVE THEM!!!!!Buy the 95,dont go broke for a 00,You have plenty of time to get one later.I think the older ones are harder to find especially now that people who have the newer ones want to have both.I hope I can find one up to my standards when the time comes.If Life goes as planned,i hope to have every generation when the newer ones come out.

Go with the 94-95.Say away from 93s.The paint isnt cleared,The tube bumpers fade and rust and the seats dont have a middle seat .The steering wheel is nicer in the 94-95s too.


BUY THE 95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Original engine and transmission?

 

Original body The engine was swapped at 184K miles, though wasn't required, and the weak 1993 tranny was rebuilt at 135K

 

Ah, still aight.