I just read the article too. Nowhere did they mention 1/4 times, or any times for that matter. I wonder how much of their impression is soley based on the fact that the truck is powered by a V-10. I do think it is a neat truck, and if it is the new big dog then so be it. How can a magazine say things like "this truck is the new big dog on the block" and not back it up with real data rather than SOTP impressions. I guess the only way they can do comparisons is when its equipped with airbags. The bottom line here-I will believe the hype when I go to the track and run one myself. End of story.

 

Yeah, not a very objective article. I scanned it but didn't waste money buying it. I noticed they credited the Lightning with being more manuverable in handling and they listed the R/T as weighing 5100 lbs against 4700 lbs for the Lightning. I'm not negative on the Dodge, in fact I like the Dodge truck (except for reported cost and mileage) but someone needs to do a real side by side road test for the benefit of all.

 

None of the truck magazines really have a clue when it comes to performance trucks. They have no credibility with me because they like to subjectively compare things that don't compare objectively. I still remember a quote from one of them that said after a heads-up rolling run from 40-70 between a Toyota and the L, that the Toyota was 'right there', and if the L had hiccuped, it would have beaten it. BWAAAHAAAHAAAAAHAAA!

 

Hey BoogyMan? You seem to be up on that Dodge stuff....What does a stock SRT4 and/or SRT 10 run? Any real world times on the truck anyone?

 

There was a SRT-4 at the track today. Guy bought it 2 days earlier. It still had the dealer tags on it. I walked over and talked to him for a second.......still had paper filter in it........

He was running 13.9's.................I was impressed.

I have seen guys in modded Lightning run in the 14's.

It doesn't matter how much hp/tq you have if you can't put it to the ground.

--Joe

 

I wasn't pickin' on the Dodges at all, I was just asking a question. My '02 L went a 13.44 with only a K/N cone filter. It would have to be a hot day and a slippery track to slow to a 14 with mods. Like you said, you gotta' put it to the ground. I imagine a crappy driver would make anything a turd. Can that SRT4 tow his race car with it?

 

I own 2 supercharged Fords but I am a big fan of Dodge and the support they have from Mercedes in their new product developement.

At Sema, I took a very close look at the SRT-10; under, inside and under the hood. I really like the concept and especially the powertrain but man this truck is really built cheap. Especially if you compare it to the gorgeous interior of the new F-150. I was going to order one but I have changed my mind. I think that the new 2005 Lightning will really make this truck look bad in all categories especially handling.

TB

 

Just my .05.....

I think Dodge uses all available resources to make vechicles as cheap as posible.

The worst time my Lightning has run is 13.6 stock in Midwest Air and anyone can drive it.

Wait until these things start showing up at the track expecting to beat Lightnings.
Then wait until they have a few miles on them and see how happy they are.

These guys with Hemis show up now and wonder why their time slips look like a vechicle from the 50s.

Jim

 

[QUOTE] I really like the concept and especially the powertrain but man this truck is really built cheap.---I'm with ya' there TrackBeast, my dad is a hardcore Dodge guy. He's an electronics sales rep. and he sells electronic displays for radio, instrument cluster, etc. Chrysler is his only customer. He's completely sold on their stuff, even though the fit-n-finish is crap and they squeak and rattle from day one. My Mom insisted that her next car be anything but a Dodge after her last one (Cirrus). She made me take her to my friends at the Ford place WITHOUT my Dad. (thanks, ma, put me in the middle!) Also, I run a transmission shop and I drive all kinds of cars, usually with 50k(+). GENERALLY speaking, Dodges are built cheaper than the rest in their respective classes. Heck, just look at their resale value (or lack thereof). Oh yeah, Reality1, rock on brotha'--I have a feeling you're pretty safe from pretty much any truck you may run across on the street. As for Dodge, maybe the Mercedes theories of quality will bleed over soon enough. Sorry Dad.

 

Hey guys, finally got a chance to sit down and really look through the magazine last night, just a few pages over from this article stating that the srt 10 beat the lightning hands down and that Ford would be handing over the crown of the sport truck this year....they printed yet another articlle showing that the lightning just set the new world record for the fastest land speed of a production truck. these articles were just a few pages apart.....aside from the obvious contrindicating articles, who the hell does their editing?