Who here uses their Lightning as a daily driver for short distances? I'm waivering back and forth whether I want to trade in my mustang with 2.5 years owed on her, and buy a lighting, resulting in 6 more years of payments. I need some input from people who did what I'm thinking of doing. Did you trade in a cool daily driver to upgrade to the baddest **** truck on the planet?
If so, do you have any regrets ?

 

I drove my 2000 as a daily driver. My honest recomendation is to have a second daily driver, don't use the L. For one reason, in bad weather such as snow, it's horrible to drive, you get stuck on the lightest dusting of snow

Furthermore daily drivers gets lots of ding and scratches from the road and other careless drivers and trust me, you will start to get real frustrated seeing all this little scratches build up over time on your truck. Not only that, but the driver side seat wears easily if you are in and out of it alot.

Also the truck loses that 'special feeling' when you drive it everyday. I finally bought a second beater as a daily driver and now I only drive the L on the weekends and I'm kind of enjoying driving the L again.

Anyways, that is my point of view. I regretted trading in my old Ranger when I bought the L, i kind of wish I had kept it as a beater to drive around.

 

Thanks for the quick reply! My situation is a little different though. I have recently started car pooling. I drive to her house and park my car in her driveway, and she drives to work in Miami back and forth. I would be putting about 30 miles a day on the L instead of 80! Since it won't see too much highway driving, I'd hope that she would remain looking great. What do you think?

 

I drive mine every day as a daily driver and don't regret it. Enjoy your L...there ain't no other vehicle out thee that gives you the feeling a Lightning can give you and it NEVER wears off.

 

The L is the best of both worlds IMHO
You can haul and tow.
You have a better veiw of the road in traffic than a car.
It is a fast and fun looker.

In your discription it will get less abuse.
But like was said. If you drive them every day that special feeling isn't as intense.
Ask her if you can park it in her garage

 

I know. I remember when the 99 lightnings came out, we dreamed of owning something so cool. Cobras and Lightnings are Ford enthusiasts's holy grail!

We dream of owning the vehicles that make our hearts beat faster when seeing one pull up next to us. My only hesitation is having 6 more years of payments versus 2.5 on the GT. I'm not sure I want to spend every cent of my refiancing dollars I'm getting this Friday, ( after paying off all credit card debt) to cover the negative equity on the GT. ( 2800 in the red if 13k trade is alotted)

ARGGGGH! Dammit...I hate it. I don't want to make a decision I'll regret 6 months from now when the new toy high wears off and I'm left with a stack of bills.

 

2002BLKGT
Junior Member

Registered: Sep 2003
Location: South Florida

 

Yeah, the snow can be brutal. Here the sand from the beach is a little irriatating too!

 

My L is my daily driver. I drive about 24 miles round trip to work, and look for excuses to drive it when I'm off. If it snows, I can always fall back on my wife's 4X4 Sport Trac.

 

Here are my feelings on this subject.

First of all... it's not a ferrari, it's a ford. Yeah... it's an SVT product, but I didn't really see much more bang for the buck when it came to vehicles these days (have you seen the price of trucks these days... I personally believe that the L is a bargain compared to other pricey, non-performance models.)

Second... It's a truck. I bought it so that I would have a truck. I did cringe a little this winter because it was my only transportation, but you do the best you can to keep it clean, and you forget about it. Shouldn't you have a little pride in every vehicle you drive? And, the L really doesn't take too much more gas than any other truck (if you drive it fairly conservatively most of the time.) If you could afford it, knowing that it is thirsty, you aren't really worried about paying for the gas anyway.

Third, it's an automobile... In a few years it won't have nearly as much value as it did when I bought it... everything eventually breaks. Anything on the truck can be replaced, and it can be replaced with better parts than what it came with. Might as well enjoy it now. If I break something... I can always upgrade to a newer better part.

Fourth, anytime you pull up to a stop light in your beater car, and there is a hemi dodge sitting in the next lane revving his engine, you will always say to yourself "man, wish I had the L right now."

 

Boy did THAT hit home....LOL

 

I have been driving my L for about three years now, and NOPE I still look forward to getting on it! Still look back at least once. If my L starts to feel stagnated, I do a mod and the whole truck ride changes once more, I have not chipped, or pulley the L. so there is a lot of room for improvement… I am fixing to port the blower soon however!!

I recommend this Pick – up as a daily driver, as far as ding or dents, well this is my farm truck, I have hauled, tractor engines, 20 – 80 lbs concrete bags many times (Yes, I know “1,600 lbs WOW”), Have ripped two stumps right out of the ground as well as many feet of fencing!!

I live in the south “Texas” and have a small spread, on this side of the USA you cannot live with out a truck.. Moreover, folks this is my Farm Truck, She still cleans up nice for a Friday night out, to pound the road!!

 

Bought mine brand new in 2000, and have driven it every day since then. About to hit 80,000 miles very soon!

 

I have an 02.
It is a GREAT daily driver.
You can drive it conservatively but when you want, it is a monster.

 

Even though I have 2 other cars, I find myself driving the L 3-4 days a week just cause its so damn fun. I think I'll cut it back once the newness wears off.