I'm looking into buying a 2004 Lightning. Anything pointers on what I should look out for before hitting the dealers?

 

Look at the 2 lower corners of the tailgate, the 2 front corners of the hood, and the 2 rear lower corners of the doors for paint drips. Stand behind the truck and look forward to see if each side of the front of the bed is aligned equally with the cab. Stand on each side of the truck where the cab meets the bed and look down at the ground package. Here, compare side vs. side of how the door piece meets with the front bed piece. This is usually the worst aligned part on the truck. Crawl under the front valance and see if it is scraped underneath it; very common. I also like to see if the wheels have excess balancing weight attached. The silver paint had the most flaws that I examined. It sounds ****, but these problems were consistent at about 10 SVT lots and 40 trucks that I looked at.

 

Dont pay more than about 29k ....

 

Actually, I bought my 03 used with 7,300 miles and mine has some of the things that Max Mitchell says to look for. The bed does not line up perfectly with the cab and the hood is also more up on the passenger's side and more down on the driver's side. The bed alighnment never bothered me because my 02 Supercrew (which I bought new) was way off as well. And every other supercrew I checked was like that. And as for the hood alignment, two of my friends' 03's (also bought new) have hoods that do not line up. Also, the carfax for my L came up clean as could be. This is not to say Max Mitchell is wrong......in fact, those are good things to look for but don't be scared away from a Lightning if it has these issues because you'll never know if it is left the factory that way or if it was in an accident. If it does have misalignments here and there, do a carfax AND check for evidence of removed panels such as bolts with paint broken off of them and washers on fenders that do not line up with paint that they were originally over. Good Luck man.

 

Thats some excellent advice there. As with you guys, I am also an **** person. I will surely look into those things when I go to the dealer.

I wish I could pay $29K for a lightning, but the best I could do is a quote of $31K- out the door (inlcudes destination charge, tax, licensing). I live in California and the # of 2004 Lightnings in each of the local dealers are quite small (like 1,2 or even none) I dunno if that has anything to do with the price, but that's the quote I got. You guys think that's reasonable?

Thanks

 

What you are paying with tax is a decent price. Most people when they say that they paid xx amount of dollars usually don't fiqure in tax since some states don't have any and the rest of the states have varying sales tax. Enjoy the ride.

 

IMO - 31 out the door is awesome.

The best price I got when I was looking was at Beverly Hills Ford (of all places) thru their internet sales manager. They wanted 30855 plus tax and license.

31 out the door is about 28250, which is supposedly less than invoice.

What dealer is that?

Do they have any DSG or Sonic Blue?

Never mind...I've made up my mind to wait for the Gen 3 and I'm not going back on that.....

Good luck with your purchase... 31 out the door sounds OK to me for this area.

k

 

Yes, I was offered a sonic blue, but I opted another color. They have a couple silvers and found one shadow gray. Dark shadow gray to me is too much maintainence, especially since its extremely hard to touch up metallic paint. I would wait for the gen 3 but I hear the price is approaching 50 grand!

 

Sounds good and great tips...I hope you tell us how you make out once you buy...good luck...

 

I think I know what dealer you're talking about.

On their web site their inventory show like 5 or 6 Ls.

I really like DSG, but the Sonic blue is growing on me.

But...I'm waiting for a Gen 3...Yup, I will not give in to my desire to rush out and buy a Gen 2...

(Unless this stock I bought a lot of pays off, then I'll buy a Gen 2 AND a Gen 3...

I am STRONG, I can wait...

Hummmmmmmmmmm....

I think I'll start looking for a Sonic Blue gen 2....
Maybe that Dealer will sell me that DSG for 31 out the door.....

NO NO NO fight the urge!!!!!!

I've gotta leave this post...I gotta watch TV or something....

 

Yeah, just like I told myself I wasn't gonna buy a gen 2 and instead I would put all of my money into the gen 1. Didn't happen. Although I could have a pretty sick gen 1 if I take that route.... Hmmm.... Nah.
Just get it already.

 

As an owner of a DSG I can tell you that next to white it is the easiest color to take care of. The metallic hides alot, even too much. I've had a number of Fords in dark blue, black (2), white (2) and now a black Navi. I hear you on the paint match thing but hopfully you will never damage it. The hardest color to take care of next to the black Navi was the dark blue on a '00 Taurus that I had. It showed everything. Good luck.

 

maybe try looking for any leftover 03 Lightnings - I just bought one a month ago for 26,200. It had 133 miles on it when I made the purchase. With tax it came out to around 28,400.

 

I'll second that suggestion. I just got a leftover 2003 last Teusday. 40 miles on mine and I paid less than $25,000.

If you go through Fords website you should be able to search your local dealers inventory for new 2003's, but I'd hurry.