Well guys,

I'm seriously thinking about selling the Lightning. I started a job with a hour commute every day and this 15 mpg isnt cutting it. I saw this while driving home the other day.

Its a 2001 Trans Am Ram Air, custom off body paint job, 11K miles, 6 speed, TV/navigation, etc...
I owned a 96 Trans Am before the Lightning and I loved it. These things will get close to 28 on the highway in that 6th gear. Well tell me what you think, and also what you think I can get for my truck.

99 Lightning
48K miles
Mods: Street Scene signal mirrors, Stull billet grille, Cervini 3" cowl, Innovation Pro-Sport lid, diamond clears, 01' headlights and tails, Silverstars, FRPP suspension, JLP Dyno tuned Chip, PSP 4# lower, LFP e-fan and water pump, LFP 58" T-Bars, Denso IT20's, JBA headers, Bassani Cat-Back, Downs Ford CIA, Autometer boost and trans temp gauges, B&M Trans Pan, Viper alarm w/remote start, red rhino lining, dimpled/slotted rotors w/hawk pads (less than 1500 miles on them). Custom stereo, but that would be pulled out.

the car

Jon

 

Buy a beater for around a $1000 and drive it to work, save the L for fun time!
Just my .02
Bryan

 

I agree on the beater, I have one. As far as the F body it sits pretty low for a daily driver.

 

I was thinking of another car but don't really want to insure two cars right now. I will be 24 this summer so I still havent hit the price drop yet. And I can't see selling the Lightning for a new honda or something, I will never get out of a sports car/truck.

BTW, the lowness won't be an issue, Delaware is all highway. They also said they would put different springs in for me, or the stock ones, whatever I prefer.

hmmmm

Jon

 

That dealer is in Dover isn't it. I looked at a White 96 Cobra there a few years back. I have a friend that lives in Del., she lives in Milford. Your right about the roads up there, flat and for the most part straight. Theres plenty of corn & soy bean fields as far as you can see. And a bunch of chicken farms, when they put that chicken crap on those fields look out the smell will knock you out, that I never got used to!!. I have pics of my Lightning down at Rehoboth beach and at Dover Raceway, I left a few bucks at the casinos up there to. What does Winner Ford have in stock, any 03-04 Cobras? If you are set on going to a car go with a 03-04 Cobra, they might be a little more than the T.A. but you will know where that extra $$$ went. And it's still a SVT!!

 

I seroiusly doubt that you would see 28mpg out of a Trans-Am, even with a 6 speed.
Also, insurance is certain to be higher on the F-body.
Plus, you will likely spend a couple of grand between selling the L and buying the "F", which will offset the gas savings significantly.

I have rarely (if ever) accepted the argument for buying another car to save money on gas, as a viable argument.

Buy it if (or because) you want to. That's fine. But don't try to convince yourself that you will be rolling in extra money that you saved on gas.

 

Buy a beater. I bought my '94 Tempo for my 114 mile a day commute to work and I am saving a crap load of money in gas. Think about it, my F-150 gets 16 mpg at best and my car gets around 28-30mpg. At over $2 a gallon, the savings add up rather quickly. I spent $1500 on the car and only had to put new tires and brakes on it, been trouble free everyday since then(knock on wood). Regular oil changes and that's it. 130,000 and still rolling.
Don't sell your L just for a commute!

 

How does one do a "body off" paint job on a unibody car? Going to be far cheaper to keep your L. Paying for gas will be less than the insurance on the T/A.

 

You can buy a lot of gas for the loss you will take on the L! I recommend that you call your insurance agent and find out what the premium will be on the Trans Am...you will likely be shocked at only 24 Y.O. The L is probably rated as a standard F150 and the difference in premium might buy you a years worth of gas!!

 

My Lightning is cheaper to insure than my Focus was. MY FOCUS.

 

Ouch!

 

My firebird formula 6 speed could easily get 28mpg+ if the driving was mostly interstate. They sound like their just idling down the interstate at 70mph...LOL...
But I would still keep the Lightning...

 

Maybe I'm just getting tired of the lightning, I've had it for almost 4 years. I guess its just time to add some more mods. I've been looking at some 22's and the street scene cow catcher front bumper and roll pan.

How much would a custom orange paint job done right cost on average? I'm in love with the color. Maybe i'll just paint the Lightning that color for the amount I'd lose trading it in. Just some ideas, I'm not sure what I want to do yet.

Jon

 

Hard to tell by the small pics but that color looks similar to SOM (sunset orange metallic) which was offered on 01 TA's...maybe its a bit softer of a tone, hard to tell. If it isn't the factory paint, why has it been painted? Either way, my buddy followed me on power tour this year in his TA and he averaged about 27mpg with his 6spd.

 

I was wondering the same thing
Does anyone have a subscription to carfax that can run it?