I need to use the C word.

I was always a C**** fan until I saw the latest Lightning. I test drove one and had to have it. Out here in Southern California, my local dealer wanted $1500 over MSRP, so I said no thanks and ordered a 2001 for MSRP of $31,995.

Then just for jollies, I test drove a 2001 C**** Silverado regular cab, sportside with the 5.3 liter 285 HP engine. The truck pulled pretty good stock. I then drove the identical truck with a 2/4 drop, new headers, exhaust, and a chip. There was a measurable difference in performance. The guy whose truck I drove claims that he is in the 14's.

Here's the question...Is it more fun to drive an exclusive limited production truck like the Lightning that kicks every *** in its path, or is it just as fun to modify a truck (Ford, C****, or D****)

Bottom line...I can get the C**** at invoice of less than 22 grand. That would give me 10,000 clams to spend on mods. I can put on my favorite wheels and tires, lower it, put new headers and exhaust, and make some sexy cosmetic changes and presto...hot truck!

Of course it would take a supercharger to make it run with the Lightning, and that would probably take another 5 grand, but with all the intercooler and clunk complaints I hear around here, maybe supercharging isn't for everyone...

Okay, you can start throwing fruits and vegetables at me now.

 

Ok your banned...bye

 

Go for it, that's what makes all this so much fun. I have a lot of respect for guys who turn their own wrenches to heavily mod a brand new vehicle. It's just not something I would want to do. IMHO, you'll end up spending more and having less, but what the hey, it's your choice.

Just look at all the ricers who spend a small fortune on Civic Si's trying to get into the 14's. Variety, freedom, ain't it great?

 

I guess you are going to get flamed for it, but I think you are asking a perfectly legitimate question, and from the way you phrased it I suspect you already know the answer. It all depends on what will make your little heart happy. I know a guy who bought a Chebby truck and then got so pissed off when his brother-in-law smoked him with his 'stang that he modified the truck and wound up with a tube frame 8 second monster, but of course he had more than $10k in mods. How much are you willing to spend, and what level of performance in acceptable to you? I am satisfied with my L., even though I know there is lots of stuff out there that can beat me. If I weren't, I'd build a tube frame crate motor monster (but then I probably wouldn't be able to spend $70K on a boat). Unless your name is Gates, its all a question of priorities, and I think you have decided on yours.




------------------
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'84 Alan Record Carbonio, Aerospoke wheels, Campy brakes.
'00 SVT Lightning, silver, G-tech Pro, JBA headers, cam bolts, 4.10 gears,
Swanson's chip, Pro-M.
(Next, carbon drive shaft)
2001 Kevlacat 2400, twin 115 Evinrude FICHT, Raytheon VHF, radar, autopilot and DGPS chartplotter/fishfinder.

gmvye@pacbell.net

 

What turned me on to the Lightning was the factory hot rod concept. A fully warrantied, beautifully designed vehicle that you can smoke right off the dealer's lot.

I have been in the car wash business here in Southern California for over 12 years. I've seen every old and new vehicle there is...every modification that exists...and like any addiction, it's never enough. Every vehicle I have ever had has had some kind of modification just to make it look and act a little different than the next guy's...

What can I say...boys and their toys...

Of course, even if I got the Lightning I would have to tweak it a little just to call it my own.

 

I know this is WAYYYYYY off the subject, but do you mind saying which car wash you own?? Or work for, or what not.

Ok, on the subject, for my $.02, the Chevy is a nice truck. I've been a chevy fan for a while. But this Lightning MADE me want to sell my Camaro to buy it. It begged, no wait, it BARKED out the order for me to buy it. It's a beast that no one IMO can top. You pay for not only a 4,500+ lbs. BEAST that runs 13's out of the box (in good weather), but you pay for the SVT quality (don't laugh too hard guys when I say that.), you're also paying for a truck that in 2, 3, or even 5 years will have a great resale value if it's kept up.

But like all others said, It's what makes you happy. In my personal opinion, and I bet you've noticed it around Woodland Hills, and Northridge, and Chatsworth, that there are TONS of lowerd S-10's, Silverados, etc. but very few L's, but when you see the L, you have to slow your car down, and turn around in your seat to stare (and beg not to hit anyone in the process).

-Marcus.

 

I can tell you from personal experience that you can't build a lightning for $30,000! Then there are all those things that makes the truck yours, if you know what I mean. I have a 98 STX that I paid $17.5 for and now have over $30 in it and I would not change a thing. This is my first Ford as I was a Chebby guy, and I love this little truck. I gotta tell you that I really like the Ford people too. You can ask just about any question and you will get a polite often humorus answer back. Don't be afraid to cross over from the "dark side." Me and my brother Sixpipes have and don't regret it at all. We still have another brother that we must make see the light!

------------------
98 White 4.6 Triton STX (It's not an STX anymore) Flairside,Class III hitch, Blue Cobra Stripes, Euro Lid by Astro, Bed Rug, Fiero Wing, Air Dam,Westin Step Bars, Ground Force 2-4 Drop,Custom MB Phantom Wheels,Custom Programmed Super Chip,Pillar Pod w/ boost and trans temp,Jacobs DIS Ignition,New transmission on the way, K&N, Jet coated JBA stainless headers, Magna Flow Muffler with Stainless Duals and of course fully Blown by Magnacharger!

 

I bleed Ford Blue, so my opion can be deducted from that.

Don't cross over to the dark side!!

That said, there's a lot built inot a Lighting that you just can't duplicate if you don't have the right resources (about 2 billion in plants and engineering) you just can't copy. No way can you aftermarket a 17K truck and get anything to compete with a Lightning (total package) for less than 45-50K. A few months ago one of the magazines tested some small modifier outfits suppossed compition for the lighting. A Ken Belle Siverado, a sterioded Ram, a couple others, and the result was an average price over 40K, none less than 36K and none that ran as good as a stock as a rock Lightning. TElss ya something, I think.

GBE

 

Factory-Tech is right on with his numbers. I am still a stroked short block with stage 2 blower heads away from performing with the Lightning, or about $7000. The factory warranty went out the window long ago!

------------------
98 White 4.6 Triton STX (It's not an STX anymore) Flairside,Class III hitch, Blue Cobra Stripes, Euro Lid by Astro, Bed Rug, Fiero Wing, Air Dam,Westin Step Bars, Ground Force 2-4 Drop,Custom MB Phantom Wheels,clear corner lenses,monster battery terminals,Custom Programmed Super Chip,BBK 75mm TB, Pro M 80mm MAF,Pillar Pod w/ boost and trans temp,Jacobs DIS Ignition,New transmission on the way,4:10 gears, custom intake tube, Jet coated JBA stainless headers, Magna Flow Muffler with Stainless Duals and of course fully Blown by Magnacharger!

 

Hey Marcus,

Red Carpet Car Wash, Canoga Park.

You guys are right. For what the Lightning packs, it is a bargain at 30K. To duplicate that extreme performance, it would cost quite a bit more. I saw the Truckin' article where the aftermarket tuner guys still came up short. Plus, it still is an awesome looking truck.

Decisions, decisions...

 

I doubt for 22k +10k you'll be able to match the performance/styling of the L...acceleration, handling, top-speed. You certainly won't be able to match an L owner who spends $500 in mods to run low, low-13s.

But, as has been pointed out, this is a very legitimate question. Back when I graduated from college, I wanted a v8 RWD pony-car. The choices were a 5.0 Mustang or a 5.7 Cam-bird. Well, the 5.7 Cam-birds (never considered the 5.0 Cam-birds b/c they were significantly slower than the 5.0 'Stang) were a good 5-6k higher than the Mustang. Plus, they only came with auto trannies at the time, so I got the Mustang. Never looked back. I still own the car...its in perfect shape (the appraiser described it as being completely "restored"), its a show-winner and a heads-up racer, and _I_ built it.

With 10k to spend after your purchase, you can build a very nice truck. The biggest problem I can see would be that you'd more than likely void every aspect of the warranty after you're finished with the mods.

But, turning your own wrenches is COOL, and you get high marks for that from this poster.

------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--597rwhp/590rwtq
96 Cobra (12.34 @ 115.8)--392rwhp/433rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.8)--364rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html

 

went through the same dilemma before deciding to order my L. Waited for a Chevy decision on the Silverado SS, looked at Performance West's Searing Silverado, and looked at Rousch F150's. Bottom line, I decided there was no way to match the total L. package (acceleration, handling, braking, top speed, and styling) without spending a whole lot more than $32K. So here I am, and no regrets so far.

------------------
'00 White Lightning
Best run 13.2 @ 103 on F1's.

 

I can say that I know someone with a Dakota R/T and put a $2300 supercharger on himself, and now runs 13.2@102.x (6PSI)

I have a Dakota Club Cab, 318 (not the R/T) with quite a bit more mods....
I'm running 13.50@101.9.. No I cant corner nothing like a Trans Am, or Stang, but I can smoke them (most) in a straight line...

It makes me feel damn good when someone in a fast car gets beat by my truck...
With the L, you know its going to be fast, and you just dont feel the same (to me anyways)
Most people know the Lightning is a 13 sec truck stock, but a regular dakota club cab? Suprise...

Its all on how you look at it..
Lightning: Comes fast.. not as much to do to it as some other N/A trucks/cars
Chevy/Dodge/whatever: Come slow(er), most are somewhat cheaper than the L, add mods, suprise people...

I love making things fast... you may like owning something that comes fast... 100% up to you...

[This message has been edited by coolva (edited 10-09-2000).]

 

I'm nowhere near a garage monkey (computer nerd here), so I picked the Bolt because it was the fastest....Didn't hurt that it was one of the best looking trucks either. I get more compliments about it than I would have ever expected...lotsa thumbs-up on the highway, etc.

I was originally shopping for a Dodge when I stumbled across SVT's Lightning home page.... no way I was getting the Chevy Xtreme, too small, to slow.

Daniel

 

I agree with the consensus here, It is pretty hard to match the Lightning with only a $30k budget.

I am with WA 2 FST, and have great respect for people that turn their own wrenches.

Thats why I am doing oth of both worlds, I have my Lightning, and I am turning my '66 Chevy in to a big block Hot Rod. Hey, I paid $1k for it, and $60 for the big block. Yes it runs.

------------------
99 Black Lightning
factory tonneau cover, 100k mile warrantee, bed/under liner,

1/4
2.145 60' 8.789@82.71 (1/8) 13.603@101.05 1/4 same run
straight pipes, 'Major' rear lights, no chip
Lightning!