Just though I'd tell you about the day I decided to buy a Lightning. Maybe it was like this for some of you, also, but I somehow doubt it.

I hadn't bought a new vehicle since November 1991. It was pretty much time, but I/we couldn't really decide what to get. Plus, I really wasn't into four-wheeled hardware that much, as it all seemed like "sensible shoes" compared to all the bikes I'd owned. Cars were for fetching bike parts and running rims down to the shop to have tires mounted.

I needed something that I could haul some lumber with, as I was tired of having to beg my neighbor to run down to Home Depot every month or so. We went to one of the big auto shows this summer, and decided that the new Explorer Sport Trac was the way to go (in the yellowish-orange color, at that) and decided to order one. I figured 210 (or whatever) horsepower was plenty, thank you, plus it could seat 6 people in a pinch! What more could one want in a vehicle?

When we were looking at a bunch of Sport Tracs at the Ford dealer (trying to decide which options to go for), I spotted a low, mean, red standard-cab pickup out front. It looked pretty good (good enough to warrant a closer look), but when I saw the stratospheric $32,000 sticker, that was enough. What sort of idiot would pay 32 bills for a dolled-up standard cab F150? It wasn't even four-wheel-drive!

I was vaguely aware of the first generation Lightning, but really didn't know anything about it. I had no idea that there was a second generation model out, even though this was May 2000 at that point.

I got within a day or two of placing the order for the Sport Trac (even "built" one on the 'net and taped it on the refrigerator) and called my brother-in-law, who is the proud owner of a minted-out 1993 SVT Cobra. He couldn't stop laughing when I told him of my purchase plans, and advised me that "...if you're going to get a truck, get something with some ***** - like a Lightning...". I connected that the red truck I had seen was a Lightning, but didn't really think much about it.

The next day at work I was ready to place the order for the Sport Trac. I decided to take a look on the 'web at this Lightning thing that my brother-in-law seemed so hot for (the expensive two-wheel-drive standard-cab pickup I had seen). I punched up the Ford SVT site and looked at the pictures and specs for the 'Bolt.

I immediately called my wife at work, informed her that we would NOT be buying some slow, grocery-getting SUV hybrid, and to immediately call all of the Ford dealers in town and find a silver Lightning. She had no idea what a "Lightning" was, but strangely obeyed the raving madman on the other end of the line. She quickly located the remaining Silver Lightnings in Cincinnati - one dealer wanted $35,000, the other offered theirs at $28,500. I immediately left work, picked her up at her job (making nuclear power plants sort-of-safe for all of us, which could obviously wait), drove to the dealer, and bought the 'Bolt on the spot.

From the time that I became aware of what a Lightning was until the time that I owned one was no more than two hours. This has to be a record of some sort.

The drive back to my wife's workplace was an epiphany. What a feeling it was to idle out of the dealership, roll slowly to the interstate on-ramp, the PUNCH IT up the ramp to 110 mph or so. Unbelievable. She seemed to dig it also, from the Grand Prix, as the tailgate of the 'bolt shrank rapidly toward the horizon.

I had gone nine years without a new vehicle, and dropped $28,500 on the spot based on one glance at a website. These things are more addictive than crack.

I love this damn truck - especially after running in the 13.7's BONE STOCK Saturday with only 2,000 miles on the clock.

My wife capitalized on my giddiness and convinced me, five days later, and not yet "of sound mind", to buy the Benz as well for her "commuting needs". Sounded like a good idea at the time.

How was the decision made for the rest of you? The Lightning made me do it.

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Silver Y2K Lightning
Bone Stock w/ Duraliner, Ford Hitch Cover

Best 60-foot: 2.063
Best 1/8: 8.876
Best 1/4: 13.789
Best MPH: 99.67

Silver (matching) Y2K ML320 Benz
Burl (ML430) Shift ****

1992 Grand Prix SE
Commuter Mule

 

First of all,
Your brother in law: You owe him one!
For me, I had a Supercharged 98 Cobra running 12.1 @ 122 in the 1/4.
Needless to say I was already hooked on boost. When I tried a lightning I liked it even more. Sold the Cobra


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2000 Lightning / #1017
'69 Mustang GT
'82 Mustang GT (drag)
'48 Ford F1 pkup

 

Snakepit:

You're not kidding about owing the B-I-L. He really saved my bacon on that one. Who knows what the long-term implications would have been? Maybe even kids and a move to a subdivision, I fear. As it stands now, I'm more than happy to paint big, wide (295 mm, to be exact) black stripes on the street in front of my house all day (way out in the boonies), and plan how I'm going to spend "Junior's college money" (a Z06 looks pretty good right now).

 

I remember when I first wanted my truck. I saw it back in 1997 at the chicago auto show. It was a concept at the time but the truck made me hard. I was there picking out my first car and I new that I would have that truck some day If ford did make it. So I waited 2 years. I would go into the ford dealer every month to ask my salesmen if he found out about it. He would always say no. Then the one day I'm sitting at home watching car and diver television and I see this beautiful sight. A black lightning being test drove for the first time. I almost had an orgasim right there. I taped the shop and ran over to my dealer the next day and showed it to him and said I want that truck right there and I don't care what you got to do. So he started a waiting list up for me and I was the first one in line. That was in january. In febuary they let me come pay for it so at the time I had surgery on my foot so I treaded in my 97 GTP figuring that my truck should be in within two months so I'll get more for my car. I got raped on that trade in and paid 1500 over sticker for my truck, but then again the next guy who bought the first black one paid 5000 grand over sticker. So I waited and waited for my baby to come in. Well its may now and I'm getting pist. I wanted my truck. So everyday I would call him and find out if it was there yet. Well on june 22 of 1999 my baby was rolled of the semi and she was waited there for me, smiling and waiting to terrorize all of orland park and surronding towns. I love my truck more then anything else in this world with thre exception of family. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't look at her and stair for hours at a time. I've had her for that long and I still look back every time I go to the store. She still give me that rush that I need. And she gets all the ladies, The only bad thing is that women can't deal with being second best to my truck. I guess I just need a girl with an lightnig. I will never sell my baby and I hope that theirs somebody else out there that feels the same way. Well thats a mouth full.

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99.5 red lightning
Cervini's ram air hood
billet grilles
clear coreners
clear tail's
A.R.E bed cover
SS street style mirror's
Super chip R9
airaid intake
trans go shift kit
Audio: Kenwood 9015 cd, Kenwood kmd minidisc, Kicker 5x7 impulse, kicker 5.25 resolution, phoenix gold zx450, Phoenix gold zx500, Three JL audio 10w3's, Qform's, custom built box.
Built 5/4/99 A tuesday
# 917 of 4000
Best ET. 13.42 at 100.98
best stock 13.96 at ?

When the green light drops, the bullsh*t stops.