...what can i expect.Right now i drive a '97 ranger4x4(whinter beater)and a modified'70 GTO.I hope the thing is as powerful,like everyone say's.I'm gonna go test drive one as soon as they arrive:-)

 

I'll give it to ya from my perspective. I had been watching this board for about a month before buying the L and everybody was talking about how awesome they are and how they run way down in the 13's stock. I was pumped. As fate would have it The day I drove away from the dealer was test and tune day at the local track so I went expecting to bust off some 8.8 1/8th mile passes but what I got was 9.2 to 9.3 which would be about 14.4 in the qtr. I was so disappointed that I almost took it back to tell them I would pay whatever it took to undo the deal. What you learn from being on this board a while and from experience is that these things don't run good when its hot out (was 100 the first day I got mine) it takes 4000 or so miles for them to break in, and a chip (or looks like reflash for the 01) makes a world of difference. The more you drive it the more you like it.

------------------
2000 Silver L #4906
Best 1/8th mi stock:9.13
Best with R9 and 5,000 mi: 8.67
1995 Stang : (wifes'car) 12.30 1/4 mi
1972 Skylark: 7.16 1/8, 6.70 on the bottle

 

The AutoMan is clearly jaded. I'll give it to you from my perspective:

I had heard they were fast, but I never even sat in a Lightning until mine arrived at the dealer.

I picked it up, and went for a test drive. A quick righ turn, an injudicious application of the throttle, and sweetmarymotherofJeeezus! I hadn't driven anything that fast in 20 years.

I don't think you'll be disappointed.



------------------
Regards,
Gordon

'99 Red Lightning
Johnny Lightning Superchip
Johnny Lighting Ram Air Kit
Century Tonneau
Best 1/4 mi. ET: 13.249 secs

 

I'll tell you this,if i get one, hope to GOD i do .I'll problably never get to test drive it.Small dealership about 2 hours from here.So if i come into some money i'm getting a L without test driving it.

 

I agree with BadDog! My first time was like this:

I heard about the Lightning, and how fast it was, wayyy before I was on this board. It just so happened that a good buddy of mine was working for a big SVT dealer out here. So I went to go visit him "for lunch" that day, and noticed a 99 Black Lightning in a display area. I figured, what the heck, I asked him to go talk his boss into getting the keys for me, and we went out. He drove away from the dealer, got us on a side street and turned her over to me. I must tell you, I was scared to punch it (especially since it wasn't mine, and his job was on the line), so I babied it, gave it some throttle here and there, until he starte laughing at me, and calling me a *******. We stop at a stop sign, and he tells me to punch it. So I did, and what used to be a grin on my face, became a full, ear-to-ear smile, and what was once a jokingly smile on his face became a, "Oh *****, there goes the new tires on this thing look", as I lit them up across the intersection, and went off speeding around 100 mph down the street. He had to yell for me to slow down! Anyways, it was great, and here I am, 4 months later, waiting for my 2001 Black ,a nd jumping up and down b/c of the spy photos.

------------------
-Marcus M.
Email-SnakEyez60@aol.com
Black 2001 ordered and impatiently waiting.
Moderator:BLackBoLT01 <A HREF="Http://www.SVTperformance.com" TARGET=_blank> </A>

 

Hey,blackbolt just reading that got my heart PUMPING!!!!!!!!!way to go!that is what i like to hear.

 

ECKO

I went to the dealer fully intent on buying one and all I saw was a profile on Autoweek. The test drive was for *****s and giggles and to solidify the deal as well as and scare the poo out of the salesman. All were achieved...(the plastic was still on the seats)

When I asked if he wanted to go for a ride in my stang, he politely declined. Chicken!!

 

If i get one.i'm telling the salesman to tell the lot man not to wash it.Also leave the plastic in.It's fun taking all that stuff out ,almos like a present, you do not want enyone touching you'r new stuff.I used to work as a'lot man' in a ford deallership not a svt though:-)

 

My other two cars are a '99 Z28 and a '92 Stealth R/T Turbo, both solid 13 second cars. At the time I also had a Kawasaki ZX11, a low 10 sec bike. Needless to say, it takes a seriously quick vehicle to impress me. I test drove the Dakota R/T and just wasn't impressed with the acceleration. It was a very nice truck otherwise, it just didn't have the power one would expect from a compact truck with a 360 under the hood. I test drove the Lightning and wasn't exactly overwhelmed by the performance, I decided that trucks didn't get much better than this. With 600 miles on the odometer in near 100 degree tempuratures, it ran a 14.0 the first time down the track. Five months later, with a chip/filter and 3100 miles, it pulled a 13.1@105.91. I prefer driving it over my Stealth and my Z28. I have no regrets - it's the funnest 4 wheel vehicle I've ever owned.

------------------
'00 Lightning - 13.110 @ 105.91
'92 Stealth Turbo - 13.4 @ 103
'99 Z28 - 13.7 @ 107
'01 Honda CR250

 

Let me put it to you this way. When you run across your C5, your LT1/LS1 F-body, your Cobra, your GT, and you either are doorhandle-to-doorhandle in a race or even better watching them fade into your rearview mirror, you will be enlightened without anymore words from us.

 

I hope the lightning love's to do burnouts!Cause i'm addicted.

 

A buddy wanted to drive my Lightning to see how fast it was. He owns a large auto repair shop, so he gets to drive a lot of cool cars - Vipers, Supra TTs, etc. He's driven my Z28, and wasn't impressed at all. Anyway, I let him drive my Lightning, and he stops in the middle of the road to see how quick it was from a standing start. I warned him about wheel spin, but he stomped on it anyway. It felt like the driveshaft was disconnected. Absolutely no forward movement at all, just massive wheel spin. He was astounded. Later on, he got into it with a Buick Grand National. We were walking the GN pretty badly, when the GN driver gave up. My buddy was really impressed with the L. If you like wheel spin, this is your truck. At $215 a pop for the tires, I try to avoid it.



------------------
'00 Lightning - 13.110 @ 105.91
'92 Stealth Turbo - 13.4 @ 103
'99 Z28 - 13.7 @ 107
'01 Honda CR250

 

I bought mine without a test drive, and at first I wasn't all that impressed, either. Partly it had to do with sitting up much higher than I was used to, so it always seemed slower than it actually was. Plus it seems to take these puppies substantial miles to loosen up. Mainly though, I think that the 3.55 gears were a very poor choice for the power curve and transmission ratios on these trucks. The 3.73's in the new ones are a MUCH better choice. Once I swapped gears (to 4.10s) and added a Swanson chip and MAF it became a different beast, and lots of fun to drive. The '01s should be a lot better right out of the box. You should have fun.

------------------
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, 4.10 gears, Swanson chip, Pro-M, NGK plugs, carbon drive shaft, Roadmaster suspension kit
13.39 @ 102.5
2001 Kevlacat 2400, twin 115 Evinrude FICHT, Raytheon VHF, radar, autopilot and GPS chartplotter/fishfinder.

gmvye@pacbell.net

 

Drove a 93L for4 years with my ear to the ground listening to the rumors their coming back. In 97 I saw a sketch I said I have to have 1. In 98 I saw a photo. I said I have to have one. Ordered it. My order fell thru (long story).Reordered a 00 waited another year. Truck got lost after production. Finally shows up in Houston after a visit to LA. I take it home. On the way home I buy my chip, Pro-M/K&N install before I get home.Never a test drive.Now I wait for my 01. Man I love these truck. Definitly addicting. Later!

------------------
Mark S.
93L red 396 stroker
00L white Full Bassani, Pro-M air meter/ K&N,HP chip, 4:10 gear,FRP 80mm single bore T/B

 

I bought mine sight-unseen (except for the web) and without a test drive. (the dealer didn't have any yet)...

Best car I ever bought. I can't get enough of driving it, and no mere "mortal car" will ever be suitable again.

Daniel