Guys I love my L also but we shouldnt make excuse why the thing the #1 selling =Ford fails so bad at a standard test they know they are going to be put up against to me it just shows again how Ford just turns there head at these major saftey issues. I am realy not comfortable putting my kids in the truck anymore. I know we all know how to drive better than most but its the jackass who blows a red light and mashes you at 80mph while he is on his cell phone!

 

About a year a go some of you may remember we spun our L and hit several things with a good amount of speed. In the process of takeing out 30ft of fence, hitting and knocking down a tree, and running over a large rock damaged all four sides of the truck. The only mechanical peice to fail was the sterring box. Frame didn't twist, cab didn't collapse, and bed didn't go ramming up into the cap.

Though this accident isn't as those people tested, it would have been if there was a dummy behind the wheel.

The is a differance in real world crashes and simulated crashes.

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A side impact is a a side impact a head on is head on. you could be the worlds best driver and not avoid a head on collsion from a drunk driver. The words of guys saying there driving abilty can get them out of a wreck is rediculous. Its the day you are drving changing your radio when someone broad sides you! Thankfully I have never been hit or crashed a car only a few bikes @ the track :-(

 

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety=Ralph Naders Auto Gestapo (SS).

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Red 00"
Pro-M mass air
Swanson chip
Aluminum driveshaft
Jay Lincoln homemade
traction bars
*******'s bed cover
Wet Okoles
Lightning floor mats
Email: jaylincolncobra@aol.com

"UNLESS YOU'RE THE LEAD DOG, THE VIEW NEVER CHANGES"
http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4292716723

 

The F150 got a four star on head-on's and five on broadsides. This "poor" rating was in off-axis hits. Only one truck did good there, the Toyota Tundra...Dodge and all others did bad as well...

Daniel

 

I just thought I would share this with you, One of our Lightning brothers was killed in his '01 Lightning this past week end. It looks like he only had it for about a month or so. It is a very sad and tragic story but it hit home.

1badtk
Frequent Flyer
Posts: 826
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Jun 2000
posted 06-04-2001 03:57 PM
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This was posted on our forum about a fellow Gen 2 L owner from Victoria, Tx.
Just wanted to say that this past Friday the guy from my town with the other 01 L(black) was in an accident and killed. He was on here a couple of times as Blown150 and just wanted to let everyone know since he never got a chance to meet yall. The sad parts is that the cab was riped off the truck ( which never should have happened cause the bolst and washers were still in tack but the cab pulled itself around the washer). I just wanted to post this for him since he mentioned myself on here a couple of times.

His last post was on May 22nd concerning bed covers. We will miss Randy and his friendship.
Please pray for his family. I noticed he listed a White Navagator as the Soccer Mom vehicle, so there are children involved also.
Thanks

IP: Logged

Trace
Frequent Flyer
Posts: 500
From: Southern Ohio, the "mullet" capital of the world.
Registered: Jan 2000
posted 06-04-2001 04:25 PM
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My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
It's so hard to find words suitable in times like this. The emotions flow and words cannot describe. The chill bumps overcome my body as I attempt to understand the pain his family feels. God bless them.

I will hug my family extra tight and be reminded of how fragile life really is.

IP: Logged

hdmlnium
Frequent Flyer
Posts: 238
From: MAINE -- USA
Registered: Nov 2000
posted 06-04-2001 04:27 PM
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1badtk:
That is very bad news, my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
Bill

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Jim Lang
Frequent Flyer
Posts: 94
From: Austin, Texas,U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2000
posted 06-04-2001 05:12 PM
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I concur. Life is so very prescious, and we never know when the Good Lord will call our name... God Bless him, and all those that knew him... Rest In Peace...
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Silver `00 #2189 of 4966.Final Assembly, Thurs. 13Apr`00. nlocmember#524

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gforce
Frequent Flyer
Posts: 260
From: Proctorville, OH
Registered: Sep 2000
posted 06-04-2001 05:19 PM
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That's terrible and fatal wrecks are especially tragic for the families of the victims because it's so sudden and unexpected.
What happened? It sounds like a severe collision to rip the cab off.

IP: Logged

Gitchi Manitou
Frequent Flyer
Posts: 860
From: MI USA
Registered: Sep 2000
posted 06-04-2001 06:55 PM
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Join me if you will for a moment.
Heavenly Father, look, we beseech you, down upon the family of our beloved brother now fallen asleep. Extend your healing hands and ease their pain and suffering. Draw them ever closer and increase their love for one another. And fill their hearts with your Holy Spirit and the hope of a blessed reunion in Heaven. In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.

 

RIP Brother Randy

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1999 Black Lightning... 1940 of 4000... Traded for: 2001 Silver Bolt... Adopted 3/24/01... Red Line Water Wetter... Wet Okole's... Bed Rug... JL Stage II Ram air... Chipless in Jersey

 

Well said Gator!
I had read that report on CNNfn in another publication, but for the life of me, I can't remember where. When I did, I remembered something I had read at consumer reports. Read it here: http://www.consumerreports.org/main/...D=991699937676
Then here's a little food for thought. The insurance institute may be a little biased, in that they somewhat "set" how the vehicles are considered for insurance rates. Most popular vehicle in America...Charge a little more insurance? Might be something to consider. I remember reading, while I was shopping for this truck, that there is a 4 star driver side and 5 star passenger side crash rating.
I know you can't always believe what you read, so maybe the article at CNN/fn is correct, and what I have read is wrong, I just wanted to provide a little more info for everyone to mull over.

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'98 F150 Ext. cab 2wd
XLT STX
4.6 Auto
3.55ls

 

There have been many articles in various auto publications about the off-set test that the Insurance Institute conducts. The general consesus has been that there is no merit to the test. This is why the NHTSA has not adopted the test. It has also been published that appx. (I may be a little off here, but not much) 1% or less of auto accidents involve hard off-set hits, as tested by the insurance institute.

For me, I think I would be a little leary of ANY "test" that is conducted by the industry that charges us for our auto insurance. Kinda like the thing where Geico Insurance gives laser guns to police agencies for FREE, so they can go and write more tickets.

Until people actually learn how to drive, there is no such thing as truly safe. However, I feel my chances are much better in a large vehicle, that can get out of it's own way...... both in power and handling. Speed and reaction time has saved my a*s more than once.

Remember, these "institute" tests are one reason why Honda and Toyota are working on designing bumpers and hoods to be more giving. This way, WHEN you hit a pedestrian with your car, you will not hurt him/her as much.

Kinda makes you wonder, huh??????

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Gloria
94 Lightning, daily driver
93 EB Explorer, 1000 RTI

 

Our trucks are pretty safe...

NHTSA 2000 F150 Test Results

I'm coming from a '82 Dodge Ram custom conversion van, so anything is a step up for me.

Daniel

 

whitestx, my sentiments exactly. If you want to increase insurance rates on the best selling vehicle in the country, just make sure they don't pass the crash tests.

Since they are more dangerous, they will be more expensive to insure.

Hasn't this just happened with gasoline, gas and electricity prices. Nothing like a little price fixing to help the bottom line, at the expense of the deep (now empty)pocketed consumer.

------------------
Red 00"
Pro-M mass air
Swanson chip
Aluminum driveshaft
Jay Lincoln homemade
traction bars
*******'s bed cover
Wet Okoles
Lightning floor mats
Email: jaylincolncobra@aol.com

"UNLESS YOU'RE THE LEAD DOG, THE VIEW NEVER CHANGES"
http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4292716723

 

At the SVT Experience last August I toured Ford's crash test facility at the Dearborn Proving Grounds. Right there, just inside the door, was an F-150 (regular cab, if memory serves) that had been run into an immovable barrier at 35 mph (federal crash test). The A-pillars (door hinge posts) were displaced rearward with the base of the windshield and the dashboard. I wouldn't give a nickel for the crash dummy's knees.

More interesting, the nose was down, as if the front suspension had collapsed, and the bed was up. I asked our guide about a foam cooler full of Bud that could have been in the bed. She looked puzzled, then caught on. "It would've come through the back of the cab and made a mess of any occupants in its way." That worries me more that the IIHS's offset crash tests.

 

Doesn't it make sense that the insurance companies would claim that the F-150, the best selling vehicle in the world, was unsafe? They could use such a claim as justification for increasing the price of insurance for the most common vehicle in America. Insurance companies are all about money, not occupant safety. For them to claim that any brand other than Ford was not safe would not be as profitable for them. I tend to believe the NHTSA data, which supports the fact that the F-150 is a safe vehicle.

 

If you're gonna hit something "moveable", speed up! use Newton's 2nd law to over rule this test and displace your energy into whatever you hit. Just hope it's not heavier!

 

Yeah, right, this is just a ploy by the safety ***** to extract more money for insurance premiums. I wonder how many of you watched the video of the test. To me, its pretty damned scary to see how much the cab deformed at such a relatively slow speed (40 mph). I will just have to make sure that the next time I collide with someone it is head on, not at an angle. Hopefully it will be a Honda, not a semi like poor Randy. Makes me seriously consider installing a cage and 5 point belts like Ruslow, aesthetics be damned. Oh hell, I lost my head, why spend money on safety mods when I could spend it on more go-fast goodies?


Oh, and how the hell does Ford know whether Lightning drivers are "highly skilled" or not? When I bought mine they didn't ask whether I had an SCCA competition license or not, only whether my check would clear. My hunch is that as a group Lightning drivers are much more skillful than average, and also much more aggressive and high risk takers. A little testosterone goes a long way. What the hell, I've had a good life.




[This message has been edited by alphadoggy (edited 06-05-2001).]