I've ownwed both and think that the key here is that they feel completely different, so it is hard to compare the two without lap times.
I seem to remember when I watched the promotional video of the gen2 at the dealership prior to my purchase, that SVT claimed superior handling in the gen2.

 

Hey lightning tuner,

Not to be a pain is the a$$ but your info on the generation 1 lightning and the Chevy 454 is wrong.

Ford had the lightning idea before Chevy’s 454 truck. When Chevy caught wind of ford making a performance truck it decide to make one too. Unlike the well planed and well thought out design of the lightning, Chevy threw together a truck made from available parts. Chevy basically just dropped a 454 plant in a standard truck. Other than some decals and trim it was nothing special.

The 454 was also a pig after 60 mph, the lighting was an all around better truck even on straight-line acceleration.

 

Dreamin,

Maybe we can rally several G1 owners to join us road while the G2 owners are at the drags holding the wheel straight and avoiding the brakes (NOT that there's anything wrong with that ). I'm also interested in track times. The guy who got me interested in Lightnings (years ago) is the Chief Mechanic at Los Gatos Ferrari and he always said the G1's were incredible on the road course. He also mentioned that Jackie Stewart's favorite Ford on their test track was the G1. I don't know if that still true today.

So, if there are any G1 owners out there that want to prove that your Lightning is superior to the G2 on a road course, get in touch with Dreamin or watch the NLOC board. I'd like to see you out there!

Until you show up and prove it, the G2's are the superior truck.

spike

 

2001 Sport, actually my info is correct, it came directly from one of the head engineers on the Lightning project. The Gen 1 truck was developed in only 9 months for the 93 release. The 454SS came out in 1990, and production on that truck was over by the time the Gen 1 Lightning came out.

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SAL - TEAM PSP
web- www.powersurgeperformance.net
E-mail sales@powersurgeperformance.net
tech@powersurgeperformance.net
F-150 Online Supporting Vendor

 

Well I can prove it I have both and they have within10 hp of each other and the Gen 1 is faster,before I did all the suspension stuff [Gen2],In the Gen2s the rear end is junk if you are running hard you burn out the clutch pack in about 4 laps.If they made a locker that would help.As for the mods to the Gen1 stock height,AIS shocks,locker,that was it for suspension at the time that I was clocked.Now thou,urethane bushing through out,4 wheel discs,lighter wheels,the gen2 is faster than the gen1 now but the mods where extensive to do it,way more than what you have to do to the gen1.
And I can prove it!! Stan

 

I have both a 95' and a 00'. I've always thought my gen1 would out-handle the 00' but always attributed it to overpowering the rear wheels in a turn. It's kinda nice to know that I'm not imagining things. BTW it doesn't feel just a little faster through the turns, it feels a lot faster. I'll take the braking and power of the 00' any day though.

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LEFT ON VACATION CAME BACK ON PROBATION

 

G1's came w/:

Firestone™ Firehawk GTA, P275/60HT-17, BSW

 

Let us all not forget that the '96 - '98 Cobras had some hellacious body roll and brake dive, yet would outhandle any other production Mustang of it's time ('cept for the R's).

Not to mention the rear stabilizer bars were smaller than the GTs of the same year. It's not always about the stiff ride as if it was on rails. It's all about proper tuning, etc. I'd for one bet on a stock L on 90% of the road courses out there.

Can we get some real hard core #'s?

BfB

 

Printed data:

Gen 1 skidpad - .89
Gen 2 skidpad - .84
Gen 1 slalom - 62.2 seconds
Gen 2 slalom - 63.6 seconds

And just for the hell of it, here is a quote taken from the offcial SAE paper for the 93 Lightning:

"Lightning handling superiority is reflected in the lateral accelleration capability of .9 g sustained with peaks to 1.0 g, and virtually neutral understeer/oversteer characheristics."

What exactly is so hard to understand? Owners of both Gens here have said thier Gen 1s handle better, the numbers say the Gen 1s handle better, and the guys who road race them say the Gen 1s handle better. What more do you want?

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SAL - TEAM PSP
web- www.powersurgeperformance.net
E-mail sales@powersurgeperformance.net
tech@powersurgeperformance.net
F-150 Online Supporting Vendor

 

From my experience...

I've got a 2000 L and my "carpool" bud has a 1993 L. We switch off every other day.

I'd say his '93 takes the turns a bit more sure-footedly than my '00.



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<A HREF="http://users.ev1.net/~temurphy/lightning/" TARGET=_blank> </A><A HREF="http://haloclub.svt-lightning.com" TARGET=_blank> </A>
2000 Black Lightning
#4399

 

Sal, you hate me don't you? LOL, j/k

Thanks for the printed #'s. I guess the "handling" for any given 1 point is slightly better in the G1, but what I was getting at is on a road course I'm willing to bet the G2 will lap faster given the fact that it has more power & better brakes, plus it's more forgiving. Though, any inexperienced driver will feel more comfortable in the G1 and an experienced driver may feel more comfortable in the G2.

We all hated the way the '96 Cobra felt on a road course, but we couldn't deny that it lapped faster (more power, better brakes).

Slalom wise, it looks as if the G2 paces through slightly better. I'm sure this is attributed to the wider tires and the increased power.

Those #'s should read "MPH" not "seconds". 1.4 mph difference is pretty substantial for a die hard #'s fan.

MT (and we all know how sucky they are at driving any vehicle) stated this about the Lightning in their Dec. '99 issue when comparing to a Mustang GT, a TransAm WS6, and a Camaro SS:

(btw, these were all 2000 models)

I'm one to "?" their slalom #'s. As most of you have all stated, you "feel" more confident in a G1, so most likely they felt less confident driving their G2 through the slalom at high speeds which helped to push them to a lower #.

BfB

[This message has been edited by BfB (edited 06-13-2001).]

 

I guess I'm going to have to buy the Gen I mod. You know us lightning owners; we have to have everything.

The wife doesn't know all the mods on my 01. She'll probably notice another truck around the house.

 

Bfb,

I'd say the exact inverse of your statement. I think more experienced drivers would prefer the Gen2 and less, the Gen1. I have a Gen1 at current, and despite the fact that with it's older bushings and abused suspension, it would out drive my gen2 any day of the week. The Gen2 may make up for it on a roadcourse with more power, but that's not the point here. we're talking shear handling prowess. The Gen1 has this over the gen2. I always thought the rear end of the gen2 felt really light. At least with my Gen1, I can fill both tanks with gas and have an extra 238 lbs to hold the rear stable. My Gen2 gives me 168 lbs with a full load of fuel and it's not even far enough back to help stablize the rear. This is one of the reasons I favor my gen1's handling over my gen2.

Spike: haven't seen you around town. where you hidding at? What is the URL to your pics?
I'm now black with the innovation lid. you're still red?

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00' Lightning/ Black
99' Lightning/ Red
94' Lightning/ Red
96' Cobra Convert/ Red
98' Yamaha R1
R6 Race bikes

 

Originally posted by Holeshot:

Yikes, that's what I meant. My bad. I fixed it above.

Also, Ford has yet to release any real #'s for the 2001 Lightning (or have they and I haven't looked hard enough). It seems to me that they are still quoting '99/'00 #'s for the handling. Maybe because it didn't actually improve it's slalom gains?

My whole argument is that I believe honestly that the G2 will lap better times on a road course (I'd think about 90% of them) than a G1 will. Maybe I should have made my topic subject: "G2 will lap better on a road course than a G1?".

BfB

[This message has been edited by BfB (edited 06-13-2001).]

 

I don't know about the stock gen 2's handling, but when I lowered my truck and put the new shocks on her, the handleing was dramatically increased. I can off ramps at 80 all day now. I'm not saying that the either year is better, but it seems that the gen 2's where more or less made for straight up drag racing. How often do you take turns in your hood at 80MPH. but how often do you slam on the gas from a stop light.

I've never drove a gen 1, but I would love to have one for my collection that I plan on starting up. I want every generation lightning produced in my garage. IN RED, the best color!

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