Earlier today I posted a message about the new L feeling weak, (ie won't even spin the tires from idle without power braking). Tonight coming home from a friends house, I see a black convertable saleen s281 just ahead. I was pretty terrified of getting my a$$ handed to me by this car, so for about 10 miles I ignored the guy. Finally I decided that I had been embarrased before so why not one more time. We hit a strech of road that was pretty clear (relative when you live in ATL, GA). I pulled along side of him, and we slowed to around 50 mph. At the time, I saw headlights in my rear-view, but we are only doing 50, so I though nothing of it. I turned the overdrive off, and the truck kicked down, he dropped a gear, and it was on. Immediatly I ran ahead of him by about a half a car length, by 80 mph, I was a full car lenght ahead. I still see these damn headlights right on my a$$, wft I am doing 120!! Right then a brand spanking new (like my truck) C5 corvette pulls around the saleen and even with me. I tap the brakes a few times and bring the truck back down to 70mph, and the vette pulls even with me, we both drop the hammer at the exact same time, and for a second I was about 3 feet ahead of him, but alas by 80mph, he was handing me my a$$ on a silver platter, but not by much. Agian that is relative, not much to me is a car lengh, which suprised the hell out of both of us, as we both expected it to be a total embarrasment for me. After hitting 130, we pulled over to the gas station near my house and exchange a few suprised words, and to think, I got my sh$t 15K cheaper than him!!!

I guess the truck isn't as weak as I though, the older 91 mustang gt with the Kenne Bell Blowzilla, pegged the a$$ o' meter, this truck barely registers, but man it moves! I still wouldn't run out and race a stang like mine, but i sure won't fear any other mustang that is mostly stock or those saleens.

Thoughts?

 

Hey Exuviae,
I JUST purchased my L 3 days ago, and I was scared about a slow truck too! i.e. No rubber being layed down. But anyway, while putting on freeway miles tonight trying to break-er-in, my friend and I came across a silver 98 GT (stang) I was just cruisin and he was bouncin all around the three lane San Mateo bridge, my buddy Nick said "take him" so I came up to him gave a couple lunges to let him know and just romped on it! All i saw were headlights after that Also Exuviae, if you have a curvy road around your home, take your baby there! We have a curvy road running to the coast, and I took my L around almost all turns at about 70! Felt like a porsche huggin the turns

Proud new owner with 400 miles!
P.S. any one considering trading their 01 for an 02? I already am, (I only got the 3 year standard warranty, because I want to trade it in)

 

heres the thing you guys, when you are in a low sportscar, they always feel faster , butttttttttttt, its like when you are in a go cart, they feel like they are going much faster than they are because they are lower to the ground. the lightning feels slower because it is much higher off the ground. its only when you race a car that you expect to be faster and walk past them do you realize how fast your lightning is going. also after a few thousand miles the engine gets stronger and stronger. also mods make it go insane. have fun

 

I also thought my stock 2000 L was "slow" when I first got her... Just didn't have the seat of the pants feeling that some other "cars" had. That thought changed when I took her to the track and ran a 13.8 @ 100mph (bone stock).

The Lightning has a misleading feel of speed. The height, weight, stability, and smooth power seem to really make you feel like you aren't going anywhere near as fast as you really are. Not a bad thing though...

 

The guy in the vette is a friend of mine. He emailed me this morning about his "Lightning kill". He's got a burgundy C4 with exhaust and Grand Sport rims. He's also got the bottle. I'll try and get ahold of him and find out if he was spraying.

 

Got to watch the Vettes. From a stop you would have held a new stock C5 off no problem up to 80-90 (unless it was a Z06) - but from a roll, especially over 40-50, they are in their element and you're not (their powerband, as well as the f-bodies, are more top end, L's more low end). You'll most likely win the bulk of short streetlight races, but let's face it, the L's a big old bus in the aerodynamics area at higher speeds.

You want to actually feel way more power in your L start modding it - chip, blower pulley, shift kit, air kit. I guarantee a good chip alone will wake up your truck like you wouldn't believe

BTW the Saleen S351's are a handful

 

Exuviae

I was the guy in the Vette. You were on I574 when this happened right? Your truck runs good. The guy in the saleen would not run I guess he figured sense you pulled him and I pulled you that he did not want to play. I did not have the bottle in the car like Paul said in an earlier post. It realy moves with the 100 shot. Maybe we will cross paths agian and we can talk. I will be out on Barrett Parkway tonight I will be on the look out for you. Take it easy.

 

Look, lets face it, we all love our Lightnings. Personally, being
on the dark side (over 50 ) I have had some great muscle cars,
even had a 69 427/435 vette when I was going to school in
Oregon back in the 70's.
But there is no doubt that my 01 "L" is one quick 5000 lb. brick!!!!
The bottom end power is superb, and the handling at 100 + is
beyond belief. I find myself "hunting " for camaros, trans-ams,
vettes, tangs, or whatever else wants to play almost everytime I climb in it.
Sure, I have even managed to get my *** handed to me, lets see
maybe once ( new vettte) but when all is said and done, I really
get off on saying , "yup" your little 3500 lb. sports car gave my
"5000 lb. TRUCK, a hell of a run. Yea right !!!!!
Kind of like the Harley side of me says, "if you have to ask, you
wouldn't understand"...


Marc

 

It wasn't a C5 vette' . It was a 93' c4 Corvette . He's in our club in Atl, "TURBO BUICK CLUB CLUB of ATLANTA". Corvette runs 15.20 in the 1/4.

 

Alan you are crazy. The best time I have got is a
17.20!!! Maybe next time I will be in my "stock" 10 second Regal.

 

...sorry, i saw you run at Commerce when the Mustang beat you in your vette, must have been his time. alan

 

Right

 

See dude,it just feels weak untill you spank someones ***.

 

If that 93 C-4 goes 15.2 in the 1/4 it must be a real dog off the line. I think a re-match from a standing start is in order! Now if the Vette goes on the bottle, you got a hole new ball game.

 

I think my Vette will do low 13's on motor and dip pretty good into the 12's on the spray