Hey Everyone,

I went to the Ford dealership to check out the Lightning, and I ended up buying one! I've been reading these forums for a while, and I finally decided to test drive one, to experience the rush of a full-size muscle truck. Let's just say I had the biggest grin after the salesman told me to 'give it a little gas'. This thing just hooks up and accelerates like no other car I've ever driven.

I'm supposed to be doing my 'self-imposed' break-in procedure, but I couldn't resist playing with a stickered-out Honda Civic. We were both at a stop light, and when the light went green, he jumped on his throttle. I effortlessly stayed right alongside of him, and at about 40 mph, I 'gave it a little gas', and I just left him behind. Lots of fun, especially in a half-ton! Can't wait til it's fully broken in!

 

GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY THE GRIN NEVER GOES AWAY . EVERY TIME I TURN THE KEY ITS AS GOOD AS THE FIRST TIME!! ENJOY ARTIE

 

I know this is a bit off topic to your post, but I saw that you are from san antonio. Do you know of any lightning owner gatherings in SA? Congrats on your new truck!

 

Welcome you will have fun with it. ZX12 as in bike? Had one of those with the Muzzy full meal deal. Sweet ride.

 

Hey Jerry,

Congrats ! Welcome ! Enjoy !

 

Thanks for the welcome!

I got up really early this morning to take the L out for a spin, and it was great. It's cool when other cars pull up beside you on the highway, just to check out your ride! I took it out to the winding roads around Medina lake, and it handled perfectly.

I'm trying to keep it in pristine condition, almost like the way my dad has kept his 1987 Buick Grand National in perfect shape. It only has about 3000 miles on it, and it still has the factory stickers and original tires on it! We'll take out the GN every now and then to 'keep it lubed and charged', and it is really fun. I haven't driven the GN too much (since he always wants to drive it), but the L seems to have a little more 'kick' than the GN, probably because it's a turbo V6 (turbo lag).

I have a lot of respect for the GN, since I think of it as the 'grandaddy' of the last decade or so of musclecars. However, I think I might try to convince him to have a little 'grudge match' when my L is fully broken in. Do you think I can take him, stock for stock, in the quarter mile?

MattTx,
I'm not sure if they have L gatherings around here, but I think it would be cool if they did. I do know that they race L's out at River City dragway, east of town on I-10. If you're from around SA, maybe we could go there and watch some Ls kick ***. I'll ask the dealer if they know of any L gatherings.

Silver-Bolt,
So you had a ZX-12? As you probably already know, it's one of the fiercest accelerating bikes on the planet! I bought mine about a year and a half ago, and it's just awesome. When you pin the throttle in first gear, it just wants to rip your arms off! Did you sell your Ninja? I'm probably gonna keep mine stock, but I sure love the way those aftermarket exhausts sound. I also got the Champion's R1, which will be my collector bike. Do you still own any other bikes?

 

I live in Schertz. Haven't seen many Lightnings in SA but I'd definately like to hook up sometime.

 

Great buy! It's still a 'rush' when I see mine, much less drive it and I drive it every day to work.

I think your dad's GN will stomp you. A modded one handed me my azz at the 1/4 a few weeks ago--his 11.90 to my 13.2xx. Stock to stock, I don't know, but he probably will take you(hey, I gotta' stick up for us ol'[I'm 62] farts!).

Dan

 

ZX,
Yep sold the ZX12. Bought it, put about 250 miles on it. Couple of 1/4 runs (9.96 best). Dropped it at at Muzzy's. Big bore kit, cam, pipe, big diet. Result 216 rwhp, 473lbs wet. Another Muzzy custome saw it under construction and wanted to buy it from me when it was done. Got to ride it once and sold it for $5k more than I had in it. It was insane. 4th gear power wheelies were no problem at about 150mph. Never saw the the top end. Ran it up to about 180mph and ran out of road.

No scoots right now. Have an idea on the drawing board. ZRX1200 with a ZX12 Muzz motor sounds pretty fun.

 

I know, Had mine for about three weeks now it is hard to keep your foot out of it. There have been a few times I just had to get in it, I have not seen much info on break-in but I am a newbe.

 

BREAK IT IN HARD!!!!!!!

 

I think I just made a friend of mine a little jealous...he now wants to get a truck too, and he thinks he's gonna one-up me by getting a Dodge 2500 turbo diesel, quad cab! Sure he'll be able to pull pretty heavy things and haul his family around, but there aint no way he's gonna take the L (or for that fact, my Tundra either) in acceleration and handling! He's actually challenging a little 'race' between the L and his soon to be diesel. I told him that since he will be getting a 4x4, I should first race him in the Tundra 4x4 first, to make it fair. I think that may teach him a lesson, but if for some reason it doesn't, I'll have to resort to the L.

Don't get me wrong, I like diesels, but I just don't see how that heavy thing will be able to keep up with the lighter half ton trucks, at least when they're not pulling anything (I think it would be a different story if we were both pulling trailers uphill). I don't think he realizes that the L engine only has 50 less footpounds of torque than the high output diesel, and it puts out way more horsepower (at least 135 more) than the diesel. The Tundra engine puts out similar horsepower as the diesel, but only has 320 footpounds of torque.

I'll keep everyone posted on the results...

SAlightning,
I haven't seen too many Ls out here either, maybe they're all hanging out in the colder weather up north, to get more power! I think it would be cool to hang out sometime...let's shoot for sometime later in the month. Did you get your L at Northside Ford? They were the only L dealer I could find in town. I'd love to see the L's run at the local dragstrip.

Later,

 

ZX12,

I tried buying my lightning from Northside, but they said they didn't have any? Ended up buying out of state. When did you buy yours? I am just curious. How would you rate Northside Ford as a dealer?