This will probably be my only post, so bare with me please.

I have a 2001 Mustang GT, which I love, but am already thinking of what's next. I am often daydreaming of cars I cannot afford, but recently I have focused on the SVT Lightning. New is out of my range, so I am wondering what your thoughts are as to the likelyhood is of picking up a used '99 or newer model in the next couple of years that has not been abused in the low to mid 20's.

Also in the classifieds, I saw quite a few newer Lighnings for sale. Are thes dissatisfied owners, or what gives?

Finally, some may think this is lame, but I would be interested in putting a shell on the back. Is this common at all?

Thanks,
Aaron Jensen

 

SHELL? WTF!

 

It has nothing to do with the shell comment (I swear!), but I don't recommend that you buy a used L. They are all beat to hel*, you will be just be buying a problem.

Keep the mustang, we...I mean you will be happier.

Pat
2001 Silver L
Bone stock

 

My 99L that I traded was never raced , garage kept and only taken out for quite sunday drives, I swear or something............ So that proves that there maybe some non-abused used Lightning out there

 

As with any used performance vehicle, you probably should assume it was raced. I'm sure that there are many L's out there that were not raced or modified but as a buyer you need to be careful. If you have a good mechanic, he can probably run tests on the engine and transmission and look over the vehicle for problems. You can also check the areas of the L's that may have had mods removed like the supercharger pullies and the PCM to see if they look tampered with. Also, many folks bought the extended warranty which is transferable. If the vehicle has a warranty with it and met all the above criteria, I would feel pretty confident about buying it. Just my .02.

 

I would buy a used one... only under certain conditions.

Was looked over by a mechanic that I trust or at least one that is VERY familiar with this machine... and I was able to look at it too.
Yes- like Silver01 said, assume it was raced, be sure to look for removed mods.

Also I would reccomend having the extended warranty with it, or purchase one from Ford - if it hasn't expired already.

Good Luck - hope you become and L owner soon. I'm not a fan of trucks, but I love My Machine
:-)
"PWR_WHLS"
john

 

Thanks for the replies. I will keep my eyes open. I am not shocked that most of you think the L's will have been somewhat abused, being that my '01 Mustang has been smacked around quite a bit already.

I really like the Lighnings, both the newer and older styles. I'll probably get one sooner or later. Stay safe.
Aaron

 

When I sold my Black 2000 Lightning, it had 14k miles, never been chipped, and very well taken care of. I did race it a few times, but in know way would I have thought it was abused. By the way, I sold it for "low to mid 20's".

There are good deals on L's out there... Met a guy at the track a few weeks back... He had recently bought a bone stock, never been chipped, 99 L with only 3000 miles... Don't know what he paid for it though..

 

There are Lightnings out there that have not been abused. Someday (Very far away), when I go to sell my Lightning, the person that buys it will be getting a helluva deal. I baby the crap outta my L. I do not race it, wash and wax it all the time, and definately do not abuse it. I do not have the pocketbook size do be beatin' on my L. I am always eager to watch or listen to the guys on here that post clips of themselves doing burnouts, because it is cool. WHat makes it really cool, is that it is their truck and not mine! Anyway, I am sure that I am not alone out there, so not all used Lightnings are abused.

 

A buddy of mine just bought a "used" 2001 Lightning yesterday. I checked it out for him Wednesday night. It was garaged for 9 months and only had 184 miles on it. One trip from the dealer, one round trip to and from the dealer, and one trip to the store for some groceries.

It was imaculate, still had the new car smell and still had all the plastic protective "stuff" on the carpet, etc.

He got it for such a low price, you'd all be sick, so I won't tell you.

Spike

 

Just because a vehicle has been 1/4 miled or road raced doesn't necessarily mean that it has been abused . I road raced(driver's school-actually) my 1991 Z281LE and drove it daily to work. It had 155,000 miles on it when it was bought--to road race.

If I were buying a used L, I'd want to know what ets it was capable of and what it had dynoed recently. Any 'factory' problems have been sorted out. Sure the undriven, pristine ones look and smell 'purty' but what problems are lurking beneath the surface, unknown because the truck has never been 'tested'?

Btw, Masterloggie, Rusty, CornerCarver and I are opening up a new business. Because of our spread-out locations, we are naming it "The City-Wide, Mid-Eastern Georgia Used Lightning Trucks Emporium". Remember; "City-Wide is on your side. "

Dan

 

He got it for such a low price, you'd all be sick, so I won't tell you.

I don't mind feeling SICK at this moment

 

I thought about getting a Lighting myself but with there cost so high I may end up back in a Mustang GT the truck I got now is fast enough to get me into trouble with the law but I want to get back to better preformance and handling