Just recieved September's issue of car and driver w/ their test on several tuner cars. It would have been nice to have a Lightning moded to the bone! from one of the tuners! Don's lightning for example is putting 465 RWHP and an enormous amount of torque. These numbers are on par or better than several of the cars on the shoot out. Except a fully moded lightning can be had for tens of thousands less than one of those cars. You figure that for about 10 - 15k, you can have atotally moded lighning icluiding performance, brakes, and handling components. Of course you won't have the prestige of some of the cars, but hey we are talking about performance!!!!

Later

 

By the way I don't think this issue is out in newsstands yet, it just arrived in my mail today. I also forgot to mention that there is also a lot of potential for more power with the new kenny bell blower.

 

yeah like that 700 hp GMC sonoma that looks like a dirt cheap stock one and costs like 180 grand LoL

I was suprised too, there were like 3 or 4 vettes, and 3 or 4 vipers too. No L's

 

Good point about the sonoma!

Later

 

180 grand

 

I was there and it was COOL! Check out:
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=77678

The Sonoma seemed like the fastest vehicle there, but it didn't last a lap, so...

I agree, one (or more) of our tuner friends needs Participate next time to show what a Lightning can do!

 

IMHO, C&D sucks hairy moose *****. If it's not a grocery getter or "big-name" car, they don't like it. It's not suprising at all that they didn't have an L in their shootout. My subscription couldn't run out soon enough.

 

Anyone get the issue yet?

 

One thing many people don't know (I didn't either until it came up) is that many of those high end magazine CHARGE you to be part of those kind of tests. That's right, you have to pay them. I've been contacted by several "high end" magazines and one TV news interview company to do stories on PSP and the truck, and it all sounded like a dream come true until at the end of the conversation, they tell you the fee. The TV offer for 2 minutes of national interveiw time was $13,000!!!

 

OK then, flame suit on...

I personally don't believe the Lightning should be included in tests like this. I own one and love it dearly, but let's be honest. It's a stoplight warrior, and not much else. In stock trim, I'm less than impressed with it's handling. For a truck it's great, but it's got a ton of bumpsteer, the *** end gets loose easily (to be expected with a truck) and IMO, it's just plain sloppy. I know there are plenty of people here who'll counter that they compete with cars of much greater value in Auto-X and track events. To those I'd ask....After how much modification? Please don't get me wrong, it's a great truck. In the performance automobile world though, just a novelty.

Flame on. I'm often wrong, seldom in doubt.

 

I was going to add that a 500 hp corvette or viper will handle a 500 hp lightning its ***.


My 600 hp mustang will easily hand a viper its *** tho.....And thats always fun.

 

"Novelties" are legitimate competitors. I have not seen the other entrants, but surely a $32,000 L is less of a novelty than a $180K Sonoma. How about a $150K AMG Benz? Isn't that a "novelty" also?

As to the how much modification question, how about bone stock? Many Lightnings have dominated other performance autos on an auto-x course straight from the dealer.

Let's look at it another way--just what can you realistically do to a Lightning? I have installed a full Hotchkis/QA1 suspension. That's about $2,500. Traction bars waiting to install. Panhard coming soon. Racing tires in the future. That brings the total up to about $4,500. What's left? A $6,500 IRS? Brembos? Not needed for auto-x. A $37,000 L so equipped can decimate many other "sports cars" on an auto-x course. [Bump steer does **** me off, though]

My $0.02. No flame intended--just a rationale counterpoint. Thanks for a thought-provoking post.

 

If you look at the numbers on their 1/4 time. The one corvette had like 600 or 700 hp, and it was shooting 12's, i think i even aw a few 13's.........something isn't right about that

 

I agree tim, put on a full suspension set on a lightning (springs, sway bars, magnesium wheels, traction bars, panhard ETC.) and a nice set of Brembo 4 - 6 piston oversized brakes w/ 14 -15 inch cross drilled rotors. I bet it would pull .95 - .96 G's in the skid pad (stock will do .85 - .88) and break in a dime with virtually no dive. Plus a lot of those tuners did some weight removal to the cars icluiding carbon fiber panels.

 

I have been behind several cars that have attended the various mag "shootouts"...including the TT Viper in this test.....and here's how it works:

You have a high-end tuner car that will sell copy...bring it out to run some other high-end tuner cars that will also sell copy.....setup a course with no thought for representative numbers....then throw down the rules on tires, drivers, etc.

Cars show up but not all that were invited...typically, three of the invited cars will break before or on en route to the event....and a few more will die in the heat of battle...so it comes down to the car that can make big power on a radial and live through the nightmare.

I will also disagree with Sal in that you have to pay for this type of coverage....thats just not true. None of the competitors in this event paid for anything but their transport and expenses....when you are building supercars, they know that the article will sell copy. What mag wanted you to pay for coverage Sal?

Some smaller publications....like GM High Tech, et al....will not do feature stories unless you are an advertiser. But the big boys are typically looking for a name and a flashy ride...no cash.