Lightning?

[Bob]

Well i have been contemplating on getting a truck. I have been researching trucks and have always wanted a lightning. I already have a dd camry for mpg, and i have my 88 mustang for the weekend driver, but i need a truck. I dont do much hauling around here except for trash and my dirtbike or the atv. Oh yeah and also the boat. I just really like the curb appeal of the lightning, plus i just wanna swap a pulley and bust brent's ass. lol What do you all think??? A nice 03-04 lightning can be had for under 20g's. Brent and i have had a few long conversations about this but i wondered if any of you or any friends have had lightnings and can give the skinny on one. thanks guys...

[2strokd]

I think a Lightning would be the best choice, but then again i have wanted one for years. I have never even riden in one but i like em.
Get one while there is still one to get!

[90GTVert]

The Lightning is an awesome truck... but I still wouldn't want one to use as a truck. I couldn't make myself use a Lightning as a real truck. I'd hate to scratch it up even loading and unloading scoots, bikes, whatever. Do you really wanna back that thing into salt water to unload a boat? I wouldn't. So now you've got a truck that's essentially just a car. Since it's a truck, it's heavier. At that rate, just get an '03-04 Cobra.

'03-'04 Lightning : 380HP/450ft-lbs : 4,670lbs
'03-'04 Cobra : 390HP/390ft-lbs : 3,664lbs

The Cobra's power numbers are also well known to be underrated. A stock Cobra should be capable of high 12 second quarter mile times. The Lightning clocks in a full second later.

At that rate, please buy the Lightning... that way you'll have a real hard time keeping up. At 15psi, they go upper 12s. That's where I woulda been on a good run before the turbo. Good luck with that Bob.

[2strokd]

salt water! Good point, i would still use it as a truck, just a very limited one. One on a diet lol.

[90GTVert]

That's what Bob says, limited use... but that would get old. Sell the Camry DD and get a real truck DD, then get a Cobra or just get your Mustang off of jackstands. Bob's a fan of Ford Rangers too, get a 4.0 as a daily. Could still be fun... or build another V8 Ranger instead of the Lightning maybe. Could be real fun with a better engine than before and better craftsmanship...

Here's the Ranger Bob did own. It was pretty fun messing with it, most of the time. lol Imagine $20,000 into a truck like this rather than a few thousand like the old "Anger". You might even get both tires spinning.

[Bob]

lol yeah but a lightning would be fun though

[90GTVert]

Bob keeps saying the gas mileage in the Lightning is comparable to the new trucks that are daily drivers and not hot rods....

The Lightning is rated at 15/19. Here's a mileage listing for new trucks...
www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byclass.htm

Not to mention the $ difference. If you get a truck that serves as both a truck and a DD (you wre talking about keeping the Camry if you got the Lightning) then you can eliminate one vehicle form your insurance, plus get money from the sale or trade of the Camry. I'm a gearhead through and through, but turning down the added horsepower makes more sense to me. Think what you want, I know you Bob... you will covet that Lightning and never wanna haul with it. Sure, you'll throw groceries in the back... but I gaurantee you I'll never see you use it like your last F-150 or Ranger unless we're talking years from now when the thing is worn out and you quit caring.

Of course, as I've mentioned on the phone, you gotta decide what you really want before you can make a good choice. Right now you're debating the future of your stang, if the Camry will stay or go, which kind of vehicles you are interested in, and so many variables that I don't see how it's possible to make a smart choice on any one of those vehicles. Each affects the other unless you decide to go for broke and make every vehicle you own into a race car/daily driver. In which case, you have too much money and someone forgot to tell you about the Brent tax that you have neglected to pay me.

[Bob]

most of the trucks that i want are in the same mpg range such as the toyota tacoma 2wd v6 which is 15 18 mpg. Most of the 6 cylinder models have bad gas mileage or should i say close to the lightning. I need a truck that can haul around my boat and a car trailer short distances. if i do get a lightning i will keep the camry. insurance doesnt really matter my mustang is very cheap on insurance and so is the camry. I know what i need and i need a truck that i can tow with but the lightningalso got great styling along with power. I am going to keep the stang and beef it up, the lightning will stay mostly stock.

[90GTVert]

Alright, as long as you know what you want now. Just last week you knew you wanted either a Nissan Altima Coupe or a Hyundai Genesis. I brought up you being a truck person and got a maybe. lol

[Bob]

yeah i know but i am still a truck person at heart, gotta have another truck maybe eventully ill sell the stang and build a 408 ranger??

[90GTVert]

What you need is a Falcon Ranchero.

[2strokd]

With a blown Lighting or Cobra motor...
That would be sweet! No?

[stepthrutuner]

If I had my rathers for a replacement motor for my Ranger it would be a turbo 3.8 T-Bird motor. Lot of latitude for power there w/o much of the ill handling nose heaviness of a big block.

[2strokd]

Good choice, but an all aluminum SB Blown Ford ;D?
I think i would rather play around with the boost levels on a one of those

[90GTVert]

3.8 would be a good choice for Bob since he says he doesn't want a drag car like everyone else and he probably wouldn't go crazy in it ifc it could handle.