Anyone own/experience a Ford Lightning?

[fintstone]

I like the styling of the Ford Lightning Pickup. The factory supercharger makes it quite fast. 380 hp, 450 lb-ft torque. just over $30k with all options. Will tow 5k lbs. I am told they will skip the 2005 model year for a faster version in 2006 on a new body/look. I like them now and would seriously consider one so I can get the current body..and not wait til 2006.... Does anyone have one or experience with one?

[dd74]

I almost bought one until I remembered I need to haul more than one person around. If you have kids, forget about it. It's all about speed and power but with a short bed. Serious hauling is not part of the equation.

[fintstone]

I think it suits me now that my youngest is in college and has her own sporty car...thus never rides with me. I want a truck with some towing capability and some infrequent hauling ability..and my old 4-Runner is seeming a bit dated and underpowered. I would have probably considered a Toyota first, but the current styling doesn't do much for me and fully loaded ones are as much as the Lightning. I wanted to wait till fall, but the dealer says they are already running out (probably a lie) and he will not get any more this year...so If I miss the only one on the lot in the color I like (silver)...I am screwed til 2006. It is a tough decision, because with the current job market, I wanted to sock away some bucks as insurance before buying anything.

[speeder]

I take it that they are not the new, (F-150), body style?

Someone had one at the track, (Willow Springs), a couple weeks ago. Actually there were two, one silver and one black. Not sure if the one I was lapping with was stock, but they are plenty fast and handle amazing for a heavy, tall truck.

They are very sharp looking, IMO, but really a toy. Kind of like the El Camino SS 396 in its day, not really a truck or a car. (THe lightning is really a truck, but you know what I mean).

Sooooo.........., it's a kind of expensive toy, when you figure in the price of gas, depreciation, etc... No more or less impractical than any high-perf SUV, though, so there you have it.

I'm a big help, huh?

[turbocarrera]

I've never understood why people want fast trucks. They're for hauling and hunting I thought. What good is a lowered S-10 or a Hemi Dodge that does 150mph? Maybe I'm missing something.

I always thought the Nascar Truck series would be alot better if they had to haul a yard of gravel.

[fintstone]

Well I just like the look and personally I prefer to drive a unique, high-performance vehicle all the time if possible. I currently own a 2001 Lexus ES 300, 2003 Lexus IS 300, and a 74 Porsche 3.0, all over 200 hp. My 94 Toyata 4-Runner is a great vehicle, but by far the heaviest..and only has about 150 Hp...so it needs to go. Although the Toyota still runs and looks great, it is very slow after driving the others and it is difficult to tow with. The Lightening comes from the factory with a supercharger, aluminum driveshaft, headers, integrated sidepipes, 13 inch brakes, tranny and engine coolers, etc and 0-60 in around 5 sec. Although the new version based on the new body style is due out in late 2005 with a 5.4 liter V-8 and 500 hp...I prefer the looks of this one.