I need a truck.....which one?

I've wanted a Lightning for a while, but I'm not too sure about the towing and hauling capabilities. I would like a Super Duty, but not sure about how it would be driving one everyday. Then there's the problem of diesel or gas. I work late and don't want to wake the neighbors when I get home. What do you think?

I dont know about the towing capabilites of a Lightning. But it would be a sweet truck.

The super duty's are great trucks. No problem towing with them, or driving them everyday. And unless you get a late 80s or early 90s diesel, you wont even wake the house cat when you come home, unless you want to.

I would go diesel. my dad's 2000 had 216000 on it, and he needed a new trans, but he pulls 11000lbs on a daily basis. Engine is running as good as the day he bought it. They took a v10 through the mountains, and my dad said it couldnt compare with how his truck did other years, it was redlined at WOT, and still slowing down. Our truck could accelerate up those hills no problems

The only way to buy a truck is to get out there and drive all of them.

Rod, you're an az.... LMAO...

Mavman, Owns Ford Lightning #888, you can ask him about his.


FE

The neighbors arent going to pay the gas bill, get the diesel ! They will get used to it if they want to, just like how a person never gets mad at their own dog when he craps on the lawn.... BUT IF SOMEONE ELSES DOG DOES.....what im saying is we all choose our level of anger over little things like a car starting up..... and poo. time for gchero to take his pills-

Now here is a truck for you!

Yep..I have a '03 Lightning. Great TRUCK. It hauls the race car around just fine but uses a little more fuel than a PSD would (loaded). Unloaded, I get a lot better mileage than my boss's 7.3 (03 F250 4x4 auto). Granted, I'm only pulling about 6500 lbs (plus the weight of the truck which is around 4800 lbs) but it does an excellent job. The sway bars make it super stable, brakes aren't too bad (not the best, but they are the same brakes as an F250 but with 5 lugs instead of 8), and its a lot more enjoyable to drive than a big diesel truck.

Gas vs. Diesel....my vote goes to gas. In the F250 you have two choices. V10 or diesel. The V10 pulls GREAT. Good power, smooth, quiet but uses a lot of fuel. 13 MPG is the best I've ever heard of. Of course, the new 6.4 PSD isn't much better on fuel from what I've seen so take your pick. Everyone says that the diesel is cheaper in the long run. I doubt it. Mileage isn't all that great. Holds a ton of oil. Filters are expensive. Maintenance in general is expensive. So is the initial price, but they'll hold their resale a lot better than a gas pickup will. Around here you can find V10 powered F250's for around 10 grand...and that's with only a few miles on them. I saw one last week that had 39,000 miles (2005 model F250XL 4x4 reg cab/automatic) for $10,200. A PSD truck similar to that would bring 18-20K in this area because there is such a demand for them. Seems like everyone wants the diesel!

All in all, I'm extremely happy with the Lightning though. Used ones can be had for around $20,000 (I gave $18,000) with less than 50,000 miles on them. You'll want either an 03 or 04 model as they have a higher towing capacity than the 99-02 models. The rear springs are different, which is why the 03-04 models sit higher in the rear. The 99-01 models were only 360 HP, FWIW and had 3.55 gears. The '02-'04s had 3.73's and 380 HP/450 lb-ft. I've pulled the Maverick all over the state with confidence. never had a minute's problem with it (yet). I usually pull to the races, unload the car, unhook & get the stuff out of the back, then go race the truck. There was a '04 Lightning (sonic blue) on NLOC I believe with 5900 miles, for $21,000. Good price...and the BEST color, IMO. (mine is DSG).

The best thing about the Lightning....every time I turn around, someone is complimenting the truck. Young guys want one and they tend to drool all over it. Older guys (especially hot rodders like us) usually tend to ask a few questions and such, then compliment. Then of course, everyone that pulls next to me at a stop light wants to race. 99% of the time I don't get involved. Just about 10 minutes ago on my way home from work, guy stops next to me and askes "hey, is that a real Lightning? With a V10?" LOL...I was like nah, it's "just" a V8. I get stuff like that all the time, especially from the local rednecks.

One of my friends has a 2001 Lightning and uses it to tow his 96 Thunderbird to the track.

If you are looking for a brand new truck and want to feel the power, you should go with a HEMI ram or a 5.7 Tundra, if you want a car like ride with power you cant feel but does the job you shoud get a 1/2 ton Ford or Chebby

Realistically.... For LONG trips, or for REGULARLY towing heavy loads, get the diesel. For shorter trips and towing things as heavy as a standard open car trailer with one car, get the gas engine.

If you just want to show off and drive around and hear yourself rattle around in a diesel, you can do what everybody else around here does that is looking for a "status symbol", and buy a big diesel truck for your daily ride.

Personally, daily rides are where I trim the "fat" out of the budget to put to more fun uses... But to each his own.

Good Luck!