Drove a lightning tonight, and I have to say I am disapointed. I went in with high expectations for the lightning, prolly too high I guess. After getting into the handleing aspect on my truck, I wanted to drive a pickup that has a high level of performance in many diffrent areas. In straight line WOT, the lightning was awesome, but then again it still has that 4r70w trans, and was unresponsive in shifts. The stearing was tight but also unresponsive, which I did not like. Suspension was tight, but way too much body roll; I dare to say, more body roll than my truck. The seats were wonderful, but felt very aquward in a truck, especially the side boulsters for the placement of my arm on the center console. Other than the WOT power, the normal driving felt very anemic without the boost.

Scale of 1-10
WOT-9
Light acceleration- 4
Stearing-6
Suspension-6

In the end, I dont think I would have picked the srt10 over it, but at the same time, and this prolly sounds strange, I wouldnt take the lightning as a daily driver over my indy. Maybe Im just partial, but I think Id like to modify my Indy rather than get a Lightning.
The guy that was showin me the truck was interested in my indy, so I left them with something to remember the superiority of Dodges ______________ (if ya catch my drift)

 

you dont like the srt 10's?

 

not particularly. Though iv only driven the auto+extended cab. Im sure its a world of diffrence with the short cab+stick

 

Ls & SRT10s are great for the guys that don't have time or know how to make a truck fast or the ones that want something to mod to make really fast. I have never been in an L but raced about 10 of them, they are ok. SRT10s a bit faster, Ive been in a stock 10R/C when it was getting thrashed. Cornered goodbut had a bit of roll alsoand accelleration was pretty good. See stock Ls (01/02) run 13.8s, 10 r/crun 13.6, at the track I race at.

Bolt ons, ramairbox and wt reduction and my Indy could run the same 1/8 mile et as a stock 01/02 LThey would have me by .2-.3 on the 1/4m.
With 7psi boost on mild 360 (stock heads) itwould of smoked any of the Ls I have raced so far and any of the 10s I have seen.
Ill be trying to line up the Vipers and Vettes (new c6)next year when I finally make it to the track again with my new setup.

 

my friend has a 03 lightning.. blew the motor up 3 days after he got it.. rebuilt the motor and is now running 636 horsepower.. runs low 12's now

 

dont know why, but I like the way the Indy feels over all also. If I had 20k to blow on a truckand I didnt want to do the work, Id prolly get a lightning; but dodges are just better hands down (still wouldnt want that 4r70w either way)