Actually, my board (NLOC.net) forbid L vs. SRT threads. Just turns ugly most of the time. I am not blinded by any kind of brand loyalty. hell I attended my second Dodge event 2 weeks ago (ViperDays SpringMountain) in which I travelled 2k miles to attend. I am a big fan of performance in any brand. The pace truck for the event was a big SRT crew and I thought it looked great. I especially love the interior. For the extra money you gotta get more than the Lightning. Over the Lightning= better interior than the L, better stereo (the ford stereo sucks!) Styling is questionable it all depends on your individual taste,bigger engine but that is pretty equalized with our blower and changing out the pulley alone will pull us even with the SRT. The SRT I hear is a better handling truck but a couple of grand will equalize that as well. Out of the box, you have a better truck and a higher payment, So to each his own. I pulled up next to an SRT owner in Montgomery Alabama saturday afternoon, he was the first to give me a thumbs up. Killer truck, no we didn't street race but that was a killer sight both black trucks side by side. I do not bash dodge owners, my best friend has a collection of Dodge vehicles they have a ton to offer. I just hate to see thr SRT guys use the "if we used a supercharger" argument. The answer to that, Dodge DIDN'T, could it? Sure, Can you? Yah sure you can. If what you bought isn't enough, make it faster, make it sound better, make it handle better, nothing a few bucks won't fix. Enjoy your truck and I will try not to jump on the defensive whenever someone bashes my truck.

 

While I love the SRT-10....and I detest Fords.....I have to say that the Lightning is the better buy for the money involved.

Now, yes they discontinued the Lightning. So what. They discontinued all kinds of Dodge/Chrysler cars that were popular....big deal. Doesnt mean they werent dominating or powerful or popular cars. Also, the Lightning has a supercharged V8....the SRT-10 a Viper powered V10 engine......so throw out your supercharger argument.....bigger engine, more displacement......

Its just like the whole Corvette - Viper argument. For the money the Vette will always win, for the looks and overall build I think most people would lean to the Viper.....

Bottom line is this.....while yes you have a V10, and yes your truck looks better IMO, for equal cash....the Lightning wins.....

Someone hands us both 50k......You can only buy an SRT-10 and maybe some minor upgrades....but I can buy the Lightning and still have about 15k left.....it's simple numbers....

Mind you, I would still rather have the SRT-10....but in this argument you are just beating a dead horse....

 

yea i agree with you. but stock for stock... srt-10 wins every catergory

 

You're right of course....I mean the SRT-10 does beat the Lightning stock to stock.....

However, for what I can get a Lightning for.....you can barely buy a top of the line Hemi-fied Ram....you cant even afford the SRT-10.....

I will take a different line with this..... the SRT-4 lost the Car & Driver Cheap Speed test because of the interior looks and a few other nonsense reasons that had nothing to do with cheap speed. It flat out out performed its competition for the price.

The Lightning flat out outperforms the SRT-10 for the price. That said.....someone donate a SRT-10 to me please!!!!!

Just so no one tries to argue the whole price issue..... last known prices for the Lightning vs SRT-10.

2004 F150 Lightning - roughly $34,500
2005 Dodge SRT-10 MSRP according to Dodge's Website is $46,625

Again, I hate the Fords....but I cant back the Mopar argument here..... here's an honest question..... with Dodge's history with the Hemi....why wasnt it put in direct competition with the Lightning? Why did they have to skip to the Viper engine instead?

One last note....I find it hilariously amusing that the Lightning's supercharged 5.4L V8 is the same motor powering the Ford GT.

 

my mirada....MAYBE 5 grand into it...will destroy any NA lightning and most blown lightnings, that arent heavily modded...my car will also destroy the QC NA srt10s....as well as RC SRT10s, unless theyre built...does that mean that the mirada provides more bang for the buck? no...

the truth is, if someone can afford to pay 35 or 45 grand for a toy truck, that is basically a sports car with a bed...price really isnt an issue...and ford saying that the lightning will be out sooner or later, and it will be bad as hell, is kind of like dodges empty promises of a RWD hemi coupe...

i wouldnt hold my breath on either...

 

Of course any car can be modded up and built to outperform other vehicles....thats an excellent point... however...


I'm talking straight out of the box brand new..... and I agree...it is simply a sports car in a truck design..... but I do feel that for roughly 12k less....you are getting more bang for your dollar....

I know all about how powerful and fast the Viper is.....but for a base model Viper its almost double the price of a Corvette.....for not a whole lot more performance/speed. Granted, yes you can potentially mod it up 10 times better then a V8 Vette.....but the price and performance you get for that price is what my whole viewpoint was about.

It's merely to help show that some of these arguments being waged on both sides is pretty irrelevant.....and also to show that while it is a Ford....they are still pretty decent performance trucks...

 

This very, very old argument has been flogged to death so many times that it's become silly. Yeah, you can buy a Lightning and modify it so that it runs a faster 1/4 mile for less than a stock SRT. So what?! When you're done you still have a Lightning. If you're into Lightnings that's great. I'm happy for you and can respect your choice. It's a great truck. But, I'm a Mopar guy from the get go and I want to own an SRT. I'm at a point in my life where I can afford to buy what I want so I did. The SRT is an all around "G Machine" package with outstanding performance in several venues of racing from drag racing to autocross to road racing to top speed. It's also more than just performance. The ride quality is impressive, the stereo kicks butt, the interior is luxurious. It's multi-dimensional. It's a solid package. It's an over-the-top, outrageous vehicle that is impractical, politically incorrect, obnoxious and the most fun I've ever had driving. Yes, it cost more but it's worth it IMO. Just ask the many ex-Lightning owners that are now driving SRTs and there are quite a number of them. And yet, there a lot of Lightning owners that are happy and enjoying their trucks just as much. That's great and that's good for all of us. Friendly competition is fun! But, again, I don't know of any SRT owners that think they paid too much. I'll have about $15-$20K in my Duster when it's done and it'll walk all over either truck in a drag race. It costs less so therefore it must be better, right? See how stupid this argument is?

 

Please do not mistake my comments for saying cheaper is better! I am in no way suggesting that. I merely stated that its the best purchase for the PRICE.....

I would choose an SRT10 every time over a Lightning.....I just hate seeing people being so blinded by their brand loyalty that they cannot own up and say hey....thats a good truck despite it being a Ford...

I HATE HATE HATE HATE Fords....can't stand them....but I still know when to say hey, that's a nice ride or hey that was awesome run...

 

phil...your truck is indecent...

even the mustang guys enjoyed your videos...


how is it doing, by the way?

but anyway...about the viper vs vette...at the end of the modding and racing day...people will stay say "wow, there is a viper"...you dont ever hear "wow, there is a vette"...

 

BadStratRT: of course not, the Vette been around too long It's not as eye catching as the Viper....although the Lingenfelter Vettes are freakin amazing