Hi guys, I'm seriously considering buying another truck. Since I already have a 4x4 I decided I need a fast street truck.

So, what years were the best for the lightning? How muck horsepower do teh kick out? Are these trucks really fast, or could the dodge HEMI blow it's doors off? Do they come with manual trannys?

If I drop over $20,000 on a truck it better be the fastest one on the street.

Also I would apprecieate it if you guys could tell me what to look for when buying a used Lightning. I appreciate all your help.

 

Get a 01 and up lightning. You'll never go wrong. The fastest stock truck in the world....

 

maybe you should change that to full size....

ever hear of a Cyclone?

 

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/030818-2.htm

 

Yeah your right the syclone's top speed is limited to 126 compared to 147 but 0-60 times are over a second faster!! I have red if you simply replace the chip a syclone can go 165.

You really have to define fastest
0-60 syclone 4.6 vs 5.8 lightning
0-100-0 syclone 19.7 vs 22.0 lightning
1/4 mile syclone 13.0 at 103 vs 13.9 at 100 lightning http://www.sportmachines.com/magrack...ver_11-90.html
http://www.syclone.freeserve.co.uk/zero_100_zero.htm
for the 2001 lightning i used
https://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/2001_lightning_1.html

 

Yeah I agree the Cyclone is a cool truck and it does go fast for what it is and especially when they came out there were nothing that could touch them. Now the Gen2 lightning is a 5.4L V8 truck at around 4800-4900 lbs and the quarter mile time can't really be compared between the two unless it is the same driver doing both and knows how to launch in both trucks.

I know several stock lightnings that have gone low 13's in the 1/4 mile. It all depends on weather conditions and the driver on how fast it can go. As I'm sure you would agree especially if you are familiar with supercharged vehicles you'd know how sensitive to the air conditions it can be.

Just saying who currently holds the record is the Lightning and if somebody would bring a cyclone and beat it so be it however right now it doesn't hold the official claim.

Also these trucks are not in the same class either and I think to be fair anytime you compare two vehicles they should be in the same class. In the full size truck class the Lightning rules, in the small truck class the Cyclone rules.

However the statement you responded to at first wasn't misrepresenting the Lightning which is all I meant to point out.

 

I just wanted to bring more detailed facts to the table. I thought that simply saying the lightning is the fastest stock truck in the world is a bit simplistic. How often does anyone drive a truck over 120? how often do drivers go 0-60 quickly? Fastest should not just be judged on top speed but, acceleration, breaking, and cornering are all very important.

Also is the Syclone a truck at all? you can only put 500lbs in the back. The best magazine article of all time compared the Syclone to a Ferrari I believe it was car and driver I highly recomend it not just 0-60 times but beer hauling ability price etc..

 

I don't think I heard Cyclone in the world guiness book as the first fastest truck ever built....Lightning just got it last August 2003...

 

The Scyclone is limited to 126 and the Guiness record is for stock if you unlimited the Syclone it would no longer be stock and ineligible for the record.
Plus top speed should not the defining factor for fastest 0-100-0 in my opinion should be, this is what in infamous Shelby Cobras were known for.
(Syclone is spelled with an S my mistake in my first post)

 

That's good but my next question is how much is it cost compared to the lightning? Would you rather buy something fast and expensive or fast but inexpensive. No matter how you think about it. If a logical person think, you would buy something that is a good deal for your money. Right.....Lightning is good....

 

The Syclone was 25,000 new and it only came loaded with leather and everything

and looking at Kelly blue book online a similar 2003 lightning is 33,000 USED

So if TODAY you wanted to buy a damn fast truck $33,000 for a lightning one year old 13,000 miles
or a GMC Syclone $14,300 12 years old 40,000 (yes you can find them with that few miles)
oh yeah and the Syclone is AWD

 

I bought my 01 L for 26,000 and it looks beautiful and leather with 6 CD changer and Supercharged. But when I looked at the GMC Syclone, it's the most hideous truck I've ever seen. There is no appeal. Sorry.... but I still love my Lightning.....specially i just added some mods on it and it kicks in 12.7 1/4 mile. More mods to come...

 

the lightning WAS the fastest production truck. not anymore. dodges new truck with the viper v10 smokes the lightning.

 

It's okay, with my lightning with a few mods, it's still smoke the stock dodge 500 hp. I don't think the stock dodge could do a 12.7 on 1/4 a mile like mine does? I've heard one of the lightning reach the 11.00 sec on 1/4 mile. I'd like to know what mods that person have so I can check it out......nevertheless the lightning is already working on a 2005 version with the 500hp with supercharged. Just stop this competition....it just kills people.....

 

wow I dont know what a "few mods" are but there is at least one syclone to go 9.89@137 and there are many that go in the mid 10's

and im only saying this because i like to kill people