Re: R/T vs Lightning

From: Jon Steiger (stei0302@cs.fredonia.edu)
Date: Tue Oct 19 1999 - 15:08:18 EDT


On Tue, 19 Oct 1999, Greig, Doug wrote:

> Hey,
>
> Has anyone read the recent issue of TruckTrend? It has article where
> they pit a new Dakota R/T against a new Furd Lightning. According to
> them, the Fird was a much faster truck, but the Dak was a better bang
> for the buck. They even had a small caption about Mopar add on's saying
> that they wish their DAK had come with them. I have somewhat of an idea
> what the R/T would feel like ( my dad has the 5.9 in his Ram 1ton van,
> and man does that thing have B@%%s) and I have a hard time believing the
> Turd is faster than that.

   Yep, it is. I haven't seen the article you mentioned, but the new
Lightning is anywhere from 3 tenths to a full second faster than a
stock R/T in the quarter mile. (Hard to say for sure since R/T times
seem to be all over the board.) Ford's propoganda says the 1/4 mile
is a 14.6, but that must be for the insurance companies; I have
personally seen a stock Lightning run in the 13's (with an inexperienced
driver no less).

    Its sort've like comparing apples and oranges though as the R/T makes
its power naturally aspirated whereas the Ferd uses an Eaton blower. Toss
a blower on the R/T, and you can easily run low 13's (to the Lightning's
high 13's), and you will still have spent about $5,000 US less than the
Lightning owner. (I definitely agree with the article's assessment of
the R/T being the best bang for the buck, based on that hypothetical
situation alone.) (Errr, unless you want to tow something heavy,
that is.) ;-)

                                              -Jon-

  .--- stei0302@cs.fredonia.edu ----------------------------------------.
  | Jon Steiger * AOPA, DoD, EAA, MP Race Team, NMA, SPA, USUA * RP-SEL |
  | '96 Dodge Dakota V8, '96 Suzuki Intruder 1400, '96 Kolb FireFly 447 |
  `--------------------------- http://www.cs.fredonia.edu/~stei0302/ ---'



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