My quest for a truck with a big motor in a RC configuration started back in 1990 with that piss poor performance truck that in typical GM fashion, screwed up. I know you all know what I am referring to...the 454SS! Great freaking concept, but typical of GM, they took away all it's potential and dogged that motor with a lousy cam, poor compression ratio, and horrific flowing heads !!!! Not to mention, they backed it with a TH400 Auto Tranny! Yuck! Good tranny...but I want to row through some gears!!!
Ford has had the Lightning around for years, but in 2000 (I believe that was the first year) when they slapped a blower on top of the 5.4L , history was being made! I obssessed over these trucks for so long and was anxiously awaiting the 500HP model slated to be released in 2005. But of course, Ford let me down and they scrapped the project.
Enter 2004 and Dodge finally did something that I had always wanted to see!!! They took a big a$$, scary as hell motor....shoved it into an intimidating and beautiful RC truck and put a 6 speed behind it. I have never been a Dodge fan, but this was love at first sight! Or should I say, it was until I saw the price tag..... GAG!
So I waited and waited and waited. Three years after its introduction, I finally purchased one of these beautites! Sure it is a little on the fat side (5100 lbs...Yikes!)... I mean, who on this site wouldn't love to see 500 (+)lbs shaved off??? But the fact remains, this is a very unique monster. Sure there are ignorant people out there who think there is a Hemi under the hood...but that is due in part to marketing. Dodge has been driving the "That Thing Gotta Hemi?" campaign for so long now, that even 5 year olds think everything Dodge makes has a HEMI. But I look at this as an opportunity to educate the mis-guided. This is my opportunity to talk to people about the history of bad ass trucks from GM / Ford / and our beloved Dodge. How one lead to another, to another and finally, to our truck. I love explaining to people how a 5100 lb truck can run 13's in the quarter mile (stock) and do 0-60mph in about 5.6 seconds. I even reference various well known cars as a comparisson to the awesomeness of our trucks. I love seeing the "I am freaking impressed with your truck" look on their face when they hear all about what it is capable of.
Folks, no two ways about it. We own a piece of history with these trucks. We are sitting on something great here. Sure, the value of these trucks have dropped faster then Paris Hiltons panties (The MSRP on my truck was $50,980...when I bought it one year later, I paid $31k). But a lot of that has to do with what I feel was an already artificially inflated price on these trucks to begin with. What we are seeing now is just pricing coming back into line for what these trucks probably should have sold for to begin with (I believe in the $30k's would have been more appropriate). I mean for the love of god, D/C is charging $17k just for the motor alone!!! Holy smokes!!!
For me, when I bought this truck in August, I had test driven I don't know how many Lightnings, and as impressive as the Lightning is, I never got the same feeling as my very first test drive in the SRT10...mashing down on that loud pedal, feeling that V10 and rowing through the gears...it was like some sort of a unique bond with the Viper family. Please, you have to admit...these trucks are so much more handsome then the Lightnings!
For me, I believe that in a decade or two, we will see the rise in price on these trucks. The numbers (or should I say, the lack of high production units) are in our favor. And as it was pointed out already, every time someone wrecks their truck, I can feel the value of my truck appreciating.
Only time will tell folks...only time will tell. For now, I am going to enjoy this menancing piece of history!
-Joe
Ford has had the Lightning around for years, but in 2000 (I believe that was the first year) when they slapped a blower on top of the 5.4L , history was being made! I obssessed over these trucks for so long and was anxiously awaiting the 500HP model slated to be released in 2005. But of course, Ford let me down and they scrapped the project.
Enter 2004 and Dodge finally did something that I had always wanted to see!!! They took a big a$$, scary as hell motor....shoved it into an intimidating and beautiful RC truck and put a 6 speed behind it. I have never been a Dodge fan, but this was love at first sight! Or should I say, it was until I saw the price tag..... GAG!
So I waited and waited and waited. Three years after its introduction, I finally purchased one of these beautites! Sure it is a little on the fat side (5100 lbs...Yikes!)... I mean, who on this site wouldn't love to see 500 (+)lbs shaved off??? But the fact remains, this is a very unique monster. Sure there are ignorant people out there who think there is a Hemi under the hood...but that is due in part to marketing. Dodge has been driving the "That Thing Gotta Hemi?" campaign for so long now, that even 5 year olds think everything Dodge makes has a HEMI. But I look at this as an opportunity to educate the mis-guided. This is my opportunity to talk to people about the history of bad ass trucks from GM / Ford / and our beloved Dodge. How one lead to another, to another and finally, to our truck. I love explaining to people how a 5100 lb truck can run 13's in the quarter mile (stock) and do 0-60mph in about 5.6 seconds. I even reference various well known cars as a comparisson to the awesomeness of our trucks. I love seeing the "I am freaking impressed with your truck" look on their face when they hear all about what it is capable of.
Folks, no two ways about it. We own a piece of history with these trucks. We are sitting on something great here. Sure, the value of these trucks have dropped faster then Paris Hiltons panties (The MSRP on my truck was $50,980...when I bought it one year later, I paid $31k). But a lot of that has to do with what I feel was an already artificially inflated price on these trucks to begin with. What we are seeing now is just pricing coming back into line for what these trucks probably should have sold for to begin with (I believe in the $30k's would have been more appropriate). I mean for the love of god, D/C is charging $17k just for the motor alone!!! Holy smokes!!!
For me, when I bought this truck in August, I had test driven I don't know how many Lightnings, and as impressive as the Lightning is, I never got the same feeling as my very first test drive in the SRT10...mashing down on that loud pedal, feeling that V10 and rowing through the gears...it was like some sort of a unique bond with the Viper family. Please, you have to admit...these trucks are so much more handsome then the Lightnings!
For me, I believe that in a decade or two, we will see the rise in price on these trucks. The numbers (or should I say, the lack of high production units) are in our favor. And as it was pointed out already, every time someone wrecks their truck, I can feel the value of my truck appreciating.
Only time will tell folks...only time will tell. For now, I am going to enjoy this menancing piece of history!
-Joe
