I just got off the phone with a rep from SVT. He actually called me, based on the fax that I sent them yesterday. To say I was impressed is an understatement.

The Lightning is dead. This was not a SVT decision, it was a Ford decision............ and SVT is not happy about it. It seems as if the beancounters didn't accept the business case for the Lightning. It is as if Ford cannot see beyond the end of their nose in this matter.

They do not understand that HALO vehicles like the Lightning spread good will about the Ford brand............. even to non Ford owners. They do not understand that SVT is looked up to by the entire automotive industry. This is the reason that SRT exists, and would be the only reason that GM may try to make a better product in the Silverado SS. They do not understand that a person may go into a Ford showroom to look at a Lightning, and even though they may not buy one at that time, they may find something else that they like.

As has been proven in the past (read the Mustang in 1992), we can make a difference at Ford. These faxes will be saved and shown to those who make these decisions.

I implore all enthusiasts to fax to SVT about this. Tell them how much you respect the Lightning, and Ford for building it. Tell them how it has even made you look at Ford in a better light. Tell them how it made you feel about GM when they cancelled your f-bodies.

We can make a difference !!!!

SVT fax # is: 1-313-621-2500

SVT snail mail:
Ford SVT
PO Box 490
Dearborn, MI 48121

I gave them my phone number............... and they did call.

 

Sounds more like these faxes ought to go to Ford, not SVT.

 

1. I'd say that the supercharged Harley-Davidson F-150 proved that there was a more substantial market for a more practical crew cab performance truck. Dodge is coming out with a Ram SRT-10 in the quasi-crew cab bodystyle.

2. The Lightning wasn't cheap to engineer, especially when you consider that they had to transplant a Super Duty transmission into a F-150 body.

3. If the Marauder had been lavished with a Lightning-sized development budget, it might have been a credible product. Instead of stealing a march on the Chrysler 300C, Mercury's performance flagship ended up as a dead dog. It

4. I'm actually glad the Lightning is dead, if only because it might free up development money and engineering capacity for the next-generation Mustang Cobra.

5. Much like a veternarian perscribing amphetamines for an elephant, super-high performance trucks are a bad idea. Now why do you think that Daimler-Chrysler refuse to put the 7/70,000 powertrain warranty on the SRT-10?

 

Fax, write and e-mail Ford about this? Hey it worked in our case around here right? :blah:

 

It keept Ford from turning the Mustang into a frontwheel drive Probe. Ford has shown that they do listen to their enthusiets more than GM does. Just because we were ignored and our F-body was killed doesnt mean that Ford will ignore us. Its better to try your best and save it than sit around sucking on you thumbs.

Thats just me though...

I'll send in my fax tonight.

 

Thanks Andrew !!!!

The domestic auto industry needs to see that there is fallout from cancelling popular performance products. If all they see is apathy, then what incentive do they have to come out with future performance products............. instead of half baked efforts like the Monte Carlo SS, or Impala SS.

Sometimes we (the enthusiast community) need to look at the big picture.

BTW, many of us "Ford enthusiasts" called and wrote GM about the Camaro situation. That GM chose to not listen is sad. As with the Mustang/Probe situation, Ford did show that they could respond to this type of outcry.

 

Your right Lightninggal.. the L was respected no matter what label was on the front end. I always liked the fact that you could walk into a Ford dealership (in 99) and pick up a monster machine for 35K that could keep up with Z28's and SS Camaro's at the time. It was no small feat. It is truly sad that the beancounters have such a say in this industry. I will do my part as well.

 

Thats great ced, excellent attitude.

While I have favored Ford performance vehicles (my '94 Lightning pretty much solidified that for me), I look with excitement to all performance vehicles. This is why I have joined so many forums, from Ford to Ferrari. I get excited about them all, and strive to find out as much as I can about them. However, I can also be rather unforgiving if they do not live up to what they could be.

A funny story. My husband Rick used to be a diehard GM guy. When he met me, and got to know my '94 Lightning, he started to broaden his horizons. Then he caught the Gen II Lightning fever from me, and the next thing you know, we have one ordered.............. sight unseen, and never having driven one. He is now a pretty diehard Ford enthusiast. LOL

This is what passion for certain vehicles can do to you.

Another funny thing. There are often posts on various forums about what your dream garage would be. I can't answer those posts, as my dream garage would be about 50 vehicles strong........... from all manufacturers. We have the '68 Camaro, which Rick always wanted........... but I have always loved the '70-73 split bumper Camaros, and would still love to get one. I also love the early 454 Trans Ams, and almost bought one when I was about 20. Ho hum, hindsight is 20/20. LOL Hell, I would own a 4th Gen Camaro right now if I didn't dislike the seating position so much (I have a real problem with feeling like I am sitting on the ground in anything other than a real sports car........ of course, thats just me).

Anyway, I am rambling. I am so wrapped up in this today, that I am accomplishing NOTHING else.

 

Bad idea?? They get more press than normal trucks (mostly positive too) you do know about the halo effect right?

No 7/70,000 powertrain warranty on the SRT-10 because of the manual tranny

 

While redzed may think that performance trucks are a bad idea............ there are many out there who think that performance vehicles in general are a bad idea. Especially affordable ones (as in ones that young drivers can afford).

The point being that the Lightning is still a performance vehicle. Thus, as performance enthusiasts, we should all care about what happens.

Otherwise, we can all just sit around and complain about all the boring transportation appliances that are available.

Frankly, I'd rather talk about kicking some a*s!!!!

 

It's definately sad to see it go, but I think this is going to take a lot more work than the 92 mustang incident. EVERYONE knows what a mustang is, and while the lightning is an awesome truck, outside of performance circles, hardly anyone knows it's any different than any other F-150.

Also, seeing the recent thread about how much money Ford's car division has lost, it will be a tough fight to get the L back. Definately something worth fighting for though.

 

i think i have to agree here
when i ask a lot of people what htey think of a lightning (or if i saw one and mentioned it) they'd be like "well what is it?"
outside of hte enthusiasts i don't really see people knowing what it is

as for me, sport trucks aren't worth anything anyways, although some like them and i respect that
let it stay dead (imo)

 

Word on the street is that testing has already resumed on the L and the idea of cancelling it only lasted a week.

 

Ford does listen, why do you think we got the 03-04 Cobra? Everything about that car is exactly what ppl demanded to the "T" Now it took them long enough from 96 on up of when they did surveys and ppl crying, but they did it. Tell me what other car company has done that??...

 

Ford is so lame, they are giving up on a market that they invented. Right when things were getting interesting with the SRT10, and now Chevy has a 400 HP SSR(though not really a truck if you ask me). I really don't like Fords or Mustangs, but I've always had a lot of respect for that truck. It makes me cringe any time a manufactor decides to stop making a peformence vechile. And then they give us totally lame "peformence products" like the super duty Harley Davidison(nice truck, but definetly not a ringer like the old one) Monte Carlo and Impala SS.