Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Lightning Question

I'd imagine they get horrible gas mileage, but my car selling friend (same one I bought my CSVT from) just traded for a 1999 Black Lightning with 18K on it. Could get it to me pretty darn cheap. I don't know if I could go from the Contour to a truck...or could I?

Maybe I should go drive it.

What would be perfect would be a 4x4 lighting. At least for me it would be.

Except for the fact that the cost will be completely and totally prohibitive (read outrageous), A 4 wheel drive with a lot of horsepower tends to tear up a lot of components, and there's a lot more to tear up in a 4x4, so they'd have to build everything tougher which would add to the cost even more. My 48 CJ-2A w/ 350 small block (previously had 327 vette engine) can tell you all kinds of stories about tearing up drive train components.

My dad is the original owner of a 77' Ford F-150 custom 4 wheel drive. I have pulled some heavy loads with that truck with no problem. I have even pulled mobile homes up steep inclines. It has a 351 Modified with low range and high range 4wd.

I did have a universal to go bad on the rear drive shaft while pulling a heavy trailer loaded with a car up a steep gravel mountain road. I sat there and held the brakes for 15 minutes and then decided to let it roll back into the ditch to get stopped.

Trucks are nice until it rains. Then it is hard to get out into heavy traffic. The rear wheels spin too easily on wet roads. Other than that I like trucks because you can see over all of the cars and have a better view of the road.

I seen on a sticker that they get something like 17mpg highway 13mpg city

I went from a 1994 Lightning to a 2000 CSVT. The 1994 Lightning was not the monster like the latest generation Lightning. The Lightning really only has room for two, horrible gas mileage but it really hauls a**. The CSVT has 4 doors, gets much better gas mileage, pretty quick, and handles really good. It is really like comparing apples to oranges. I am glad I have owned both. I would get tried of driving a truck around every day but a truck does make you feel bigger on the road. For a daily driver with a long commute, I would definitely pick the CSVT. If I could afford a third vehicle, it would be fun to own the latest generation Lightning and drive it on the weekends just for fun. Just my opinion.

Yeah, I think I've pretty much talked myself out of even test driving it cause it's not very practical. I wish I had the money to buy it and resell it...could probably make quite a nice bit of money. I could get it cheap.

How much could ya get it for???

Only cause I know the guy, probably between 17k and 19k. I'm not for sure, I'm afraid if I find out, I'd be tempted to trade.