Ram SRT10

[thunder]

I dig my 01 Lightning but am considering the purchase of a ram SRT10 rather than waiting for the 05. I like the viper motor, 4.10 rear, 500/525 and hurst 6 speed. Would you guys weigh in and give me your opinions. Thanks!

[Jstas]

Keep your Lightning. I heard that all the SRT10 Rams are spoken for and for all the hooha surrounding them, they aren't worth the hype. They weigh almost 1,000 pounds more than the Lightning and for all thier power, due to that weight difference, they are on par with a stock Lightning. Considering the fact that many dyno runs have shown the Lightnings to be severly under-rated 50-75 horses and an equal amount of torque, you already have the king of the hill in this category.

The Ram SRT10 is not all it is cracked up to be. There are those who will have you believe otherwise but the numbers do not add up to the hype for the Dodge and the numbers exceed the hype for the Lightning. I have seen magazines getting better 1/4 mile times with the Dodge but, like I said, they are heavier so they will have a traction advantage. Then again, most magazines couldn't break 14's with a Lightning but most people I have seen broke into the 13's on the first run.

But,if you want to reach the Dodge's top speed, get a chip that removes your limiter. You already corner just as well if not better than the Dodge too. You may not stop faster than the Dodge but, stopping is not what makes this truck so neat. I do believe that you have a higher payload capacity but a lower trailer capacity. I may be wrong there though. I know that you get better gas mileage too. Like gas mileage is really a concern. All the magazines have already said that the Lightning has a better ride.

On top of all of that, the Dodge doesn't have that crazy blower whine!

If you are still going to go for the Dodge, better have some 60 large because the dealers are not going to let them roll off the lot for thr 45-50K sticker price. For that money, you could keep your Lightning, do a DOHC 5.4L swap and strap on a Kenne Bell blower and be making over 600 horses easily. Then you would easily dispense with any Ram SRT10 you would come up against. If that isn't enough power, turn up the boost.

[keilhauer]

Two recent newspaper articles show that the Dodge will barely have a 900 payload capacity, and due to the upgrades on the rear suspension to handle all the power, they are not recommending that you tow anything behind it at all! That is the amazing thing about a Lightning - you can blast around the racetrack with it, have a comfortable street ride and, if need be, still go to the hardware store, load it up with building supplies and do that gardening your spouse has been bugging you to do all winter (or not!). Then, you can hook up your trailer, load up the race car and tow it to the track for some 1/4mile runs and put your trophies in the bed on the way home.

Ain't NO WAY you'll be able to do that in the Dodge!

Just remeber:
- FORD = First On Race Day
-DODGE = Dead On Da Ground Everyday

Stick with the Lightning! It's a proven product!

[Jstas]

Then, you can hook up your trailer, load up the race car and tow it to the track for some 1/4mile runs and put your trophies in the bed on the way home.

Or, just for fun, tow teh race car to the track, leave it on the trailer and race the truck you used to tow the race car to the track!

BTW, 99-02 Lightnings have like an 800-1,000 pound payload capacity and a 5,000 poud trailer capacity, equivalent to an Explorer. The 03-04's has a 1275 pound payload capacity and a 5,000-7500 pound trailer capacity, I keep seeing varying numbers.

The biggest kicker is, Ford charges under 35K for something Dodge charges almost twice that for. The Lightning has a hell of alot more bang for the buck. Its nice to see the competition, I just wish it wasn't so hyped up.

[JWright1]

Just thought you should know the oil changes will be $110 every time you change it. Viper motors like the good stuff , Mobil One Synthetic. The Lightning $25, bet that will pay for some upgrades along with that $15-$20k price difference. Friend of mind is a 5 star Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep mechanic, but he swears by Fords. The Dodge is about a second faster on 0-60 in the general mags figures. Motor Trend quoted 4.8, I've seen numbers on the Lightning 5.2-5.5 depending on the mag. Spend the half the difference on some serious parts and eat a Dodge for breakfast,at least until they put a supercharger on. Good luck what ever you get.

[AustinSVT]

2004 is still 5000lb towing capacity. we didn't get any additional power, so the rating didn't change.

Payload did though, was 800lb 99-02 and now 1,350lbs 03-04


Here is a local guys new RT/10:
http://www.fototime.com/{9DB00F4A-56...9}/picture.JPG
http://www.fototime.com/{21AB9415-4E...7}/picture.JPG

[Jstas]

Power has nothing to do with tow rating. It's all in the suspension/frame.

My 87 Ranger was rated to tow 5,000 pounds and had a whopping 110 horsepower.

[beerkat]

Towing cap. is also determined by the weight of the tow vehicle and it's braking ability. You start tow stuff that out weighs the tow vehicle and it gets pushed.

[Chuck G.]

For the difference in price,about 12,000 bucks or so,one could do many things to his Lightning or take a looong vacation.I would not have the Dodge even if it were less,personnally.

As far as tow capacity goes my 'L will pull a 3000 pound boat 105 mph with ease.Fuel consumption with that load is something to be reckoned with.But hey when you have limited time to fish it comes in handy on those two lane back roads passing sunday drivers.

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
Chuck

[3-D]

Don't worry fellas, we got something for those Rams. Just let one come around down this way. Let them run Lewis. Or just bear with me, soon enough...
D.

[vger]

Sorry to jump in guys ( Cobra owner on a Lightning site ) But we are all SVT owners.
In my opinion the dodge is an ugly truck. My friend works at the dodge plant and tells me about all the problems they are having with the truck. Like all the other people have said save your money and get the better of the 2. You can do alot with the Lightning for little money. Still the choice is yours, FAST and COOL or slow and ugly. Just my 2 cents.

[KKUNTUZOS]

I have obviously not had an opportunity to drive an SRT-10. I saw one at the L.A. Auto Show and I liked the hood with the scoop look. The rest of the truck is basicly short bed Ram 1500, with a removable spoiler on the back of the bed, I have not decided if I like the looks of the spoiler or not.

I just bought my 2003 Lightning. Prior to my purchase I test drove a Hemi Ram 1500, and I was not impressed with the power level of the highly hyped Hemi motor. I also test drove the Chevy SS. Its MSRP was $10,000 more than the Lightning, and it was peppier than the Hemi, but not up with the Lightning.

For the money, the Lightning is the better deal, and the performance is "GREAT."

Ken

[Jstas]

One other thing, the styling of the SRT-10 RAM is half assed. If I'm going to drop 60 large on a truck like that, it better not look like some putz from a ricer stereo shop did a mickey mouse job on the body kit! The front air dam looks so out of place. It's lower than the rest of the vehicle and eventhough it may help aerodynamics, without side-skirts like the Lightning has, those aerodynamic improvements mean exactly jack squat as soon as the airflow gets past the front wheels. There is nothing left to manage the airflow and it can actually cause more lift. Reason being is the air rushing in to fill the gap under the truck left by the front airdam's hole it punched in the air can actually cause more lift than if the air dam wasn't there. That is because the air rushes in from both side and collides. It causes a high-pressure pocket of air that gets dragged along by the truck. Not only does it kill gas mileage but the faster you go, the more air gets stuffed under there. Just a dumb idea asthetically and functionally, IMO.

[Chuck G.]

The hood scoop on the Dodge is fake.That should tell something....

[Sharp]

There won't be an 05 Lightning but I think it would be worth the wait for an 06. I feel Dodge priced them selves right out of the game. Why would anyone pay that much more for so little. Plus the lightning has 10 years of SVT products and engineering to stand behind it.