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Tags: Saleen S331 Sport Truck

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Road Test: Saleen S331 Sport Truck
This isn't just a body kit, a few suspension mods, big wheels and tires, and a supercharger bolt-on. Plenty of companies do that, and with the new F-150 still two years away you can expect a few more builders to dip their toes into those waters. Regardless, as the OEM of record, Saleen must put each of its models through the same NHTSA crash-testing regimen, the same EPA fuel-economy tests, and the same governmental requirements as any other manufacturer selling vehicles in the U.S. On the downside, this creates huge headaches for Saleen, as it has to navigate the treacherous legal waters of performance parts and dealer accountability.

In an odd way, our favorite options are actually connected to the truck's design philosophy. Saleen engineers didn't want to just offer another modified sport truck that can't tow or haul anything. Even going back to the original SRT-10 Ram or earlier GM SS products, pickup-truck capability was typically the first thing sacrificed when building performance credibility.

Not so with the S331. A base-model S331 is capable of its full payload rating (1300 pounds) and is able to tow a 5000-pound trailer, just like a stock F-150 SuperCab with the 5.4-liter V-8. But if you want more towing power, Saleen offers a few cool options. The first is an integrated rear bumper with a hidden Class-IV tow hitch. Combine this with the Firestone load-leveling airbag setup, a dual-core radiator, and high-flow cooling system, and the result is 9000 pounds of towing capacity. But that's not all. Saleen also offers a set of matched 15-inch front disc brakes (stock is 13 inches) with six-piston calipers. Other options include chrome wheels, a thumping Rockford Fosgate Punch sound system, HID headlights, spray-on or drop-in bedliner, retractable aluminum bed cover, aluminum induction hood, and an amazing color pallet to choose from. Saleen even has a $20,000 liquid-metal paint option that looks so fluid, it's like you could dip your hands right into the truck's body panels.

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Road Test: Saleen S331 Sport Truck



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bankheadbankhead - 7/11/2007 2:32:12 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I actually saw one of these in person outside the Saleen store and it blew me away...along with the price. Even in Southern California where crazy exotics are a common thing, this truck definitely stands out.

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motomoto - 7/12/2007 6:33:04 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
hmm... another "sport" truck that will never do any work. great.

If you need a truck... get one that you won't be afraid to get dirty.

If you want chrome rims and a Rockford Fosgate sound system, then any old chassis will do. Why waste your time with an ill-handling truck? If all you want is flash, then any high-end paint shop will also be glad to give you custom liquid-metal paint for your current car for less than $20k.

I guess this is the truck for people with too much money and too little taste.

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