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I guess I'm getting old...

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Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
This fortnight's rental car adventure is a Mercury Grand Marquis. And, um, I, uh, kinda like it. 😱

Seriously, the big sled is kinda nice to cruise around in. With a serious engine it could be a damn cool car. As it is, it's kind of funny how many people look up, see a white Grand Marquis, mistake it for a Crown Vic, and then slow down and move into the right lane to let me by. :laugh:

Still, I can't shake the idea that with another 150-200 hp this car could be a LOT of fun.

ZV
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No fucking way.

My room mate has that car and it's by FAR the biggest piece of shit I've ever driven. The steering wheel is so loose you can throw it "hard to port" and it will nearly make it to the lock.

Seats are straight out of la-z-boy catalogue (gotta be, don't want to break any hips) and atrocious doesn't even come close to describing the suspension. The car lists hard when taking curved on ramps and rear end jumps sideways every time you hit a gap between the concrete. Absolute POS.
 
My room mate has that car and it's by FAR the biggest piece of shit I've ever driven. The steering wheel is so loose you can throw it "hard to port" and it will nearly make it to the lock.

Seats are straight out of la-z-boy catalogue (gotta be, don't want to break any hips) and atrocious doesn't even come close to describing the suspension. The car lists hard when taking curved on ramps and rear end jumps sideways every time you hit a gap between the concrete. Absolute POS.
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Sounds like an alignment problem, bad shocks, and a sway bar problem.
 
Originally posted by: halik
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
This fortnight's rental car adventure is a Mercury Grand Marquis. And, um, I, uh, kinda like it. 😱

Seriously, the big sled is kinda nice to cruise around in. With a serious engine it could be a damn cool car. As it is, it's kind of funny how many people look up, see a white Grand Marquis, mistake it for a Crown Vic, and then slow down and move into the right lane to let me by. :laugh:

Still, I can't shake the idea that with another 150-200 hp this car could be a LOT of fun.

ZV
Click to expand...

No fucking way.

My room mate has that car and it's by FAR the biggest piece of shit I've ever driven. The steering wheel is so loose you can throw it "hard to port" and it will nearly make it to the lock.

Seats are straight out of la-z-boy catalogue (gotta be, don't want to break any hips) and atrocious doesn't even come close to describing the suspension. The car lists hard when taking curved on ramps and rear end jumps sideways every time you hit a gap between the concrete. Absolute POS.
Click to expand...

Steering definitely isn't that loose on the one I'm driving. It's not 944-tight, but neither is it to the point of steering with your fingers. The worst steering I've ever put up with was on an admittedly worn-out 1980s F350. I was never sure that the steering wheel was actually connected to anything.

The suspension can be worked with, and the car does roll quite a bit, but it's surprisingly grippy once it has taken a set. A little work with a swaybar and shocks and it would be good to go.

I'm thinking that your roommate's car is a little worn out.

I do agree about the seats though. They may be comfy, but I run out of lateral grip from the seat long before I run out of it from the tires. 😛

ZV
 
Originally posted by: LTC8K6
My room mate has that car and it's by FAR the biggest piece of shit I've ever driven. The steering wheel is so loose you can throw it "hard to port" and it will nearly make it to the lock.

Seats are straight out of la-z-boy catalogue (gotta be, don't want to break any hips) and atrocious doesn't even come close to describing the suspension. The car lists hard when taking curved on ramps and rear end jumps sideways every time you hit a gap between the concrete. Absolute POS.
Click to expand...


Sounds like an alignment problem, bad shocks, and a sway bar problem.
Click to expand...

The car has ~50K miles and has been meticulously maintained (by his grandfather...).

The suspension is bad from factory, the amount of body roll is ridiculous - just watch the video above.
 
That's a base model designed for highway cruising.

A CV LX Sport or Marauder has different shocks, springs and sway bars, as do Police Package CVs. The car in the video above was never indeded to be a road racer.
 
Originally posted by: iFX
That's a base model designed for highway cruising.

A CV LX Sport or Marauder has different shocks, springs and sway bars, as do Police Package CVs. The car in the video above was never indeded to be a road racer.
Click to expand...

Sway bars were not standard on every panther chassis car. Many base crown vics and grand marquis didnt have sway bars on both axles. The Town cars did, but I think that's largely to offset the extra squish that the air suspension gives the rear.

There were a couple years of town car that came with single exhaust standard with duals standard on the higher trim levels. The steering in the Lincolns is super light (though if you want to you can swap in a power steering box from a more recent police interceptor to improve feel). However, you certainly can't "throw" the wheel at all, even on the highest boost setting. Something is broken in your friend's car.
 
Originally posted by: halik
Originally posted by: LTC8K6
My room mate has that car and it's by FAR the biggest piece of shit I've ever driven. The steering wheel is so loose you can throw it "hard to port" and it will nearly make it to the lock.

Seats are straight out of la-z-boy catalogue (gotta be, don't want to break any hips) and atrocious doesn't even come close to describing the suspension. The car lists hard when taking curved on ramps and rear end jumps sideways every time you hit a gap between the concrete. Absolute POS.
Click to expand...


Sounds like an alignment problem, bad shocks, and a sway bar problem.
Click to expand...

The car has ~50K miles and has been meticulously maintained (by his grandfather...).

The suspension is bad from factory, the amount of body roll is ridiculous - just watch the video above.
Click to expand...

I don't deny the body roll, but you'd be surprised at just how much "stick" there is once it has taken a set. It's a very different kind of driving and it's definitely not the same as a sports sedan, but it has its own charm.

The bottom line is that it's well over 4,000 pounds of car with body-on-frame construction and a live axle that is set up to be a freeway cruiser. Out of the box it's never going to compete with a unibody teutonic tourer. Even with suspension modifications it's not going to play the same role that an M5 does. But it remains a fact that I have a soft spot for large American "boats" just as I do for little Swabian go-carts. As far as getting on the interstate and putting mile after mile after mile behind you with the engine turning a leisurely 1,750 RPM at 70 mph there's nothing quite as nice as the classic large American sedan.

ZV
 
Those who are used to body roll, like my father, can really hustle those cars. The body roll is annoying, but it doesn't necessarily mean the car handles badly or is not fun to drive.

Besides, it's difficult to get a lot of roadholding and still have that smooth valium ride on the highway. 😀

Sort of like how some race car drivers hate a "loose" handling car. Others can really hustle one around a racetrack.

If you are used to an M3, a Crown Vic probably feels like crap. But if you are used to a Crown Vic, an M3 probably feels like it has no suspension. 😀
 
Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
Originally posted by: iFX
That's a base model designed for highway cruising.

A CV LX Sport or Marauder has different shocks, springs and sway bars, as do Police Package CVs. The car in the video above was never indeded to be a road racer.
Click to expand...

Sway bars were not standard on every panther chassis car. Many base crown vics and grand marquis didnt have sway bars on both axles. The Town cars did, but I think that's largely to offset the extra squish that the air suspension gives the rear.

There were a couple years of town car that came with single exhaust standard with duals standard on the higher trim levels. The steering in the Lincolns is super light (though if you want to you can swap in a power steering box from a more recent police interceptor to improve feel). However, you certainly can't "throw" the wheel at all, even on the highest boost setting. Something is broken in your friend's car.
Click to expand...

Every TC, GM and CV since 1992 has had a front and rear sway bar from the factory.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Get one and put a mean hairdryer on it. I've seen a few boosted Vic's and Merc's at the strip before.
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I need another vehicle like I need a hole in my head. 5 is enough!*







*Unless #6 is a boat.

ZV
 
We own one, I love it.

Ours is a 98, HPP package and 60,000 miles. We bought it from my sister after her husband (it was his car) passed away. It seriously looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor, its really clean. I tell my friends its like driving around on your couch, and mid to high 20s for highway mileage isn't too shabby for it's weight and size.

It would be pretty peppy except Ford has the transmission set up to short shift off the line. It will shift into second at about 5 MPH, unless you are really heavy on the throttle.

I'm trying to find a decent set of shocks for it, I have read tha Bilsteins and Edelbrock IAS shock will both do wonders for the body roll, overall handling and nose dive under heavy braking.

My biggest complaint is probably the lack of cupholders and cubbyholes for your stuff.
 
Yeah, the cup holders are a PITA. If you pull them out it blocks the AC controls.

If you prefer a firmer ride Bilsteins are the way to go. The IASes are slightly less firm and are a good compromise. They are firmer than the PI shocks though. I have run them both. The HPP and PI factory shocks are almost the same with the PIs being slightly firmer.

Overall I like the IASes for a good balace with the Addco sway bars and 3:55s. Really wakes the car up.
 
Proof, if it was ever needed, that true car guys enjoy the chance to drive anything, even if it's not their choice for day to day transport.
 
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