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Wait.. You can actually lift the body off the frame on the CROWN Victoria? That's hysterical. Not sure why its hysterical, its the way all cars were built, OK a long long time ago, but... In fact police used to REQUIRE separate chassis cars. Good ramming strength! What I meant is when you speak of lifting the body off the frame, images of air-cooled VWs, American lowriders and street rods pop up in my head. Yeah, many trucks (pick-ups) still use leaf suspension and are built on a frame. But being able to lift the body off the frame on a 2007 fullsize saloon car, that's pretty funny to me. |
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61fury
Part of things
Posts: 33
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My 94 CROWN Vic; it burned a quart of oil for every tank of gas, the transmission was "wonky" and required continual fluid changes, yet it was dead reliable and never left me stranded any where. It could do 24-25 mpg on the highway. It was a cop version, the only difference was that it had dual exhausts and a leaky oil cooler which I ditched. the original seats did not recline but at least they had stab-proof backs to protect me from my friends. I replaced these with junkyard power Grand Marquis seats. It had great paint and not a speck of rust anywhere, not even underneath. As for its alleged antiquity, I laugh in the better parts of town seeing Hummers that will never go off road and BMW's that will never top 40 miles an hour ( except on the interstate where the biggest challenge is not falling asleep.) BOF or no, it was a car much like any car, as much fun as you want to make it. I grew up on small FWD cars, Audi Fox, Ford Fiesta, a real POS of a V6 Camry, a big quiet boat seemed to be in order. I loved it, and would have considered another for its replacement, especially the 98's and up, which I consider to be very handsome. Once I was hungover at the beach and saw it gleaming in the sun. It looked very much like a giant surfboard and a great white shark at the same time. I had a plan, I got a pair of genuine surfboard fins, to stick on the trunk. Then I was going to paint the wheels the classic hot rod orange red, complete with baby moons and ribbed trim rings. then lower it. Who cares if burned oil, very much in keeping with the original hot rods, dangerous smoky heaps that they were. Alas my plan was foiled by my very own inability to ever actually finish anything ( though I still have the surfboard fins). Then the transmission crapped out. The end. [   |
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the G8 is RWD? I assumed it was the same FWD platform as the wImpala etc.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Saru
Part of things
No Brand Loyalty
Posts: 460
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The Commodore/G8 is the same platform as the upcoming Camaro. Or, rather, the other way around, the Camaro will be the same platform as the Commodore/G8.
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1974 Saab 99 EMSI bought a new car. It's 35 years old. My friends said I was mad. We'll see.
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mercmad
Posted a lot
Flush Hard,it's a long way to McDonalds.
Posts: 1,740
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the Conformadore ,known locally as a dunny door or the Holdung Commode, is Rear wheel drive and the later ones have a Mercedes copy suspension which makes Fords antiquated offerings in the new mustang hilarious. ;D Commodes are available left hand drive because the biggest market isn't Australia ( 80% of production is bought by Government departments here ) It's actually the Arab States where thousands are sold as Chevs and Caddillacs. Queensland Police have a few of these high patrol cars   |
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Many years ago I changed my driving style to cope with rising fuel prices; I have now reached the stage where I am contemplating keeping my eyes shut in order to lower wind resistance.
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MattW
Part of things
Posts: 841
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Heh, gotta love a police HSV Monaro.
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which makes Fords antiquated offerings in the new mustang hilarious. ;D Ford fitted an IRS in some models of the old SN95 Mustang and the aftermarket made money selling live axle conversion kits. Ford knows which side of the bread the butter goes. IRS gives weight, traction and camber issues as well as many designs being worse for wheel hop in a powerful RWD car than a leaf sprung live axle was! A bunch of feedback I've seen is querying if the Chevy Camaro is going to be a sales dud like the Monaro based GTO was because of its IRS. Ford have rewrked the live axle arangement in the 05&up Stang. It works well. Its hardly antiquainted. |
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Holy mother and father... that would clear the middle lane of doddery old farts and even give 'Mr B*W' a scare. Why can't we get some of these?  Oh yes, .......too 'aggresive' I suppose.......  The trouble with most modern "American" cars is that although they might look pretty cool on the outside it usually leads to complete and utter disappointment when you actually sit inside one or drive it.  |
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Last Edit: Apr 7, 2008 11:36:33 GMT by gtd2000
Tell it like it is.... NOT how it should be  |
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I was lucky enough to visit the Washingtonb DC at my companies expense a few weeks ago  Near my hotel there was the FBI Police (no, really!) HQ, with their Chargers. Despite the excellent pics above, I haven't seen a picture that looks as half as good as these do in the flesh. They are truely AWESOME! The first American can I would really like to own!! |
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I have to agree, I wasn't sold on them until I saw the fuirst real ones when I was over in the US a couple of years ago. Next time we were out there I managed to rent one. Only a V6 but a nice car. The V8s must be fantastic. the dash is very plain, but well laid out. Reminded me more of a modern Peugeot or something GTI like I have been in recently before - white dials in matt black and all that.
My only complaints with the yank stuff is when I get a V6 where a V8 should be. I try and avoid renting the FWD V6 stuff. Although I did drive a Chevy Lumina Z31 which is a FWD and that was a surprisingly agile car. Far to good handling for me so I didn't buy it, naturally.... ;D
Dash was bland but no worse than the disappointment of getting in a Skyline R32 or R33 or a 200SX or something. Blandness abounded in the 90s and still does in a lot of dashes.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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I just noticed there's a Charger for sale at that car showroom "barn" next to the M3 (near J5) for those that know it. I may have to pop in there on the way home tonight...
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We do get the Dodge Avenger now from 15k, saw one yesterday and like it for it's Yank looks:  |
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Looks nice, like a somewhat shrunken Charger, but its a 2.0 FWD (or the somewhat-lame 2.4) which kind of limits its appeal to me really. Same white-dial interior thing going on as the Charger.
The yanks get a 2.7 V6 and 3.5 V6 with optional 4WD on this car. I think they call that the SRT6? They don't even bother with the 2.0 which should tell you something.
"Oh no, the Brits won't want a car which actually accelerates, just slop in that 2.0 we used in the Neon and they'll love it."
I'm just amazed they've refrained from plastering the inside with fake wood as they seem to think we like that, which we don't, Cadillac please take note. USDM models get nice satin black and brushed ali trim, UKEM models get gawdy fake wood.
Its like they don't actually want to export these cars...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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and just to annoy us, this is what the yanks get for the £15K we get the 2.0 stripped out base model for....  Dodge Avenger R/T 3.5 V6 4WD 6 speed auto.Color option $150 Sunburst Orange Pearl Coat $150 Dark Slate Gray/Light Graystone leather $0 Features/Options Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats MyGIG® Multimedia System Hard Disc Drive Touch Screen Display Monitor Monotone Paint Incl. Premium Front and Rear Floor Mats Incl. 2.24 Overall Top Gear Ratio 6-Speed Automatic Transmission 3.5L High Output V6 24V MPI Engine Air Conditioning w/ Automatic Temperature Control 8-Way Power Driver's Seat 6 Speakers Front and Rear Stabilizer Bars Bridgestone Brand Tires P215/55R18 BSW All Season Touring Tires 18" x 7.0" Aluminum Wheels Safety, Security and Convenience GroupRear View Auto-Dim Mirror with Microphone Daytime Running Headlamps UConnect® Hands-Free Communication Premium Convenience Group:Prem Headliner w/UGDO, LED Lighting, Assist Handles Rear Cargo Organizer Rear Passenger Assist Handles Sun Visors with Illuminated Vanity Mirrors Instrument Cluster with Display Screen Temperature and Compass Gauge Air Filtering Heated Front Seats Front & Rear Aimable LED Lamps Traveler/Mini Trip Computer Remote Start System Universal Garage Door Opener Tire Pressure Monitoring Display Heated/Cooled Front Console Cupholder Rear Seat Video System Engine block pre-heater Smoker's convenience group Delete Rear Spoiler (No Charge) Power Sunroof with Open/Close Express FeaturePremium Headliner Module Rear Passenger Assist Handles Sun Visors with Illuminated Upgrade to 18" x 7.0" Aluminum Chrome Clad Wheels $550 which ships for $28,700 before dealer or online discount. I'm not sure I'd pay for all of those options but that is as full loaded as you can get it! Not sure what I think of this, its called the "Stormtrooper!" Maybe in black?  |
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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One of my favourite US rentals for a few years (2001~2003ish) was the Pontiac Grand Prix GT with the 3.8L V6, my last rental in the US was the newest incarnation of the Mitsubishi Eclipse with another 3.8L V6 and was like proverbial $hit off a shovel! Here's me scraping snow off it on the way to work just outside DC  |
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Tell it like it is.... NOT how it should be |
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MattW
Part of things
Posts: 841
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One of my favourite US rentals for a few years (2001~2003ish) was the Pontiac Grand Prix GT with the 3.8L V6, my last rental in the US was the newest incarnation of the Mitsubishi Eclipse with another 3.8L V6 and was like proverbial $hit off a shovel! Here's me scraping snow off it on the way to work just outside DC Yep, that'd sum up the 4th gen Eclipse quite well. Utter curse word. |
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was the Grand Prix GT the supercharged one? I always fancied one fot he Buick Regals with the SC 3.8 V6 gen 2. Some of the guys with them do well in street class FWD drags. Proper potential, and in an "old mad car" package
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Yep, that'd sum up the 4th gen Eclipse quite well. Utter curse word. To be honest when I first saw the design of the new Eclipse I wasn't impressed and couldn't see why anybody would take one of these over a 350Z. To be fair, I had this longer term rental for about 3 months and the acceleration and handling was extremely good for a FWD (IMHO) but it was very uncomfortable after a couple of hours in the saddle. |
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Tell it like it is.... NOT how it should be |
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was the Grand Prix GT the supercharged one? I always fancied one fot he Buick Regals with the SC 3.8 V6 gen 2. Some of the guys with them do well in street class FWD drags. Proper potential, and in an "old mad car" package I had a colleague with the supercharged variant but i only ever had the normally aspirated engine. The main appeal was the perceived torque and stiffish (for an American car) handling - but on paper it's actually pretty slow |
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Tell it like it is.... NOT how it should be |
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Near my hotel there was the FBI Police (no, really!) HQ, with their Chargers. Despite the excellent pics above, I haven't seen a picture that looks as half as good as these do in the flesh. 