the_pack_rat
07-17-2004, 06:50 PM
Well I've lusted over them since they were nothing more than a concept car(so to speak) ... but I've yet to EVER drive one.
Being I'm at that point where I realize I will only be able to buy a NEW one for a short period of time now ... I thought it was time.
My observations ...
I can DEFINITELY see the lower end - part throttle acceleration issues most speak of. Seems like when your just accelerating in a normal fashion picking up speed ... I felt if the car was starving for fuel just a pinch &/or bogging a tad(mainly in the 40-50 mph range - then it sort of just kicks back in - & speed rises normally). Definitely felt like a PCM PROGRAMMING issue.
All in all I was impressed with performance & ride quality. I was thinking it would ride a lot harsher than it did & it did NOT ... which I really liked. While I enjoy some pep when you put the hammer down ... I really enjoy a nice riding car as well ... which I think my TC does ok on ... :beer: considering it's regular ole' 4.6.
The one thing that did feel rather WEIRD too me was ...
The location of the console shifter in relation to where ones hand would be resting normally - I felt the shifter was placed a bit too far forward in the console ... for a "natural" feel if you were in the mood to shift the automatic on your own. I felt I had to make an effort to reach forward a bit too much to grab the shifter.(I'm @ 5'8 & of average build).
All in all I really liked it(which I thought I would). Again .... didn't ride overly harsh which concerned me w/the choice of wheel size & tires ... & their wasn't alot of road noise. I actually felt as COMFY ... as in my 97 TC ... but w/a lot more of a confident feel in the handling dept(which I of course' expected). My wifes 2000 SE V6 Solara w/16 inch factory alloys rides more harsh than the MM does & has the road noise to go along with it ... tho I'm not really suprised. I would have NEVER bought a Solara for myself ... but SHE loves it - so I went & found her one. I don't mind driving it a couple times a week when we are out together & it's not a bad car in terms of LATE MODEL offernings of its TYPE(& I can't STRESS that ENOUGH) ... but a RWD "big daddy warbucks" - "old school" type cruiser they will NEVER be(which is more my style).
All in all ... I'm impresed with the MM - not that I ever felt I wouldn't be ... but ya' never know. I can't be one of those people that buy something & b.... moan & groan 3 months later that they HATE the car ... I needed to get a "feel" for the machine before making a final decision.
Well see how it goes ...
Hopefully I will swing a deal on a new 04 DTR ... if not ... I will spend a lil' dough on my TC - the Cutlass & Toro.(been wanting an Art Carr 200R4 for the Cutlass & a swith pitch TH425 for the Toro as well as an complete gasket re-do).
Eric
Being I'm at that point where I realize I will only be able to buy a NEW one for a short period of time now ... I thought it was time.
My observations ...
I can DEFINITELY see the lower end - part throttle acceleration issues most speak of. Seems like when your just accelerating in a normal fashion picking up speed ... I felt if the car was starving for fuel just a pinch &/or bogging a tad(mainly in the 40-50 mph range - then it sort of just kicks back in - & speed rises normally). Definitely felt like a PCM PROGRAMMING issue.
All in all I was impressed with performance & ride quality. I was thinking it would ride a lot harsher than it did & it did NOT ... which I really liked. While I enjoy some pep when you put the hammer down ... I really enjoy a nice riding car as well ... which I think my TC does ok on ... :beer: considering it's regular ole' 4.6.
The one thing that did feel rather WEIRD too me was ...
The location of the console shifter in relation to where ones hand would be resting normally - I felt the shifter was placed a bit too far forward in the console ... for a "natural" feel if you were in the mood to shift the automatic on your own. I felt I had to make an effort to reach forward a bit too much to grab the shifter.(I'm @ 5'8 & of average build).
All in all I really liked it(which I thought I would). Again .... didn't ride overly harsh which concerned me w/the choice of wheel size & tires ... & their wasn't alot of road noise. I actually felt as COMFY ... as in my 97 TC ... but w/a lot more of a confident feel in the handling dept(which I of course' expected). My wifes 2000 SE V6 Solara w/16 inch factory alloys rides more harsh than the MM does & has the road noise to go along with it ... tho I'm not really suprised. I would have NEVER bought a Solara for myself ... but SHE loves it - so I went & found her one. I don't mind driving it a couple times a week when we are out together & it's not a bad car in terms of LATE MODEL offernings of its TYPE(& I can't STRESS that ENOUGH) ... but a RWD "big daddy warbucks" - "old school" type cruiser they will NEVER be(which is more my style).
All in all ... I'm impresed with the MM - not that I ever felt I wouldn't be ... but ya' never know. I can't be one of those people that buy something & b.... moan & groan 3 months later that they HATE the car ... I needed to get a "feel" for the machine before making a final decision.
Well see how it goes ...
Hopefully I will swing a deal on a new 04 DTR ... if not ... I will spend a lil' dough on my TC - the Cutlass & Toro.(been wanting an Art Carr 200R4 for the Cutlass & a swith pitch TH425 for the Toro as well as an complete gasket re-do).
Eric