Maruader Sales?

[STAPrap]

Just wondering how the big Merc is selling these days?I know when they were first out they sold well,but now sales are down.Is this true?Also is rear-wheel drive on a come back in America?

Cheers!

DD

[cruzer]

Just went to the Texas State Fair cr show---every major manufacturer either now has or will have within a year a high-powered 4-door with rear wheel drive---Chrysler (the 300 Hemi--Cadillac--in production--Infinity Q-45, etc) the ONLY reason the major manufacturers changed to front-wheel drive was IT WAS CHEAPER!!!! The traction advantage has now been off-set by great traction control on rear-wheels--IMHO

[BillyGman]

say that I've driven a Marauder w/traction control in the snow yet, since mine doesn't have that option anyway(a 300A) but the one car that I did have w/T/C which was a Mercury Marquis was terrible in the snow, and the T/C actually made it worse since it works by automatically applying the brakes on and off until the wheels stop spinning. So every time that I was halfway or even three quarters up a big hill, and my wheels started breaking loose a little bit, I'd get stuck in the snow right in the middle of the hill as a result of the brakes going on and off which put an instant halt to the momentum of the car. I lost count of how many times the car was still moving up a hill at about 20 MPH and I could've easily made it up the hill, but since the wheels were spinning a little bit the T/C kicked in and left me at a stand still on the hill. And it's no fun having to back down a slippery hill. Especially when you have cars behind you w/drivers who are all beeping their horn at you! But I still love rear wheel drive cars(as long as they don't have T/C)......

[RCSignals]

STAPrap, do you work at STAP?

[MapleLeafMerc]

BillyGman-

With TC, I think the expression 'one man's meat is another man's poison' fits (or something like that). I've seen posts from some who love it...

My MM has it (as I was told all MMs shipped to Canada had) and I personally thank heaven it has an off switch. Your experience with the Marquis sounds like mine last winter. After heavy overnight snowfalls and before the plows had come by, I couldn't even make it down my street without turning it off.

Larry

[BillyGman]

I hear ya.....my Marquis didn't have an ON/OFF switch for the T/C and I hated it. Every time it snowed I used to always think to myself "I wish I could talk to the mental giant who had the bright idea to add T/C to rearwheel drive cars!"...........

[RCSignals]

I thought those older Marquis with Traction Control did have a switch, but it was in the glove box?

[Paul T. Casey]

Another big reason for FWD was weight reduction to help manufacturers meet CAFE requirements. Technology is now where they can get the numbers and still build some rear drive 4 door sedans. YIPPEE!!

[MapleLeafMerc]

My brother had a 92 CV with TC, which he hated in the winter because it made it VERY difficult for him to get in his uphill driveway. He never found a switch to turn it off.

Regards

Larry

[jgc61sr2002]

Originally posted by RCSignals
I thought those older Marquis with Traction Control did have a switch, but it was in the glove box? RC - Correct My 2000 GM had the switch in the glove compartment.

[BillyGman]

what I mean is it depends what year you're talking about. Sure, the 2000 CV's and/or GM's had the on/off switch, but my 94 Marquis didn't have it, and never came w/it(the on/off switch I mean).......

[Merc-O-matic]

The 97's (Grand Marquis) had no
T/C switch...the good thing
the T/C didn't work anyway.
Gotta Love It!