Aviator runs 0-60 in 7.6 secs!

[b4z]

Same 302 hp engine as the Marauder. Weighs 800 lbs more! The only difference is the 5 speed auto with the ultra low 1st and 2nd gear.

I'm telling ya Ford needs to find a way to get that tranny in the Marauder pronto.

The Marauder is a 6.5 second car off the lot with that tranny.

Check out the December 2002 Car and Driver for the story on the Aviator.

[mensrea]

The Aviator production has been stopped due to defective engines..

Here's link that discusses it.

Aviator production halted (http://www.bonforums.com/lincolnmerc/aviator_engsusp.def.110602.htm )

[Wags]

Is this something that we should be concerned over? Or is this a totally different engine?

[03 Merc]

Wags,

Yes, it is something to be concerned about...but not at a panic level. The Aviator engine is very,very close to our engine. It has the same ratings and early reports indicated only the induction was changed significantly for the Aviator. The biggest change in the Aviator drive train is the 5 speed automatic. BTW other reports on BON are linking this problem to all Intech 4.6 32V motors including the new Mach1 configuration...

Personally I intend to just watch and wait and see what happens. The good news is none of us are out of warranty yet anyway ;)

[MarauderBoy]

What are the warnings signs or noises?

[LincMercLover]

I don't know of any. My father build them here in STL and he says the just overheat and die, end of story.

LOL, speaking of stories... OK, this direct from the plant. Ford was actually PAYING people to drive these Aviators to make sure they've worked out all the kinks. Minor abusiveness was recomended. Well, this guy went a little too far... How's a 4000RPM rev limited slam into drive sound for "minor abusive?" Motor went KAPUTZ (I believe crank shot craps, Dad didn't say though)! Needless to say, engineers pulled the computer and found out what happend. They were none to happy about it, but still relieved that idiocey was the cause, rather than mechanical malfunction. Moral of the story, umm... don't be stupid? Yah, that works! :D

[cyclone03]

That's funney LML,
GM used to do the same test for hours on end out in AZ.
Guy would jump in car,floor it then drop it in drive,then to reverse then back to drive never lifting off the gas.
I was told by a friend that it wasn't uncommon to have to refuel the cars and change drivers 2 or 3 times before something broke.
The only rest the car had was when they ran it off the pavement and had to drive back to the center of the pad they used.

[MAD-3R]

I remember those commercials. They were for a Caddy.