New Member

[Trouper]

Hello to all...

Some of you may know me from CrownVic.net, where I have been a member for a while. I don't own a Marauder, but I have gained alot of respect for the car and it's owners. My current driver is 1999 Crown Vic HPP, with only a "few minor mods." This is my 3rd Crown Vic, and if my 16 year old son doesn't wreck it, then I plan on having this one for a while. I am VERY impressed with the amount of knowledge that flows on this board, and I hope to learn alot from you guys, so that I can improve the performance of my car. I can't afford to get a Marauder at this point, but I am having alot of fun improving my Crown Vic. If anyone is in the West TN area, give me a shout, and we can meet up for coffee.

Check out my web site if you want to kill some time or brain cells, just click the link under my sig pic. It's a hobby, and it keeps me out of trouble.

John "Trouper" Troup
troup1993@aol.com

[Ross]

Howdy, Trouper. Welcome to a great site!

[jgc61sr2002]

Trouper - Welcome aboard. You will like it here.:D PS Cool web site.

[Smokie]

Trouper Welcome aboard ! I hope you enjoy this forum as much as we do. :coolman:

[RoyLPita]

Welcome aboard, Trouper.

[Bigdogjim]

Hi guy. Nice ride you have.

Maybe some of our manners will "rub off" on the other boards?

:lol: :lol:

[Chief]

Hey Trouper. Enjoy your posts at the Crown Vic board. Welcome to the site man.

[bigslim]

Welcome Trouper. There are a few CV guys here.

[03SILVERSTREAK]

Welcome Trouper. I like your Vic , kind of remind me of my 2000 Vic LX black . God I had fun with that car. :burnout:

[Long Live #3]

Welcome to Marauder.net! Trust me, these are the best guys you'll ever run into, uh, maybe I should rephrase that.

[woaface]

IF your 16 year old doesn't wreck it...if is the key word. I'm 16 and I regularly drive a Grand Marquis LS (200hp). The only thing that really gets me in trouble with that car are the stock brakes, they don't do much. Other than that, maybe get him into one of those driving schools where they teach you a lot more then what he'll get out of drivers ed. I'm gonna take a one day course from BMW.

[junehhan]

Woaface, you really shouldn't have any problems with the stock brakes on any 98+ Crown Vic or Grand Marquis as that was when the brake system was heavily improved. Starting in 98+, they started using beefy 2 piston calipers on a 12.4(12.2 or 12.4) inch rotor which has the ability to post some pretty impressive stopping times. If your stock brakes don't appear to do much, try upgrading to a set of more aggressive pads as that might help a lot.

[woaface]

Not only do they seem to be missing a brake line or something, they have been almost screaming at me the last day or two...what gives!? I just had everything done on them (rotors rotated, new pads, all that) about 3000 or 3500 miles ago. Man they are screamin like a *****! I need to take them back up to the place but I haven't had the time.

[jgc61sr2002]

woaface - What brand of brake pads were installed. They could be your problem. Factory pads are the best for stock installations. IMO.

[woaface]

They told me they'd install OE pads. He seemed kind of weird, but my dad insisted I take them to this place and not to the dealership because they were "just as good and not as expensive".

[junehhan]

Woaface, I used to have a 2000 Crown Vic with the performance/handling package and although it's no longer mine, it's still in the family as my father was so impressed with it that he insisted that I sell it to him. The factory OEM pads IMHO are not very good as they faded very quickly, didn't provide a very good pedal feel, and were incredibly dusty. They also wore extremely quickly as I only got 23k miles from the front. I replaced them with a set of Ceramix pads and the braking improvement is absolutely incredible as it's just a night and day difference. Brake fade under extreme braking is nonexistent, brake pedal feel is really nice and improved, they are quieter, and they arn't producing nearly the amount of dust the old OEM pads were. When I first started driving with those new pads, it was so amazing how much more responsive the brakes were. After you go through this set of pads, try a more aggressive aftermarket brake compound and you may be surprised. I was so impressed with these pads that I insisted that my mother replace the pads on her Ford ZX2 with these same Ceramix pads, and she is incredibly impressed with the improvement in braking performance from her little car.

[woaface]

Yeah, gee, that sounds like how mine are. I just drove a G35 sedan with an areo package. (It was dark blue with 15% tints). Man that thing was sweet. It was pretty damn powerful. It was a good bit more responsive then an SC430 that I've driven too. The brakes were touchy, but after a few stops I was really impressed. I have to say, I really liked that car.

[Trouper]

Thanks for the nice welcome. I hope to be able to contribute as well as learn. Who knows, if I come into alot of extar cash, I might splurge on a Marauder, and hand the Vic down to my son.

[troopcar]

Trouper, welcome to the board. Watch out, it's addicting.

Took a quick peek at your site. Had to check out the cool (IMHO) 94 Caprice 9C1. Question: was that your on-the-job car, or did it have to be repainted (or decals removed) for civilian use? Just curious.

Thanks,

troopcar

[Trouper]

All of the marked MPD cars on my site were my "Take-Home" cars, which I drove all day at work, then drove them home at night. All of the unmarked cars are ones I bought at auction to play with.

My first fulltime on-duty car was a 1993 Caprice 9C1. I then upgraded every few years to a 1994 Caprice (the one on the site), a 1996 Crown Vic (also on the site), and a 1999 Crown Vic. All of them were "Take-Home" cars, which I was allowed to drive home at night. All of them had low mileage when I was issued them, and I averaged 100-150 miles a day in service, (then 10 miles home). I now drive a 2003 Dodge Intrepid at work, but have decided not to drive it home. Our department refused to buy anymore Vics, due to cost. I am not impressed with the Intrepid, and prefer driving my personal 1999 Vic to and from work instead.

My 1999 Crown Vic HPP is my personal car, and never was in service (if that is what you were asking?) I liked the way the 1999 P71 drove, but wanted a nicer interior, so I bought this one last year, and love it.

I see you own a 1994 LT1... I wish my 1994 had the LT1, but our department only bought the (L88's) 265cid V8's. They said we didn't need the "extra speed" the LT1 had.

Glad you enjoyed the site... it's a hobby that has grown and grown. I now get emails daily, and have sent info all the way to Ireland about the 9C1's.

John "Trouper" Troup

[troopcar]

Trouper,
Thanks for the response. Actually, I was inquiring about the Caprice 9C1. Didn't know if you were a LEO or if you had bought it for civilian use. Mine had been stripped of the decals and lightbar, but not the spotlights, push bar, lollipops, etc. And the antennas are back on.

I'll check out your site better as soon as I get a little time. I like Caprice and CV police cars. Until recently, I also had a 91 CV with police package, but civilian motor.

troopcar
http://smilies.sofrayt.com/1/f/roller.gif