How is your "on center" feel?

[MERC4ME]

Boy, I have all kinds of questions tonight. Just one more for now...

How is the on center feel of the steering? Does it steer straight or does it tend to drift? The reason I ask is that both my Mustang GT and '99 Lightning would drift all over the road with somewhat soft steering.

Thanks Again!
Jeff

[piglet]

Straight as an arrow. The best steering I have ever had.

[grzellmer]

Mine tracks perfectly

Z

[helifool]

Tracks dead straight.

[chapel1]

Tracks perfect and doesnt float at high speeds.

[gonzo50]

Stays straight and goes where you point it, for a big car it doesn't drift at all.

[Bigdogjim]

One of many thing that Marauder won great marks for was its precise steeering! I have had a lot of big Merc in the past but, this one has rack-and-pinion as opposed to the "old" recirulating ball design. Add to that a new frame+better shocks etc. and there you have it!

[JohnnyB]

perfectly straight.........

[Cooper]

Hi Jeff- I bought my 2002 CV Sport in March. I noticed that the car kept pulling to the right on me. Took it back to the dealer where I bought it. The dealer told me all four tires were out of balance and the front end was out of alignment. I'm not sure if that's the fault of the dealer or the folks at the St. Thomas Assembly Plant, but I was not too pleased. If your Mustang GT is still under warranty, I'd make some noise about it if I were you!

[Marauderman]

Hey Stealth Vic- Yeah - My '98 Vic pulled to the right immediately after delivery and although during test drive it pulled right, didn't give it much thought since it was a new version from my last--anyway--after takeing it home and to work for two days just before a major trip to Fla..noticed it pulling more and more---took it to dealer and --bottom line-- there were extra weights on the inside ion the roght wheel--someone must have been mad at someone the day it went thru the assembly line--so when you know the "feel" you know the feell on how it should be---they fixed it before my trip...----so believe your instincts--they are usually right...

[Geo]

Indeed, when I bought my Impala SS in 94, the steering wheel pulled to one side.

I am a kind of guy that likes getting an alignment once a year or whenever I change the front tires. The SS has 255 tires so the general theory is the wider the patch, the more you will notice if the alignment is off.

I had waited for a while before I addressed my first alignment (which felt off from new). After a while it seemed better but what was happening was the tires were "getting used to" the wrong settings. IMPORTANT: when I finally got that first alignment, the alignment seemed worse. The mechanics (I always hung around the service bays) said that lots of 'Vette owners had the same complaint when their alignment was fixed up and they said to give it a few weeks and the tires should "adapt" to the new (and correct) alignment.

So make sure the alignments are correct, even if feels wierd afterwards. The last thing you want to do is wear expensive tires wrong, which can lead to sidewall deterioration which cannot be reversed.




It sounds like Ford finally got their infamous light steering problem fixed on the RWD classic arhitecture.

Is the regular CV and GM lines just as stiff or does the Marauder have a better ratio, stiffer bushings, etc. i.e. what are the principle differences in suspension for the 03 Panther cars? I was looking at a brouchure on the 03 Grand Marquis' and it seems that all Grand Marquis' get Trak Lok limited slip across all models (GS,LS, LS Premium, LS Ultimate and LSE) (the LSE gets 3.27 and the rest get the 2.73). The reason I ask is what if someone decided to soup up one of these; is the suspension just as good? LSEs get the Air Suspension aswell (I realize that trailer towing packs are ideal, but at that point is the suspension identical to a Marauder?).

[LincMercLover]

I love my steering. Nice and tight, but soft enoph for easy highway cruising.

[Brian]

Geo -
2003 Panthers share the same basic suspension geometry. Share the same steering ratio. Steering Boost Curve is electronically controlled, and the Marauder has a unique curve. Of course the tires have a lot to do with steering feel, and Marauder has unique tires. Marauder also has unique front end alignment specs. Marauder gets a unique diameter rear stabilizer bar and unique shock tuning, and a unique spring rate combination. The front spring rate of a MM is the same as used on a 2003 CV Police Interceptor, but the rear is a HD air spring rate. There are a variety of spring, bar, and shock tuning rates across the entire Panther lineup of Town Car, Crown Vic, Grand Marquis (and all of their many derivitives, such as the Limousine package on TC and the Police package or the NGV package on CV. Marauder is one of the firmest for ride, although more plush than the CV PI.

On the rear axle: Marauder has a 3:55 with Traction Lock. THe only other Traction Lock rear end in the Panther lineup is the optional CV Police rear axle. (Police get 3.27 non-locker standard, and a 3.27 locker is an opton.)

[cyclone03]

I don't know WHAT you guys are basing your tracks perfectly remarks on!
My car weaves all over the road!
Just this past weekend while cruzing at about 80 I reached over to change a CD,while driving with my knee BTW,wolfing down a double whopper holding a double big gulp between my legs and balancing the fries on my leg when the car nearly jumped off the road!Got whopper sauce on my Marauder Leather Jacket!PMO!The steering in this car suxs.
My Chrysler Imperial never turned that fast! POS Mercury!


Just kidding BTW,I've never owned a Chrysler.

[Leadfoot]

The dealership or mom and pop store alignment machines are usually not as accurate as the machines in the assembly plants. The main reason is not calibrating it regularly. There are some questions you should ask when getting the alignment done:

1. Who makes the alignment machine? Hunter is the most widely used machine.
2. When was it last calibrated? It shouldn't go more than a couple of months between calibrations.
3. Who calibrates it? The machine manufacturer is the best at calibrating it.

If the place doesn't calibrate it every two months or less by Hunter personnel, try going elsewhere. They may end up making things worse.

[RCSignals]

Brian is correct. Only the Police Interceptor and Marauder get the trac-loc rear, and it is standard only on the Marauder, optional on the PI.
Power stering on the Police Interceptor (at least for US bound cars) is not electronic variable controlled.

[gja]

This is the first car of this size I have EVER driven that has such a pronounced "glued down" feling. This frikkin cars tires must have hidden barbs or asphalt magnets. Now, bear in mind I bought a 1982 Mazda RX-7 as my first "all new" car.
I feel like I could thread after most cars and not lose the road or break the tires loose. I have already run the big Merc down exit/entrance ramps at the same speed I used to in the RX, and that folks, is saying quite a lot.

[Geo]

My 2003 Grand Marquis brouchure clearly shows limited slip available (as standard) on all models. Only the LSE has the dual exh however. I am also sure the performance ride and handling packs have limited slip and duals as would the trailer tow packs. Thoughts?

GEO

[RCSignals]

The 2003 Grand Marquis brochure I have does not show limited slip at all. It does mention traction control as an option
the LSE has been omitted from the most recent order guide as well. Probably because of the Marauder (my guess)

There isn't a trailer tow package from Ford

Here is the Order Guide

https://web.msslib2.dealerconnection.c om/RightSite/getcontent/myfile.pdf?DMW_OBJECTID=09000c 588032e870

[SergntMac]

Though the window sticker says the MM is an option package to a base GM, it's not that simple. Raise them both up on racks side by side, and count the differences. The MM (as it was said by LM from the start) is a whole new car designed from the ground up. There may be some similarity, some sharing of time tested principles and components, but it's not a GM in Goth.

[03 Merc]

SergntMac,

Actually it the the Grand Marquis " De Sade" package...:rolleyes: not Goth....

[Geo]

Interesting, I guess things are different up here in Canada which is where I am currently until I get back to Los Angeles. All 03 Marauders, even the GS, get Trak Lok 2.73s unless it is an LSE which gets 3.27s. Maybe they're all built to be winter cars. This could be the case as I have a Winnipeg 78 Dodge Monaco with a 9 1/4" Sure Grip 2.71 limited slip with double-serpentine belts and cop brakes (it's a Brougham non-police car).

Perhaps also because the cars are all built in Canada, they get Trak Loks and other unique treatments. The LSE may be extended in Canada for one more year perhaps because there is a very small allotment of Marauders for 03 in Canada. The LSE seems to be the only model which comes standard with the dual exh. and rear air suspension (this must be where the perf and handling package ended up).

As soon as I get my regular computer (which crashed yesterday) up and running I will scan this for y'all.

GEO

[RCSignals]

Well, all Grand Marquis, Canada and US, get traction control standard. Traction control is not Trac-loc(limited slip)
Grand Marquis in Canada get 2.73 rear gears, except the LSE, which gets 3.27. The LSE is still available in Canada, but not the US. (probably because the Crown Victoria LX Sport is not available in Canada.) also it's interesting that the LSE is not available in Black, or with dark Charcoal interior

Here is the 2003 Grand Marquis Order guide for Canada

https://web.msslib2.dealerconnection.c om/RightSite/getcontent/myfile.pdf?DMW_OBJECTID=09000c 58803330c9

Here is the 2003 Marauder Order guide for Canada

https://web.msslib2.dealerconnection.c om/RightSite/getcontent/myfile.pdf?DMW_OBJECTID=09000c 5880336e93

note the Marauder for Canada still gets the 3.55 limited slip rear as well as Traction control standard

[Captdavid]

I have never had better steering and tracking. I love it.

[Geo]

Pardon the pun, I know the diff between traction control and Trak-Lok.

anyway, here's what I have for show and tell.

(notice the S on all models for limited slip)

GEO

[SergntMac]

Posted by Geo.

"All 03 Marauders, even the GS, get Trak Lok 2.73s unless it is an LSE which gets 3.27s. Maybe they're all built to be winter cars."

Geo...

Please check other posts here, specifically the post with links to current order guides. The GM and Marauder are different cars, and alll Marauders get the same 3:55 gearing and limited slip. There are no "GS" or "LSE" Marauders.

Forgive me for sounding rude, but what's your point here?

[Geo]

Seargent MAC SIR:

Forgive me for sounding rude but please check all posts here (in this thread).

I make one typo in all my posts in this thread and now you hold it against me?! If you read all my posts you should know I am talking about the Grand Marquis and not the Marauder. It is human nature to be fallable and erroneous sometimes so forgive me this minor indescretion.

I meant Grand Marquis in the quote you quoted and not Marauder. All my posts in this regard were regarding the availability of limited slip on all Grand Marquis lines in Canada vs. what might be available otherwise in the official ordering guides in the U.S. or on Canada for 2003. I also understand from one of the replies that the U.S. brouchure doesn't mention what I have in mine as far as limited slip availability.

That, fine sir, is my point.

GEO

[Geo]

P.S. I'm not at all peeved at S MAC. It's just that I was on about something and just because I made a typo...

GEO

[RCSignals]

Interesting. Yes the US brochure does not show limited slip as standard, but then the Order guides don't either. It's not even an option.
If you look at the Mercury Canada order guides it also does not show limited slip as standard or an option. the Canadian brochure is either printed wrong, or they made a change after it came out.

[SergntMac]

Geo...

I read your post as it appear and did not misunderstand you. Your statement was incorrect, and you shouldn't expect anyone to presume what you meant. I didn't flame you and I was not snotty, yet, you show me little courtesy in reply.

Asking for clarity on your point was necessary for me to better understand what you were asking. Your question appears in this thread as an afterthought to the topic in the main i.e., steering. Despite that, others here made the effort to provide you with some answers.

I visited this thread to Q&A steering, and enjoyed most of the posts, including the humor. (thanks Cyclone) I see other threads on this site about snow tires, exhaust systems, chips and so forth. Any one of them can (and do) drift into other topics as this thread has, however, at the point the drift gets a life of it's own, it should be given it's own thread. If your question is that important to you, my friend, open a new thread and allow all members to lend you a hand.

[Geo]

Being that I am not in a courtroom, I expect some understanding beyond the material subject (the precise pin-pointed focus of a given thread) at hand (hence instinctive detective work allowing logical analytical thinking) otherwise how do you hold a conversation.

However if I was strategically cross-examining you in a court of law, I assure you I would be dead-accurate with my prepared statements and examinations in-chief.

Anyway, I felt everybody did understand what I was talking about hence their responses. I'm not upset regarding this matter (infact quite un-biased) and we all are human-based beings susceptible to flawed behaviour so therefore if you would like to engage in a diplomatic hand-shake, I offer mine:

Regarding steering feel (the thread subject at hand), how many of you feel comfortable with the "on center feel" of the MARAUDER if one was to engage into an oversteer scenario and controling the slide with the gas-pedal while the "on center feel" characteristics of the steering system "seeks" for the center while the car is in a slide (hence the subsequent "fishtails") and modulating the throttle (without touching the steering wheel) until the steering system's "center feel" characteristics eventually discovers center as the Panther body finally enjoys rear traction and is once again going straight. This is something that I have had the pleasure of experiencing with General Motors 78-88 A/G bodies (both 605 and the high effort 800 recirculating ball power steering boxes) and full size GM Caprices (77-96) with the high effort boxes.

GEO

[cyclone03]

Well Geo now that you clarified your question............
I've had the tail out twice the rear doesnt seem to wonder around much and requires very few steering inputs to put it back in line.But I also came out of the power which seems to hook it up real quick.I think somebody that has been on a road coures could add some good info here about the performance in a 4 wheel drift...
Anybody?

[LincMercLover]

I'll work on the 4 wheel drifts! Do I get a cookie for the task? :D

[Macon Marauder]

Chiming in late here: but my on-center feel is
dead
solid
perfect.

And the handling on this car is nothing short of phenomenal! Much better than any Thunderbird or Mustang I've ever owned - or any other car I've ever driven.

I've only broken the rear wheels loose once (only slightly) and the car recovered beautifully.

[Marauderman]

Wow- I feel so super later commenting on this subject - But ,I too, have no problems--just plain perfect straight ----handles better that my last four vics ..--it continues to amaize me more and more...

[duhtroll]

Well, then I am even more later-er-er.

Er.

I did not notice that the MM steering was significantly better than my Stratus-es. (es. lol) But then I had *really* Good steering in both of those cars - dead on straight.

The MM is just as straight and twice as smooth as those cars were. It is very much what other have said - phenonmenal for a big car..

-A

[Dr Caleb]

Like all others - dead straight.

I did have to get used to the variable power assist. I found myself thinking the car was pulling to the inside of long, fast corners. What I realized, was I was trying to compensate for the pulling the wheel should be doing to the outside of the corner. It doesn't. Once you set the wheel to take the corner, it just takes the corner.

I also found the MM does tend to get all loopy on uneven pavement. There's one particular stretch of road I travel in both my CV and MM. It's well worn from too many heavy trucks, and the ashphalt is deeply grooved with tire tracks about 4" -6" deep, slightly wider then the MM wheelbase. The CV is fine on this road, but whenever I get the MM on it, she tends to pull the wheel out of my hand, or want to take a very sharp left on the straight but uneven road. The MM then tends to rock back and forth between the grooves left by tractor tires. It's weird, but true.

[jfclancy]

Well, then I am even more later-er-er.

Er.

I did not notice that the MM steering was significantly better than my Stratus-es. (es. lol) But then I had *really* Good steering in both of those cars - dead on straight.

The MM is just as straight and twice as smooth as those cars were. It is very much what other have said - phenonmenal for a big car..

-A

:D Evan more so for me as i am running the rear size tires on front and back. MUST agree with most on this thread for a 4K plus car it has great steering.

Joe Clancy

[dhawke98]

You really don't want my opinion on the steering..... Have now hired a lawyer because of the steering.......

[dhawke98]

eh, to be fair, all the other I have driving have been awesome. I jsut got the Monday car...

[TAF]

HOLY threads from the past, Batman!!!! I've either got some messed up "cookies" or some of you were searching DEEP in the vaults today....this is like the 3rd one I've come across.

Anyway...Eibach springs...high-speed strobe balance and she cruises dead-straight...

[jgc61sr2002]

My 2003 Grand Marquis brouchure clearly shows limited slip available (as standard) on all models. Only the LSE has the dual exh however. I am also sure the performance ride and handling packs have limited slip and duals as would the trailer tow packs. Thoughts?

GEO
I had a 2000 GM with the handling package and the rear was a 3:55 Non Locker.

[MapleLeafMerc]

I love the way the MM holds the road. No surprises, and I AM a leadfoot.

[woaface]

Mine is extremely floaty at high speeds. I was on the interstate for 30 minutes today at +70mph. It was a little unnerving but managable. Then again, I have 99 Marquis and the steering on the newer Marquis(Marqi?) are much better from what I've heard. So obviously, the Marauder is a step up from that! My dad and I test drove one and he said the steering was much more responsive and tight than the GM.

[teamrope]

This is by far the most responsive and safest feeling car I have ever driven. I have taken a 25 MPH turn at 50 MPH without "cutting" the corner, with no hint of noise from the tires. (I would not recomend this as a routine in any car) I have only got the rear end loose on her once, and as soon as I lifted my foot of the gas, she came right back in line.

[woaface]

In retrospect however, I posted a picture of the Marquis at 105mph in the gallery. The car was controllable at this point, but it wasn't trusty enough for me to do it again without 1.) a drag strip or 2.) a lot traffic not on the road.