ts-pa
12-07-2002, 09:52 PM
Hello to all,
First, some background about me:
I bought my first new GM w/41G in 1996 when I was 29yrs old (yes, I got teased a lot, but I could HAUL in two terms of the definition!). Might I admit this here? I was originally going for the 96 Impala SS, but the dealer would not budge a nickel in his price. I then settled for the 96 GM, a car with great potential as the MM is starting to show.
After three great years of owning, I became a dad and had to reduce my monthly budget. What a mistake that was! The cheaper car cost so much in repairs that I could have easily kept the GM! It finally got so bad financially to keep running, thus my newest GM. It is a used 2000 GM LS w/41G. I desperately wanted a MM, but I'm still on a single income with family and since changed jobs (low end of pay scale again).
Now for some questions/comments:
snow tires & rims - Do you really need to have different tires sizes front to back as MM comes? Could a replacement rim/tire such as this link work for the MM? http://public.fotki.com/gksutt/crown_victoria_and/p71_sportrac_rims_1.html
I just put on nokian hakka 1 225/60R16 on all fours. They grip very well in wet/snow, especially compared to the Eagle LS that were original. They feel a little "mushy" for lack of better terms. They break loose too easily in quick dry road braking; ABS didn't have a chance to activiate. Delayed feeling of steering response. Obviously more tire noise. I probably should have bought the WR version, which appeared to be a less snow, more all weather tread pattern vs. the hakka 1's. I will strictly use these for Dec. - March weather.
traction-lok - I currently have the "PrecisionTrac" setup through ABS system. It is my understanding that some come with this setup mixed with the optional mechanical "Traction-Lok" and a switch to deactivate the "PrecisionTrac". Some questions: Does this not also deactivate the ABS? Can this be added to a car such as mine? Could both systems be working together for even greater effectiveness? I ask this as last week, while turning left through an intersection, the best the car would do was 3MPH. Seems quite dangerous to me since the once distant oncoming traffic was now bearing down in a hurry. This was with the Eagle tires; there is hope the snows may help in this situation.
Towing - With my 96 (adding only a trans cooler), I towed 1500 lb (trailer & load) and didn't even notice much effect on the car except when we hit bumps/dips. Back then there was a towing pkg, which I did not have, now it is not even offered. Can we get the same towing capabilities as then by simply adding the missing mechanical and electrical components? Or is there more to the differences?
high-speed rear collision fires - Has anyone considered the partial recall of police CV to be folly since any owner of a CV/GM/LTC/MM can be placed into the same situation as a police officer? For example, if I needed to pull onto a narrow shoulder of a highway to change a flat. Indeed my family still faces severe risk potential as they are still inside the car or being outside near traffic. I feel that all owners of these cars should contact Ford in an organized effort. My contact with them via email through there website seemed quite unsatisfactory in solving this issue with me. It was stated that I could go to a dealer that does this recall repair and have them do the work at my costs. This seems to be fixing their design problems at our expense. Then if in the future, a total recall were done, I would have to submit the receipts for reimbursement. What ever happened to "good will" towards the customers? Safety issues, such as this, shouldn't even be a question; they should just do it!
Hopes for the future - I sincerely hope that Ford has not abandoned this platform of cars from future development. I feel that the car overall has tremendous potential. Some day I might purchase a Maurader. Until then, I'll have to make good use of the GM and changes to it as finances allow. I hope to glean some insight from your group as I am a MM wannabe with little $$ to do so. By MM, I mean Maximum Marauder as the current version can still be greatly improved upon (please, no offense intended as this is Ford's shortcomings and not yours).
Sorry for being so long winded, just wanted to get the thoughts flowing!
Best regards, Tom in PA-USA
First, some background about me:
I bought my first new GM w/41G in 1996 when I was 29yrs old (yes, I got teased a lot, but I could HAUL in two terms of the definition!). Might I admit this here? I was originally going for the 96 Impala SS, but the dealer would not budge a nickel in his price. I then settled for the 96 GM, a car with great potential as the MM is starting to show.
After three great years of owning, I became a dad and had to reduce my monthly budget. What a mistake that was! The cheaper car cost so much in repairs that I could have easily kept the GM! It finally got so bad financially to keep running, thus my newest GM. It is a used 2000 GM LS w/41G. I desperately wanted a MM, but I'm still on a single income with family and since changed jobs (low end of pay scale again).
Now for some questions/comments:
snow tires & rims - Do you really need to have different tires sizes front to back as MM comes? Could a replacement rim/tire such as this link work for the MM? http://public.fotki.com/gksutt/crown_victoria_and/p71_sportrac_rims_1.html
I just put on nokian hakka 1 225/60R16 on all fours. They grip very well in wet/snow, especially compared to the Eagle LS that were original. They feel a little "mushy" for lack of better terms. They break loose too easily in quick dry road braking; ABS didn't have a chance to activiate. Delayed feeling of steering response. Obviously more tire noise. I probably should have bought the WR version, which appeared to be a less snow, more all weather tread pattern vs. the hakka 1's. I will strictly use these for Dec. - March weather.
traction-lok - I currently have the "PrecisionTrac" setup through ABS system. It is my understanding that some come with this setup mixed with the optional mechanical "Traction-Lok" and a switch to deactivate the "PrecisionTrac". Some questions: Does this not also deactivate the ABS? Can this be added to a car such as mine? Could both systems be working together for even greater effectiveness? I ask this as last week, while turning left through an intersection, the best the car would do was 3MPH. Seems quite dangerous to me since the once distant oncoming traffic was now bearing down in a hurry. This was with the Eagle tires; there is hope the snows may help in this situation.
Towing - With my 96 (adding only a trans cooler), I towed 1500 lb (trailer & load) and didn't even notice much effect on the car except when we hit bumps/dips. Back then there was a towing pkg, which I did not have, now it is not even offered. Can we get the same towing capabilities as then by simply adding the missing mechanical and electrical components? Or is there more to the differences?
high-speed rear collision fires - Has anyone considered the partial recall of police CV to be folly since any owner of a CV/GM/LTC/MM can be placed into the same situation as a police officer? For example, if I needed to pull onto a narrow shoulder of a highway to change a flat. Indeed my family still faces severe risk potential as they are still inside the car or being outside near traffic. I feel that all owners of these cars should contact Ford in an organized effort. My contact with them via email through there website seemed quite unsatisfactory in solving this issue with me. It was stated that I could go to a dealer that does this recall repair and have them do the work at my costs. This seems to be fixing their design problems at our expense. Then if in the future, a total recall were done, I would have to submit the receipts for reimbursement. What ever happened to "good will" towards the customers? Safety issues, such as this, shouldn't even be a question; they should just do it!
Hopes for the future - I sincerely hope that Ford has not abandoned this platform of cars from future development. I feel that the car overall has tremendous potential. Some day I might purchase a Maurader. Until then, I'll have to make good use of the GM and changes to it as finances allow. I hope to glean some insight from your group as I am a MM wannabe with little $$ to do so. By MM, I mean Maximum Marauder as the current version can still be greatly improved upon (please, no offense intended as this is Ford's shortcomings and not yours).
Sorry for being so long winded, just wanted to get the thoughts flowing!
Best regards, Tom in PA-USA