Year Round Daily Driver Marauder?

[Melon]

I'm hoping to get a Marauder eventually - sooner than later - and will probably have to drive it 51 weeks out of the year. Living in the Midwest means snow and cold. I'm not too concerned about the cold, but I am about the snow.

Anyone else drive theirs in any snow? I'm aware it's technically a crime against man kind :-D but it's a sacrifice I may have to make to get one. Could I use P71 rims and put on snow tires for the winter?

[L.Mark]

I'm working on my second winter from car that was not a garage queen all her life...as long as you wish it after a the snow and most of the salt after each snowfall you shouldn't have a problem...:)

[MustangMoser]

People seem to be overly afraid of a rwd car in the snow. If u know how to drive one and use common sense you'll be ok. I drove my old beater mustang in the snow never an issue except for an ice patch in the apex of a long turn, but I corrected calmly and recovered easily. But that was because I was going too fast for the conditions. Drive with common sense.

[L.Mark]

I've seen more problems with front drive than rear..been driving rwd's all my life and don't want to drive anything else...plus, big red beats in the snow are awesome fun...:D

[a_d_a_m]

Could I use P71 rims and put on snow tires for the winter? As long as they are the correct offset, yes. You may use wheels from the following:
-'03 or newer Grand Marquis
-'03 or newer Town Car
-'03 or newer Crown Vic (Interceptor or civvy, doesn't matter)
-'05 or newer Mustang (except the 18" 'California Special' polished Bullitts, which require a 1/4" spacer)

There may be others, but those are the easiest ones to find and the ones I could think of off the top of my head.

[Vortech347]

Drive mine in the snow. No issues. I can't tell you how many times I've showed homes in that car when there is blizzard outside. She always gets me home! :)

[Motorhead350]

Mine is used all year round here in Chicago.

Snow tires and weight in the trunk FTW.

Wash it every week and keep the salt off. It also helps to apply oil to the door trim to keep salt off.

I love the snow.

Take off in 2nd gear if you are having trouble off of the line... especially stop signs.

[GreekGod]

I went with Bridgestone Blizzaks last winter (& Ford police wheels). I'm in West Michigan, so we get plenty of lake-effect snow. I was stubborn and actually believed the KDWS were "mud & snow tires", and "all season".

Night and day difference! I am always amazed how well they handle the snow & ice.

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=116

[L.Mark]

I've got stock bfg's out back and this will be the first winter with the nittos up front...

[whitey]

I hate driving in the snow,imho the car sucks in the snow, for instance, i cant even get on an on ramp to the highway(incline). This is with the bfg stock tires. Ive never tried snow tires, but driving in snow/ice conditions gives me chills. Its not that i dont know how to drive in the snow, it just does not get traction, so make sure you have some decent snow tired fitted, because the stock ones will give you white knuckles at 20mph.

[Ozark Marauder]

I drive in snow, no problems. Have a reasonably new set of Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval AS.

OZ

[Bradley G]

This is only my second winter not driving the Marauder since 2003, Ice & Snow tires ,.. The only way to fly!

[Bluerauder]

I've got stock bfg's out back and this will be the first winter with the nittos up front...

The stock OEM BFG tread plugs up with snow in the first 10 feet and then you may as well be driving on slicks. Very dicey. Keeping them from spinning or sliding takes a lot of control and a heck of a lot of luck.

If you have gotta do snow in the Marauder, get a snow tire package like the one that Tire Rack offered some years back. It may still be available. Folks that use the Blizzaks say that the car is like a tank in the snow.

[L.Mark]

The stock OEM BFG tread plugs up with snow in the first 10 feet and then you may as well be driving on slicks. Very dicey. Keeping them from spinning or sliding takes a lot of control and a heck of a lot of luck.

If you have gotta do snow in the Marauder, get a snow tire package like the one that Tire Rack offered some years back. It may still be available. Folks that use the Blizzaks say that the car is like a tank in the snow.

Thanks for the info, but unfortunely funds for tires went bye bye when I bought a set of 80,000 for the wife's Impala day's before Christmas...:(

[Jkmarauder]

I just got mine this year and first time driving in the snow I was hesitant especially because it was the worst storm in a while so all I did was once I reached inclines I punched it with o/d off in first or second and I cruised up the hill just fine. I got new all season cooper tires and they got plenty of meat on them that probs helped a lot. Even if you do slide just control it

[Ms. Denmark]

____________________

[Melon]

Thanks for the input everyone!

If I can help it, I'd rather not. But I'm preparing myself just in case I will have to. I want to trade the Taurus for a minivan for my wife and keep her Explorer for me to use when I have to and not drive the Marauder in winter. But we'll see how well that happens :)

[Kickingwing519]

I drive mine in the snow/blizzard so fare no issues. I run 255/55/18 nitto NT420s in the rear and 235/50/18 hznhooks for the summer. I just simply swapped out the rears for 235/70/16 BFG all-terrian t/a for the rear. And 235/55/17 Firestone Firehawk pursuit gt for the front. The tires bite well enough . But if you plan on doing a jmod. Be extra carful of your heavy foot.

[GreekGod]

There is a vast difference between "mud & snow", or "all season" tires and real snow tires. I've been driving for 2 winters with my Blizzaks, and I know.

I've been driving in the snow-belt West Michigan winters for 48 years, with all types of vehicles (FWD, RWD, 2WD F-Series, 4X4's, 4X4 Bronco).

The 4 Blizzaks on my Marauder transformed it into a very capable winter driver. The OEM BFG's have the characteristics of driving on ice, and can make starting from a stop very difficult. The Blizzaks just bite & go.

Until recently, all local police agencies patrol cars, (including the Ottawa County Sheriffs cars, which get even more lake-effect than we do here in Kent County) have been Crown Victorias. They appear to be converting to the Taurus based PI.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/mm_001.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/02262013_005.jpg

[kdo0444]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iKw3HffVJrk

This is a good video showing modern winter tires on a crown Vic. These are not granddaddys blocky snow tires from 1976 that you put on the drive wheels only. We are talking tires especially made for cold weather, that grip well on ice and packed snow.
I've been driving Crown Vic's daily for over 20 years. Modern winter tires are a great improvement if you live in an area where you get good amounts of ice and packed snow conditions on the roads like I do in Minneapolis. It makes these cars handle so much better.

[clmrt]

It's the kludge on my boots being dragged in and out of the car that makes me shudder when thinking of driving mine in the crap.

[Mebot]

It's the kludge on my boots being dragged in and out of the car that makes me shudder when thinking of driving mine in the crap.

Invest in some heavy duty rubber mats that you can put over top your marauder floor mats, or just take your mats out entirely.

[mnrauder]

I tried driving my marauder in the snow without winter tires.

Cliffs: I hated it.

It got stuck a lot. I got stuck on ice parked infront of someones house. There was a time i couldn't make it up a city street to get in my garage. I ended up not driving it until a day after it snowed so the city could plow up most of it. This winter I haven't driven it at all in the snow. I just bought a cheap beater to use. (i probably could have bought snow tires) but i'm happy with my car parked in a heated garage all winter.

[clmrt]

Invest in some heavy duty rubber mats that you can put over top your marauder floor mats, or just take your mats out entirely.

Or not. I prefer not.:beer:

[RR|Suki]

Granted I don't anymore since I run summer tires only on the car now after getting the GTI to drive to work.


But man, I drove my Marauder with the blower on it on stock tires in the snow and thought the car did great really. Never got stuck, moving from a stop really wasn't a big deal. I did get driven off the road by a truck, but that wasn't because of snow. Maybe the higher stall converter made the starts better or something. I really never found it to be a big deal for the years I did it, and still would if I didn't have the GTI.

[LUCKY GENE]

<<driven everyday....rain, snow and sunshine....:banana2:

[mnrauder]

I hadn't realized how many Minnesota members are on here.

[RF Overlord]

Invest in some heavy duty rubber mats that you can put over top your marauder floor mats, One word: WeatherTech.

[mnrauder]

One word: WeatherTech.
Weathertech doesn't make floor mats for the Marauder.

[jwibbity]

Weathertech doesn't make floor mats for the Marauder.

http://www.weathertech.com/mercury/2003/marauder/floor-mats-all-weather/

they have mats, the weathertech liner has to be requested to make..according to their site at least

[clmrt]

They do the Crown Vic, close enough.

[mnrauder]

The floor liner is the way to go