Driving Impressions

Topic: Driving Impressions (Read 6534 times) previous topic - next topic

Driving Impressions

Reply #15 – March 17, 2011, 08:32:15 AM

I do agree that the 88 Cougar is about the best styled ones out there. In general Ford got it right in 87/88.

Driving Impressions

Reply #16 – March 17, 2011, 03:22:41 PM

I find my '88 way more comfortable than my bro's '96 T-bird. Maybe its just that my seats have a spot worn into them in the shape of my butt! I never did like the way the MN-12's drove compared to the Fox's. They are nice looking cars but I just love the fox's more.

Driving Impressions

Reply #17 – March 18, 2011, 07:22:27 PM

Well I had mine out for the first time this year :D. I changed the oil today and drove it around for about a hour. I never realized how old it felt when I was driving the MN-12 because they were so close in how they drove and rode. Now that I'm driving a modern car (Focus) I can feel the difference.

Cons:

The steering, even with the quick ratio rack, sucks. There is minimal road feel. It feels like I could twirl the wheel with my pinky finger.

The stock brakes suck. They stop the car ok but not like they should stop a 3700 lb car.

Stiff tires + stiff suspension = bumpy ride on pot holed winter roads.

Push rod engines do not rev as fast a DOHC engines.

Pros:

This car can haul. It has a silly amount of torque and slides around like it's on ice when you mat the throttle:burnout:.

The car rides beautifully on the highway at speed.

The thing pulls like a freight train when you want to pass someone at 60mph. Just mat it and before you know it you're doing 90 :hick:.

The interior on the T-bird is so much nicer than the Focus.

I still love this car. It's fun to drive and gets looks, because no one owns one anymore

. I wish I could drive it every day.....

Driving Impressions

Reply #18 – March 19, 2011, 12:10:55 AM

Quote from: thunderjet302;355742

Cons:

The steering, even with the quick ratio rack, sucks. There is minimal road feel. It feels like I could twirl the wheel with my pinky finger.

That's funny, that's always the FIRST thing I notice when I start mine up. The only difference is that I love it. The MN12 has terrible power steering assist. The 88 is real POWER steering:D

Driving Impressions

Reply #19 – March 19, 2011, 12:44:58 AM

My crown vic I drive with my palm over the horn. That is REAL assistance right there.

Driving Impressions

Reply #20 – March 19, 2011, 02:44:11 AM

-Hell, and I thought that "edgy/twitchy" feeling was an alignment issue! I never even considered that it was the rims.

--Eric, what do you mean by cowl shake? I'm guessing this is a convertible-only issue?

---I personally love the steering on my bird, and with the new wheels, it is EXTREMELY responsive!

----I do need to put new blades on the wipers, but they aren't too terrible...Until it starts coming down sideways at 70Mph!

-----The Sylvania Silverstars are definitely the way to go, but make sure your charging system is TOP NOTCH! I put them in my '90 Mazda pickup, and they work GREAT, but it really pulls the battery down when they're on. Add to that a blower fan and a turn signal and the alt definitely starts complaining.

Driving Impressions

Reply #21 – March 19, 2011, 08:27:19 AM

Quote from: jrad235;355811

-Hell, and I thought that "edgy/twitchy" feeling was an alignment issue! I never even considered that it was the rims.

Oh yeah, I noticed immediately when I put on my Cobra's that they grab every groove in the road and really pull the car around.

Driving Impressions

Reply #22 – March 19, 2011, 08:36:29 AM

Quote

Eric, what do you mean by cowl shake? I'm guessing this is a convertible-only issue?

Yes, it's from having the roof chopped off. All convertibles have a degree of cowl shake, it's just a matter of how much. Newer cars usually have a lot more bracing or supports to counteract it. The A-pillars were beefed up in my car but otherwise, that's all the conversion company did to try to help.

Driving Impressions

Reply #23 – March 19, 2011, 10:35:41 AM

Quote from: Haystack;355807

My crown vic I drive with my palm over the horn. That is REAL assistance right there.

HELL YES. One of the reasons I can't wait to get a new motor in the blue beast. One time at a cruise-in this guy let me sit in his 1971 Lincoln Continental MkIII, the seat was like a waterbed, the A/C was blowing absolute zero on me, and with that 5000+ lb behemoth standing STILL, I was moving the steering wheel with my pinky almost effortlessly. Impressed? There's an understatement right there...

Driving Impressions

Reply #24 – March 19, 2011, 12:15:34 PM

I have no idea why you guys like the overly boosted grandma steering.

Driving Impressions

Reply #25 – March 19, 2011, 12:30:52 PM

I guess if I wanted to drive a race car I'd want something like my mom's '07 civic LOL. That thing has zero slop anywhere, it's very stiff and tight. If I had that in say the silver cat, it would be far easier to compensate quicker when I get the ass end way out there. BUT....that's not normal driving. And if I feel the need to do that, I better be somewhere that I've no risk of smashing the thing or someone else's. It's easier and takes less effort to keep it straight on the highway if you have crosswinds or it's just wandering because of the road, and less effort obviously to turn at any time. Hey....these are luxury cars. They're designed to spoil you like that.

And I'm sure spoiled!

When people start using words like "road feel" I fall asleep.

Yes, that more hard-edged intimate experience in say my dad's '79 spitfire, puts things in perspective, and makes one of these cars feel like an entirely over-bloated pointless behemoth.....until you think about all of those situations where the little slingshot would get aggravating. To some people, it's not I guess, hence why they drive a slammed S2000 with thousands spent on suspension work, brutal power, and a harsh overall ride, as a daily vehicle. I just couldn't put up with it. :D

Driving Impressions

Reply #26 – March 19, 2011, 12:46:23 PM

I just want a little stiffer steering with some road feel, like the Focus;).

Driving Impressions

Reply #27 – March 19, 2011, 02:04:32 PM

Anything you want...YOU GOT IT.....anyyyything at alllllll...YOU GOT IT....BAAAAAAAAAAABYYYYYYYYYYY

Driving Impressions

Reply #28 – March 19, 2011, 03:40:51 PM

Quote from: ZondaC12;355850

Anything you want...YOU GOT IT.....anyyyything at alllllll...YOU GOT IT....BAAAAAAAAAAABYYYYYYYYYYY

Roy ? is that you ??

Driving Impressions

Reply #29 – March 19, 2011, 04:08:11 PM

I agree. My brother-in-law's got an Integra which is lowered to about 3" from the ground and its a 5 speed. Its his daily. There is no way I could stand to drive it everyday. Its too harsh, you have to be wary of every pothole and runoff gulley and every driveway/parking lot that crosses a sidewalk. Not to mention having to use the 5 speed in Orlando traffic every day would just get ridiculous.

I like my boat of a Cougar, and I love the way it sticks to the ground even without having to be close to it:p