by "for Michigan" (formichigan)
Published 06/10/2017 at 15:46
by "for Michigan" (formichigan)
Published 06/10/2017 at 15:46
Tags: oppopinions
; ford
; Thunderbird
; Npocp
; Craigslist
; Found on Craigslist
STARS: 2
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
What I Want: Cheap, 6-8 cylinders, coupe, RWD, anonymous, easy to work on, comfortable on the highway, not a money pit. I feel like this meets all of those criteria except maybe the last one.
This isn’t going to be a daily driver. It’d be a project / road trip car. I want something that’s more comfortable doing 75 mph on the freeway than my current car, which feels a little strained above 70 mph.
Should I give this thing some thought, or should I pass?
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
06/10/2017 at 15:54, STARS: 1
On the plus side, junkyards are filled with them, so parts would never be an issue. On the minus side, you live in the land of rust and salt, so you’d have to inspect carefully and, with any car, get your mechanic to see what it needs.
Also Gran Prix/Monte Carlo in this class.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
06/10/2017 at 15:57, STARS: 2
Whenever I rented a car in the 90s in Miami, they always gave me one of these. It was great for tooling up and down I95, so just what you need. If it’s in good enough condition that it won’t break you, then yeah. It’s what you need.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
06/10/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 0
I’d definitely be on the lookout for rust, though this one looks pretty rust free despite the rough paint.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
06/10/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 1
Gran Prix and Monte Carlo are excellent picks.
"V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me!" (v8demon)
06/10/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 0
Keep an eye on the rocker panels. They’re rust prone on the MN-12 platform.
Also along the doors where the molding is gone, is that corrosion or some adhesive residue? Can’t tell.....
As far as the wiring issues. See what’s going on and get a hold of the EVTM for that particular year.
I’ve seen worse go for more money. Seems like a decent deal.
"Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre)
06/10/2017 at 16:00, STARS: 1
At that price if it runs smoothly without leaving a smokescreen behind it you’re in good shape. The mechanical parts were shared with enough cars to make locating them fairly easy. I’ve never worked on one but know two people that had them and neither talked about any particular problems as far as working on them.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
06/10/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 1
Good to know on the rocker panels.
As far as the driver side door, looks like a little of both.
What’s EVTM? ETA: Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual. Got it. That makes sense.
"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty)
06/10/2017 at 16:49, STARS: 1
I have had one for a year now and I’m leaning towards donating it because the transmission is down to first and second gears, a symptom of a failing AOD. That aside, I would probably replace the ball joints if they are visibly used and you will have the perfect highway cruiser. Since I did a tune-up and replaced the bad coil, the engine has been turbine-smooth and these cars are silent and feel untaxed at 80 even with the standard Essex. Watch for rust, particularly around door jambs and rear quarters.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
06/10/2017 at 17:27, STARS: 0
Time for a 5-speed swap?
(From what I hear, that’s a nasty can of worms to open on an MN12.)
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
06/10/2017 at 17:31, STARS: 1
Body looks a bit rough around the edges, but the mileage is impressively low (might want to make sure that the odometer is actually functioning). I wouldn’t expect transmission problems for another 80k miles. In fact, a J-mod to the transmission now could help make it last even longer.
Good rule of thumb on these is that if it’s time to replace tie-rods or balljoints, it’s in your best interest to just redo the whole front suspension in one shot before you drive yourself crazy turning the same bolts over and over again.
I love these MN12s, especially the ’94-’95 body style, and I think that’s a good price.
"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty)
06/10/2017 at 18:08, STARS: 0
That is a fun prospect, but the car is just too far gone otherwise. While I might fix the rust (which appears to be solely cosmetic) and put in a used AOD, there are too many nice V8s available cheaply to do the swap on. That one being a 4.6 seems like a major NP! I’ve never been more pleasantly surprised by the handling manners of a clapped-out land barge.
"jminer" (jminer)
06/10/2017 at 19:43, STARS: 0
I’ve got a friend that picked up one of these in the Super Coupe that was alright. He liked it a whole lot more than I did, found it fairly uninspiring.
What on earth do you drive that feels strained at 70 MPH, I had a 01 ZX3 that made like 130 horse and had no problem doing 90 all day on the interstate.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
06/10/2017 at 20:11, STARS: 0
Maybe strained wasn’t the right word? It certainly isn’t comfortable.
I daily a 2006 Mazda3 hatchback, so basically a MkII ZX5. Like your ZX3, my Mazda will happily do 90 mph all day on the interstate. The problem isn’t the car’s capability, it’s my own preferences.
At 70 mph in 5th, the engine is running at about 3000 RPM, or around where VVT kicks in. As the speed climbs above that, the intake gets noisy, the fuel economy takes a nosedive, and since it’s a Mazda road noise gets intrusive. It’s a great car for around town or a 40-60 mph winding road and it can swallow a whole lot of cargo for a compact, but it does not excel at highway comfort.
Three years ago I was fine doing 85 mph with the windows down for 2 hours straight in my 98 Civic shitbox, but comfort is a little higher on my list of priorities now, so that doesn’t really cut it anymore.
"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
06/10/2017 at 21:23, STARS: 0
If you’re thinking MN12, look at Lincoln Mark VIIIs. 4v goodness on the cheap.
"jminer" (jminer)
06/10/2017 at 21:52, STARS: 0
I’ll give you that, things definitely change over time. If I have to go more than an hour in the car on the hwy I’ll be leaving my 12 focus hatch at home and stealing my wife’s Flex (assuming she lets me). The quiet, cruise control and leather seats just spoil my ass...
If you want quiet and refined on the highway that old cougar won’t do it though. I’ve always been partial to the earlier panther platforms for that. Had a 83 Mercury Grand Marquis for about a year and that thing was all kinds of awesome. Would wallow more that you thought possible, but great for long flat highways. My friends cougar was downright cramped to be in the front seat (I’m 6' 2") and horrifying to be in the back.