Those of you who have owned a Panther

"Vimto" (smudgey) 12/17/2015 at 10:41 • Filed to: None

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Do you miss it?

TractorPillow > Vimto 12/17/2015 at 10:47

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Nope. Not at all, really.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Vimto 12/17/2015 at 10:48

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Yes. I went through nearly a dozen before I decided that I had to cut the addiction. But I have a F150 as my work truck now, so it's almost the same.

vondon302 > Vimto 12/17/2015 at 10:49

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Wanna buy mine and I let ya know.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Vimto 12/17/2015 at 10:51

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Nope. A panther’s a fine cheap car, but there’s so much misplaced romanticism attached to it. It’s not a great car. It’s just cheap, easy to work on, and big.

they-will-know-my-velocity > vondon302 12/17/2015 at 10:52

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What kind of mileage do you get? I was getting about 19-20 average per tank in my S197.

vondon302 > they-will-know-my-velocity 12/17/2015 at 11:00

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If I baby it I can get 19 to 20. If I just drive it how ever I want I get 17 to 18. Worst tank was 16 best was 20 and thats only happened twice.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Vimto 12/17/2015 at 11:05

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I had a 1999 white P71 interceptor that I bought in 2005 with 280,000 kms on it(the odo wasn’t working so it could of had way more). 3 days after I got it the alternator went. I thought “great! I have a lemon just like everyone says I was gonna get” This was my first ford mind you.

I rebuilt the alternator for $120 bucks. Then I beat the living shit out of that car for 2 years straight(I was 19 when I got it) then I sold it to my brother and he beat on it for another 2 years and we did not put a dime in it.

Once I rebuilt the alternator it was the most reliable car I have EVER owned. between me and my brother we put at least another 150,000kms on it. The thing was fucking bullet proof.

Long story short. Yes I miss it and Yes I would not hesitate to get another one.

Margin Of Error > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/17/2015 at 11:09

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And this is wonderful.

they-will-know-my-velocity > vondon302 12/17/2015 at 11:11

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Not bad considering the size.

Takuro Spirit > Vimto 12/17/2015 at 11:13

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The ‘98?

No. It was a hunk of used up city junk that smelled of vomit.

The 2001?

Yes. Got 21-22mpg, it had carpet cruise and trac-loc, was a small town’s car that was babied, and it was only a decent set of tires away from being better year round. Which is why I got rid of it. Buddy of mine talked me into getting a Subaru.

vondon302 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 12/17/2015 at 11:16

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I totally agree. Its fun in the snow and dirt back roads but what isnt. Reliability is its best virtue. I’ve put 30000 miles on mine in 2 years and all I’ve had to do to it is fluids minor rust repair and 2 snow tires.

CommonSenseIsn'tCommon > Vimto 12/17/2015 at 11:17

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Still have mine. ‘94 Grand Marquis. We haven’t taken care of it for a long time (climbing out of a financial hole), the clear-coat is peeling and it badly needs new plugs/wires/distributor cap, the shift-linkage is bent, only one window works, the A/C is out and the odometer hasn’t worked since we bought it.

And we love it. It. Always. Works.

Captain of the Enterprise > Vimto 12/17/2015 at 11:33

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I have a love hate with mine, it can do a lot because of its size, I like that it's rear drive but it has a lot of problems and is uncomfortable for me to drive and handles bad, v8 sounds nice but you don't really go anywhere

Bultaco's JMOD TownCar drives his pa to drinkin > vondon302 12/17/2015 at 11:39

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Mine currently reads about 11.2. Highway I’ve seen it as high as 23.

vondon302 > Bultaco's JMOD TownCar drives his pa to drinkin 12/17/2015 at 11:55

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11.2 ? Do you even lift bro?

Bultaco's JMOD TownCar drives his pa to drinkin > Vimto 12/17/2015 at 12:15

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I had an FR-S in the summer of ‘12. First shipment in, promptly got wifey preggo, toughed out babying with it until the advent of some tough finances. I sold it last summer for enough to cover the rest of the loan and knock out a $500/m payment. I weeped while rolling it into the carmax parking lot, as it was literally the most perfectly engineered car I had ever owned (after a long string of K-cars, a b4 passat wagon, civics, corollas before.)

So I use a little bit of extra cash to get a cheap SV-650 for daily transportation, which scares the hell out of my 86 year old father in law, and prompts him to offer me his 200k+ ‘96 Town Car in return for some electrical work around his house. I thought, why not, an extra beater in the winter saves me from juggling around my wife’s car throughout the day. I get it, stick a fresh set of air springs and mickey thompsons on it. Suddenly it’s become everything I’ve ever wanted in a car.

I had already gained a lot of respect for the platform at a track day I took my old FR-S to. Between track sessions, they had wet skidpad practice in an old p71, and I was astonished that despite the behemoth weight and anemic engine, the instructor was able to thread it through a hot track carrying incredible speed on bald tires. On the skidpad itself, and with no prior experience, a gentle prod of the gas and a dab of oppo meant you could just hold a healthy slip angle in perpetuity.

Flash forward to this Town Car, and I’m enjoying all the benefits of what used to make driving a car an enjoyable experience. Tall sidewall tires, lazy ladder frame, decent ride height all soaking up vibration and NVH. Plenty of visbility in a high greenhouse, and good old V8 RWD for tire roasting shenanigans. A few minor issues have come up, but never anything I was unable to self diagnose and fix quickly and cheaply. I’ve since JMODed the valve body on the 4R70W, and replaced the blown shocks with a proper set of Bilsteins. Both done painlessly while bringing a tremendous amount of driving improvement and self satisfaction to every menial trip.

I’m nowhere close to getting rid of it, but when the time comes that it won’t roll no mo’, and I can no longer find parts for it, I already know I’m going to cry my heart out. They don’t make em like they used to, and never will.

Bultaco's JMOD TownCar drives his pa to drinkin > vondon302 12/17/2015 at 12:31

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Well. This morning a little... but just because it’s wet out and I needed the traction.

vondon302 > Bultaco's JMOD TownCar drives his pa to drinkin 12/17/2015 at 12:35

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Lolz what me worry! Best suicide knob ever!