ascMcLaren Enthusiasts

[rlyons13]

Guys,

You Mercury people are passionate about your nameplate. But there is no need to degrade into name calling. I assume I'm the only one who actually knows Jim Campisano. He is not a nitwit, and would not have survived as long as he has if he were. There is another Mustang Editor I have broken bread with that I do not like personally, but I'd never call him names. You may not like what he wrote, but it was an opinion and I believe you have let your passion for the nameplate cloud the meaning behind his comments.

As a freelance writer and editor of the SCOA's quarterly publication VENOM, I am amazed at what I have been called, for either an opinion or simply stating fact. I publish a "Trouble Report" section from time to time to detail problems owners have had with SVT Cobras. Several owners and Ford personnel have taken exception to that. Back in 1994, the SAAC car company came out with a bad deal for 93 Cobra owners that basically bolted left over SAAC Car components to CObras. I actually had to print a cost/benefit analysis to back my position. And I don't want to tell you the discussion that started when I wrote an opinion against retro-styling.

A member of our e-mail list recently lamented that affordable CObras will be a thing of the past once the near $40K 07 SVT Cobra comes out...WITHOUT IRS!!! His point was that Ford is pricing the Cobra out of the market and catering to the "more power" people at the expense of vehicle balance. Bottom line is that the car should be so much more for $40K. WHich cycles back to my point on the Darth Vader (I'm not the world's greatest speller, so I'll not try to spell Maurder again) of Mercury's lineup. I am the world's greatest fan of the SVT Cobra and, except for the 93 version, I will be the first to say that the car should be more for the money. So should have the MM. So should have been the Lincoln LS. And the new Thunderbird, may it rest in peace.

OK, I now have my nomex undies and my ovenmit-like driving suit on, so flame away!!!!!!!!!!!
_________________
Robert Lyons
"I got a Vintage Mustang for my wife. Best trade I ever made!"

[Sandy]

You Mercury people are passionate about your nameplate.

This is true!!!

The only problem I've had (and this does NOT include you) ~ with Mustangs are at car shows and other places where car-people gather. At one point or another I've been involved with Olds 4.4.2. groups, Mercury Groups, and MOPAR Groups. When gathered together whether en masse at car shows or inpromptu get togethers the members of the other above mentioned brands seem to respect others options more, be more level headed, and not as fast to "mouth off" and more likely to consider others opinions more willingly. When at similiar Mustang gatherings, the level of the usage of 4-letter words is at an all time high and is the main adjective of choice, and amazingly every person is 100% correct, and all the rest are dead wrong. This is the reason that I personally shy away from Mustang get togethers. Too many hot tempers on the verge of melt-down.
Even the GTO shows I go to are .... ah.... calmer.

Anyhow, time to make an offer on Snowball, before Snowball melts away to someone else's garage! < you know you love it >
_________________
Sandy passed away in 2012. He will be forever missed.

1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.

http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascmclaren_capris/sandys_mclarens/

[rlyons13]

Sandy,

I have never really had too much problems at other make shows, except for ones judged by a certain GM group out of central NJ. I was at one show where I watched the judges pour over every one of the General's cars, whether concours correct or rusting. I was never looked at (and if you ever saw my 68 GT Fastback, the car draws your eye), and had to beg them to come judge my car. I got a 15 second look and three rusted cars (Camaro, Nova, Camaro) took 1/2/3 in class. The next year I attended a charity show and found out the same club had volunteered to judge. Same thing.

Now, that being said, I have to give kudos to the Garden State Chevelle CLub. ALso, the various AACA regions are pretty good, as is the Garden State Region Mustang Club. Their show in 4/24 in Butler NJ and always brings in the best AACA and MCA Mustang show cars. If you're able, stop on by and say hello. I'll be judging and have my 68 on display (guy from Pittsburgh is coming to see it).

So Sandy, is Henry giving you a commission on Snowball? I can't do anything until I sell the 68. As soon as someone gives me $17K, I'll be heading down to watch the entertainment at Margaritaville Orlando, eat fried banannas at Bahama Breeze, have a burger at Race Rock, ride the Hulk roller coaster and .... oh yeah.... visit with Henry. And I have to tell you, I could really go for that 86 white/blue/blue McLaren he has.
_________________
Robert Lyons
"I got a Vintage Mustang for my wife. Best trade I ever made!"

[Sandy]

No no commission. I just feel that the '90 is the final year and witrh an air bag and (I think) the highest "Pony-Power" and the triple white is unique and was only available for 1990 and with 3 or 4 made (I forget) just about a one off car. You cannot deny the eye appeal of it, either.

I go to the Garden State GTO club's show, every year, just as an obsever and enjoy the day out. It's usually up Rt 10 somewhere. I check Hemmings on line car show calander to find the when & where info. It's also usually burning ~HOT~ that day, like 90+ and humid, so I don't stay too long. My wife likes that show, too. Sometime we take our son and torture him with acute boredom !!
_________________
Sandy passed away in 2012. He will be forever missed.

1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.

http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascmclaren_capris/sandys_mclarens/

[75coug]

[Sandy]

You'll love the Goat! I was fortunate to have a quick drive in one and I was very impressed. The quality that was lacking in my original 1966 when I was in college, is definately there, in the 2005. The car feels rock solid, and has gobs of torque & power. Some of the exterior colors are not to my liking on it. I think the yellow looks horrible on it.
I like the hood scoops and I liked the white one they had on the floor. I was out in a black one, that was loaded with surface swurls allready from a car wash. Last year they had a nice dark purple, but they canned it for 05. I wonder why?
_________________
Sandy passed away in 2012. He will be forever missed.

1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.

http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascmclaren_capris/sandys_mclarens/

[75coug]

If I pull the trigger, mine will be red. With the exception of a couple of gold ones, my cars are always red. Being a Cornhusker, I can't help it. It's in my blood.
_________________
Robert

1989 ascMcLaren convertible - royal gold
1986 ascMcLaren convertible - red
1984 ascMcLaren convertible - white

[MercRS]

you are missing the point!I thought Jim C. WAS a saving grace,he used to
praise Mercs for what they were.If he is so smart were is the logic to dump Mercury?Wouldn't you get rid of the pinheads in charge?Especially at SVT they nixed the Cougar S so they could have the Focus.Its not the Car brands fault,too many people are too lazy,with attitudes like that thats why companies are going oversees.I'm sorry anybody that writes for
a Ford mag for performance cars and thinks they should dump a brand
thats a hypocrite in my book.Think of it this way if someone thought like he did in 67-70 at Mercury he couldn't have ever written about how he loved Capris,Cyclones and Cougars right?
_________________
81 Mercury Capri RS
70 Mercury Montego
71 Mercury Cyclone GT
69 Mercury Marauder X-100
70 Mercury Cyclone GT
86 McLaren Euro Coupe
85 McLaren Capri Coupe
03 Mercury Marauder
70 Ford Fairlane 500 SCJ DragPac
70 Mercury Cougar
73 Montego GT

[RARE-ASC]

[RARE-ASC]

[quote="rlyons1] WHich cycles back to my point on the Darth Vader (I'm not the world's greatest speller, so I'll not try to spell Maurder again) of Mercury's lineup. I am the world's greatest fan of the SVT Cobra and, except for the 93 version, I will be the first to say that the car should be more for the money. So should have the MM. So should have been the Lincoln LS. And the new Thunderbird, may it rest in peace. OK, I now have my nomex undies and my ovenmit-like driving suit on, so flame away!!!!!!!!!!![quote]







It is simple work with me here............. M A R A U D E R................M A R A U D E R. And as value for the money factory 4 cam 32 valve 302hp v8 plus all the other goodies hard to beat for the money heck an ASC vert was almost just as much back in the day and that was 20 years ago well each to there own oppion no matter how out there it is. i would bet the farm that in a few years used MM's will bring rain on resale like just a nice used Impala SS does today so my point in the end it all works out!
_________________
-DAVID-
MY KEEPERS!
2003 SILVER MERCURY MARAUDER 320 HP 32V DOHC.
2013 FORD F150 RAPTOR "TERRAIN TAN" 4X4 CREW CAB & LIFT ON 37s.
2016 SHELBY MUSTANG GT-H HERTZ EDITION #82 OF 171.
1995 F-350 CREW CAB DUALLY POWERSTROKE FULL BANKS KIT!

[rlyons13]

All righty then, something we can all agree on, some of the bad decisions at Ford! I dunno, if Ford won't support the Mercury line, I'd rather see it go than continue to limp along hurting. A few years back, my wife decided she wanteed a new Contour/Mystic (OK, I spelled another Mercury car wrong, shoot me. I can't spell, and I'm too old to be taught!). The Mercury was the better looking of the two, but more expensive, no incentives, less standard equipment (go figure) AND less options. She bought the Contour. I talked with SVT just before the release of the SVT COntour and asked about logically moving the package onto the proposed Cougar. Their response is that they do Ford cars only, and they would never do a Mercury SVT project. At best, they may consult with a higher performance COugar and let it be marketed with a "Designed by SVT" tag. Talk about being the red haired step child of the family.

Remember, these were the same people that were going to put the name Mustang on a Probe. The same people that release a Mustang with the 4.6 that was slower and more problematic than the 5.0 in 96. The same company that denied that the 96 SVT Cobras were overheating as the cars were gakking collant all over the states. I can go on, but you get my point.

The 4.6 DOHC should have never gone in Darth Vader. For a car that size, the 5.4 would have been a better choice. It needed more low end torque that you can only get from more cubes or forced induction. And a car that heavy that wanted to be called a performance car needed bigger brakes. The brakes could have been done for very little incremental cash, the 5.4 would have caused a cascade of suspension changes but done up front in the design phase would not have been a problem (well, not a big problem). Or, Ford should stop screwing with us and let the 4.6 DOHC reach its potential as all the Ford engineers say it can.

I wanted an ascMcLaren back when I saw one of the new ones at a show in Nutley NJ in the spring of 87. For the price then, I laughed.

Finally, if you follow the business section, you know that Ford didn't do well last quarter. Guess we should hold our breath for any changes soon.
_________________
Robert Lyons
"I got a Vintage Mustang for my wife. Best trade I ever made!"

[Sandy]

Why did you laugh in 1987? I paid $23,500 for mine, brand new, in 1990. For that price, I got the performance of a stock GT, the exclusive Mercedes-Benz look-alike roof, all the options that were available (3), and a very exclusive 2-seat roadster, with respectible performance, comfort, and drop dead good looks that have weathered 13 years of style changes - yet they still turn heads & draw crowds at car shows.
What makes ME laugh today is that a Mini Cooper "S" - when equipped with every available option, has a window sticker of $33,500.00 !!
I kid you NOT! I don't care that the average buyer is under some dilusion of being in a BMW showroom, it could be in a Rolls Royce showroom it's still a coffin on wheels!
_________________
Sandy passed away in 2012. He will be forever missed.

1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.

http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascmclaren_capris/sandys_mclarens/

[rlyons13]

Sandy,

In the spring of 1987, I had just put a down payment on my house. It was the height of the 1st real estate bubble in NJ. And I was a starving programmer just out of college to boot! I couldn't afford a new Escort, let alone a McLaren that was double a Mustang GT Convertible. That's why I was laughing. I loved the car, but I couldn't, at almost any price.
_________________
Robert Lyons
"I got a Vintage Mustang for my wife. Best trade I ever made!"

[Sandy]

Ooooh, I understand, more better now
_________________
Sandy passed away in 2012. He will be forever missed.

1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.

http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascmclaren_capris/sandys_mclarens/

[RARE-ASC]