New owner of a GM

[Big Rectangular Car]

Hello! I've been lurking quite a lot, just gathering information... but now I have something to say.

As of today, I am the owner of a 1985 Grand Marquis LS. :2up:
It was free, given to me by some friends who were moving and didn't need the car any more. It's in very nice condition, other than the front passenger seat having some duct tape on it, so what, all I care about is how well it runs, and run well it does. In fact it runs a little too well, it will tempt me to drive it more than I need to and cost me a small fortune in gas. :arg:

An interesting story is behind this car; not too long ago, the PO had a collision with another vehicle. PO told me the other vehicle was a write-off, because the front end broke apart, being it was a much newer car. I couldn't even see any damage on the GM, until I looked closer at the rear wheel well. The metal cover for it was slightly out of round. A bit dented. No paint was scratched, no dent on the fender itself. The insurance company couldn't believe it, the GM had less than $500 damage, which mean, virtually none. The driver barely felt the other car hit. This GM is a tank! I love it! Except at the gas pump, but you can't always have everything. :)

I shall post pics of said wonderous GM later...

BRC

[gadget73]

:welcome:

[Freshmeat]

Yes- :welcome: !!

[grandpaslincoln]

Nice, and welcome!


Where in Cali are you?

[Big Rectangular Car]

Thanks for the welcomes!
I'm in the Monterey Peninsula area. :)

[boXman]

Welcome! :wave:

[Freshmeat]

When you gonna do the HO conversion?

[85crownHPP]

Welcome! check out the CFI forum and archives for lots of info specific to what you got under the hood.

[p71towny]

Howdy!

[Grand Marquis GT]

:welcome: to GMN!!

[Big Rectangular Car]

Thanks for the continuing welcomes!
I posted pics of "Rocinante" in Reader's Rides. :D

[91 LTD]

Welcome, we need more west coasters. I LOVE my car like no other car I've ever owned.

[Big Rectangular Car]

You know, I've gotten some looks while driving her yesterday, either they are looks of admiration, or incredulity that I can still afford to drive her... :D

The other thing is, it isn't a car that zips around like my Golf, (even if the Golf is almost as old as the GM) but Rocinante moves majestically. It's actually refreshing, I find myself more relaxed at the end of a drive. It's like, "Yes, you can pass me if you want... I'm a cruise ship. Go on and hurry and stress out, if you want, go on ahead!" :)
Not that this car can't move, it's just the gas tank needle goes down really fast, if I use too heavy a foot.
I did test her out the first day from a green light, on a hill with a bottleneck, which turns into an on-ramp to the freeway, and she certainly could hold her own. There was a Geo Prizm that wanted to be in front, but gave up, when the driver realized I wasn't going to let up on the pedal. Not that I was racing, mind you, I just wanted to see what she could do. Well, okay, maybe I raced a little... >:P

[RideIt]

Hello...

[Freshmeat]

You raced a Geo Prizm? I wouldn't say that to too many people.

[Big Rectangular Car]

You raced a Geo Prizm? I wouldn't say that to too many people.

Pretty sad, I know...
:violin:

Heh, I wasn't being serious about the racing. :P

[texasvic]

:welcome: to GMN!

[91 LTD]

You know, I've gotten some looks while driving her yesterday, either they are looks of admiration, or incredulity that I can still afford to drive her... :D

I get looks of hatred in my neighborhood.

but Rocinante moves majestically. It's actually refreshing, I find myself more relaxed at the end of a drive. It's like, "Yes, you can pass me if you want... I'm a cruise ship. Go on and hurry and stress out, if you want, go on ahead!"

Preachin to the choir.

Not that this car can't move, it's just the gas tank needle goes down really fast, if I use too heavy a foot.
I did test her out the first day from a green light, on a hill with a bottleneck, which turns into an on-ramp to the freeway, and she certainly could hold her own. There was a Geo Prizm that wanted to be in front, but gave up, when the driver realized I wasn't going to let up on the pedal. Not that I was racing, mind you, I just wanted to see what she could do. Well, okay, maybe I raced a little... >:P

On the way back from AZ I raced everyone and the ONLY person who passed me and could stay past me was a guy on a bike.

[Big Rectangular Car]

On the way back from AZ I raced everyone and the ONLY person who passed me and could stay past me was a guy on a bike.

On I-10, or I-8? :bugeyes:

I'm wondering why looks of hatred in your town, when there's so many SUVs?

There's one place I figure I'd get the dirty looks, and that's probably Santa Cruz. The activists might spray paint my car and say I'm bad for the environment. (Which puzzles me, if one is so concerned about the environment, why use spray paint??) :screwy:

[91 LTD]

the 10. I live in West Hollywood aka Rainbow Country aka Brokeback Mountain. I rent a crappy little studio (w privat backyard!) in a really nice part of LA so I think it is hated bc 1"Oh my god that car is absolutely hideous, can you belive what a bitch Steven was being last night? Im soo not talking to him now.", 2 it is a guzzla, and 3 parking can be scarce in the neighborhood at times and I swear my car is as long as two mini coopers.

[Grand Marquis GT]

Having a california member is cool. Tell me more!

[Big Rectangular Car]

Well, today is sunny... which is unusual, because it's usually foggy...
Er, sorry, is that what you meant by wanting to know more? ;)

[Big Rectangular Car]

the 10. I live in West Hollywood aka Rainbow Country aka Brokeback Mountain. I rent a crappy little studio (w privat backyard!) in a really nice part of LA so I think it is hated bc 1"Oh my god that car is absolutely hideous, can you belive what a bitch Steven was being last night? Im soo not talking to him now.", 2 it is a guzzla, and 3 parking can be scarce in the neighborhood at times and I swear my car is as long as two mini coopers.

I think that is called.. snobbery. LOL!
I don't believe people have a whole lot over me as far as gas guzzlers, because of the high incidence of very large SUVs, and dually pickups. They get about the same mpg.

[pine box]

On I-10, or I-8? :bugeyes:

I'm wondering why looks of hatred in your town, when there's so many SUVs?

The activists might spray paint my car and say I'm bad for the environment. (Which puzzles me, if one is so concerned about the environment, why use spray paint??) :screwy:

Gas or not, it takes more energy and creates more pollution to create a new throwaway car like a Hundai and scrap an old car than driving a wonderful, vintage, RECYCLED automobile (like ours) will ever produce. (IMO)
And my GM wagon gets MUCH better gas mileage than the GFs 2004 Ram 1500 pickup.
Yes, driving a box is (relatively) GREEN!
Maybe a cardboard sign for the window that reads "recycled auto project test vehicle" would help...

[Big Rectangular Car]

Gas or not, it takes more energy and creates more pollution to create a new throwaway car like a Hundai and scrap an old car than driving a wonderful, vintage, RECYCLED automobile (like ours) will ever produce. (IMO)
And my GM wagon gets MUCH better gas mileage than the GFs 2004 Ram 1500 pickup.
Yes, driving a box is (relatively) GREEN!
Maybe a cardboard sign for the window that reads "recycled auto project test vehicle" would help...

Agreed, there.

I'd like to say more, but it would turn into a rant. :cool: