butch
That might have been it, 460, I thought it was 490, though. It needed to be that big just to push itself around. The '73 when it got a little older started having a tough time even turning over in the mornings. What a boat that car was, it was basically the same as the Lincoln Mark IV, I think. Who was that big fat detective on TV that drove one of those?
butch
> That might have been it, 460, I thought it was 490, though. It needed to be that big just to push itself around. The '73 when it got a little older started having a tough time even turning over in the mornings. What a boat that car was, it was basically the same as the Lincoln Mark IV, I think. Who was that big fat detective on TV that drove one of those?
You may be right. Mine was a detuned 460 making only like 220 horsies. I think the earlier models were maybe running 490's. My family also had a 73 New Yorker with a 440. Now that thing was wicked powerful.
Yeah I know what you're saying bout the detective, only thing popping into my head is Rockford Files, but he wasn't big & fat.
edit: Cannon, played by William Conrad - "Although the noticeably overweight Frank Cannon had expensive tastes, especially in food and cars (his primary vehicle was a silver Lincoln Continental Mark III)"
butch
Now that we've completely hijacked Mr. Fleming's thread (actually just waiting for Loyal to chime in on the FJ Cruisers), my favorite car my parents ever had was the 1970 Coupe de Ville. Maroon with cream-colored top, awesome chrome grille. They let me borrow it when I was in college. I tried to barf out the window but it ended up in the back seat. They got rid of it pretty soon after that. Never surveyed out of it though.
What I did survey out of was my 1971 Mustang, the most humungous Mustang ever made, which I still have. The back seat folds down flat and there's a hatch between the trunk and the interior so although not ideal, it worked OK. Probably looked a little hokey to the construction crews when we showed up, though. We were like the Mod Squad in that thing.
Now See, I want to survey out of
an old Cadillac ambulance modified to be a survey rig. They already have beefed up suspension so they should carry the weight and you could be the "survey Busters"
FJ Cruiser
I don't know what to tell you guys about the FJ Cruiser that I didn't allude to above.
With a well designed and built “box,” it should be a pretty good field vehicle for the most folks.
Upsides:
Reliable
Comfortable
Very well mannered on highway
Plenty of power
Excellent off-road capability
Good skid plates
Rubber(ish) floor mats
Downsides:
Limited interior space
Relatively light suspension
Limited fuel capacity
Visibility for driver is less than ideal
Marginal fuel economy (~20mpg Highway)
I have had mine on some of the nastiest “Jeep Trails” that most can imagine in the last year or so, and it has got the job done with surprising ease (to me), but not without some serious skid-plate dragging. One could certainly beef the suspension up a little, and install slightly taller tires (get the 16 inchers, and forget the 17 inchers that are standard), and a good aftermarket roof rack is on my list (the Toyota rack is a joke). Living in Wyoming (no inspections), an auxiliary fuel tank might be in my future as well (the stock tank is only 19 gallons).
All in all, I have been VERY pleased with the vehicle (nearly 4 years now), surprised by it's off-road capabilities, and NOT surprised by it's zero repair record so far (although I do need new wiper blades this fall).
Loyal
I've wanted an Element ever since they came out. Wife and Daughters hate them because they think they're ugly. I think it's a more reasonable Hummer, looks cool but isn't ridiculous on fuel mileage or size.
I can't understand what they see in the Mini Cooper on the other hand. over 20 grand for a glorified roller skate? Why? The Element is a practical vehicle at least.
I like the Ford Flex the best of all the box-type cars. But I don't think it's intended as a utility vehicle quite like the Element is, so it may not be suitable as a work vehicle.
I know two people with Elements and they both love them.
Why the early death on the Subaru?
> I always wanted to Survey out of a Crown Vic.
>
> Huge trunk, set it up to accept tripods, etc.
The trunk is cavernous. We can go to Costco and get hundreds of dollars worth of crap and it fits in one corner of the trunk. Amazing.
