Sunday, August 18, 2013
Used Car Review 2003 Enzo Ferrari
IntroductionAfter more than a year of rumors, false names and spy photos, the Ferrari Enzo finally made its debut at the 2002 Paris Motor Show. Named in honor of the Italian auto maker’s founder, the Enzo is the latest special edition supercar to come out of Maranello. Past limited-run Ferraris have included the GTO, the F40 and most recently the F50 which celebrated the automaker’s 50th anniversary. While the initial plan was to build only 349 examples of the Enzo, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo announced that 50 additional Enzos would be built for a total of 399. Pricing has not been announced, but it doesn’t really matter – the entire run has already sold out.
Pros:
I like Enzo Ferrari, beacause not because of its speed & accelleration, because what it has done to racing. Since 1975, racers have been wishing to accomplish a good type & nessecery way.That is what I like about Enzo Ferrari.
Cons:
The design and styling of this car looks horrible compared to my F1. If you want the best of the best, wait until the Bugatti Veyron comes out...that car has a great chance of surpassing my McLaren F1.
Overall Review:
This car is known to be one of the greatest sport cars. It will go down in history with all of the other super cars. I have pulled many strings and worked very hard to even get a look at this car. My enzo (#274) off the assembly line is the greatest car I will ever own throughout my collection. I could tell you all of the stats and how it is so perfect in each an every way.
I could tell you that I get goos bumbs just looking at it when I take it out for a test drive on the track every two months or so, but it still wouldnt describe this car. I bought this car for me and it is the one car that will make me feel distingushed and imprtant unlike anyone else in the world. So my overall review is in the end its worth it, for me.
Over all I would recommend the Enzo to anyone with a healthy savings and a tolerance for adrenaline "jet lag". Its styling completely matches its proformance and keeps witht the flow in the way the car handles on straight aways and even corners. Dry or wet pavement, the Enzo goes toe to toe with the best I have driven and dosent miss a beat. I love the fact that no matter how let down I am about how the day has gone I can enjoy the "partnership" of an equally hard working machine. "kudos" - if you will- to Ferrari for living up to the pre-sale hype.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Used car Review 2003 Mercury Marauder
The new Mercury Marauder takes its name from the big Mercury muscle cars of the 1960s, but its true spiritual ancestors are two black Mercury sedans that starred with Jack Lord in the long-running television series Hawaii Five-O.Lord portrayed the granite-jawed Steve McGarrett, head of Hawaiis elite Five-O police unit, his demeanor cop-show tough, his hair a perfect North Shore wave, his car no standard police-issue Ford Custom 500 or LTD but a big black Mercury in which he stormed around Oahu.
"Steve McGarretts car is as much a character in the series as any of the people." So claims Karen Rhodes in Booking Hawaii Five-O, the best and as far as we know, the only scholarly tome on the cop show.
"The big, black Mercury sets a tone of power and intimidation," she continues. "Steve is . . . tough and threatening on his own, but the black Mercury adds a further dimension of strength, even a sinister darkness, to McGarrett." Thats some pretty impressive work for a 68 Park Lane and, later, a 74 Marquis, either of which, off-screen, might have been driven by your grandfather.
wenty-two years after McGarrett screeched his big black sedan to a stop for the last time, Mercury has served up a machine perfectly suited to the marques most telegenic enthusiast. The Marauder is a badass cop car with some major attitude.
The reborn Marauder first appeared not in Honolulu but in Las Vegas, as a concept car at the 1998 SEMA show. Considering what populates the miles of aisles at SEMA--wildly winged Honda Civics with hyperkinetic paint jobs, slammed SUVs on huge chrome wheels, bikini-clad babes stroking shock absorbers--Mercurys Grand Marquis in Darth Vader livery garnered a surprising amount of attention.
Walkaround
The Marauder, in its standard ebony paint, gives the same menacing vibes as a black leather jacket. The black monochrome treatment has even been given to the headlamps with only the reflectors spared the blackout treatment. The taillamp bezels are dark tinted as well for what Mercury calls a "serious, but understated appearance."
Up front, Cibie fog lamps are inserted in the front bumper, and the rear bumper has "MARAUDER" embossed in it while big dual 3.5-inch chrome exhaust tips protrude straight out the back.
A big car needs big tires, and the Marauder wears P235/50WR18 boots on front with wider, P245/55WR18 rubber at the rear. The larger rear tires give the Marauder a natural slight rake that enhances the performance image. Five-spoke forged aluminum wheels are eight inches wide and have cast into the wheel hubs the bas-relief image of Mercury, the swift messenger of the Roman gods and a Mercury revival from the Fifties.
The current Mercury logo is centered on the grille in a bright finish; we think the gods head logo should be here as well, but Mercury did not consult us on this. The exterior, according to Mercury representatives, was purposely kept simple because focus group attendees said theyd rather have it left plain to customize themselves.
Interior Features
Like Dorothy in Munchkinland realizing shes not in Kansas anymore, the driver of the Mercury Marauder knows hes not in a Grand Marquis.
The instrument panel has white faces, with a large round speedometer and tachometer flanked by smaller fuel and temperature gauges. The 140-mph speedometer incorporates a red-lit "Marauder" graphic.
Instead of a column shifter for the automatic transmission, a leather-wrapped shifter is mounted on a floor console that has two cup holders and a storage bin. An AutoMeter (a brand known to car enthusiasts) voltmeter and oil-pressure gauge are positioned just ahead of the shifter.
Marauders are also given dot-matrix gray trim accents on the instrument panel, while the dual eight-way power seats are finished in supple black leather, the best used in any Ford Motor Company product. Classic French stitching from earlier Marauders is revived for the 2003 edition. The seats were given extra padding for greater support, and of course theres a Mercury gods head de-bossed into the front seatbacks.
The optional six-disc CD changer for the 140-watt Alpine sound system is located in the trunk, where its not as convenient, especially if the trunk is loaded, though this is a quibble brought on only by the new in-dash CD changers. There is a single CD player, as well as a cassette player for those in the retro mood or those who enjoy books on tape. (Sorry, no 8-track player, though the radios AM band works well).
Filigrees aside, the interior delivers on the promise of the exterior with lots of room inside for five. Access to the cabin is easy through large doors, and finding a comfortable driving position is easy with the 8-way power seats, tilt wheel and adjustable pedals. The front buckets are wide (so much so that the seatbelt buckle end actually protrudes through the seat bottom cushion). The seats are soft, too. The back seat is wide and soft as well, with enough room across for three adult males, though the center rider loses foot room to the driveshaft tunnel of this rear-wheel-drive car.
The trunk is huge. If you need more luggage room than this, your name is Zsa Zsa and you should FedEx your steamer trunks of gowns ahead. The trunk organizer is nice to have, with adjustable section dividers, but not really necessary and offered on the Marauder, probably, mainly because its available on the Grand Marquis.
Driving Impressions
Fire up the engine of the Mercury Marauder and youll know this is no automotive Kansas. The V8 rumble from the dual exhaust announces that the Marauder is a true American performance car. The all-aluminum 4.6-liter engine was developed specifically for the Marauder, with four-valve-per-cylinder double-overhead camshaft heads. The compression ratio is 9.85:1, requiring premium fuel.
All this yields a power rating of 302 horsepower at 5750 rpm. Peak torque is 310 pounds-feet, and comes at a relatively high 4300 rpm. Mercury engineers specified a high stall speed torque converter for the automatic transmission, which means the engine can rev higher, reaching its power band before the automatic transmission transmits power, thus producing quicker acceleration. The engineers also biased the final drive selection, a 3.55:1 rear axle, for acceleration over fuel economy. The Marauder attained an EPA rating of 17 city/23 highway, impressive for a large car, so they obviously didnt go overboard. A limited-slip rear differential is used for better traction with beefy internals for durability.
The engine tuning works, as the Marauder accelerates with authority. Very few will be able to kick sand at the Marauder in the local stoplight grand prix. The base Grand Marquis, for example, is rated at 220 bhp, the Grand Marquis LSE at 235 bhp. The 1994 Impala SS produced 260 bhp, and was considered fast for its time. How our expectations change. Still, the Marauder weighs more than two tons, so the engine has its work cut out for it. Drivers who expect the Marauder to smoke its tires at every stop sign will be disappointed. Modern tires are much better than those of the Sixties, providing too much grip for this behavior. You can still spin the tires if you work at it. But otherwise, the power goes into acceleration, not tire spinning.
As good as the engine is, the new suspension is even better.
Mercury delayed introduction of the Marauder (originally a concept car displayed at the SEMA show in Las Vegas in late 1998) to use the new chassis of the 2003 Grand Marquis. This new frame shared by the Marauder, Grand Marquis, and Crown Victoria has new stronger hydroformed front rails, a new aluminum No. 2 crossmember and is generally more robust for improved stiffness. Chassis rigidity allows better engine and suspension mounting for better handling, and less noise, vibration and harshness transmitted into the body.
To this, Mercury stiffened up the Grand Marquis suspension, using special gas-charged monotube shock absorbers and, at the rear, air springs. A new "Gripper" anti-roll bar was used up front for quicker response and a better on-center feel to the steering.
How good does it work? We tried the Marauder in two venues. One was the south course at Pocono International Raceway, a combination of the NASCAR Turn 1 high banking and a twisting road course across the infield. The track allowed acceleration onto the banking and a top speed through the big curve of around 100 mph. In almost any other family sedan, if it could go that fast, the tires would be howling in protest. The Marauder was asking for more, balanced front to rear and holding on like a championship square dancer in a power swing-your-partner.
Through the infield, the Marauder handled like a sports car, a big sports car. It was easy to place it anywhere on the track, thanks to precise variable-ratio rack-and-pinion steering. The Marauder has what racers call "good turn-in," or transition from driving straight to turning. It also has remarkable transient response, the ability to change from turning left to right and back again. Part of the credit goes to the excellent BFGoodrich g-Force T/A tires, which combine great grip with ride comfort. The only thing marring our attempt at playing Rapid Roy That Stock Car Boy were the seats, which simply lacked the lateral support to counter the lateral force the Marauder can develop, and an imprecise shifter that hobbled attempts to shift the car manually in the infield.
We were impressed with the ability of the Marauder to brake straight and sure from more than 100 mph, both the 4-wheel disc brakes to slow the vehicle and the suspension and steering to keep it under control. Out on the road, the carefully cultivated exhaust note was just as evident on acceleration, though quiet when cruising. Choppy, patched-asphalt roads highlighted the firm suspension, but the frame and body feel solid and rattle-free. Theres no apparent flex to the frame, so the bumps encountered dont result in a shuddering reverberation thats worse than the bump itself. Ride on smooth pavement is quiet, with little road or wind noise.
Summary
The Mercury Marauder is a performance car and will appeal primarily to the automotive enthusiast. Mercury expects 90 percent of buyers to be male. Not a car nut? Dont buy the Marauder. The Grand Marquis or the Ford Crown Victoria will fill your big-car bill much better, and for much less money.
That brings us to another point. We flinch at $35,000 for this car. But the four-door BMW 540i, with a 290 bhp 4.4-liter V8, costs about $55,000. The Lincoln LS with the 252-bhp 3.9-liter V8 lists for about $38,000. Of course, those cars arent directly comparable to the Marauder, which is the only car of its kind on the market today. No doubt Mercury will sell a passel of Marauders to fans of big American muscle. Ford guys who wanted a car like the Impala SS but would never buy a Chevy finally have something to buy.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Car Review 2003 Dodge Ram
Constructed on a strong new chassis thats modular in design to allow multiple configurations for cabin size and box length, heavy-duty Ram trucks dominate the road with their forceful new exterior styling, as they also flex muscles from a new series of powerful engines designed to pull far more than their hefty weight and tow some class-topping loads.The collection of heavy-duty Ram trucks consists of two different weight designations with 2500 (¾-ton) and 3500 (one-ton) series.
Cabs conform to a two-door Regular Cab with split bench seat, and a four-door Quad Cab with two rows of seats for as many as six passengers. Beds in back extend in lengths of "long" and "longer."
Park a Ram 3500 next to the conventional Ram 1500 (½-ton) and youll get the big picture: the heavy-duty Ram towers over the 1500 -- its so tall that the full-size 1500 Ram looks like a compact-class version of the 3500. Yet the family resemblance is quite obvious.
strong like bull
Styled with a bold exterior form for the chin-forward face, big Ram looks strong and assertive -- and impossible to miss, should the image of one suddenly appear in your rearview mirror.
A massive prow dominates the design with the stair-step hood of a big-rig Peterbilt and a flat-faced horse-collar grille thrust forward and marked in cross-hair chrome. More chrome underscores the grille on a fat-lip bumper etched with round fog lamps at both ends.
Flanks are flat but on Ram 3500 with dual rear wheels (DRW) the back fenders bulge to cover those extra tires.
On top of the high cab, five amber running lamps add a menacing touch that actually works for safe motoring to enhance the trucks visibility on the road at night.
come up for air
Safety equipment on Ram reaches beyond two frontal air bags to three-point safety belts for all seats, including three sets in the Regular Cab and six in the Quad Cab, plus sets of tether anchors in the rear of the four-door for installing a childs safety seat. Also, side curtain-style air bags in the first application for a heavy-duty truck are offered for both cabin sizes.
The structural system of Ram was redesigned for these new issues; beginning with a ladder-type chassis that contains boxed rail sections shaped through hydro-forming; a process that creates a strong and rigid platform.
Know all there is to know about the Dodge Ram 3500..
Suspension and steering systems vary, depending on applications for rear-wheel, two-wheel-drive (2WD), or four-wheel-drive (4WD) mechanisms.
For 4WD -- which out-sells 2WD units among heavy-duty trucks -- the front suspension consists of quad-link arms and track bar with coil springs, gas-charged shocks, and a new front beam axle measured at 5200 pounds for the gross axle weight rating (GAWR).
For 2WD Ram, the independent short-and-long arm design has new suspension geometry for greater movement, and there are links to coil springs and gas-charged shocks.
suspension & steering
The rear suspension, common to both 2WD and 4WD Rams, consists of longitudinal leaf springs with gas shocks and an auxiliary leaf added to the 3500 for heavier payloads and increased towing demands. New rear axles work to achieve higher gross vehicle weight ratings (GVRW), which culminate at 12,000 pounds for a diesel-powered Ram 3500 4WD.
Steering system for the 2WD Ram becomes a rack and pinion mechanism, rarely seen under the hood of a truck. It produces quick and predictable turns with direct response from the steering wheel.
For the 4WD Ram, the recirculating ball system was reworked to yield more precise tolerances. As a result, it brings a better on-center feel and responds faster due to a quicker steering ratio.
Brakes use huge discs at all wheel posts, with ties to a computerized anti-lock brake system (ABS).
powertrains
Regarding powertrains, new heavy-duty Ram packs more than one punch.
Choices begin with a new heavy-duty rendition of a fabled Chrysler HEMI engine design. The HEMI Magnum 5.7-liter V8 develops 345 hp at 5400 rpm and 375 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. That muscle is distributed through either a manual five-speed transmission or new automatic five-speed.
Even more cylinders are available with the repeating 8.0-liter V10, good for 305 hp at 4,000 rpm and 440 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm. Here, transmissions consist of the manual five-speed or a four-speed automatic.
And Dodge adds awesome diesel power through an optional 5.9-liter in-line-six Cummins turbo diesel that delivers up to 305 hp at 2900 rpm and 555 lb-ft of torque at only 1400 rpm to rank as most powerful in the hefty league with class-leading towing weight capability of 23000 pounds. The diesel connects to a new six-speed manual or the four-speed automatic.
all kinds of options
I drove the new heavy-duty Ram trucks with all three engine options and a variety of heavy loads aboard, following a series of pavement and off-road routes. My seat-time experience reveals trucks equipped with more than enough muscle to power through any type of truck-tough chore, plus they seem smooth in suspension ride and downright easy to operate.
Three levels of trim work for the new trucks with a base ST, upgraded SLT and deluxe Laramie edition.
Preferred equipment, standard in all, includes items like air conditioning and intermittent windshield wipers. The Quad Cab version adds storage bays located below the floor and under the flip-forward rear seat.
Ram 3500 Laramie carries premium gear such as leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and power windows, mirrors and door locks.
Equipment packages are also available for special functions, such as towing.
source : http://www.askmen.com/