Originally Posted By: double vanos
If you see low profile tires, pass on it....
+1
If you see low profile tires, pass on it....
+1
Smooth riding vehicles
- Thread starter lancerplayer
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Lincoln VII coupe with air ride. You can pick up one for a song. You will buy the Ford dealer a house with maintenance
You can buy many American cars and install AirRide in lieu of the stock springs. They will all ride very well.
But the thing most are missing nowadays is that tires are 50% of the suspension. The shorter and stiffer the tires, the harsher they all ride.
A nice Caddy CTS or STS on decent wheels with 70 or 75 series tires like Goodyear Comfort-Air will ride real nice. Put that same car on 18's and 40 series tires and it will ride like a solid tire forklift...
You can buy many American cars and install AirRide in lieu of the stock springs. They will all ride very well.
But the thing most are missing nowadays is that tires are 50% of the suspension. The shorter and stiffer the tires, the harsher they all ride.
A nice Caddy CTS or STS on decent wheels with 70 or 75 series tires like Goodyear Comfort-Air will ride real nice. Put that same car on 18's and 40 series tires and it will ride like a solid tire forklift...
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The 90s era fwd 3800 Oldsmobiles (Delta 88 and Regency 98) ride smooth as glass.
I don't know about how smooth is the ride of the newer Lexus LS 460, but in the 90's LS400 was the best riding car that capable of 150+ MPH with MSRP less than $50k.
The ride and handling of my C220 is far superior than any other vehicle I've driven...apart from other Mercedes. My younger son has learned to drive in it, we keep telling him to slow down over rail crossings and speed bumps, but he doesn't understand...until he drives something else, then it's obvious why other cars crawl across them.
Over 20 years ago I lived over a very ruted and corugated gravel road, my Hillman Hunter axle tramped in 2nd gear up the hill, taking 3rd would put it into a U turn. I tried lots of cars up that hill, even a Mercedes, none of them were any good. Then I tried an Autin 1800, and it just powered up there in 3rd gear like there were no corugations at all, so i bought it. They had the BMC hydrolastic system, and worked very well in the longer wheelbase 1800.
Over 20 years ago I lived over a very ruted and corugated gravel road, my Hillman Hunter axle tramped in 2nd gear up the hill, taking 3rd would put it into a U turn. I tried lots of cars up that hill, even a Mercedes, none of them were any good. Then I tried an Autin 1800, and it just powered up there in 3rd gear like there were no corugations at all, so i bought it. They had the BMC hydrolastic system, and worked very well in the longer wheelbase 1800.
Just an opinion but the crown Vic/grand marquis where smooth riding compared to peers when newish. As they age and suspension grows more tired they ride even softer with limited handling abilities diminished. I think it's nostalgia coupled to tired worn shocks(soft) that give the attraction. The town cars were definitely a cut above.
However modern vehicles have moved to next era of handling/ride/noise balance.
Ride is very subjective and I'd simply try different vehicles out. Enjoy the search.
However modern vehicles have moved to next era of handling/ride/noise balance.
Ride is very subjective and I'd simply try different vehicles out. Enjoy the search.
Originally Posted By: madRiver
Just an opinion but the crown Vic/grand marquis where smooth riding compared to peers when newish. As they age and suspension grows more tired they ride even softer with limited handling abilities diminished. I think it's nostalgia coupled to tired worn shocks(soft) that give the attraction. The town cars were definitely a cut above.
However modern vehicles have moved to next era of handling/ride/noise balance.
Ride is very subjective and I'd simply try different vehicles out. Enjoy the search.
^ All of this.
Just an opinion but the crown Vic/grand marquis where smooth riding compared to peers when newish. As they age and suspension grows more tired they ride even softer with limited handling abilities diminished. I think it's nostalgia coupled to tired worn shocks(soft) that give the attraction. The town cars were definitely a cut above.
However modern vehicles have moved to next era of handling/ride/noise balance.
Ride is very subjective and I'd simply try different vehicles out. Enjoy the search.
^ All of this.
Quote:
However modern vehicles have moved to next era of handling/ride/noise balance.
That may be true, but the OP was asking about "smooth riding." Until I sold my 1995 Grand Marquis last year it was sort of funny to take someone new for a ride because I would always get the same reaction: "Boy, does this ride smooth!" And that would be coming from a variety of people used to new, smaller, and often much more expensive cars. When a bunch of us at work had to go somewhere for a meeting everyone wanted to take my car, because it was so big and comfy. A lot of new cars handle better, but not many are as "smooth riding" as bigger, heavier, older cars with tires with high sidewalls--which make a big difference. A friend owned an old '56 Caddy for awhile--a real show car--and that thing just glided along over city streets.
However modern vehicles have moved to next era of handling/ride/noise balance.
That may be true, but the OP was asking about "smooth riding." Until I sold my 1995 Grand Marquis last year it was sort of funny to take someone new for a ride because I would always get the same reaction: "Boy, does this ride smooth!" And that would be coming from a variety of people used to new, smaller, and often much more expensive cars. When a bunch of us at work had to go somewhere for a meeting everyone wanted to take my car, because it was so big and comfy. A lot of new cars handle better, but not many are as "smooth riding" as bigger, heavier, older cars with tires with high sidewalls--which make a big difference. A friend owned an old '56 Caddy for awhile--a real show car--and that thing just glided along over city streets.
I never found the Vics/TC/GMarq to be that great as a long trip car. The ride was smoother than most but not as good as GM's offerings... we has DeVille and a Towncar at the same time growing up. The seats/seating position had you begging for a rest-stop fairly frequently.
I would go for a Buick Regal, LaCrosse or Lucerne. Might be able to find a STS around for that price.
Heck, you can get a "newish" Verano for under 15K. Shorter wheelbase but for the size it is great.
I would go for a Buick Regal, LaCrosse or Lucerne. Might be able to find a STS around for that price.
Heck, you can get a "newish" Verano for under 15K. Shorter wheelbase but for the size it is great.
JTK
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Originally Posted By: Rand
long wheelbase, big sidewall tires gets you 80%of the way there
Totally agree.
I cringe every time I talk with someone, when they tell me they went with the ~21" wheels because of the better ride.
long wheelbase, big sidewall tires gets you 80%of the way there
Totally agree.
I cringe every time I talk with someone, when they tell me they went with the ~21" wheels because of the better ride.
Originally Posted By: Ethan1
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
the best riding car that capable of 150+ MPH with MSRP less than $50k.
These are oddly specific and seemingly contradictory criteria
Oh, not at all! My dad always wanted the ride of a Town Car, with a a bed and a 15,000 pound towing capacity and the requisite torque and power, without being noisy or stinky like diesels (he used to drive truck, so I don't get it either), without the premium price of a diesel engine, yet with the fuel economy of a Civic, the interior dimensions of a big truck, and the ease of parking of a Civic. Oh, and it should be well under $20,000, and cost next to nothing to insure. The fuel tank shouldn't take more than $30 to fill, yet be able to get him half way across the country. And I forgot, the tires should cost almost nothing, yet be perfectly capable off road and in winter yet be quiet on the highway in the summer.
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
the best riding car that capable of 150+ MPH with MSRP less than $50k.
These are oddly specific and seemingly contradictory criteria
Oh, not at all! My dad always wanted the ride of a Town Car, with a a bed and a 15,000 pound towing capacity and the requisite torque and power, without being noisy or stinky like diesels (he used to drive truck, so I don't get it either), without the premium price of a diesel engine, yet with the fuel economy of a Civic, the interior dimensions of a big truck, and the ease of parking of a Civic. Oh, and it should be well under $20,000, and cost next to nothing to insure. The fuel tank shouldn't take more than $30 to fill, yet be able to get him half way across the country. And I forgot, the tires should cost almost nothing, yet be perfectly capable off road and in winter yet be quiet on the highway in the summer.
Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Ethan1
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
the best riding car that capable of 150+ MPH with MSRP less than $50k.
These are oddly specific and seemingly contradictory criteria
Oh, not at all! My dad always wanted the ride of a Town Car, with a a bed and a 15,000 pound towing capacity and the requisite torque and power, without being noisy or stinky like diesels (he used to drive truck, so I don't get it either), without the premium price of a diesel engine, yet with the fuel economy of a Civic, the interior dimensions of a big truck, and the ease of parking of a Civic. Oh, and it should be well under $20,000, and cost next to nothing to insure. The fuel tank shouldn't take more than $30 to fill, yet be able to get him half way across the country. And I forgot, the tires should cost almost nothing, yet be perfectly capable off road and in winter yet be quiet on the highway in the summer.
Sounds like my Grandfather (long haul driver). All you need to add is a place to hold his (fishing) rods.
Solution: Towncar with a trailer hitch. $30 cash hidden in the owners manual (for fuel), and a shop that sells used tires. Done.
Originally Posted By: Ethan1
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
the best riding car that capable of 150+ MPH with MSRP less than $50k.
These are oddly specific and seemingly contradictory criteria
Oh, not at all! My dad always wanted the ride of a Town Car, with a a bed and a 15,000 pound towing capacity and the requisite torque and power, without being noisy or stinky like diesels (he used to drive truck, so I don't get it either), without the premium price of a diesel engine, yet with the fuel economy of a Civic, the interior dimensions of a big truck, and the ease of parking of a Civic. Oh, and it should be well under $20,000, and cost next to nothing to insure. The fuel tank shouldn't take more than $30 to fill, yet be able to get him half way across the country. And I forgot, the tires should cost almost nothing, yet be perfectly capable off road and in winter yet be quiet on the highway in the summer.
Sounds like my Grandfather (long haul driver). All you need to add is a place to hold his (fishing) rods.
Solution: Towncar with a trailer hitch. $30 cash hidden in the owners manual (for fuel), and a shop that sells used tires. Done.
Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: Rand
long wheelbase, big sidewall tires gets you 80%of the way there
Totally agree.
I cringe every time I talk with someone, when they tell me they went with the ~21" wheels because of the better ride.
People always forget that tires are a part of the suspension.
Originally Posted By: Rand
long wheelbase, big sidewall tires gets you 80%of the way there
Totally agree.
I cringe every time I talk with someone, when they tell me they went with the ~21" wheels because of the better ride.
People always forget that tires are a part of the suspension.
Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
Solution: Towncar with a trailer hitch. $30 cash hidden in the owners manual (for fuel), and a shop that sells used tires. Done.
Close, but my dad couldn't stand the driving position in the Town Car for long trips. He "had to" have a pickup truck position. He never bothered with the trailer hitch on the Town Cars. The later ones were taxis, his personal one, he didn't keep too long, and ended up giving to me. Someone in the distant past smoked a cigar or something in it, and it drove him nuts, no matter how many times the thing was shampooed.
As for truck seating positions, I can see it to a point. However, nothing is worse than the cramped legroom of a pre-1990s regular cab pickup. Oh, and for camping, he was worse. A truck and a trailer would be a distant second to a motorhome, with the fishing rods in the boat towed behind.
I remember when he bought his last truck before he passed. We were talking about various brands, and he mentioned how he heard something about the Dodge trucks being hard on brakes. I asked him how that could be a concern, even if true, since all he did was drive ten blocks to the coffee shop and home every day.
I do have to give the mid to late 1990s GM trucks a good word for their ride. He had one, that he was trailering with. It was a half ton, and a little outmatched for his trailer, so he didn't keep it all that long.
Solution: Towncar with a trailer hitch. $30 cash hidden in the owners manual (for fuel), and a shop that sells used tires. Done.
Close, but my dad couldn't stand the driving position in the Town Car for long trips. He "had to" have a pickup truck position. He never bothered with the trailer hitch on the Town Cars. The later ones were taxis, his personal one, he didn't keep too long, and ended up giving to me. Someone in the distant past smoked a cigar or something in it, and it drove him nuts, no matter how many times the thing was shampooed.
As for truck seating positions, I can see it to a point. However, nothing is worse than the cramped legroom of a pre-1990s regular cab pickup. Oh, and for camping, he was worse. A truck and a trailer would be a distant second to a motorhome, with the fishing rods in the boat towed behind.
I remember when he bought his last truck before he passed. We were talking about various brands, and he mentioned how he heard something about the Dodge trucks being hard on brakes. I asked him how that could be a concern, even if true, since all he did was drive ten blocks to the coffee shop and home every day.
I do have to give the mid to late 1990s GM trucks a good word for their ride. He had one, that he was trailering with. It was a half ton, and a little outmatched for his trailer, so he didn't keep it all that long.
More than once my 4-person family and all of our luggage piled into our old Crown Vic and headed off to Florida in the middle of the winter on a straight shot overnight, arriving the next day after 1200 miles of event-free driving on the interstate, much of it at warp speed averaging 26mpg. I am not normally a fast driver, but on one of those jaunts I95 traffic headed south in Florida just kept rolling along faster and faster until we had several hours above 90mph, approaching 100 a couple of times. The Crown Vic was just loafing along with the flow, kids sleeping most of the time.
Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
More than once my 4-person family and all of our luggage piled into our old Crown Vic and headed off to Florida in the middle of the winter on a straight shot overnight, arriving the next day after 1200 miles of event-free driving on the interstate, much of it at warp speed averaging 26mpg. I am not normally a fast driver, but on one of those jaunts I95 traffic headed south in Florida just kept rolling along faster and faster until we had several hours above 90mph, approaching 100 a couple of times. The Crown Vic was just loafing along with the flow, kids sleeping most of the time.
I could get 30-33mpg out of our old 4.9 DeVille on long trips. And it was not hypermiled/babied. I used to do crash statistics for South Carolina for a while... you would not do 90-100mph if you saw those numbers. SC roads were/are actively trying to kill you.
Took a friend's Kia Rio to Fla in college... worst I95 car ever.
More than once my 4-person family and all of our luggage piled into our old Crown Vic and headed off to Florida in the middle of the winter on a straight shot overnight, arriving the next day after 1200 miles of event-free driving on the interstate, much of it at warp speed averaging 26mpg. I am not normally a fast driver, but on one of those jaunts I95 traffic headed south in Florida just kept rolling along faster and faster until we had several hours above 90mph, approaching 100 a couple of times. The Crown Vic was just loafing along with the flow, kids sleeping most of the time.
I could get 30-33mpg out of our old 4.9 DeVille on long trips. And it was not hypermiled/babied. I used to do crash statistics for South Carolina for a while... you would not do 90-100mph if you saw those numbers. SC roads were/are actively trying to kill you.
Took a friend's Kia Rio to Fla in college... worst I95 car ever.
Originally Posted By: Garak
Close, but my dad couldn't stand the driving position in the Town Car for long trips. He "had to" have a pickup truck position. He never bothered with the trailer hitch on the Town Cars. The later ones were taxis, his personal one, he didn't keep too long, and ended up giving to me. Someone in the distant past smoked a cigar or something in it, and it drove him nuts, no matter how many times the thing was shampooed.
As for truck seating positions, I can see it to a point. However, nothing is worse than the cramped legroom of a pre-1990s regular cab pickup. Oh, and for camping, he was worse. A truck and a trailer would be a distant second to a motorhome, with the fishing rods in the boat towed behind.
I remember when he bought his last truck before he passed. We were talking about various brands, and he mentioned how he heard something about the Dodge trucks being hard on brakes. I asked him how that could be a concern, even if true, since all he did was drive ten blocks to the coffee shop and home every day.
I do have to give the mid to late 1990s GM trucks a good word for their ride. He had one, that he was trailering with. It was a half ton, and a little outmatched for his trailer, so he didn't keep it all that long.
Must be distant cousins.
He had the pick-up and motorhome as well. I hated the townncar so much I opted for a 80s era C10 when I inherited a car.
Another issue with the Vic/TC/GM is that my feet did not fit in the footwell very well.
Close, but my dad couldn't stand the driving position in the Town Car for long trips. He "had to" have a pickup truck position. He never bothered with the trailer hitch on the Town Cars. The later ones were taxis, his personal one, he didn't keep too long, and ended up giving to me. Someone in the distant past smoked a cigar or something in it, and it drove him nuts, no matter how many times the thing was shampooed.
As for truck seating positions, I can see it to a point. However, nothing is worse than the cramped legroom of a pre-1990s regular cab pickup. Oh, and for camping, he was worse. A truck and a trailer would be a distant second to a motorhome, with the fishing rods in the boat towed behind.
I remember when he bought his last truck before he passed. We were talking about various brands, and he mentioned how he heard something about the Dodge trucks being hard on brakes. I asked him how that could be a concern, even if true, since all he did was drive ten blocks to the coffee shop and home every day.
I do have to give the mid to late 1990s GM trucks a good word for their ride. He had one, that he was trailering with. It was a half ton, and a little outmatched for his trailer, so he didn't keep it all that long.
Must be distant cousins.
He had the pick-up and motorhome as well. I hated the townncar so much I opted for a 80s era C10 when I inherited a car.
Another issue with the Vic/TC/GM is that my feet did not fit in the footwell very well.
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