-------------------------------------------------------------- Ford hopes Panoz AIV Roadster steals some of Prowler's thunder Next year, two dozen select Ford dealers will begin selling the Panoz, a $56,750 aluminum hot rod convertible produced by Panoz Automotive Development Center in Braselton, Ga. By Katherine Yung of The Detroit News Ford Motor Co. may have found an answer to Chrysler Corp.'s Plymouth Prowler. Next year, two dozen select Ford dealers will begin selling the Panoz AIV Roadster, a $56,750 aluminum hot rod convertible built by Panoz Automotive Development Center in Braselton, Ga. "Our idea is to start with a small number of dealers," said Danny Panoz, who developed the car. "There is an area of auto manufacturing that has not been touched in this country and that's small volume manufacturing." He started the company in 1992 to build race cars, and has been tinkering with making roadsters from Mustang parts. Panoz plans to advertise in car buff magazines. Besides giving Prowler some competition, the Panoz will be the closest thing Ford has to an image car that draws consumers to showrooms purely on the strength of its looks. "This is a tried and true marketing strategy," said Jay Houghton, an automotive marketing manager at AT Kearney Inc. "The purpose of an image car is to help the division move toward the image of the car." Historically, Ford has been reluctant to enter specialty markets. For instance, it hasn't tried to match the Chevrolet Corvette. And selling the Panoz amounts to a small step into the factory hot rod market. Panoz is one of the few U.S.-based limited production car makers. The company was started by the Panoz family, which owns a resort and winery north of Atlanta. Unlike the Prowler, which will be offered only in purple, the Panoz will come in a variety of colors. Ford dealers will sell and service about 200 of the roadsters next year, compared to the 3,000 Prowlers that Chrysler will begin building at its Conner Avenue assembly plant next spring. The Panoz uses Ford's new V-8 engine and brakes found in the Mustang Cobra. The rear suspension was borrowed from the Thunderbird coupe. It's more expensive than the $35,000 Prowler and 10 inches shorter. Both rear-wheel-drive vehicles have aluminum engines, body panels and frames. The AIV behind the Panoz' name stands for Aluminum-Intensive-Vehicle. The Panoz weighs 2,000 pounds, and with its 4.6 liter, four-cam, 32-valve, 305 h.p. V-8, the roadster goes from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. That gives it a distinct power advantage over the Prowler's V-6. Ford has an investment edge, too. Chrysler spent $75 million to develop the Prowler, but Ford gets its image car for considerably less - it just agreed to let Panoz Automotive sell the cars through a few of its dealers. Ford hopes the Panoz will give it a head-turner until it can roll out the next-generation Thunderbird at the end of the decade. The T-bird will be loaded with styling cues from the 1950s. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGZ00025 Date: 12/28/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:44am \/To: DEVIN DIMITRI (Read 0 times) Subj: cool cop cars -=> Quoting Devin Dimitri to TOM WALKER <=- DD> Speaking of cop cars, modifications, and going fast, the only DD> ones in my area are the Vics, and i've heard that they're DD> totally inferior to the Chevys. Does anyone have any hard DD> performance numbers As you may know, the last Caprice Police car was in 1996. They are still supplying Camaros, Luminas, and Blazer Police vehicles. Nevertheless, here are some numbers on the '96 models which are still in use in various locales. This information was supplied by various state police agencies that test potential candidates. VEHICLE '96 Caprice '96 Crown Vic Test Weight 4249 3974 Road Course 83.35 84.79 0-100 21.47 25.18 Top Speed 139 135 1/4 Mile ET 16.14 16.89 Ergonomics 217.2 206.1 I guess most of the above are self explanatory. The Caprice was heavier quicker, faster, and had better ergonomics for police work. The last rating tells how well the vehicle accepted all the added police equipment in addition to the factory controls and layout. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGZ00026 Date: 12/29/97 From: JAY EMRIE Time: 07:14pm \/To: RONNIE THOMPSON (Read 0 times) Subj: REVERSE QUESTION RT> -=> Quoting Marc Gerges to Ronnie Thompson <=- RT> DW> My parent's Camry's Parking brake will let the car go forward AND RT> DW> backward, so long as you give it enough gas... RT> RT> Then it needs to be adjusted. If the brake works correctly, it RT> RT> should be AT LEAST as strong as the engine, else it is not doing RT> RT> its job. RT> MG> The parking brake ist there to keep the car standing, it is not built RT> MG> to brake it or to work against the engine. RT>Marc, while some people may think that the parking brake is only for keeping RT>the car standing still, that's not true. The parking brake is actually call RT>an emergency brake and its job is to stop the car if/when the braking system RT>fails. RT> MG> Most cars have parking RT> MG> brakes only on two wheels and cable operated. That may keep a beetle RT> MG> standing, but not a modern car. The 'real' brakes of course are RT> MG> stronger than the engine... RT>Like I said earlier, IF the brake is adjusted correctly, it should be at RT>least as strong as the engine. Any other way and I'm sure it wouldn't be RT>allowed on the road. Ronnie, I have yet to see a parking/emergengy brake that WOULD hold a car in REVERSE. They will hold the car in FORWARD if properly adjusted but NOT in reverse. That goes for drum or disc rear brakes. * OLX 2.1 TD * Are roosters ever "hen pecked"? --- RemoteAccess 2.50+ * Origin: Northern Lights! * San Antonio * 210-499-6299 V34/VFC (1:387/23) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGZ00027 Date: 12/29/97 From: GARY HALL Time: 09:28pm \/To: SEAN DUNBAR (Read 0 times) Subj: Heater core. -=> Quoting Sean Dunbar to All <=- SD> Okay.. anyone care to tell me what I face in changing my heater core? Depends on the truck Ford no problem 20 minutes Older Chevy <88 45 minutes Newer Chevy a case of beer all the friends you can find and room to throw the dash into the bed. Ford car just sit down and cry ... She aint' ma cuzin shes ma Dads brothers girl ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR] --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: Cat House BBS * Tulsa BBS List HQ * (918) 584-3441 (1:170/160) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGZ00028 Date: 12/29/97 From: GARY HALL Time: 09:35pm \/To: SEAN DUNBAR (Read 0 times) Subj: Oil pump? -=> Quoting Sean Dunbar to All <=- SD> Worried about my oil pump... a couple of days ago, it started taking SD> quite awhile to build up any pressure whatsoever when it's been parked SD> over night; so long, in fact, that the lifters start rattling for a SD> couple of seconds. The oil pressure also seems quite low when it's SD> cold compared to how it used to be. It took almost 10 seconds this SD> morning for the oil pressure guage to show any movement. Sounds like a pluged screen or to high a viscosity. On a cold Dallas morning 40 is way to thick drop to a 20 or 10-40. Oh by the way the cheep oil dont clean fix the leaks. Gary Generic Hall The Generic Redneck Terlton, Oklahoma, USA Earth, Milkyway ... She aint' ma cuzin shes ma Dads brothers girl ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR] --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: Cat House BBS * Tulsa BBS List HQ * (918) 584-3441 (1:170/160) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGZ00029 Date: 12/29/97 From: BILL MITCHELL Time: 08:46pm \/To: TOBIAS HEUER (Read 0 times) Subj: Which Transmission????? TH> My Car: TH> 1984 Chevy Caprice Station Wagon, 305cid, 4 barrel Carb. TH> The transmission oil pan is nearly square but its sides are TH> not "flat" but TH> have many "indentations" (well, I don't think it's the right TH> word for that TH> but....) TH> Hard to answer !? The only GM trans that has an almost square pan _gasket_ is the Turbo Hydra-Matic 700 R-4 at least acording to the '84 book I have here. But I don't have any futher info on that trans. And going by the holes in the pan gasket picture I have, there's 4 corners, 2 of which have a bolt at the corner, and two don't. The gasket looks something like this: -----o-----o---------o----- | | o o | | o | | o o | | o o-----o------o------o-------o --- * Origin: The Right Place, Fort Lee, NJ USA(201)947-8231 (1:2604/539.11) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGZ00030 Date: 12/29/97 From: SEAN DUNBAR Time: 11:58pm \/To: GARY SPRINZL (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Oil pump? GS> hah! I'm running Valvoline Racing straight-50 in my 350! Beat that! Question... WHY? --- Telegard v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: tos * 972-818-0339 - dallas texas (1:124/6630) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGZ00031 Date: 12/29/97 From: JEREMY LOWREY Time: 10:31pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Transmission? I have that 1974 Nova (Oh stop yur groaning already ;) )... right now it's got a small block 350 with a Th350 transmission. The setup really stinks, I dislike having to use 3.08 gears to get a double digit gas mileage. I was wondering what all is involved in swapping in something like the 700R4 to add overdrive, so I can put some more...interesting...gears in the rear end. Thanks... --- Telegard v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: FidoNet [Novatech-TX].[972-475-3833].[Texas] (1:124/7006) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGZ00032 Date: 12/29/97 From: JASON WEDEHASE Time: 12:45pm \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: American Sports Car Roy Witt told the story like this: JW> Viper rear = 335/35ZR17. I believe the fronts were the JW> 275/40ZR17s Jason Wedehase RW> That's not what was in the Autoweek report...who's your source.. I was guessing on the front, but I have seen the other number countless times. This includes Motor Trend, Hot Rod, a few model kits if you're willing to accept that. In fact, I've never seen any number besides 335/35ZR17. A good friend of mine works at Sears Automotive and that's the tire he has listed for the Viper also. Jason Wedehase strife66@Psynet.net http://www.Psynet.net/strife66 ... And God said: E = mv - Ze/r, and there was light. ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 --- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0154 * Origin: MicroLink BBS * Dinuba, CA 209-591-8753 (1:214/80) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGZ00033 Date: 12/29/97 From: JASON WEDEHASE Time: 12:45pm \/To: DON DELLMANN (Read 0 times) Subj: Stupid Mopar Don Dellmann told the story like this: JW> Heh, isn't it around... 110HP? My Grandma has an '85 Dodge JW> Aries/Plymouth Reliant with the 2.2lt engine. I was once trying to JW> get on the freeway, out of a twisty on ramp. As soon as I could, I had JW> the throttle to the floor. I was fully onto the freeway at a roaring JW> 35MPH with a bigrig bearing down behind me. Man, that little engine JW> was scrreaming, and going no where! I believe I once times 0-60 at JW> around 22 seconds, or something disgusting. Maybe I'll try it again. DD> Something was SERIOUSLY wrong with that car. I had the 2.2L in an '84 DD> Dodge 600 (heavier than your Aries) and on the average freeway on ramp DD> (even climbing the 5% grade, maximum allowed in the interstate) I DD> NEVER had trouble hitting the end of the ramp at 65 or 70. 0-60 had to No, this was an odd on-ramp, real twisty in a real small space. The number one thing I was fighting was lateral G forces. DD> be under 10 seconds, I never timed it on 1/4 mile, but I would guess it DD> probably could have turned around 14. Plus, the d*mn thing just No, you must be mistaken. 14s are impossible. Today's Ford Mustangs barely turn 14s. My mom has an '89 Daytona Carroll shelby package with the 2.5 and a turbo. I'd give it 16s in the quarter, MAYBE. 4 cylinders aren't gonna do THAT much, at least not from the factory, and not for the price of THESE cars. Jason Wedehase strife66@Psynet.net http://www.Psynet.net/strife66 ... I was f**king insane and she wasn't that bad. ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 --- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0154 * Origin: MicroLink BBS * Dinuba, CA 209-591-8753 (1:214/80)