Panther Options

So, is the P71 the best option for a Panther chassis?  Is their any big plus to going with a Grand Marquis or Town Car other than it was owned by a little old lady and such? 

This would be for a driver till the body is pulled off and a truck slapped on top.

It doesn't really matter just get the best one you can find in your budget post 01 since the cvpi suspension is readily available.  Unless you can find a p71 pursuit with the higher hp engine and LSD.

Lower numerical gear ratio on the rear axle on the non-P71 cars can give better highway mileage. Less fun for GRM-y things.

I like the '05 the best. It has the Watts link rear suspension, but not throttle-by-wire. 

Non-cop cars will have comfier interiors, cop cars will have a higher ride height, and heavier springs and shocks. 

LEGO. Find a car you like and swap in what you want to change. Parts are dirt cheap.

In reply to snailmont5oh :

At least the cop cars of 05 had drive by wire, mine definitely does. 02-04 are the best years, in my opinion. Most of the last generation upgrades, with  throttle cable you can actually modulate in dirt/snow. 

I

I thought 03 was the break over for the better front suspension, brakes, and such. 

If you are going to body swap a truck, the Lincoln has 4" plus wheelbase on the Ford and Mercury. If I was buying one, that is likely what I would grab. 

2003 was the start of the new suspension makeover.

05 also the only year with the radio antenna on the rear fender. All other years its in the rear glass.

In reply to MrChaos :

Even the higher HP engine is only 250 vs. 239 from 2004 on, so I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor.

Personally, I'd just get a P71 to start, and save the trouble of swapping over parts later. But if you find a sweet deal on a GrandMa or Town Car, that might make sense. Especially if you plan to swap out the body later anyway.

If we are talking best Panther platform, then technically the Marauder is the best. But not the most feasble.

I completely agree with Nick D, Marauder it is the best. but i do find it to be a thing to everybody's preferences. and to mine, Carlisle from https://neotires.com/ is the best for sure!

Ok, Ill agree on the Marauder for sure.  Though, I do not think of those as "cost effective" to throw 70% of it away to make an old truck run. 

I guess that I could buy a limo with the correct wheelbase to make a crewcab version.  That would be different.....

I've personally always thought that a TownCar with p71 bits on it would make one helluva DD

so essentially what i see. for rallyx i want a 03-04 panther.

penultimeta said:

I've personally always thought that a TownCar with p71 bits on it would make one helluva DD

That would make a very nice hot rod sleeper 

RevRico said:

In reply to snailmont5oh :

At least the cop cars of 05 had drive by wire, mine definitely does. 02-04 are the best years, in my opinion. Most of the last generation upgrades, with  throttle cable you can actually modulate in dirt/snow. 

 

I

Thanks, Rico. I get E36 M3 like that wrong all the time. 

MrChaos said:

so essentially what i see. for rallyx i want a 03-04 panther.

Here's a link that should take you to my YouTube channel. If it doesn't, search RevsKitchen. I've got some on car and outside car video from rally cross earlier this year posted there in my 05. 

Admittedly, it doesn't look quite like it felt from the grand stand, especially considering the cameras, but it might give you an idea. 

Toyman is a better driver than I am and has videos of his 06 on his channel as well. I'm subscribed to it but can't find a link at the moment. 

Personally, I find the steering to be more of a suggestion that an action, and the only time drive by wire is a hindrance is when I'm pretending to hold a sweet drift around a corner. the only thing I'd really like to change is the weight, if it could lose 500-1000lbs, it would be unstoppable. 

I haven't driven younger ones on course, honestly haven't even been in anyone else car yet, but the internet seems to agree that the 03-04 are better. Honestly, I think the cheapest runner you can find will be the best just because it means you can play in the dirt. 

snailmont5oh said:

I like the '05 the best. It has the Watts link rear suspension, but not throttle-by-wire. 

Non-cop cars will have comfier interiors, cop cars will have a higher ride height, and heavier springs and shocks. 

Is this the only car ever made with a Watt's Link from the factory? Outside of exotics... or even including exotics?

GCrites80s said:

snailmont5oh said:

I like the '05 the best. It has the Watts link rear suspension, but not throttle-by-wire. 

Non-cop cars will have comfier interiors, cop cars will have a higher ride height, and heavier springs and shocks. 

 

Is this the only car ever made with a Watt's Link from the factory? Outside of exotics... or even including exotics?

Durango had one

In reply to RevRico :

so an sn95/new edge mustang then. Same basic drivetrain but 750 lbs lighter

As the (for now) owner of a P71 and a Marauder I'd say other than looking alike you can hardly even compare the cars.   The P71 is a great workhorse and no slouch but the Marauder, still puts a smile on my face when I drive it.  :)

Corbeau makes seat brackets for vics.

Owning a $500 08 cvpi for a few weeks now. Literally a impulse buy,  coming from smaller cars it's alot to get used to. I can tell you newer Vic's tend to be year specific in replacement parts and 07+ are fairly rare in junkyards. There's a pile of 03+ but only 1 07+ in Central New York. Easy to swap parts over from the counterparts.