Hello to all! Up until October 2010, I had never in my life owned any model of Ford, Period. I was always a GM man in my youth (owned a few Chevelles and a 76 Trans AM identical to the one in Smokey.) as I got older, AFTER Chrysler got their act together, I had a 97 Concorde LXI that I put 125,000 trouble free miles on, which I then traded for an 05 Sebring GTC Convertible, which, due to needing a car that could tow a 4 big motorcycle trailer. It took me almost 2 weeks of looking before I found my light Blue, showroom Condition 60,000 documented original mile 87 Country Squire with the rear jump seats, two way tail gate, multi port fuel injected 302 with the 4speed OD auto. Most of you (I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HAVE!) won't believe this, but this big *** land yacht actually achieves 24 honest MPG at a 65 MPH average speed with the cruise set! (my Sebring with it's 2.7 liter DOHC V6 and one ton less weight only did 3 MPG better!) the more I drive this beast, the more I come to like SOME of the products that the Blue Oval had made from time to time. Even you "Die Hard" Ford
only, and nothing but a Ford types have to admit that not all of Fords products were something anyone would really want to be seen driving.
This applies to about 25% of the mid 70's to 60% of the late 70's to mid 80's. (hell, ALL domestic auto makers had the same issues) But, getting back to my new 23 year old car, It rides nicer than most cars I have driven, it is so much easier, with my titanium hip, to get in & out of the car, I don't have to be constantly moving my butt around trying to find any form of comfort in the seat, and in a pinch, if I fold down the second row and the jump seats, I have 6.5 feet of ftarelat surface to sleep in if I get sleepy on a long ride! The only things that I have had to do to it, was flush the coolant system, change the thermostat and coolant hoses, replace the rear drum shoes and turn the drum (it does have like new discs up front) I might, if I can find a good mechanics opinion, even try those Bosch 4 tip platinum plugs, and new wires. I guess that now, everyone know what Ford I drive, and what level of condition it is in, so I will ask some questions, and wait for, I hope, at least one or two responses. What Brand of synthetic oil does the EFI 302 like? How often should one change the auto trans fluid and filter? Are there any known issues to watch for with the 87 Crown Victoria's? In my mind I was very lucky in finding one that came from the factory without the fake wood stickers, or does not having them take some value away from the car? It will not acquire a lot of miles very fast, as I spend every month that it stays above 30 degrees using my Honda Interstate Gold Wing for my basic transportation, due to it's much better fuel economy, and the fact that motorcycles are in my blood!(at least I admit it) SO, Please pass along any and all info you believe I should know.
Glenn Montanaghost Merideth
glenn.merideth@gmail.com