eddyramrod Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Well I did it, I bought another car. Went to see it on Tuesday (100 miles each way) and left a deposit. Today I went back for it... So, after work and walking the dog, I persuaded MrsR to take me to the station...Where I boarded one of these...Which took me as far as Preston...Where I boarded one of these...Which took me to Manchester Victoria. I caught the next train with mere seconds to spare, so no time for photography. You haven't missed much, it's a gloomy hole. However, here's the train I was on, at the other end (Durham)...Durham station looks like this...As arranged, I texted Alan (the seller) with my arrival time, and he picked me up...On the drive out of Durham to Tow Law, where he lives, he told me we would have to stop at his workshop and change cars, as he's arranged to take someone to a Prom Night. I knew what was in his workshop (he showed me on Tuesday) so I didn't mind at all.His mate at the workshop next door has this...VW-powered sand rail! And yes, road-legal too. However, that wasn't the point of the trip. So off we toddled in Alan's 1963 Cadillac, to his home where my purchase awaited me. Damn shame it wasn't the Cadillac... We were telling stories, as car blokes do, and I got a look at his Ford dayvan...And finally, to the point! Someone sent me this link on Facebook...http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C504760I phoned, I travelled, I drove, I negotiated, I bought.I'm back in an American car, finally! Not much of one, I suppose, being a relatively modern, smaller car with a V6 and even FWD, but still, it's the best thing I could get on a three-figure budget.I would never have left you without this, would I? Have some interior pics too...The dash is a little chewed at both ends, but I've met a trimmer locally who might be able to deal with that. One of the many jobs I need to get onto, beginning next week. My drive home, accompanied by some of these entertainers......showed up some other stuff that wants doing, most notably the front suspension, which was lovely on the roads around Tow Law, and on the drive home, but all fell apart when it met the speed bumps around me. Something isn't right, it shouldn't feel like it's hitting them that hard. I have a feeling new springs may be on the cards.Still, it's a pleasure to drive apart from that. There's quite enough power. What I realised on the way home though, was what driving a car like this means to me. It's contentment. I feel at home, this is where I should be. And now I am. I booked my train tickets online, using Trainline.com. I told my neighbour who is a train guard, because he was arriving home just as I did tonight, and he said they are ripoff merchants. 50 quid and 4-1/2 hours? He was horrified. Anyway it's done now, and I've enjoyed it. And I'm going to enjoy the Mercury. This car is my first American Ford, after several near* misses in the past, two of which were Mustangs of different types. All the other American cars I've owned have been GM or Mopar. Stixy, danthecapriman, pshome and 29 others 32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 The clocks are awesome!Well bought man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Norman Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Must admit I know fuck all about these but that looks pretty damn good for the money. Sort of American equivalent of our Granada/Scorpio type of thing, or is it more Mondeo sized? And yes, train fares are extortionate. Cost me less to fuel the XJ6 home the other week than it cost for the ticket to get the 40-odd miles to Edinburgh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 No, your first guess was closer, it's slightly bigger than a Scorpio I'd say; engine is a 3.0 transverse V6. Mercury being Ford's luxury line, this was also available de-trimmed as the Ford Taurus, which you would know as the Robocop police car. If there's a Police Package available for the suspension, I might go for it, to give it a chance against Barrow Council. ProgRocker, laser wheels, brickwall and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Told you to change twice and it wouldnt come down here Madman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negative Creep Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 And yes, train fares are extortionate. Cost me less to fuel the XJ6 home the other week than it cost for the ticket to get the 40-odd miles to Edinburgh. To be fair that is an Anytime ticket, and if you knew the precise train you wanted you'd save a load of money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bergerac Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 There is something I quite like about the look of those Sables/Tauruses. I think it is the covered grill. Nice motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Stop winning at everything! DSdriver and eddyramrod 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sterling Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Looks like quite a nice car Eddy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuboy Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 any more interior pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Very nice indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shep Shepherd Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 That looks really smart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Great! As I scrolled down I thought you'd got hold of another caddy eddy! Looks great, to my eyes looks like a model used as a patrol car- it's even the right colour! eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cms206 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 The Sable Wagon was a GR12 looker IMHO, but that's not too grim either - well bought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brickwall Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Nice. MKII is the best looking imho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Dead or alive you're coming with me oman5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProgRocker Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Nice buy Eddie. I really like that a lot. It definately has shades of 1985 Ford Granada 'aero look' about it, especially around the A and C pillars. Intriguing that for a large Ford it's FWD. No chance of it being like a 4 door 'Mustang' then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Have major want for those dash clocks. You have a rear bulb out too btw... eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squire_Dawson Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Great write-up and great motor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Partridge Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Great stuff! I'm a sucker for unloved 90's shite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 Unloved is the truth! It took me ages to get insurance because my "normal" insurer didn't know what it was,, and several classic insurers didn't want to take on a car so young. Keeping it outside on the street and commuting in it didn't help, of course, but those are the circumstances, I'm not in any position to change them. So I think it's up to me to show it some love now, until it is accepted as a classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 Intriguing that for a large Ford it's FWD. No chance of it being like a 4 door 'Mustang' then? I suppose it could be considered a 4 door Probe, kind of, although it has the slightly loosely-built feel typical of older American cars, one of the quirks I find so charming about them. I don't think that's something you get with the Probe. Don't forget that, for America, this is quite a small car, so FWD is no real surprise. The real big stuff has always been properly laid out. ProgRocker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 That's pretty miserable. Nicely done. The glasshouse certainly does have a large 'Granada Mk3' flavour to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbenn Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Ooof, thats bloody nice! Bet thats quite a sight coming the other way on a nice Cumbrian road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 My parents had one of those at their Florida holiday home (while it lasted).They had bought it after having one as a hire car, which they liked enough to buy one.My dad praised its virtues, which he only ever did for very few selected cars.IIRC it was the 3 litre V6.A few of them were in the motor pool of USAREUR when I still worked for them,but I unfortunately never had the joy to drive one - they always gave me one of theclapped out Plodge Granfifthlomats - or a K-car, which were better than they looked. eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 That looks awful. But the Autoshite awful, not the real life awful. Well bought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Oddly I find it actually quite handsome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVee8 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Tow Low,north east yank car mecca.Not that far from were i live.Very well purchased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy - Medhurst Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 I sent you that link along with the Jags. Just don't shout at me if anything fails- lol. Good luck with it - I like it as its above the norm. eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overrun Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 SYSTEM SCANNER Superb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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