Off Season Driving

[Maraudermike1]

I'm debating if I want to drive my MM all year long. This was my intention all along but now i'm unsure. How many MM owners drive theirs all year long? (BTW, I'm a Clevelander so the weather isn't always the nicest)

[Vostok]

If you have the option of keeping it out of the snow/salt i'd say that would be for the best.

I'd like to do this but I cant really afford two cars.

[a_d_a_m]

If you're going to do the year-round thing...get a set of snow tires/rims. I'm not saying you're not a good snow driver because, as a Clevelander, you should have that figured out by now.

What I am saying is that the OE rims will last WAY longer if you keep them unsalted.

I sold trash (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/member.php?u=8492) (link to his profile) a set before last season. Depending on what his plans are this year, you may be able to get a basically-new set for a great price (provided he gives you a similar deal to what I gave him, hehe). Send him a PM, see what he says. Last I knew, he was planning on having that car in a place where "lake effect" wouldn't be an issue! :)

[SpartaPerformance]

If you have the option of keeping it out of the snow/salt i'd say that would be for the best.

I'd like to do this but I cant really afford two cars.

I agree if you can keep her indoors during the bad weather do it. The summer is young so there is plenty of time to find a cheap beater and prep her for the winter.

[PurdueRifleman]

Right now, the MM is my daily driver and it goes out in everything. That said, when it gets really bad during the winter, I use my beater F-250 even though it isn't 4x4.

[fastblackmerc]

Mine is a DD, always has been.

[RF Overlord]

Depends on how much you like the car and how long you want to keep it. If the answers are "a lot" and "a long time", then definitely get a winter beater.

If you decide to drive the MM in snow, the stock BFGs are worthless and unsafe. I agree with adam/cleveland that at the VERY least, get a set of good winter tires mounted on some kind of rims you can live with and keep the good rims and tires indoors.

[guspech750]

I drove mine all year and its a tank through the snow. And I have not put any added weight in the trunk during the winter. I have 16" aluminum Grand Marquis rim with snow tires, I wanted to keep the stockers looking good. But I think I might get a second car again just to keep out of the snow and salt.

[Maraudermike1]

I would love to get a winter beater, already have something in mind. Problem is, I have an 03 Cobra, an 87 Mustang GT, and my MM. Unfortunately, I DO NOT have room for a fourth. I've been kickin around getting rid of my 87 but it truely is beautiful and I have a lot of sweat and tears in it AND it was my first hot rod.

[a_d_a_m]

The summer is young so there is plenty of time to find a cheap beater and prep her for the winter. +1. Start looking now, if you truly do not want to sell the 'Stangs and the Marauder.

[CBT]

Drive mine all the time, but usually we take Amy's Civic to work. Today we both drove in because I have to go to a luncheon at Corporate and I'm not driving that far in a Civic. There is a long ass road that comes up to the compound here, it's a quarter mile or longer, and every few hundred feet is a wide, fairly flat speed bump. I squalled tires across all of them, and I can't wait to leave later and admire my handy work. Amy usually is neither here nor there when it comes to me spinning tires, but when we parked and got out she was laughing about it. I love driving the Marauder, I can't just let it sit in the garage, I don't know how other people can do it.

[illwood]

I drive mine all year (though I plan to retire it from winters at least).

I agree completely on the suggestions of getting some 16" wheels and some good snow tires (I went with 16" steelies from the junkyard at $35ea and some Winterforce tires) and the Marauder is great in the snow.

So, driving all year and in the snow isn't a problem for the Marauder as far as getting where you need to go.

[J-MAN]

Mine was a DD for many years, Michigan winters, stock tires. Some days you just shouldn't drive.

[LordVader]

Mine was a DD, until I got the company truck. So now she stays parked all week long, but prior to that she did her daily duty every day for about 5 years. She saw the heat of Texas, the snow of Rochester, NY and now finally a little rest. She was good to me and never got stuck anywhere in all that time.

[Egon Spengler]

I live in New England and I am living proof... DON'T DO IT! My car looks terrible and it is due to the winter. I highly do not recommend this!!!

[Maraudermike1]

I'm getting really useful, but mixed feedback.lol I guess I just gotta decide if I wanna sell my foxbody and get a 4x4 or get snow tires for the MM.

[guspech750]

I'm getting really useful, but mixed feedback.lol I guess I just gotta decide if I wanna sell my foxbody and get a 4x4 or get snow tires for the MM.
I bought my 16" aluminum Grand Marquis rims in really excellent shape for $125 shipped off Ebay. And new snow tires cost me another $450. Of course you can buy some steel rims rims possibly cheaper.

[bobsawyer7]

Marauder goes away for the Winter cause I want it nice for as long as possible.
The CV HPP is my daily driver(about 20,000 miles)per year. When the weather is bad in the Winter I use the 93 Ranger until things improve. Don't want to expose either car to the Winter chemicals used by DOT in Connecticut. In my opinion they're worse than salt.