MN-12=meh?

Topic: MN-12=meh? (Read 6544 times) previous topic - next topic

Reply #15 – May 16, 2008, 11:29:33 PM

We still <3 you!:D

MN-12=meh?

Reply #16 – May 16, 2008, 11:35:17 PM

Eh, don't get your panties in a bunch, Johnny. :D

Listen, I like the MN12 cars a lot. I see a lot more of them around here than Fox cars and like I said before, I always look at them. And hell, the guys that are turning some serious numbers at the track with MN12's, that's really incredible. I have tremendous respect for those owners.

However...they don't seem to have any respect for the Fox cars. I've been on the shiznit end of the stick many times when dealing with a lot of MN12 owners. If it's not their body style, they don't want to give you the time of day. And it's too bad because Fox guys have been trying for years to be nice to them.

Well...looks like they've had enough. It's shiznit on MN12 Day!
Everyone grab your sticks and tickle Johnny!
:poke:

MN-12=meh?

Reply #17 – May 16, 2008, 11:50:12 PM

:poke:
Never driven an MN12, they look kinda beefy... The supercharged one has always interested me.

My dads friend had a 5.0 fox mustang that got totaled awhile back, So he bought a 95 v8 Thunderbird... traded it in a few months later for a v8 Mustang, heh.
Says the t-bird didnt have enough power. :flame:

MN-12=meh?

Reply #18 – May 17, 2008, 08:08:51 AM

we had a 94 4.6 XR7 from 96 to 06. used it only for fun and merc
shows . put 7000 mi on it. the fellow. ordered it by checking
every box-leather, jbl,factory cell phone still in the box. you
could get 25 mpg on the road at 70. took it to for carlisle
twice . it was one of the smoothest, quietest, most comfotable
car i ever had. friends of ours bought it and only drive it on nice
days too. the 88 i have now rides harsher, has less front room,
and is not near as comfortable, but is a lot cooler looking.
--irv

MN-12=meh?

Reply #19 – May 17, 2008, 08:28:17 AM

I got a 95 supercoupe, between the 4r70w that I had to replace only to put a used one in and have it loose o/d weeks later and the climate control that just suddenly stop working. Also those valve cover gaskets look like they are going to be a nightmare to replace.

It just feels like an expensive car to maintain

, the auto tranny I can understand from going through 2 AOD's but wtf with the climate control, I grabbed one in the yard and it was broken too. The 20 year old climate control that was in my fox bird works perfect :)

I do like the interior design and those seats are really nice. Also the SC 3.8 is fun to drive

MN-12=meh?

Reply #20 – May 17, 2008, 09:43:55 AM

Excellent write up Eric. The section below about the stying says it all for me. When I was looking for a better car to use as a project to build up compared to my '83 V6, I just could not stomach the look of the MN12 platform. Like you, I still am compelled to look at them when I see one (and there are some nicely done ones around), but I still could not, would not, ever be seen in one. Just not my style...

Quote from: EricCoolCats;219318

...
They don't look light on their feet, and honestly they are not anyway, but the styling sure doesn't help with the portliness.

It's always seemed to me that the designers tried to take a Fox car's body and make it fit the MN12 chassis, but then make it "better". Every inch of the cars are pushed, pulled, flattened, tweaked, smoothed and exaggerated. But in that transition, they lost their edge, their rawness, their curves, their sensuality...and part of their souls. I've always felt that Ford designers felt the need to cheat the fact that the cars were gaining several hundred pounds versus the cars they replaced. And it's that very fact that, to me, seals the deal on the MN12 styling.

And yet...I still look at every single one that I see on the road. I can't stop looking almost 20 years later. What can I say...it's heritage.

...

(Sorry for the soapbox rant...)

Thanks for the soapbox rant!

MN-12=meh?

Reply #21 – May 17, 2008, 10:08:56 AM

MN-12=meh?

Reply #22 – May 17, 2008, 11:36:29 AM

I've got nothing against the MN12....
Never owned nor driven one, but I would like to for one reason.

I don't enjoy using my 87-88's as DD's... but I still want to drive a Cougar (or TBird) for a DD and would love an MN12 or even a Neco. I wouldn't do anything in terms of modding/restoring her, just drive her as the DD and save my foxes for the unique or long-haul drives. And of course, save my foxes for the project cars.

What can I say, the 87-88 stole my heart...!

MN-12=meh?

Reply #23 – May 17, 2008, 12:54:38 PM

Not sure why this is being diverted somewhat into a "daily driver" conversation (due to the now classic nature of our cars), but I drive the kids around in my 4-door PT Cruiser. Best compromise in that it is classified as a station wagon, but doesn't look like one really. Well, and the average of 26.5 MPG doesn't hurt either :)

MN-12=meh?

Reply #24 – May 17, 2008, 03:38:59 PM

I own a NECO. It's my wife's DD. It has nothing in common with a Fox or MN-12 IMHO. It's a good commuter. Great on gas. Reasonable @ highway speeds....a dog down low.
THe Dodge Nitro is the weekend family cruiser. Lots of oomph and room. DISMAL gas mileage, but it swallows 2 X 4's and I've downloaded my entire iPod onto the built in hard drive on the radio.

MN-12=meh?

Reply #25 – May 17, 2008, 05:29:18 PM

I talked to a Ford guy that was involved with the MN-12 platform. The MN-12 platform was very advanced for it's time. The problem he said with the car, was that Ford went way over budget designing it and as a result limited the budget the next model years to only minor changes to help pay off the original development. In addition to them going over budget, he said the car ended up being much heavier than it was suppose to be. As a result, I guess a lot of people got demoted that worked on the MN-12 program.

MN-12=meh?

Reply #26 – May 18, 2008, 01:25:19 PM

It all depends on what you want to do with the car. You can make the MN-12 faster and stronger than a fox and it would go around the corners better. But if all you want it straight line then by all means drive the fox.

MN-12=meh?

Reply #27 – May 18, 2008, 01:30:02 PM

1967-2002

The legacy of the Cougar.

You drive one, I drive one, he owns six, she owns two, welcome to the club!

Just because the 87-88 fox stole my heart doesn't mean a non-fox Cougar isn't a Cougar.