Holy Schnikeys! I got my vixen...

[marnepup]

Well, I thought I wouldn't get a chance to post any impressions till tomorow night, but I'm stuck waiting for my fiancee's parents to get home for breakfast, so here are some initial thoughts.

Sightlines...are much better than I expected, especially based on some negative things I read in here over the past year. Much better than the 98 Sebring LXi she replaced, in that regard. I feel much more comfortable with properly adjusting the side mirrors than I did in the old car (as in, so I see the "blind spot" instead of the side of the car).

Driver's seat...is like business class on a Boeing 747 (which is much better than first class on a lesser aircraft!) I was surprised at how high up I was sitting, I felt on a level with drivers of small pickup trucks (like rangers). Definitely need the elite22 console cover, the cheap plastic lid is unacceptable. Oh, and my fiancee commented on the cheap plastic around the back seat climate control vents.

Power everything...took a bit to get everything the way I wanted it, but it's fantastic now. I like how each key comes with its own memory settings. That way, Maggie and I can have everything just right without thinking to push a button...just as long as we don't mix up our keys (when I break down and give her one). The steering wheel frames the instrument panel perfectly when adjusted properly...but I do like to drape a hand over the top, ruining the view of that gorgeous gauge cluster.

Back seats...not as much room as I expected (obviously a lot more than most cars!), I guess I was kinda thinking of my dad's old 5th Avenue, whose back seat was like a king sized bed. The bad thing is that the setting that puts the driver's seat all the way back when you turn the car off tends to trap the driver's side passenger! But I love the bolstering and the fold down center.

Kicker...best OEM sound system I've ever experienced. Couldn't ask for more...but I'm not an audiophile. Could sense that the sub was a bit "caged" in the trunk, I was definitely feeling more bass than I was hearing.

Trunk...not as roomy as I had imagined....really not much more acreage than the sebring's trunk...although it is a few inches deeper. It's sufficient for luggage for two...maybe three, but 4 sets of bags? Out of the question (unless all four passengers are male!)

Power...has got me grinning from ear to ear. Love the ability to slide seamlessly into a two-carlength gap in traffic from a dead stop....versus looking for 6 carlengths with a lesser car. Passing on the interstate is also fantastic. Half throttle and she takes off like a rocketship, from any speed. She feels like she's positively crawling at 70, 80 feels like 55. Haven't been above 90 yet, fiancee was following me back from the dealership in the sebring, and I don't get my V1 till prolly Wednesday.

Shift hesitation...felt it, but only when cornering from a stop with more than half throttle. She seems sluggish just as I'm straightening her out, then jumps into second. Haven't felt this when all other conditions are the same, only I'm going straight.

Cruise control...hate it. I'm used to the controls being in a different location, I hate how it moves the turn signal stalk to a lower positon than I like, and it feels like someone strangled the throttle every time I disengage the cruise. Also doesn't have anything that I can see that continuously indicates that it's engaged. the EVIC message goes away, and the light on the stalk shows that the system is turned on, but not neccessarily that it's engaged.

Turning, cornering, lane changes, etc... I obviously still sense the lateral gees, but I don't move a milimeter (the sebring's seats were bolstered, but slick, so I slid a little under >.3 gees). and the sebring itself (and every other car I've been in) definitely reacted to lateral forces...not the vixen, she's rock solid, acts like you're going straight ahead.

Lights...hehehe...it was lots of fun trying to find them (okay, they're in the most obvious location in the world, but I was screwing with the turn signal stalk for about 5 minutes trying to turn them on ) in the evening twilight...I love how bright the low beams are, no opportunity to use the highs yet...but I hate the yellowness of the fogs...might have to get some bulbs for them that match the lows.

Bottom line? I'm looking at several decades of Fahrvergneugen here

[Briv]

What a great write up. I think you covered most of my feeling exactly.

In the end, CONGRATS on coming home to such a great toy

[Meister]

Originally Posted by marnepup

...here are some initial thoughts.

...hate the yellowness of the fogs...might have to get some bulbs for them that match the lows.

Bottom line? I'm looking at several decades of Fahrvergneugen here

Congratulations, marnepup. Long awaited & well deserved.

Save your shekels for your lady and purchase your 100 Watt "fogs" from superlumination.com for $5 apiece. Xenon SuperWhite (blue tint) 100W 9005s. Writeups elsewhere.

Your first mod can be one of your most appreciated and least expensive - not a bad combo.

Welcome back.

[charlie D]

Love to hear & feel your enjoyment but be careful,as it gets stronger,you won't have much to post without repeating yourself.

Very happy for you !!!!!

[Northern Rider]

Re: Holy Schnikeys! I got my vixen...

Congrats, Marnepup it was a long wait!

Now, get off-line and get out there and drive that HEMI . . .

[MAXSRT-8]

Welcome home and congrats on your machine. You are going to love her more everyday. You highlighted a few good poins, you'll either love them or hate them. Enjoy you vixen.

[Model 57]

Welcome home and congratulations on the new Vixen. I'm sure that you'll love her. I think that you'll find that the driver's seat only moves back a couple of inches from where you have it set; (it won't move to the full back position).
I only have a 300C, but I love it. Just couldn't see the insurance rates on the SRT8.

[CUEBALL]

Congrats on the new ride, I know its been a long wait!

[SRT8itchy]

marnepup - Congrats on the ride and on getting home safely. I haven't been on here much in a while, with my car in storage for the last three months. It's great to see you're enjoying the beast.

I'm sure I'm not the first to say it, but thanks for what you've done for all of us. Now go have some fun!!!

[haas]

Party on .. Marne..


Keep the rubber side down.!!

Walter