Last Ford Crown Victoria made

[StockCarRacer]

On September 15, 2011, the last Ford Crown Victoria was made. It was a white 2012 Crown Vic whose destination was Saudi Arabia. By the time you read this, all 2012 Crown Vics are sold in the Middle East because it lacked ESP, which is now mandatory in North America and Europe; thus making it illegal to sell in North America. Anyway, what do you think about this news? Would you own a Crown Vic?

 

[1241Penguin]

Some study showed that having a Crown Vic would lessen the chances of a crime happening in your neighbourhood, so I would definitely like to own one for the sake of protection! 👍

 

[CodeRedR51]

Anyway, what do you think about this news?

That it's really old?

With that said, Mercury Marauder FTW.

 

[Antonisbob]

ESP? What is that lol. I think it's sad. They're cool cars. loved the '80s models.

 

[1241Penguin]

ESP? What is that lol. I think it's sad. They're cool cars. loved the '80s models.

ESP = Electronic Stability Program

It's just Ford's way of saying ESC (electronic stability control).

 

[Antonisbob]

ESP = Electronic Stability Program

It's just Ford's way of saying ESC (electronic stability control).

I see, thanks.

But wow, They didn't have that for the first what... 90 years of Automobiles? What makes them think they need it now.

Makes no difference to me, I'll only purchase older cars anyway.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'd quite like to drive a Crown Vic, and I'd probably own one for a spell if I ever lived out in the U.S, but there's no denying it's a bit of a relic of an earlier time and modern cars have moved on a bit since then.

But wow, They didn't have that for the first what... 90 years of Automobiles? What makes them think they need it now.

Safety. They didn't have airbags for the first 70-odd years of mass-produced cars either. Or safety belts for the first 60-odd. Or brakes for the first 10-odd.

Still, what makes them think we need brakes, right?

 

[E28]

But wow, They didn't have that for the first what... 90 years of Automobiles? What makes them think they need it now.

Makes no difference to me, I'll only purchase older cars anyway.

Cars are faster and more powerful nowadays thn your average car from the 1930s...

 

[Antonisbob]

Valid point(s), and with so many cars on the roads these days I suppose every little bit helps.

My opinion? I still don't see it to be that important, in the end it's not 8 airbags and TCS that save lives, seat belts do. Besides, this is one way to look at it, traction control takes fun out of owning a V8 powered RWD car (Can't smoke the tires!)

 

[Crispy]

Problem is most people who own cars anymore don't know the skill to drive them properly, and in the case of something going wrong, they'd be screwed. It's not like 20 years ago when most people on the road actually knew how to drive. Think about it, there are many people who own V8 RWD cars and know how to use them, or have a couple of track days under they're belt, but how many of them are there compared to the teenagers who just graduated college, or anniversary gifts? I can almost guarantee that most teens don't know how to control a V8, RWD, 400 Horsepower car.

 

[homeforsummer]

Problem is most people who own cars anymore don't know the skill to drive them properly, and in the case of something going wrong, they'd be screwed. It's not like 20 years ago when most people on the road actually knew how to drive. Think about it, there are many people who own V8 RWD cars and know how to use them, or have a couple of track days under they're belt, but how many of them are there compared to the teenagers who just graduated college, or anniversary gifts? I can almost guarantee that most teens don't know how to control a V8, RWD, 400 Horsepower car.

They almost certainly couldn't 20 years ago either, but there are more cars on the roads today so the likelihood of someone taking out someone else when they cock up is much greater.

That, and stuff like ESP is useful anyway. Sometimes it's nothing to do with driving skill and through no fault of your own you're put into a situation where ESP can be the difference between making it around the next corner or sliding down an embankment.

Yes, drivers are rubbish today as a rule, but they've always been rubbish. ESP isn't a contingency for that, it's a safety feature. It helps, but it can't work miracles.

 

[Camaroyenko]

Problem is most people who own cars anymore don't know the skill to drive them properly, and in the case of something going wrong, they'd be screwed. It's not like 20 years ago when most people on the road actually knew how to drive. Think about it, there are many people who own V8 RWD cars and know how to use them, or have a couple of track days under they're belt, but how many of them are there compared to the teenagers who just graduated college, or anniversary gifts? I can almost guarantee that most teens don't know how to control a V8, RWD, 400 Horsepower car.

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍


Not to mention that most people back in the day knew how to change a flat tire or change oil..............

 

[Northstar]

back in the day

You're 13, you aren't allowed to use that term.

Although, I don't know a whole lot of 5 year olds who know how to change a tire or oil so I guess you are right.

 

[SuperShouden]

Valid point(s), and with so many cars on the roads these days I suppose every little bit helps.

My opinion? I still don't see it to be that important, in the end it's not 8 airbags and TCS that save lives, seat belts do. Besides, this is one way to look at it, traction control takes fun out of owning a V8 powered RWD car (Can't smoke the tires!)

Actually, Airbags keep your face from smashing into the steer wheel, dashboard or the front of the other car that's coming through the side of your car. TCS keeps your car going in a straight line when doing 60-70mph on the freeway or making a 40mph 90 degree turn 'cause you think you're a race car driver or something. TCS also keeps you in control of the car when you need to swerve to avoid things, like the idiot on the cell phone that's not paying attention.

ESC/ESP is designed to keep all four tires on the road and was originally developed for large SUV's to prevent rollovers from over correcting. But, someone had a smart idea to apply the technology to a regular car, as some cars are top heavy and there are quite a few accidents involving cars that roll over, and it was shown to significantly prevent that from happening.

ABS keeps your tires from locking up which means you can turn the car when you're trying to stop to avoid an accident. Lots of race cars, nowadays, use ABS AND TCS. While these two together are mainly for safety, they also make for better racing as the ABS allows for later braking and the TCS keeps the cars going in a straight line.

I remember watching a race at PIR when the BMWs were first fitted with ABS and they won because they could late brake and the Ferrari's couldn't. It was funny to watch a battle between the Ferrari's and BMWs and the BMW braked late for a corner and the Ferrari just went off into the grass.

 

[StockCarRacer]

With the Crown Vic's retirement, it is expected that the cop car market will be very competitive in years or decades; also, taxi companies in cities other than New York may replace their Crown Vics with a Nissan NV200 purpose-built for taxi duty only.

 

[RocZX]

taxi companies in cities other than New York may replace their Crown Vics with a Nissan NV200 purpose-built for taxi duty only.

That is wrong.
NYC is replaceing the Crown Vic with the NV200.
http://autoblog.com/2011/05/03/nissan-wins-bid-to-be-next-new-york-city-taxi/

 

[Camaroyenko]

You're 13, you aren't allowed to use that term.

Although, I don't know a whole lot of 5 year olds who know how to change a tire or oil so I guess you are right.

I'm the most old school 13 year old you'll ever meet.

I practically live in the 70's.

 

[YSSMAN]

By the time you read this, all 2012 Crown Vics are sold in the Middle East because it lacked ESP, which is now mandatory in North America and Europe; thus making it illegal to sell in North America

Actually, it was much more complicated than that. Ford didn't want to discontinue the Panther, but it ended up becoming more of a liability for the company than an actual asset. Aside from the issues with safety (despite the car being very safe otherwise), we're talking about a two-ton lead-sled that was a major drag on the EPA requirements of the company. Beyond that, it was a chassis that was only seeing service in a select few markets, and with Allan Mulllaly making Ford a truly global company, the Panther platform did not fit in, and was not cost-effective to continue.

So, they're spending the money on the Taurus. The product is pretty solid, and while it will likely never be as reliable or as easy to repair as the Crown Victoria, in the end, it is a reasonable solution.

 

[AMCNUT]

I've always liked the Crown Victoria for it's big, body on frame style. Even though it's anachronistic by most standards I still think it brings quite a bit to the table. It'd be awfully cool to buy one super-cheap and turn it into a project car!

So much potential. 👍

 

[Antonisbob]

That is wrong.
NYC is replaceing the Crown Vic with the NV200.
http://autoblog.com/2011/05/03/nissan-wins-bid-to-be-next-new-york-city-taxi/

That is the ugliest thing I've seen. (Besides the prius). Poor Crown Vics.

 

[MHPALA]

Say goodbye to the Econoline too

 

[Weedzzh]

you know why they sent the last one to saudi arabia? because here people love it so much, the amount of them on the streets is alot

 

[homeforsummer]

That is the ugliest thing I've seen. (Besides the prius). Poor Crown Vics.

It's a taxi. It doesn't need to be pretty, it needs to carry people about comfortably, and be inexpensive for the operator to run.

 

[Celicaas]

Hell i thought Vics were Disbaneded completely


Im glad thought that they come to our side

 

[StockCarRacer]

Here's an image of the last Crown Vic ever built.

 

[Camaroyenko]

Kind of sad and creepy if one thinks about it..

 

[hawkeye122]

So the Stability control issue... does it ALWAYS have to be on, or can it be turned off? There are some neat small-volume sports cars I'd like to own, but now it seems like I couldnt have one.

 

[homeforsummer]

So the Stability control issue... does it ALWAYS have to be on, or can it be turned off? There are some neat small-volume sports cars I'd like to own, but now it seems like I couldnt have one.

Has to be fitted to all cars (apart from some very low-volume cars - I know the Morgan 3-Wheeler doesn't have it, for example - so there must be exemptions) but many cars are fitted with an "off" switch anyway. There are certain driving situations in which turning off traction/stability control systems can be beneficial.

Also, are you really that disgusted with stability control that you'd deliberately put off owning a car you really wanted because of it?

 

[StockCarRacer]

But hey, Ford may bring back the Crown Victoria nameplate by slapping it onto an Aussie Ford Falcon and reconfiguring it for police use, just like GM rebadged the Aussie Holden Caprice as a Chevy for police use.

 

[YSSMAN]

But hey, Ford may bring back the Crown Victoria nameplate by slapping it onto an Aussie Ford Falcon and reconfiguring it for police use, just like GM rebadged the Aussie Holden Caprice as a Chevy for police use.

Nope.

Ford's global strategy includes the consolidation of platforms, engines and transmissions. The Taurus and Explorer will be the police vehicles for Ford in North America. The Falcon will remain in Australia, regardless. Rumor has it that, eventually, the Falcon will share an AWD platform with the American Taurus.