Last Ford Crown Victoria made
- Thread starter StockCarRacer
- 60 comments
- 9,771 views
- 3,826
- Melbourne
- Milldrum
niky
How can you have an epic movie car chase if the 312 cop cars that crash are all front wheel drive and sporty. You need the sideways out of the side street, wheels spinning, long heavy crates with lights and 5+ litres under the bonnet rear wheel drives. Next you will have the Police in Hyundai Excels.
The Ford Australia and Holden Australia export option might be too expensive. Although a majority of the parts are made overseas for both, then assembled in Australia with about $4000 labour per car, that all adds up to too much to the bean counters. They can save $3500 by building it in Asia/Sub Continent on the labour side alone. Since the Caprice is a platform car, it can be built in many factories around the world.
Surely the various Police Departments will be under pressure to buy American. So why wouldn't they produce it locally. I am sure that the Government in America would be willing to help.
- 3,542
- Marin County, C
One of our local departments are now using a new Charger... I'd say 50% of the Police cars in our County are Chargers now, 40% Crown Vics and the other 10% Tahoes. Chargers seem to be the most popular nowadays, except for in cities. At least in SF everything is still Crown Vic and Econoline vans.
- 40,876
After what happened with the Intrepid ("I've engaged in high speed pursuit. Oh wait, it seems the backend of my car is lifting off the ground. Oops, I'm in a ditch." Assuming the thing didn't break down,), do you blame them?
I'm not sure why police departments would even consider the Explorer over the Tahoe, either.
- 12,389
- Betelgeuse
- Beeblebrox_237
- 44
- new york
- cooltool777
Nothing like the sound of a Crown Vic police car zooming past your house. I don't think the build quality of the explored can compare to the Tahoe. My dad has a 2000 Explorer XLT and it is beat to ****. Had 2 engine swaps half the doors don't work it's like a zombie car. Ever since the mid 70's american car quality has gone in the dumps. That's why japanese cars dominate the market (camry). Anyway the nv220 will be used in new york because japanese cars are built better and the company knows that nothing besides the Vic could survive in this enviroment IMO. Over the past 5-7 years I've seen the switch from crown vics to ford escapes Toyota camry and siennas and Nissan altimas so it was sortof inevitable but the Vic still dominates because of the availibility of parts in the shops. Read an article showing one shop in the city with a huge amount of parts for the just the vic.
- 44
- new york
- cooltool777
The taxi company knows nothing besides the Vic.*
- 3,826
- Melbourne
- Milldrum
I hate to say it, but the American car companies and their siblings are trying to compete on price. The Japanese car companies and the European car companies that are thriving seem to be competing on quality.
It is a race to the bottom that will result in people voting with their dollar and going for long term quality and reliability. Why would I drop $20k on a cheap looking piece of Daewoo, when I can spend another $2k - $3k and get a proper engine and transmission. Being the cheapest brand only hurts your brand name long term when the quality does not stay or improve.
The Police cars that will be built will be the most politically agreeable to the job. The cost to the tax payers, the local jobs etc will decide what car is next. I just hope it looks awesome and goes like the wind. I hope it is a car that I would like to drive.
It is a race to the bottom that will result in people voting with their dollar and going for long term quality and reliability. Why would I drop $20k on a cheap looking piece of Daewoo, when I can spend another $2k - $3k and get a proper engine and transmission. Being the cheapest brand only hurts your brand name long term when the quality does not stay or improve.
The Police cars that will be built will be the most politically agreeable to the job. The cost to the tax payers, the local jobs etc will decide what car is next. I just hope it looks awesome and goes like the wind. I hope it is a car that I would like to drive.
- 44
- new york
- cooltool777
Milldrum
Amen to that
- 6,977
- old-guy64
Late to the party, but Ford hasn't sold a CV to anyone but the Police for several years.
The CV has many advantages that make them wonderful Cop rides, and Taxis.
They are big, comfy, powerful automobiles.
They are "modular" construction. And pretty easy to fix following any crash that doesn't kill the frame.
The CV has many advantages that make them wonderful Cop rides, and Taxis.
They are big, comfy, powerful automobiles.
They are "modular" construction. And pretty easy to fix following any crash that doesn't kill the frame.
- 44
- new york
- cooltool777
- 23,800
- Philippines
To be fair, despite the publicized problems with Explorer cooling fans and some of the automatics, they're not that bad, and certainly capable, but for heavy duty use, you definitely want a car that's a bit old school. Big engine that makes a lot of power and revs low, big heavy body for hig speed stability and ramming... Hey... much like a Dodge Charger.
The Intrepid wasn't the best of the breed, a good front-driver... and Ford does make some good front-wheel drive cars... would be an excellent chase vehicle. Stable on slippery surfaces, easy to recover from a slide, and you have all the important mechanicals in one place, which makes it easier to armor and protect them... say a wraparound bulbar for the front end and beefier steering arms and driveshafts...
The Intrepid wasn't the best of the breed, a good front-driver... and Ford does make some good front-wheel drive cars... would be an excellent chase vehicle. Stable on slippery surfaces, easy to recover from a slide, and you have all the important mechanicals in one place, which makes it easier to armor and protect them... say a wraparound bulbar for the front end and beefier steering arms and driveshafts...
- 1,390
- <--- This place
- CHALLENGER1ON1
my father has had a good and fun time with both the Lincoln town car and the crown Vic...we had the town car for 14 years and we got rid of it ( I was upset, i considered it a part of the family) and got a red crown Vic. drives like the Lincoln, only smaller room in the back and uncomfortable non-leather seats. It doesn't have the swaggering feel like the Lincoln, but i have all the respect for it.
we actually haven't had good snow until today. Who actually stop's for bicycle cop's? I figured in Florida they would have used Hoveround's.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
In areas where the weather gets a bit... slushy... Ford may have an interesting business case. Getting through the muck isn't exactly the P71's strong suit, but it does get the job done. Well-ish.
What was interesting about the Michigan State Police test of the new cars was how generally inconclusive the results were. Sure, the Chevrolet PPV was fastest in a straight line, the Taurus barely behind it. They all handled about the same, the fuel economy was about the same, and the prices are all about the same.
My guess is that, in the long-term, the Chevrolet would be the most-reliable. Small-block power, the gearbox that is in everything, all that jazz. The only problem is that they're being shipped from Australia to the US, and there is no civilian version to lower costs even more. I can absolutely guarantee that once the PPV hits the streets as it exits the fleet, they're going to command a huge price.
- 1,600
- ON, Canada
- AMCNUT
- AMCNUT
I think you'll see a lively second hand market spring up for the Crown Victorias, as I imagine they'll have a high retention rate in terms of general survivability in everyday life. Too bad they won't be around any more though - I feel like a cultural icon of North American life is slowly disappearing.
I think one done up in the NYC taxi livery and and one in police livery of some sort should be enshrined in some sort of museum, right next to the Checker Marathon exhibit.
- 9,058
- Murica
- BasedAckbar
Police in major cities don't need huge v8s to propel them to the scene. The Crown Vic was a wonky car though that I can't hate.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Its already there. Its been there for quite a while. I can't speak for everywhere in the country, but second-hand police vehicles are very popular here in the Mid-West, particularly in Michigan and Illinois (Illinois even moreso). The durability and reliability go far beyond anything on the road, and the fact that they can be had for relatively affordable prices, they make a good winter vehicle choice.
I don't know if the Crown Victoria P71 will ever be as popular as the Caprice 9C3, though. Although the Chevrolet didn't ever have the sales numbers as the Ford, it is still regarded by a lot of officers as the best police vehicle to date.
- 9,058
- Murica
- BasedAckbar
It's also popular in Florida.
- 19,699
- Alabamamania
My grandfather had three of those land yachts in my lifetime, and I can safely say I wasn't impressed when it was my turn to drive. Rolling around in my seat while taking a 20 mph isn't thrilling, it's annoying.
Sorry, can't understand the fascination for more than a long interstate cruise, but then again, many people would find being strapped to car the size of a walk-in closet a loathsome infringement of their personal space and liberties, so...
Sorry, can't understand the fascination for more than a long interstate cruise, but then again, many people would find being strapped to car the size of a walk-in closet a loathsome infringement of their personal space and liberties, so...
- 23,800
- Philippines
That's precisely the fascination. Go straight to the Lincoln Town Car variant. Forget the fact that it's an agricultural implement with the roadholding of a wet blanket, there's nothing that rides more sublimely than a Town Car.
And, except for a few niggles, these things are dead reliable.
- 19,699
- Alabamamania
The problem is that 94.567% of all interstate drives are boring themselves.
Maybe the fact I see so few approaching the speed limit, or because I abnormally wince when one of them arcs its way slovenly into or out of a parking spot, driven by the quivering hand of an over-medicated old geezer or someone who has external organ insecurity.
Shrug.
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- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Ohhhh lordy, I had a Town Car on my last trip to Miami in 2010. The drive to Key West was like taking a ride on my own couch all the way down. The highways were as smooth as silk, everything was whisper quiet, and in the end you get to drive like a jackass because you're bigger than everyone else.
The only bad thing is the fuel economy is eye-wateringly bad in town. I mean, I managed 30 MPG all the way down to Key West... But that was shot to hell as soon as I took a drive through South Beach.
