RIP: No more Crown Victoria Police Cruisers

iafb83 · 08-28-2009, 07:57 PM

Haha, looks like this is the end of Crown Vic police cruisers. After 30 years the cops will have to find a new ride

http://acceltimes.com/news/8/rip-cro...ce-cruiser.php

wafrederick · 10-21-2009, 08:35 PM

Already have a replacement,the Dodge Charger with the Hemi.The Charger has more power than the Crown Vic and holds up better.Most police departments are switching the Dodge Charger.I have seen some Michigan State Police cars that are Dodge Chargers.

MagicRat · 10-21-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wafrederick

Already have a replacement,the Dodge Charger with the Hemi.The Charger has more power than the Crown Vic and holds up better.Most police departments are switching the Dodge Charger.I have seen some Michigan State Police cars that are Dodge Chargers.

Often, police departments do not go for the best car, but go for the cheapest to operate, maintain and repair.
Compared to the Charger, the crown vic is like a cheapo truck..... and it will be missed by the bean counters in Purchasing.

GM faced the same situation when they stopped making the Caprice. They lost much police and taxi sales.... which they have never replaced.

Blue)(Fusion · 10-22-2009, 08:45 AM

All the money that went into R&D was made up years and years ago in these cars. It's practically easy money for Ford to build these cars, especially with the fleet market still loving them. Ashamed they're ditching one of the few remaining body-on-frame RWD cars on the road. And the Hemi may have more power, but it's not hard to get a few more ponies out of the 4.6L Modulars if you want to. I have mine competing with Mustangs (who also have the 4.6L Modular).

And, most police equipment is built specifically to fit in the Crown Vic as are the garages at many departments. They are probably the cheapest vehicle to maintain in fleet operations.

way2old · 10-22-2009, 10:22 AM

Chevrolet is bringing back a RWD model,only to be sold to law enforcement. It will be on a frame from Overseas called the Holden, I think, Going to watch them perform next September when the new models come out. I haven't heard what engine is to be in them yet. I think Ford is going to the Taurus platform with a new vehicle called the Police Interceptor. Have to wait on that also. Going to be interesting next year at the tests.

wafrederick · 10-22-2009, 11:12 AM

I have heard of the 4.6s not holding up in car chases,they blow up.I do know some that works for a township doing maintnence and had one with a blown up 4.6.Plus they are guttless,I was talking to a Constable cop whom is now retired.He was talking to a cop with a Crown Vic,did not get involved car chases due to the power of the Crown Vic.There was a Dodge Charger police car on Horsepower TV improving the horsepower of it,the cop whom drives this one said it more power than the Crown Vic with more get up and handles a lot better.

way2old · 10-22-2009, 12:32 PM

We have been using the 4.6 since 1992. We have lost 3 engines. All 3 were due to drivers going through high water. We have not lost one to engine related problems. We buy about 100 CV's a year. So that will give you an estimate as to the percentage. Our department runs over 2 million miles a year. So figure the percentage as to how bad the 4.6 is. We purchased 9 Chargers and blew 3 of them in the first month. So fogure that percentage. I was skeptical when ewe first got them, but now I believe in them. The Crown Vic is not made to chase, that is why they make Motorola. A little money and a few hours and I can make a 4 cylinder Kia out run the Charger also. Speed is not everything. I was in Michigan in September for the Police Vehicle Evaluatiopn put on by Michigan State Police and they still have well over 95 % Crown Vic. We also have some Chargers. But our officers prefer the Crown because you can see out of them. We will see what happens next year.

Blue)(Fusion · 10-22-2009, 03:48 PM

Why would an LEO need the extra power in a chase anyway. Noone can outrun a radio.

I'm an avid fan of the Panther platform thanks to it's rigidity, visibility, and performance. It's not meant to be a race car so I can deal with the pick-up-and-go issues. Although that's easily solved with new rear-end gears anyway. And I can definitely attest to the visibility in the Vics. I test drove a Charger and felt like I was in an old time gangster movie with the narrow windows.

And I've never heard of a 4.6 "blowing up." Only thing I've ever seen close to that was a Crown Vic running a super charger with too much boost on the NPI stock internals which snapped a rod and punched a hole in the block.

MagicRat · 10-22-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by way2old

We also have some Chargers. But our officers prefer the Crown because you can see out of them.

Excellent point. The single most important reason why I did not buy a 300 /Charger / Magnum 3 years ago was the truly lousy visibility due to unfortunate styling.

It's like driving a cave.

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