End of the road for the Ford Crown Victoria
11-01-07, 07:24 AM
#1
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
End of the road for the Ford Crown Victoria
End of the road for the Ford Crown Victoria
Posted on Wednesday 31 October 2007
Ford’s Crown Victoria, or Crown Vic as its affectionately known, was once the image of an American police patrol car. If you saw one in your rearview, you instinctively tapped your brakes - just in case. Times have changed, however, and the Crown Vic just isn’t as popular as it used to be, especially among the buying public. That’s why the 2008 model year will be the last to be offered for consumer sale - after that it’s strictly to be offered as a fleet car.
Compared to total sales of over 50,000 Crown Vics in 2006, retail sales of only 3,000 for the same year show that the car is already primarily a fleet car - Ford is just making it official. Sales in 2007 are down nearly 10 percent so far, reports Ward’s Auto. The Mercury Grand Marquis - the Crown Vic’s corporate sibling - is still doing relatively well in retail sales and will remain on dealer lots for the foreseeable future, although sales are down 17 percent since last year, selling just over 38,000 units, most at retail.
The fleet market for the Crown Vic is drying up too, however. New York’s taxi cab fleet currently holds 2,500 Crown Vics, but by 2012 the hybrid-powertrain requirement will boot them from service. Police are finding the more powerful 340hp motor of the Dodge Charger suits their purposes better than the aging Crown Vic’s 224hp V8. Ford has even told the plants that produce the Crown Vic, Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car (the third corporate sibling) that they shouldn’t expect production to extend past 2010.
Posted on Wednesday 31 October 2007
Ford’s Crown Victoria, or Crown Vic as its affectionately known, was once the image of an American police patrol car. If you saw one in your rearview, you instinctively tapped your brakes - just in case. Times have changed, however, and the Crown Vic just isn’t as popular as it used to be, especially among the buying public. That’s why the 2008 model year will be the last to be offered for consumer sale - after that it’s strictly to be offered as a fleet car.
Compared to total sales of over 50,000 Crown Vics in 2006, retail sales of only 3,000 for the same year show that the car is already primarily a fleet car - Ford is just making it official. Sales in 2007 are down nearly 10 percent so far, reports Ward’s Auto. The Mercury Grand Marquis - the Crown Vic’s corporate sibling - is still doing relatively well in retail sales and will remain on dealer lots for the foreseeable future, although sales are down 17 percent since last year, selling just over 38,000 units, most at retail.
The fleet market for the Crown Vic is drying up too, however. New York’s taxi cab fleet currently holds 2,500 Crown Vics, but by 2012 the hybrid-powertrain requirement will boot them from service. Police are finding the more powerful 340hp motor of the Dodge Charger suits their purposes better than the aging Crown Vic’s 224hp V8. Ford has even told the plants that produce the Crown Vic, Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car (the third corporate sibling) that they shouldn’t expect production to extend past 2010.
Trending Topics
11-01-07, 09:49 AM
#9
Why doesn't Ford invest into building a new Crown Vic? Doesn't the current one sit on a 35 year old platform or somewhere around that figure?
So instead of going to the drawing board when they saw Dodge Charger police cars, they just decided to give up?
So instead of going to the drawing board when they saw Dodge Charger police cars, they just decided to give up?
11-01-07, 10:24 AM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
Probably the Charger or Impala. Up here in NY i saw... Toyota Avalon, Honda Accord, and (in a video) a Ferrari 335 as a UC cop car. With all the neccesary lighting and sirens. Could be anyone, but I dont think cops would just allow civies to rock police equipment lol.
11-01-07, 10:56 AM
#11
Lead Lap
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 4,511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
11-01-07, 01:08 PM
#13
There can only be One
I have never seen an Import Cop Car in person. Although I have heard of them.
You'd be surprised here in Florida what is an Undercover cop car though.
A couple weeks back I saw a Ford F150 pull someone over, Before that it was a Dodge Ram I think
I have seen the Usual Mustang and Corvette but a F150, with a tool box in the back and pipes? That is like 90% of the red neck population in Florida.
11-01-07, 04:07 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
11-01-07, 04:10 PM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
Police are finding the more powerful 340hp motor of the Dodge Charger suits their purposes better than the aging Crown Vic’s 224hp V8.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-01-07 at 04:16 PM.