Ford has announced the end of the Panther. Again.

Time for another Steve McQueen driving Fords in his flicks.

 

I've driven the FWD Impala police cars, and they are no match for the Crown Vic I use now. I can power slide around corners, U-turn on a dirt 2-track road and fit 3 large "bad guys" in the back (I work in a small redneck town). Try doing that with a FWD wheezer!! My Chief said that he's going to buy a few more Crown Vics and put them in storage for future use.
We will be taking a look at the new Chevy this year, but I doubt the Chief will be impressed.

 

Tell him to look at this auction and watch it for a while: This one is in two days. Just change the 'Make' Column to FORD. All Police Interceptors and almost all were owned by the Provincial RCMP (Highway driving)
http://listings.michenerdnn.com/?auctiondate=27/03/2010

Here's where it comes from:
http://www.maauctions.com/

I'm pretty sure that Canada credits back any taxes and even gives Police Departments a break on other cost items. Prairie cars don't get rusted out like Ontario and Quebec cars because roadsalt doesn't work below 5F.

 

Neither do I.

 

Speaking of geographic luck...

Hey, we bought some Florida Tangerines last Saturday, and the skins are already drying up. They must've been caught in that cold spell.:confused:

 

This was my 535k mile 97 towncar. No, that's not a typo, that's five hundred and thirty five thousand miles. My friend bought it new as his personal livery car for business, and the only reason he sold it was because he moved away for a year and a half. Great running car and though I'm not a ford fan in anyway, the panther chassis cars are great cars and should just get a redesign.
Yes, ford will be losing a lot of cop car revenue. I can't wait to see how many turbo cop cars come back blown to pieces. Yes turbo's are great for power, but not under the abuse the cops put them through.
I see chrysler getting many more chargers sold this way until gm starts production, then they'll get some of the market too.
For 2010 you can only buy the grand marquis. The crown vic is a fleet only car and the towncar you must have a livery license to buy one. Why the hell wouldn't you sell the fleet cars to the public if they want them?
Sounds like ford is screwing themselves and making a GM mistake.

 

That's amazing, Marcar. 535000 miles? I think that's probably the highest mileage car I've ever seen, and it looks great for 60,000 let alone half a million. Wow, very impressive.

 

I heard the only time the livery service cars are shut off are for oil changes and the occasional water pump change. 500,000 is common but for us mortals they only go about 300,000 with normal care.

 

This car was used in the evenings as an airport limo, and daily as a normal errand runner.
It was not only shut off plenty, but it was used as a normal car too, and it has had PLENTY of maintenece. Most of the livery's only get about 3-350k out of them before the repairs and rot take them over. The trick for 500k+ is to take meticulous care of it and wash it often. It was washed 2 or 3 times a week most of it's life, that's why it didn't rot to pieces.

 

Fleet car huh, ONLY so they dont lose the law enforcement clientille

 

Here's another company that can't wait for Ford to axe the Vic.http://www.carbonmotors.com/

 

I can see some value to that exercise for taxis and delivery vehicles (pizzas) but most 'green' cars are slow off the line in a pursuit mode. As long as the Serve and Protect guys are safe and able to do their jobs.

 

The '05 Town Car I drove had 505k on the clock and she was still a strong runner. I LOVE the Panther platform and I really love that look of the '95 to '97 Town Cars. I should have never gotten rid of my '96.

 

Carbon Motors recently signed a deal with BMW to buy 6-cyl turbo diesels to put into their patrol car........I think Carbon is going after the guys with the checkbook rather than the guys with the guns and handcuffs.......

 

In these times of lower tax revenues they have to make it financially viable for the agencies that will be purchasing these vehicles. According to their site their goal is to have it priced similarly to a fully outfitted Police car from the major automakers.