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Future Crown Vic and Grand Marquis

152 messages,  Last post on Jun 07, 2008 at 4:54 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, Sedan

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#4 of 152 Re: Questions [flasvt] by steve2575 Jan 31, 2005 (4:38 am)
Replying to: flasvt (Jan 30, 2005 8:17 pm) I’m not sure if it’s a question of bringing the Panther platform up to date; this is the last RWD, body-on-frame, rigid rear suspension platform available on a sedan. Almost all sedans (and even most SUV’s) are unit-body constructed with independent suspensions and FWD. The technology may be several decades old, but the Panther platform has been highly refined over the years (specifically with the 2003 MY), and has been proven to be extremely durable (which is why you see so many Panther police cars and taxis).   I have a ’92 Grand Marquis with 130K+ miles that I bought a couple of years ago as a stopgap until I could afford a new vehicle. After having the car checked out, I found that everything is in good working order after 13 years of continuous use, and in fact, I could even expect another 70K or so miles out of it. My girlfriends 2000 Neon by contrast, needs $3500 in engine, suspension, and transmission work over the next few months, and it only has 73K miles on it… Sometimes newer isn’t better.   Granted, it’s not the car for everyone, but there are lots of us who would like to be able to buy a large, comfortable RWD car that we could squeeze 15 years out of it if we had to… I think for Ford to retire the platform just because it’s old would be a disservice. As long as it can still turn a profit, why mess with what works?   The Lincoln LS platform was borrowed from Europe I believe; I’m not sure it could be stretched & widened to make a good replacement for the Panther… Does anyone else know about the LS, and how hard it would be to modify?
#5 of 152 Since the tooling was paid by marsha7 Feb 08, 2005 (9:34 am)
for probably 15-20 years ago (I had an 83 Grand Marquis) they could continue this platform even with low to medium volume...since it is stereotypically an "older person's car" (except to those of us young folks smart enough to know a good car when we see one), there will be for some years enough old folks to keep buying these cars...I would like to see some upgrades (I know, they have upgraded many suspension and safety features already) that I have mentioned on the regular CV/GM site...firmer seats with better leather...put side marker lights on the CV like the GM, as it is a safety feature for night vision not just a style feature...bring back the rear amber signal lights that they had a few years ago on the CV and took away in 2004 (safety, again)...maybe upgrade the sound system for something like Explorer Limited or Mustang has, something a little more modern that what is in there now, or at least a sound system UPGRADE, for those of us who want more than most old folks want...add door and truck ajar lights, as even the Taurus has this...since many Fords are going to 5 speed auto trannies, throw one in the CV/GM...UPGRADE the engine to 275-300 HP, like the Mustang engine or the Marauder engine...right now only the GM has a roof console with Homelink, add it to CV, as my current one has extra lights and a compass...it seems a lot of platic with an on-off button just to turn on a compass...they should look at what Dodge offers, a trip computer, Homelink and a compass and outside temp all in the roof console...get the outisde temp out of the heater control where it is so annoying to push the button just for outside temp, place it above like Dodge where you can see compass direction and outisde temp on one screen that you leave on all the time...maybe put a digital trip odometer like in Taurus, but keep the dials and gauges analog...even tho it has an auto trans, add a tachometer, since they have one in Taurus and it has an auto trans...that's my "short list" for now, more to be added later...
#6 of 152 by a_l_hubcaps Feb 09, 2005 (7:58 pm)
Take a look at this article. It has 2 major points about the future of the CV/GM:   "In 2006, a $100-million US investment will see changes to the cars' grilles, bumpers and front ends."   "In 2008, another $200 million US will be spent on a more extensive redesign."   Given that rumors have long claimed the GM would get a facelift for MY2006, I suspect these are both MYs rather than CYs. $200 million is not enough to launch an all-new model, or even a substantially new model on an existing platform. So I take this article to mean that the cars will stay on Panther through at least MY2009 (since they wouldn't redesign the car and only make it for one year).   -Andrew L
#7 of 152 Panther Seems to Be Sticking Around by jsylvester Feb 21, 2005 (5:10 am)
It appears Ford is going to stick with the Panther for a few more years, which for anyone who has actually owned one, knows is good news.   I'd like to see the 3 valve 4.6 liter make it's way into the car very soon, and another gear or two in the tranny (though the 5 speed auto doesn't nearly have the reputation as the 4 speed being currently used).   I think Ford has decided not to keep their full size sedan in the $20k-$30k out the door price range. The platform has been heavily modified structurally and mechanically, now they just need to update the exterior and interior.
#8 of 152 Hmm by chris65amg Feb 21, 2005 (1:02 pm)
I'll admit that I have a special place in my heart (as well as garage, as I age) for Crown Vics. My grandmother had an early 80's one (they were called LTD Crown Victoria's or something) and she refused to sell it because "new cars are all tin cans! If one of those big buses came along and hit me in a Hondai or whatever you call them, I'd die!" Ah, bless her.   Well, the Panther works, and I really hope that Ford keeps it. It's a proven design, and tons of people have bought one (or more) of them. Ford could easily keep Panther around for another 7-10 years if they kept refining it. For their sake, because a lot of customers would switch to an Avalon or 300 (Lucerne???) if something happened to the Crown Vic. And, considering Ford's less than stellar redesign work, (IMO) I don't think that it would work out. When I first heard of the 500, I thought that Ford meant to erase the Crown Vic! But they don't, so i'm all good. No FWD, though. Crown Vic's have been RWD since they were LTD's, and that shouldn't change. BTW, I also liked the Marauder, and a super-refined Marauder engine would be perfect for the CV/GM. Venerable cars. Not in the sense of a Mustang or Corvette, but both have their spot in automotive history.   OK, I'm done. ---Chris
#9 of 152 Crown Vic to Last Through At Least 2010 by ehaase Feb 27, 2005 (12:29 pm)
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Articles/articleId=104825
#10 of 152 As for the Town Car by euphonium Mar 17, 2005 (3:01 pm)
Delete the side bulge which makes it look like a pregnant weasel and replace the "Ford" engine with the 300 hp 4.6. After all, you don't see a Chevy powered Caddie. Giving the TC more running ability may just prevent it from being caught by an oversexed Weasel.
#11 of 152 Pregnant weasels? by johnclineii Mar 17, 2005 (4:05 pm)
I am tempted to ask when and why you have observed pregnant weasels, but some things it is just best not to know....
#12 of 152 Frequently pregnant weasels by euphonium Mar 17, 2005 (8:32 pm)
were part of our college lab experiments as were frogs, rabbits, cats, mice, rats, & other rodents. Now you know and don't you feel better for it? Non science majors usually just take Chem 101 or Bact 210 and get by with a BA.
#13 of 152 whew by johnclineii Mar 18, 2005 (5:16 am)
Thanks. I do feel better now. And I feel better knowing the Panther cars are going to be around a bit longer, even though I do love my Ford Five Hundred with AWD. Wonder if the Panther will ever get AWD? Replies to this message: cgn49 (Mar 27, 2005 5:38 am) johnclineii (Mar 29, 2005 3:16 pm) chuck1959 (Sep 08, 2005 2:54 pm)

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