Comments on: New Ford Taurus to replace Crown Victoria police cars by 2011?

By: Walter

Walter — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:25:00 +0000

I have been driving various Crown Victoria's for eight of the last nine years as a taxi driver. One road near here called Hillen Parkway is notorious for it's slipperiness. I was cruising up this road just under the posted speed. Moisture from overhead trees must have dampened the road. Moisture made this a slippery section of road which was also curved to the right. Moving slightly out of my lane to avoid a car already buried in the hillside to the right, the shoulder not being very wide, my car began to spin. I did two 360 degree spins across a raised median, one which scraped the undercarriage and raised the car an inch or two higher than it normal height. The car ended up head on in the far lane on coming traffic. I had two choices, head straight into traffic, or try to recross the higher that curb height median one again. I had no time to think, I swung a hard right across the median hoping the tires would continued to hold. They did. I pulled into the repair shop, the place where I was heading in the first place, low and behold nothing was apparently damaged but those series of events. Later after a day or two of driving I did begin to notice a slight wobble in the right front wheel, the rim had been bent. The work I had done at the shop was I needed a catalytic converter replaced as my car was unable to develop full power or accelerate properly due to a partially blocked converter. I had a 96 Taurus as a cab for a for a year, and have seen personally how other front wheel drive car perform as taxi. They spend twice to three times as much time in the shop. I can not imagine my Taurus (yes I owned that particular cab) holding up in the same spin-out as the Crown Vic. Also I had to personally replace two transmissions in the year I owned that Taurus taxicab, it cost me so much money I could not afford to but a replacement cab when it was too old to use (county rules).

Crown Vic's RULE as taxicabs and police cars, nothing else is durable enough. So…
Enough said.
Walter

By: rookie

rookie — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:25:19 +0000

All you old cops need to stick a sock in it. Nobody cares about “old Bessie”, your CV of 15 years. We need fuel efficient cars in 2010, you do not exist without money and gas is money and a lot of it……and yes turbo's are beasts. Did you see this car can be hit at 70mph in the rear? Stay fit or quit if you want in this ride, no Waffle House cheese fries for you Taurus riding cops.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:40:38 +0000

The body on frame, rear wheel drive, V-8 CV's will still be rolling when those new Taurus PI's will be in the shop. That front drive junk might work for Joe sixpack but not police work. Unfortunately auto reviewers and car magazines have convinced Americans that the Ford CV is dated junk and anybody considering one belongs in a mental institution. So apart form police sales and a few Mercury's that platform just doesn't sell to the general public. So it has to go in favor of the junk that is selling. As always Ford and the general public will figure this out much to late and one of Americas greatest cars will be gone for good. Improve the CV don't junk it.

By: olin

olin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:32:18 +0000

There is one more thing in our town. The RSVPs in particular, the ones who work in Traffic Divison. They have old worn out used CVs and they function perfectly for the task. In the back there are as many as 50 orange cones, barracades, signs, flares, fire extinguishers, and a bag which has their daily tasks. Almost as much as a police officer might have. When they drive these cars, hand me downs, they are all but worn out. Got one with 120,000 miles on it and considered it a gem, nearly new to the RSVPs. They also have the same electronic equipment as the police officers have, MDTs and radios, and center consols are impossible to use for this. Retooling for a police car seems TERRIBLY expensive for a volunteer group using hand me down and worn out equipment already. The gross vehicle weight is 4250 and the RSVPs load it up to near that. They drive the same roads, the same bumps, and with out the speed, but the same locations police officers go to on TAs and it's a challenge. To downsize to a Taurus would not only be useless and expensive, but the hand me down would be clearly unacceptable. Even a truck won't work for the elderly folks who use these having to climb in the back and pass things out. RSVPS RULE!

By: spydrix

spydrix — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:14:48 +0000

You can't fit people in the back seat of the Camaro. So what good would that do. From someone who has driven both, it's obvious you haven't set foot in the new Taurus sho. It might be just slightly slower off the line, but not much, with the all wheel drive there isn't any slippage. And the convenience of all the new features make the Camaro seem like yesterdays news. Now, I like the Camaro, especially the look, but I'd recommend the Taurus sho over a Camaro any day.

By: swat1199

swat1199 — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:05:24 +0000

I must say that as a law enforcement officer it would be nice to see Ford step up to the plate with this new vehicle. Of all the professions (postal workers, fire fighters, ambulance drivers, etc) police officers are the only ones, who do not have a purpose built vehicle. The Police Interceptor is somewhat reliable, but they could do a lot more. For example, how about paint that doesn't oxidize, chip away, and come off after two years. Police cars get washed continuosly and almost never see a garage so a few more clear coats and some protectant (standard) would be nice. Transmission, don't get me started on the transmission. Almost every Interceptor I have ever driven starts having transmission problems after 60k miles. The brakes are to small and heat up so quickly that 15 minutes into a pursuit in city style driving I can no longer keep up because I have almost no ability to slow the vehicle down in time for traffic signals. Acceleration? The 1997 Chevy Caprice was like a rocket and Ford has yet to make an Interceptor with the same acceleration capabilities. We don't need to be the fastest out there thanks to radios, technology, teamwork, and air support, but when I can't even get close enough to get a license plate thats a problem. The new Dodge Chargers spank the paint off of Ford's so called Police Interceptor, but have a whole list of other issues as Rick mentoined last month. Don't get me wrong I'm a Ford fan and I always have been and I like the looks, the room and the visibility of the current Interceptor. Which is why I think Ford can do so much better especially when it comes to public service. As far as the 75% nation wide sales is concerned, Ford owns the market because there is no competitive competetion thus far and most Police Departments can't afford to switch to new cars like the Charger just yet especially in this economy. Long story short… Please Ford make me a safer, faster, more efficient, more reliable, purpose built (ballistic door panels, MDC console, Integrated radar and light systems, heads up display, storage compartments) police car. Hint hint (carbon motors).

By: rescue 374

rescue 374 — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:14:36 +0000

365 horsepower ??? Dah the new camaro is turning over 400 horsepower. Not much comparison in a chase there

By: Ranchero

Ranchero — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:43:32 +0000

Taurus looks better? Are you fucking kidding, CVPI looks way better than any other car!
I can't believe they're not continuing it.

By: GRonan

GRonan — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:45:58 +0000

Why in the world would you change up on a working platform. The Crown Vic works well, the Dodge is fast, but thats where it ends. The front wheel drive Chevy's are junk, plain and simple! can't comment on the new Chevy because I have not seen or driven one. I have seen the Carbon Motors E-7, If they can get that platform together it might work. I think Ford should do some serious soul searching before they stop making Crown Vics. I cant see how Ford makes a profit on the Crown Vic, mabey thats why they are scrapping them. Im a fleet manager with 27 years on the PD. I have to laugh at all the wonderfull comments from people who have logged ZERO on duty miles in any police vehicle. I would hate to see the Crown Vic go.

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:30:28 +0000

Ford has been working with law enforcement reps for several years now. It is called the Police Advisory Board. It is made up of Police Officers, Police Administrators, and Fleet Managers from all over the country.

By: doubletaplpd

doubletaplpd — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:12:38 +0000

ok here my opinion on the current crown vic that i have to patrol in.
the intierior room is good. it is a comfortable car and reliable. has years of being backed by the police market and parts are plentiful but my main comlainnt is the it is friekin S-L-O-W!!!!! 10 years ago a 250 hp mot in a 4100 lbs. car was good enough to keep up with the vast majority of consumer cars, but now your average honda runs 130 or more and runs a 16 to 15 seconds quarter mile. which translates into phyco soccer mom can smoke me in her grocery getter, or in my particular case mr 15 year old thief can steal a dodge one ton dually and give my crown vic all she wants. this car need at least 350 hp for as heavy as it is not including the air brake light bars we put on them. it also needs multi piston brakes with slotted rotors for better brake performance and better rotor warping protection. also my upgrade to a IRS as the live axle tends to let go too easy in wet conditions.
as far as the new taurus sho goes i think it looks real cool but i have serious doubts on whether or not the twin turbos would have reliablilty issues when they were put into duty use. if you take them off you right back in the same under powered situation you are in right now with the current crown vic. simply put ford does not listen to the consurmer market. ive looked at the new chevy ppv and it seems like they have done thier homeowrk. it was as much room as the current crown vic, if not more. purpose designed interior. it had IRS 6 speed auto trans., 355 hp engine. push rod motor ls series engine, the most reliable v8 chevy has ever produced. anyway ill stop thier though i could go one. ford needs to step up to the plate and do what chevy has done and attempt to give use something that we ask for and not try and tell use we they think we need. if they dont they diserve to lose the hold on the market.

just my thoughts take em or leave em

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:51:59 +0000

i'd preferred the Crown Vic as a police interceptor. It's been an icon for law enforcment for nearly 20 years and they are tough! Maybe Ford can do a redesign on the Crown Vic so that it will be tougher, faster and have better gas mileage.

By: jd

jd — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:51:03 +0000

i have a 2001 cvpi that is stock with bf goodrich tires that handles like a rollercoaster on rails around corner u have no clue what u r talking about. love the p71's.

By: State Trooper

State Trooper — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:07:40 +0000

My patrol car is a 06 Impala, other then the V6 I love it, I put it through just as much as the CV's my coworkers drive, I am anticipating the Caprice police package. We also have the charger, its fast but all plastic and the traction control does more bad then good. I am interested in the SHO police package, but if its as small as some say I will never fit in it. Has anybody tried or driven one to test it? Has there been one built with a police package yet?

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:29:43 +0000

As the Fleet Manager for a Sheriff's Office that has about 200 Cv”s at this time and having been with the Dept for over 27 years I think I know what is needed in a Police car. The CV has been great. Low cost to maintain, tough, dependable, and they last. In some cases 5 -6 years in Patrol with 150000 miles or more. But we have an agresive PM program. Our officers have 12 hour shifts so they need a car that has room and is dependable. We are going to buy some 2010 Taurues for Admin. But as they are curently built, THEY WILL NOT WORK IN “PATROL” Period. No head room for tall people. No leg room for the driver for the left leg. I had a 6'3″ officer sit in a 010 Taurus and his head hit the head liner and he could not strech out his left leg. IT WON'T WORK, for patrol. We also have a couple Chargers and Imp's. We spend more time maintaining two Chargers then 12 CV's. And the Chevy's, well just plain Junk. Lets just say I'm very worried about the future. Ford says they are going to build a purpose built Police car. I hope Ford comes thru.

By: gus the grouter

gus the grouter — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:17:35 +0000

The Australian built, rear drive, fast, reliable, sturdy, already in Police use sedan that is a fantastic vehicle. How hard can it be gringos?

By: gus the grouter

gus the grouter — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 09:17:35 +0000

The Australian built, rear drive, fast, reliable, sturdy, already in Police use sedan that is a fantastic vehicle. How hard can it be gringos?

By: Lucas Harris

Lucas Harris — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:38:15 +0000

As an apprentice mechanic, I work at a shop that does all the local work on the emergency vehicles, moslty police cars and ambulances.
Aside form the odd truck, and one charger thats almost useless (Because its not 2 door, they have to call in another officer to take people away. also cant even get arresties into the saftey or restraint of the vehicle, the trucks are crew cab and are great as well but I imagine the fuel mileage suffers) but otherwise, I have never known anything other than crown vics for police cars.

And as spacious as they are, I've driven plenty, and once they get all the equipment installed, the compartment divider and everything else, Im always fighting for room. (Im 6'3 but can drive little cars with next to little discomfort)

I have yet to find myself in a newer Taurus, but if they have even an inch less of space, and i was an officer, id demand one of the truck units, or quit.

Unless they come out with a vehicle designed specificaly for police cruisers, and moe focused to the task, beyond just having a few custom and re-inforced stronger/better parts, then I think they're gonna error with this decision. However, I dont belive they could make a highly customized vehicle at a cost that the society could swallow.

I hope they save all those tools and moulds.. lol