# Crown Vic Discontinued what does this mean for the police and taxicabs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428 "2013-01-08T01:22:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/61 "2013-01-08T17:42:32Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I have yet to see a new Ford police car. I see plenty of Dodge police cars. Well I have. On my department. Most of the departments that started getting Dodge products are moving away from them. They are terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/62 "2013-01-08T17:45:10Z")
It wasn’t just tooling. The car would have needed major updates to comply with newer crash protection standards too. The market isn’t that big. People pining for cars from the reign of Emperor Reagan can still buy plenty of them on the used market. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/63 "2013-01-08T17:56:06Z")
_Top Gear_ did a segment on the replacement for the Crown Vic. The big three have replacements available. They tested the Ford Taurus V6 twin trubo. The Impala with the V8 Camaro engine (police option only) And the Dodge Charger V8 Hemi. All performed quite well, but the Taurus twin turbo won their segment. The heat has some hot cars available. I hope their driving skills are up to it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/64 "2013-01-08T17:58:56Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > they’d still have to re-tool. simply being BoF doesn’t mean you can plunk it down on a truck assembly line. Plus that assumes said truck plant would have the capacity to do this. Fair enough. Your post implied that it would be easier to re-tool a line for BoF vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/65 "2013-01-08T18:27:40Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > It wasn’t just tooling. The car would have needed major updates to comply with newer crash protection standards too. The market isn’t that big. People pining for cars from the reign of Emperor Reagan can still buy plenty of them on the used market. So this is main reason they done away with Crown Vic. It became outdated. Why did they not bring out new generation of Crown Vic with all new stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/66 "2013-01-08T18:36:11Z")
They did. It was called the Five Hundred and it didn’t do very well (until the rebadged it as the current Taurus). ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/67 "2013-01-08T20:30:07Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Among other assets, the Crown Vic was capable of surviving enormous rear-end collisions. The Police model web page had a picture of one that survived a 70 MPH impact to the rear; the passenger cage was sufficiently intact that all passengers had a possibility of survival. > > It’s not just about road performance. Ford’s Police Interceptor & Utility have been designed to withstand a 75 MPH rear-crash test; the Crown Vic wasn’t magic in that regard. [Cite.](http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#/features/officerprotection/) Size-wise, the new Taurus based Interceptor is a tad larger than the old Crown Vic; Ford has a nifty overlay that compares the Interceptor with other police cars. [http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#/models/sedan](http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#/models/sedan) ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/68 "2013-01-08T20:43:26Z")
Could one of the LEO’s posting in here explain why a rear wheeled drive car was so heavily preferred? I’ve been driving front wheel drive vehicles for so long- including plenty of heavy snow and ice days here in the Northeast- that I cannot imagine wanting a rear wheel drive vehicle. What’s up wid dat ? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/69 "2013-01-08T21:20:42Z")
Not a LEO, but RWD is typically easier and cheaper to repair, the weight is more evenly distributed, and it has better handling and acceleration. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/70 "2013-01-09T00:16:33Z")
Is there a belief that they are safer on snow, ice etc especially during, oh say, a high speed chase? I’m just surprised that front wheel drive vehicles are not de rigeur. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/71 "2013-01-09T00:27:09Z")
> [@RandomLetters](#): > > Ford’s Police Interceptor & Utility have been designed to withstand a 75 MPH rear-crash test; the Crown Vic wasn’t magic in that regard. [Cite.](http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#/features/officerprotection/) > > Size-wise, the new Taurus based Interceptor is a tad larger than the old Crown Vic; Ford has a nifty overlay that compares the Interceptor with other police cars. [http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#/models/sedan](http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#/models/sedan) The [Taurus](http://www.edmunds.com/ford/taurus/2012/features-specs.html)has a shorter wheel base and is slightly smaller in ever way to the [Crown Vic.](http://www.edmunds.com/ford/crown-victoria/2011/features-specs.html) Not sure how that translates with all the electronic gear on board but it is smaller than the CV. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/72 "2013-01-09T00:29:18Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Is there a belief that they are safer on snow, ice etc especially during, oh say, a high speed chase? > > I’m just surprised that front wheel drive vehicles are not de rigeur. front wheel drive doesn’t help traction once the car is moving and the poor weight distribution makes high speed pursuit less stable around corners. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/73 "2013-01-09T00:30:39Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Well I have. On my department. Most of the departments that started getting Dodge products are moving away from them. They are terrible. What’s wrong with them out of curiosity? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/74 "2013-01-09T00:33:28Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > _Top Gear_ did a segment on the replacement for the Crown Vic. The big three have replacements available. > > They tested the Ford Taurus V6 twin trubo. > The Impala with the V8 Camaro engine (police option only) > And the Dodge Charger V8 Hemi. > > All performed quite well, but the Taurus twin turbo won their segment. > > The heat has some hot cars available. I hope their driving skills are up to it. If I had money to burn I’d choose the twin turbo front wheel drive. It would be obnoxiously fun to drive. If I had a budget to work with for fleet cars I’d avoid it like the plague. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/75 "2013-01-09T00:33:36Z")
Dunno about New Jersey, but down here they’ve got an awful reliability record. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/76 "2013-01-09T00:48:58Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > If I had money to burn I’d choose the twin turbo front wheel drive. It would be obnoxiously fun to drive. If I had a budget to work with for fleet cars I’d avoid it like the plague. As it turns out, the [Ford Interceptor is AWD-standar](http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#/features/performance/performance_03)d so that may be a handling bonus. (Actually there’s two Ford Interceptors - the 500/Taurus based sedan and an SUV [Explorer-based??] ) ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/77 "2013-01-09T00:51:25Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > front wheel drive doesn’t help traction once the car is moving and the poor weight distribution makes high speed pursuit less stable around corners. Oh- thanks ! ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/78 "2013-01-09T00:53:38Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > :rolleyes:Oh, gee, I don’t know, maybe it costs more to import a car from Australia than it does to buy one made on this continent? Not in this case, the Chevy sells for a comparable price to the alternatives. We have a “free” trade agreement with the USA so tariffs etc are not a problem and transport costs are pretty small. > [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > I don’t know if you’re trying to say that police departments “stretch” their vehicles on their own like a coach builder would to make a limo because that’s certainly not true. The Taurus and the Charger are the same length as the civilian versions, the Caprice is a long_er_ version of the Pontiac G8 but that’s because it’s sold in that form from the factory as a civilian vehicle in other markets. Spot on the G8 is based on the Commodore and the Caprice on the Statesman. The statesman is a luxury car that is often used by bogans, hire car companies and politicians. I have also owned one and I am none of these subcultures, I just did a lot of country driving with 3 adult passengers, OK maybe a little bit bogan 😉 ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/79 "2013-01-09T00:55:32Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > front wheel drive doesn’t help traction once the car is moving and the poor weight distribution makes high speed pursuit less stable around corners. I’m not sure what you mean by “less stable” exactly, but front weight bias tends to cause a car to understeer, which is what I would consider to be “more stable” compared to oversteer, aka fishtailing. If you think of a car as a lever and the point of rotation as the fulcrum, then moving that point forward causes the rear of the car to act like the long arm of the lever, meaning it takes more force to rotate. The drive wheels typical have very little to do with the handling characteristics of a car. In any case, the Crown Vic is so grossly underpowered that any theoretical advantage of RWD is vastly outweighed by the fact that it’s a 250hp, 2-ton slug with an archaic suspension. A modern V6 Camry would absolutely murder it on a road course, FWD and all, which means that for high speed pursuits they’d be better off buying Camrys. I don’t know if RWD is better from a maintenance perspective; it may well be. If so, then replacing Crown Vics with transverse-engined AWD Tauruses sounds like a maintenance nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428/80 "2013-01-09T01:00:53Z")
> [@sweat209](#): > > So this is main reason they done away with Crown Vic. It became outdated. > > Why did they not bring out new generation of Crown Vic with all new stuff. why bother? the retail customer for something like a Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car was literally dying off (at a previous job we called the Town Car “heaven’s taxi cab.”) Fleet sales aren’t that lucrative either. Spending a shit-ton of money to update a car that sells at most 80,000 units a year (and that’s the Crown Vic and Town Car [combined](http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/15/autos/last_crown_victoria/index.htm) at the low margins of fleet sales would be stupid. The car was an anachronism, and it’s gone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-vic-discontinued-what-does-this-mean-for-the-police-and-taxicabs/646428.md?page=5)