Many of you probably already saw this/ but first I'd heard of it: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/26/nyregion/26towncar.html?hp
Ford Motor has quite a few cars that can 'fill in' for the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis. The Grand Marquis is dead anyway because of the Mercury brand being killed. The Taurus pretty much fills in for private customers what the CV did, They've got a cop car version coming out, and for taxi fleet customers, they've got a neat Focus Transit Connect taxi package that should offer loads more space and much greater fuel economy than the CV taxi it replaces. (don't know about hard-use reliability though.....)
I have a friend in the limosine buisness, and he is really at a loss on what can replace the Town Car. Rear wheel drive, the large trunk with large opening, ease of entry and exit, the roomy interior and acceptable luxury cachet...there's just nothing out there like it. David
Right, Wix. If you like luxury yachts...better grab them while there are a few left. I damn near cry when I think of all the beautiful cars that I have had....never to be seen again.
What a shame. I had heard the bad news already, but it just upsets me every time. I have owned 2 Crown Vics, own one right now, I love these cars. The P71 is a darn fine machine.
Am I such a few in numbers person that would only buy a larger V-8 powered rear drive car? I can't belive we have so little choices already, and one less now. MPJ
Detroit is Sold Out - Mow Down MoTown ! Oh my god. I've been a Panther platform guy for ever. I can't take this nasty bit of news. One guy says it all, about why they are killing these cars: In these days where they want to sell us less for more, and make things break more often and be impossible to repair to enslave us with rising costs and holding 2 jobs to keep your life together, it was a matter of time before they'd kill off the only remaining reliable cars which would bring comfort and convenience to regular Joes for a reasonable price. Vic
I too have a friend in the livery business. He had a 97 towncar, which I owned for a little while after he went away for 2 years. It had 535k on it and ran fine. He now has a leased taurus and he at first loved it. I hated it from day one. He has quickly learned that he gets worse mileage driving the same way from this taurus v6 then he did with the v8 lincoln. Also, it doesn't ride the same, doesn't have the same power, and overall is a chintzier car for more $; not to mention smaller inside. The lincoln used to get 25-30 mpg on the open road, now he's happy to get 25. He averaged 19mpg with the lincoln, this one averages 17mpg. A livery towncar can go for about $33k. A similarly equipped taurus goes for ~$31k. We don't even know about longevity yet, but I doubt this car will see half of the 535k that the lincoln saw before having major issues. Thats my $.02 .
Stretched large SUV's like a Ford Expedition or Chevy Suburban can be used as 'entertainment' limos (night-on-the-town type). As to funeral limos, I have seen some conversions of unibody Cadillacs. There's certainly a market for stretch limos out there. Someone will step up.....
http://www.carbonmotors.com/ If these guys get off the ground it'll be a good platform for taxi and limo use. It has that "transformers" styling that is popular with those younger than myself so it could be stretched and outfitted inside for luxury.
Ah, the end of an era, I'm afraid. The only constant in life is change and this certainly constitutes a huge change. No Lincoln Town Car?!! No Crown Vic taxi?!! What is this world coming to?
