7Mary3

Depends on your definition of 'corrected'. The newer ones don't do it, but G.M. isn't recalling the old ones that do.

Does anyone know yet if the 'Hurricane' will be a new engine family, or will it be based on the Modular/Triton.

If the Mod. has not fallen short, than why is Ford proceding with the Hurricane?

I don't know if the Crown Vic would be any better in a high speed accident. That Charger is basically built on a modified version of the previous generation Mercedes E Class, and you know those Germans build their cars to survive crashes at very high speeds.

I think that the injection system on the 6.4L is less complex and should be an improvement over what the 6L has, however the twin turbochargers will result in an engine with more potential problems, and an engine that is harder to service (didn't think that was possible!). It remains to be seen if the 6.4L will be an improvement or not.

Doesn't matter. The police market is going to Dodge.

GTO's getting 'creamed' by base GT Mustangs? My only explanation would be that the GTO driver wasn't aware the Mustang was racing him! Drive them both and then see if you agree with that statement. Back to the CVPI's: I just heard from a friend that the L.A.P.D. is going to sell all their CVPI's and go with the Charger. I think there may have been a lot of resentment for the CVPI in that department for some reason.

O.K., so now you have me wondering about Triton powered '08 Super Duty 4X4 front axles! No Powerstrokes for me, thanks.

Thanks! I thought I was loosing it. I am more concerned with what's happening to the '07 SD rather than the post at this point.

Wasn't there a post here yesterday saying that the '07 would still use a SFA rather than the rumored IFS?

No joke! I think Ford is in worse trouble than G.M. is now. G.M. has all these hot cars comming out, and Ford gives us imitation Camrys like the 500. Outside of the F-150 and the Mustang, what have they got? Explorer sales are in the toilet, Ranger's dead, the Super Duty's are going to fall victim to high fuel prices and a hideous re-style (and don't tell me that their commercial market is safe, either. An Isuzu NPR can do anything an F-450 can, but with better economy and reliability). Lincoln is Cadillac road kill. Mercury? Are they still around? Been so long since I have seen a new one. Volvo and Mazda show promise, but is it enough? Way forward, there isn't going to be a Ford if they don't shape up fast. Sorry for the rant...

That letter looks just like the one Oldsmoble dealers got a few years before they quit making Oldsmobles! I think with the demise of the Town Car (a big percentage of 'Panther' profits), the situation with the Candaian plant, some fierce competition for the police car market soon, and Ford's financial situation, the future of the Crown Vic. is cloudy at best.

I was told the 'Hurricane' was a truck engine project. The word that worries me is 'Hemi'. The CVPI was hard pressed to keep up with the V-6 Charger in the MSP tests.

Well, let's see how committed Ford will be to the CVPI when another manufacturer walks away with better than half the police car market in the U.S.. The CVPI has better than 80% of the market right now, but I have a bad feeling that's going to change.

More of a problem than you might think. The F-450 has a longer wheelbase than the F-350 does, so it you were to mount a F-350 bed on an F-450, you would have quite a gap between the bed and cab. Ford does not have a pickup bed for the F-450, though a few companies make 5th. wheel 'puller beds' for them. I don't think that these beds, which are usually made of fiberglass, would be strong enough to mount a slide-in camper.

I don't think we will see an 'F-850', even when the no-compete clause ends with Freightliner. First, sales of the F-650 and F-750 have been less than spectacular. The truck is built by International, a competitor to Ford, and I don't think International wants Ford competing in the heavy duty segment. And, since the majority of the Ford commercial truck dealers are also Sterling dealers, there would be a lot of competition right on the dealer lots for an 'F-850'. As it is now, the Fords don't overlap with the Sterlings too much.

Based on my own experiences, I like IFS on full size 4X4 pickups. I think the handle and ride better, and I have not had any more trouble with IFS compared to a straight axle. Yes, the GM IFS can have CV joint boot trouble in freezing weather, if they get packed with ice and snow. But, the plasic ball joints on the Super Duty front axles are weak, and prone to wearing out. There are certain situations off road where a straight axle has an advantage, but full size trucks are not good for hard-core off-roading anyway. Straight axle trucks are certainly easier to lift, if you are in to that sort of thing.

I think Ford is in the process for giving the police car market back to Chrysler. That Charger is going to be THE law enforcement vehicle, and Ford has nothing to compete with it. Yes, they are still selling CVPI's now, but when police spec. Charger production gets under way, that's it. Many in law enforcement are very excited about Chrysler's return, particularly with the new Hemi. This new D3 will probably be a good car, I'll bet more appealing to the public, but I see no law enforcement application in it.

I think it means 'short-long arm', as in upper and lower control arms.

Wait one minute, did you say SLA (as in independent) front suspension on F-250 4X4's? No more 'Twin I Beam' or straight axle 4X4's? I might be in the minority, but both moves in the right direction!

I don't like it, either. Besides, the Sante Fe Super Chief was usually pulled by a General Motors locomotive. So, Ford styled the truck after a 50+ year old G.M. product.......