96towncarcartier

It's nice to see the substantial, even Huge...increase in Crown Victoria sales! So what if it's all fleet purchases... companies know a good car (so eat that, Panther haters!) Focus inventory problems might get worse now that the electric version is gaining attention, such as last night on the Letterman show (even though people had to sit through stale, lame jokes...but at least Emma Stone was on to keep people awake til Alan got there).

I'll tell you, I'm not happy about this decision either, especially since there's been all this talk about how the brand was here to stay. One thing is for sure, it makes me want to hang on to my 2004 Sable even more than ever before... and my mom with her 08 Marquis. I think that while I understand the business side of the equation and why it makes sense to end Mercury, at the same time, it's their own fault that the brand is dying because they never invested in it. Cutting models, reducing options, and focusing elsewhee... NO WONDER the sales have dropped. You have to spend money to make money... and if you ignore something, it's going to wither. Sound familiar? Look at all the other wonderful launches that withered and died... like the Lincoln LS.

Does anyone have the mailing address for STAP? Or who the plant manager is?

REALLY? You "never heard such radical gibberish"??? Hmm...let's go back to the 2000's, when ABC, NBC, CBS were bashing President Bush and calling him a liar, a murderer, a baby killer, with blood on his hands.... Gosh, and how does THAT compare with critically examining Obama's anti-capitalist campaign to destroy our economy with TRILLIONS in debt, so we're now in jeopardy of losing our AAA credit rating, with massive spending and deficits NEVER BEFORE SEEN in this country.... But of course, Obama only sat in Rev. Wright's church for 20 years and apparently never noticed the constant "God damn America" sermons. Riiiiight....

And I've talked to people who've driven those Chrysler products from the '60s and 70's...who admitted, yeah they were fast...as long as you were going in a straight line... Try to turn that thing..... and Good Luck.

Thanks Ford for ALL the wonderful vehicles I've owned in my life: 1988 Tempo (my first car) 1987 Crown Vic 1988 Crown Vic PI 1983 Grand Marquis 1995 Crown Vic PI 1995 Thunderbird 1996 Town Car 2001 Continental 2003 Taurus SE 2007 Five Hundred SEL (current) I've loved every one, dearly. All except the Tempo exceeded 100K miles while I had them. Tempo was traded at 70K

It's ONLY on the list because it's pricier to repair...the whole point of the article is to point out cars that have higher repair costs, regardless of showing people how often the car needs the repairs. It's a new model, that is only shared with one other (Taurus) and it's all new, so of course parts and repair costs might be higher. But to call the list a "clunker" list is definitely biased and misleading. It suggests the car is a lemon, which it is NOT.

I can't see how they can keep a solid bottom line by doing that. To me, an E7 is little more than a niche car that people will faun over for a little while but wouldn't take seriously. Chrysler thought they would be king overnight with the new Charger, but it hasn't happened. E7 is a new car with no history, no proven record and very much a big question mark for any agency. With Crown Vics you know what you're getting...a rock solid car that has proven itself reliable, durable, and dependable.

The new Police Interceptor WILL be rear wheel drive...so the Taurus platform is going to be reworked quite a bit to accomplish this. Mark Fields has said that the new car will beat the competition and offer more room, more HP, and better gas mileage than the CV. To me, they can make a police only car and make a profit. It's simple really: By making a car that doesn't have to share parts or come in "plush" versions, it streamlines assembly, since they don't have to switch components constantly through the assembly line... 'this one's a GS, oh, this is a PI, ooops, that one is supposed to be LS' etc... One line with one product, keeps it simple...keeps it cheaper. Plus, less major redesigns that are forced on the car by a civilian car market. My guess is GM figured this out and Ford planned on it a long time ago when CV's fate was determined by the CAFE 2012 standards...

I wouldn't drive that Carbon Motors thing... it looks like a bad rip-off of RoboCop...and what do you do when it's time to get rid of it...you can't sell it to the public! though impersonators would be happy... Honestly, I think some are getting their panties in a bunch over nothing... I have not seen any word that says STAP is doomed... What I saw indicated the new PI would be "designed and engineered" in the US, but doesn't mean it will be BUILT in the US (Canada). You guys at STAP... I love you. Lost count how many cars my family has owned that you guys built. Keep up the great work.

I'm thinking about buying a 99 Grand Marquis (only has 57,000 miles) but it has an ugly aftermarket radio in it. I want to put a Ford radio in it if I get it...wanted to know, which model "brick" radios will fit? I'd LOVE a 6 disc changer model, but the dash might not hold it. I'd like to give it as upgraded a radio as I can find.

I totally have to agree with a previous post here, it sounds like to me it's been bad service diagnosis. When the tech just "guesses" at the problem, then you keep having to go back again and again. Do you know the tech that works on your car? I got to know all the techs at my dealer, because I used to work there in sales. I built up a rock solid trust with the whole team, so I'm extremely picky where I take my car. I know if I need something pretty serious to be done (which I haven't had to do yet) I go to Andy, who is a Master Technician. He did work on my mom's Grand Marquis a few years ago and the work was flawless. Get to know your techs, but I suspect if you try a different dealer (even try a Lincoln Mercury store) you could get these problems fixed quick in one fell swoop. Coil packs rarely go bad...are you sure you need that done? I've never replaced a coil pack. I only had rear differential work done once, and it was on my 1987 Crown Vic. Water had gotten in there. Never had another problem. Hate to admit, but the early years 2000-2002 were rough years, as there were major product launches during that time on new platforms and with new technologies. As with any product, going from blueprint to actual product will reveal goofs and glitches that you can't predict on paper. So, Focus, Thunderbird, LS were lines that had troubles since they all launched in that timeframe. Starting 2003, the bugs were worked out and all was good again.

That's awesome... I'm happy for you! My sister's 1988 CVPI went about 450,000 miles until she sold it, she didn't need three cars. It still ran like a champ too. Here's to another 500,000 miles on your Mustang... can't keep a horse down!

Two months wait time isn't bad at all... I wish I could go down and order what I want like that...but alas, it's just not in the cards now (or in the wallet!)

It seems their problem is one of being TOO efficient...that when the economy tanks they lack the ability and resources to survive it. Despite GM's problems, they survived years of bad times....Toyota has two years of losses and is almost dead?? Well, that's great news for Ford, huh?

I'm sorry but the Thunderbird is NOT DEAD....it is slated to return in 2012.

Oh, here we go again, people trying to blame Bush for everything. GM and Chrysler could have LISTENED and did what Ford did back in 2006 to AVOID this mess, but chose not to. So now, we have federal takeovers of the private sector. Even Castro and Chavez now believe that they are more *conservative* than Obama...and that's scary. $10 TRILLION in debt, more debt coming as Obama is going to payoff the debts of all the states in the red. MORE debt to come. Then of course, our taxes will go sky-high. How does raising taxes help to end a recession? Did Reagan raise taxes in the 1983 recession? NO. So now the Feds own the banks, the mortgage companies, the car companies, and is ordering who will be CEO and who won't. We now have 13 Czars who "oversee" stuff...more czars than any other president in history. And if $10 trillion isn't enough, he's going to force healthcare debt on top of that. What did England learn from operating this way? Their government is on the brink of COLLAPSE. Conservative party stands to win elections by sweeping margins. Already, two states stand to put Republicans back in office by good margins as well, NJ and VA. You know, we FOUGHT AND DIED for independence because we were sick of being taxed to death by King George. Now look at what's going on in Washington... we traded one tyrant 3,000 miles away, for 3,000 tyrants one mile away....

I couldn't be happier... this is amazing news....

I can't resist either: Name ONE time when massive government spending EVER pulled a country out of recession and out of debt. Nobody can. Case closed.

Now I freely admit, I don't know a whole lot about the details of working for a company when there is a union in charge. Personally, I do not like unions, and feel that they are detrimental to the greater good. I remember in the 80's and 90's, it seemed like every other year, the unions were forcing more and more money from Ford, GM and Chrysler, bumping their worker pay to astronomical levels. Why is it that someone who puts a car together for 8 hours a day should earn $75 an hour, when I dodge bullets and put my LIFE on the line, and barely make $16? Does it seem right that unions can just put a stranglehold on a company and force whatever they want from them? Appears to me, that by doing so, the company ends up paying so much in overhead, that profits slowly disappear. Keep in mind, insurance and payroll are the two BIGGEST expenses of ANY company. Now I fully understand, that our Big 3 have been in business for a century, and have way more retirees than any other automaker out there. That's a huge expense. Somehow, the unions should have tons of money and be able to take care of their own when they retire. Isn't that what dues are for? Why force that expense on the Big 3? So I'm glad they've started to do that now. I met a guy once who worked for Norfolk Assembly, he was wanting to buy an Aviator at the time. His salary was well over $5,000 a month. He could afford to buy a $40K+ vehicle at the snap of his fingers, yet I was struggling to make ends meet, and I was the SALESMAN!! Does this seem fair, when we are ALL part of the success of the company? Don't get me wrong... every single person who builds our cars... I love you guys to death. I love what you do every day. My Five Hundred runs wonderfully after 91,000 miles... flawless miles... because of your hard work. What I'm saying is, I think the huge salaries of the past are a large reason why companies are having money problems now. It's not the ONLY reason, but a good part of it. Even if you build cars and make $40 an hour, you're still doing financially better than the VAST majority of the rest of us. And if a pay cut means the COMPANY can survive, then THAT is what counts. Without the company, EVERYONE loses. Concessions hurt. Taking pay cuts hurts. But which is better.... a pay cut, or massive layoffs? Which is better on the economy, 5,000 people making less money, or 5,000 people making NO money and begging for unemployment? Simply put: What matters most is the well-being of the COMPANY. Making sure it becomes even stronger than ever before, means that your concessions now will be worth the pain down the road.

As passionate as I am about Ford, that I would never own anything else, I still support GM in whatever they can do to stay in business. I have to support my fellow American car companies, even though they are competition. That said, I think that GM is unwilling (or unable) to completely rethink their business model. I wish they'd take serious ideas from Ford's playbook in 2006. As much as it hurts me even today to see the Norfolk plant closed, I'm still grateful because that sacrifice saved the company and kept Ford from going through what GM and Chrysler are going through now. If GM would re-structure from the ground up, just as Ford did, they can become just as strong and so much the better. It takes serious GUTS and ability to think outside the box.... and I don't think it needed to cost Rick Wagoner his job either.

So what is with this guy, anyway? Does he *really* think that a manufacturer is supposed to bend down and kiss the shoes of its customers for the next 20 years of ownership? Where does (gasp!) personal responsibility come in? Gosh, I've owned Fords since I was 16. I've Never, Ever, EVER had problems like this guy claims to have had, and my cars were *always* used when I got them, many with 100K miles at purchase. (Mind you, this was in the 1980's and 1990's, when according to the media, all cars were crap! haha) So let's recap Scuzzi's quote here: You see, I was talking to a guy that had an Acura. He was telling me about how there was a defect with his car (new) and he was heading to another province for a wedding. Well, after having it checked for the third time, Acura gave him a new car, just like the one he had. They admitted that there was a problem with the vehicle and replaced it for him.Wow... powerful admission here. This guy bought an ACURA, product of HONDA...and the car was SO defective they had to give him a WHOLE NEW CAR.... Ahh, but foreign cars are soooo much better, right? Now I know I'm just a average white guy, but I've *never* had to be on the receiving end of a whole new vehicle because of defects. Yeah, Scuzzi, go enjoy that Toyoder of yours. Now that Ford is surpassing everyone in quality, we'll wave at you when we see your Corolla on the side of the road, hood raised and hazards flashing, as we pass in our Five Hundred. G'Day.

Wait a minute, you call THESE guys radical?? HAHAHA Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and all the other extreme liberal whackjobs are the radical ones...they completely ignore the Constitution (...all powers not expressly granted to the federal government...are reserved to the states...or to the people...) and demand that the Feds take over *everything*... Now they want to take over the internet...(hey they already do that in North Korea by controlling the media and banning citizens from having cell phones...) this after taking over the banks, refusing to let banks pay back the TARP funds so that they can have control over them, and now they're taking over the auto companies, and other corporations too. Hmmm... Stalin did all this. So did Lenin. Oh yeah, and HITLER did this too. (paraphrased) "I think we should have a civil defense force, with the funding and equipment of the military...to control the population of the US..." Barack Obama Yeah, Hitler did that too. Control the citizens so they can't oppose you. The Constitution puts the majority of the power with the STATE governments... Committee Senator: "Where Mr Geithner, in the Constitution does it give you the power to take control of the banking system?" Geithner could cite no such Constitutional authority, because there IS NONE.

you need to get your facts straight... Ford INCREASED market share for the SECOND quarter in a ROW... sales are increasing, following the revelation that Ford quality and reliability are EVERY BIT equal to Honduh and Toyoduh, and will soon surpass both of them. Let's not forget too, Mercury is #2 in reliability, only after Lexus. Ford doesn't need a bailout; Ford also makes more vehicles with better gas mileages, has more vehicles with 5 star crash ratings, and the Fusion/Milan/MKZ beats the foreign cars in reliability. And if you REALLY want to know who copies who... Every swept design, every aerodynamic headlight, every car with semi-flush glass windows, every car with "cockpit" style interior packaging... all those features that are made in cars overseas... are actually the ones doing the copying, see: Each of those features were FIRST produced by the Ford Taurus. 1985. So who's got the better reputation? Hmmmmm......

The whole G20 summit looked like a doggone FRAT PARTY based on the pictures in the media... Ridiculous. I'm ashamed of where this country is going. Better believe people are clinging to their guns and bibles... it's the only things you can REALLY count on. Besides the Fords in our driveways of course. OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America.