Mister5oh

The edmunds car looks like a good candidate. At least the front end does. As car manufacturers like to keep their lineup recognizable, the styling cues on the new fusion, focus, and escape front ends will probably transfer to the mustang. You probably shouldn't expect to have your doors blown off when it lands. I'm imagining a fusion styled front end, with a BRZ shaped body, and classic mustang styling cues. What I am really drooling over is the lighter weight and IRS. If those make it to the car, it is going to be a seriously capable car, even more so than it is now. The car magazines won't be pitting this car against camaros and 370Z's, it'll go up against 911's and M3's.

you know, I really wanted to write a post and defend the old platform. Asking ford to change the looks, give it more power, a better trans, etc. but when you face the reality of it. the car is being fazed out for a lot of good reasons. people aren't buying them not just because there aren't any in sight at the dealer, or no public advertising. Its when people see them, the first thing they think is police car or taxi. People think of the crown vic as a taxi/police car first, consumer car second. that right there will never allow the car to reach its rightful potential. Especially after the exploding gas tank lawsuits. the media always introduces the car as "old", and people don't like paying for a new "old" car. an 07 crown vic looks identical to the 98. And I do see the advantages of a mustang based sedan/fleet vehicle. the mustang parts are already there. what other cars are using crown vic parts? whats the point of altering the old chassis to fit the new parts when you can just stretch an exisitng new chassis? yeah, the panther platform has finally reached the end of its life span. It was a good run though.

I just read all the responses and do have a new perspective on things. I've heard a lot of stories about how people wore down a sales staff. I've never pictured being a car sales person and hearing someone relay a story like that. People just don't like to see a ADM sticker on the window. If the car was 60k msrp, it would be easier to swallow. I saw the 03 cobras on the dealer lot go from +10k to +5k to +3k, msrp, and then discounted. The same thing is going to happen to the gt500 when the new camaro, challenger, supra, and skyline hit the market(opinions on this may vary on which cars pull people's interest away). I understand the mark-up. its "limited" as in - "we are only making this many", not "we'll make them until no one buys them anymore" like most other limited cars are. this same dealer had mark-ups on the svt focus and contour. at the end, they were giving the contours away. if it was msrp from the beginning, they might have sold them sooner. Instead they lost money by turning potential buyers away. I remember reading an interview with a SVT exec who said that a limited number added exclusiveness and collectability value to the car. thats nice and all, but with the company hurting like it is, and SVT going out the window, why not just make them at a slow rate until they stop selling. ford and the dealers could sell a lot more of them at a reasonable price. ford is only hurting themselves with such a limited number. which would be better, sell 1 gt500 at +15k, or 15 of them at msrp?

I don't see why people make such a big deal about "dated platforms". Yes, the body-on-frame is old, but is there any real advantage to a new chassis when the old one does so well in crash testing? I wouldn't care if they just kept the panther chassis as is, and just did drivetrain and styling changes every few years. It would help keep costs down and would be as nice as anything on the market now. Ford just needs to update it and do some advertising.

That bronco with the truck bed NEEDS to be the next ranger!!!

AM I the only one who doesn't like the 427? This is the box car with the shaver grille right? More retro would be better, like the 49. Do a 5.4, 6 speed auto, and the mustang 3 link. that with a snub nose and a long trunk. Would look evil as a police car. All this on the tried and true BOF platform would make for a cost effective upgrade. A maruader version with the cobra motor, 4.6 or 5.4, and IRS would be a nice upgrade as well.

I'd like to see them keep the BOF, just add a 5.4 and the mustang 3 link. completely redo the body and make it a modern-retro car like the 49. A snubbier nose with the long trunk. Then do a Marauder version with the 04 or 07 cobra motor, a 6spd automatic trans, and IRS. It would be a waste for ford to scrap the frame and chassis after they've gone through so much effort to make them crash worthy for police use.

I am the proud owner of an 03 retired police car! This car is an absolute dream to drive. Not only that, with it still kinda looking like a police car, people behave themselves around me. It has made for a much more relaxing commute. I cannot believe these cars don't sell better than they do. Even the used ones! For a big car, it has an amazing turning radius! I was fortunate enough to get one that hasn't been crashed, repainted, or come with any bad smells in it. It does have some issues though. hole in the driver seat, cruise control doesn't work, and the body has some holes in it. I am already starting to look for mods. I'd like to get a little more responsiveness out of it. Practically being a full bodied mustang, I am hoping there are a lot of parts available. Any help with fan or performance sites would be appreciated.