Totally OT Ford attempts to dazzle the customer

[Robatoy]

I'm an Audi guy. I have messed with BMW, even Mercedes. (Never any real 'upscale' versions like AMG's or M5's). So, I have a bit of a feel for handling and power and such. Nothing I like more than being able to throw around big cars at small car- speeds. That ride in that Ford 500 was a real surprise for me. It had all kinds of throttle, LOTS of cornering ability, and plenty of brakes. I likened it to a 540 BMW in all aspects. For WAY less than half the money of an Audi A6 with a 4.2 litre V-8, the 500 was one helluva deal. (Fit and finish weren't quite there...and neither was the 'scent'..but dammit, it was a nice car.)

*sigh*... what a a frickin' shame. Really. That mind-set is so hard to overcome. So much has to do with people feeling 'let down'. I have a parking lot full of stories. My guys love some of my old GMC rolling stock, but can't stand the newer stuff.

I repeat. It is a crying shame. It's like a huge collective enema was shoved up an entire nation and deflated any and all loyalties out from under them.

*I* am a Canadian. *I* take pride in buying something that says MADE IN USA. *I* am NOT sucking up to anybody here. It is a FACT! My big brother to the south of me can do AMAZING things. Moonshots. Big Bombs even. You sunsabitches kicked some whoopass in Europe back in '45. You got some awesome women down there. (My sister's one of them... so are 3 nieces who suffered tornadoes and dead husbands...) Hell...even your Bourbon is kinda wicked and cool.

So, lose Bush, Cheney, and Doug Miller, and I'll love you again.

You DO know I'm kidding, right? (well maybe not ALL of it...)

[Leon]

Yeah, ths only thing I have heard negative about the 500 was the new shiftless transmission. Apparently it is lack luster and sluggish.

American cars in genereal. I worked for GM dealerships and can assure you that the lack of quality, the lack of "caring" is what has gotten them in the spot they are in today. I clearly recall single part numbers that would go bad year after year with no design improvements. I clearly recall the GM rep grabbing a hand full of warranty parts and rejecting the warranty claims simply because our dealer hip was replacing more than the zone average. Might I add that we were awarded a Service Excelence award by GM for having the fewest customer complaints amoung other things.

[Robatoy]

Lackluster in the sense that it isn't something you can feather and slam about. I like the more direct feel too, but it sure was smooth.

[Leon]

.

The car is probably exactly as they intended, a replacement for the Crown Vic. Most of those buyers are more concerned with smooth over performance.

[Bob Alexander]

[FoggyTown]

If Tom McCahill was still around you can bet he'd have a few choice words on the subject. (God I miss his reviews.)

Car model naming seems to have become more wierd over the years. (Unless you really prefer Mercedes' and BMW's uninspired alpha-numeric approach.) I succeeded in never riding in a Datsun Cherry

FoggyTown

[George]

Most drivers of the Crown Victoria have good, overbuilt transmissions rather than fuel-saving smooth types, because they're cops.

[Leon]

Well, that "usta" be true but ever since the problem with the gas tanks exploding in a collision way back when, the Crown Vic's were dropped immediately in the SE Texas area.

[Leon]

I think all the Asian cars have a rather strange name. When I worked for an Isuzu dealership in the 80's our factory rep indicated, IIRC the Pickup, "Pup" was called Lotus Blossom, in Japan.

[dpb]

Maybe, but that certainly wasn't general.

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[Leon]

Huh? This was pretty well know via most all national TV networks. It was reported that "many" law enforcement agencies were getting rid of them.

[dpb]

I guess it was the "immediately" that flagged my attention -- there were jurisdictions around here that didn't replace them w/ Vic's, but couldn't afford to get rid of them until rotation time came up...

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[Max]

There are still plenty of them in service in El Paso.

Max

[dpb]

Here as well. In fact, back when it became a flap, the local county maintenance supervisor, being an old farm boy, took all of the ones used for patrol and welded a plate to the frame behind the tank to stop the penetration of the stray piece--problem solved for probably 99% of the cases, much less expensive than buying new.

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[Ferd Farkel]

[Leon]

Smaller towns then not to rack up the miles as quickly and the budgets are usually pretty tight.

[Max]

650,000 population. 1200 man police force. 20 - 2007 Ford Crown Victorias 6 - 2007 Dodge Chargers numerous older Crown Vics