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http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?did=476&scid=96
or maybe we could teach people not to drive their oh so fast cars into parked cars that have bright flashing lights. Although those people never seem to be at fault, or so the lawyers would have you believe.
But pluto5, I'm not against a safer Vic. Let Ford incorporate the bladder & FIRE pannel into new Interceptors (civilian models don't need all that IMHO) and call it a day.
I am in one of those two positions, and I can tell you flat out that not only do those groups get to decide, but they get to decide after the fact, and without all the facts. The Pinto is a perfectly good example. It had nothing UNIQUE about its set-up either, for its time. But you know what happened there.
Look at emission controls, safety standards, CAFE. In ALL those instances, engineers had precious little input. What happens next to the Crown Vic is as much in doubt as what happened next to Trent Lott was in mid-December...
BTW, how much has been discussed about additions to these vehicles screwed into the trunk? Could this be a factor?
And, finally, I also agree with an earlier post that some responsibility should be publicly placed on those who are slamming into the rear of police vehicles stopped on the side of the road with their flashing lights and strobes on! Driver Ed sucks in this country.
The basic fuel tank location on these models dates back to the Galaxy's of the 60's. The tank is not located directly behind the bumper (like the Pinto was), but is between the trunk & rear axle. Fairly well protected from behind, and protected by the frame on the side. (Note that many small unibodies place the tank directly under the rear passenger seat.)
The problem seems to happen only in extremely high speed rear end accidents, over 50-60 mph. If the car is hit so hard that the rear axle moves, bolts from the rear axle could possibly puncture the tank. (I doubt if most cars could take a hit like that without major problems.)
There is a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) that details a simple fix; typically cutting off the offending bolts. Ford should incorporate this design improvement for all new CV/GMs.
Meanwhile, I still feel safer in this car than most others. Also, look at how the gas tank hangs right below the rear bumper on certain SUVs. Since cars are lower than SUVs, I wonder why we don't hear more reports of fires on these? Like someone said in an earlier posting, it is probably a small group of greedy lawyers and uninformed journalists that are pumping up this story.
I have a problem with my 99GM Ls with 51k miles. The last couple of days the car is having problems starting. To make it start I have to pump the gas pedal before starting. I know this is not normal. Because I have not had a single problem since I got this car in 99.
What do you think is wrong?
Thanks
I can't remember a hangover I ever had that acted like a cold with a sore throat. The ones that I remember (ackkk!) behaved like a horrible case of the stomach flu.
Ahem again.
Moving right along....
:-)
I would expect below invoice, maybe $400 - $500 below ? Especially now that they have been compared to the Ford Pinto
although I remember reading the NHTSA investigated the Vic and found no problems. But what do they know...
here's the link: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/Current/CrownVic/CrownVic021003.html
Any ideas...Help my car is parked at a shopping center..somewhere.
Thanks!
P.S. Next in the running is an early 90s Acura Legend w/ 100K, but I'm leery of old a/c, tired trannys, nearness to rust, etc.
Ron
I just bought a GM and yesterday was deciding where I will place a sticker inside the car, (hidden), while I carry the card in my wallet.
So ..... if the original owner thought the same way, your code could be anywhere, NOT in one particular spot.
If you don't find the sticker/code, ask the dealer to call the past owner for it ! And lastly, I would pay the $ 80, (although it doesn't seem right) because as you know, you can:
put in an additional 2 codes, easy to remember
know that you will NEVER be locked out again !
grab something out quickly, while keeping your car locked
and you can even pop the trunk open from the key pad.
Good luck !
$80 bucks is a ripp off. E mail the assembly plant.
I test drove a Marauder and did find the ride to be somewhat stiff, but, in the Marauder, that's to be expected. However, even with a suspension that is stiffer than the regular GM, I never noticed any jitters. But, after driving the Marauder, my 94 TBird ride felt extremely soft.
Maybe Mercury is after the buyers that have either had enough of the SUV craze, or gotten tired of their sports sedans, and want to get back to a full size car. In that case, they may find the standard GM ride "less stiff" than the SUV or sports sedan ride.
After test driving the Marauder, I couldn't help but wonder if that level of stiffness would become more annoying than enjoyable after the car had aged.
But, the Marauder also seemed to accelerate with ease, as compared to the 4.6 TBird, which I had thought was a pretty quick car.
That was my case, I almost joined the SUV craze, but due to saftey reasons and my preference for more comfort vs more perfomance, I bought a GM.
I have heard that past GM owners feel the 03 is "stiffer". I can completely understand that. But my comparison of ride comfort was relative to other 03 cars, and I can tell you that driving the 03 GM, (I do have the handling package), that with all the roominess and seat comfort, I feel like I'm riding in a limo. Speaking of limos, I haven't seen many Buick or Toyota limosines, or SUVs for that matter. Why do you think that is ?
"nervous and unsettled" in a GM ? Hardly !
You want to know what "nervous and unsettled" is ?
Drive a "perfomance" car around those 6000 lb + SUV and trucks while they are on their cell phones and wonder if they are going to stop when they should.
That, my friendly reviewer, will make you "nervous and unsettled" !
Buick has a very smooth riding SUV, but most others ? That highway bounce in an SUV is not my idea of comfort driving. But obviously, I'm in the minority.
About a week ago, we got hit with a rush hour, sudden freezing drizzle in the North Jersey area. Caught everybody by surprize (wasn't supposed to drizzle until the early morning hours).
Saw an SUV do an upside down flip on a bridge where the light rain had frozen immediately. Landed on it's roof.
Can't figure out why the SUV flipped over; after all, every SUV commercial shows that SUVs can go up/down mountains, cross streams, and go through snow with absolutely no problems!!!Truth in advertising.
Let's see; should the SUV driver sue the manufacturer, the TV stations for playing the ad, or the Department of Transportation for not having a sander on every bridge in town as soon as it snows? Better yet; sue them all and let the one with the deepest pockets pay.
All three of my brothers-in-law have at least one SUV, and I know I'm in the minority, but I just don't see it.
If Ford finds it has alienated a good percentage of its CV/GM buyers by altering the suspension, it will change back. Ford still makes a decent profit on these models. I doubt it will ignore a segment of the market no other Big Three manufacturer covers at that price range.