http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/the-last-crown-vic-rolls-and-not-as-a-new-york-cab/

As an aside, it's a f**king shame that the new Caprice (aka Holden Commodore) isn't being offered as a civilian model, only to police departments. Blame it on the auto unions -- since it's built in Australia, they wouldn't want a (better) vehicle that's built abroad competing with American-built GM cars.

More proof that the only good UAW member is one that's 5 seconds from being hit by a large truck.

Yea they axed these but --No way they will stop making stupid giant suv's. One of the only new American car I liked was tme lincoln Towne Car.

Oh, and Mayor Bloomie and his buddies deserve to rot for selecting the below-pictured abortion as the replacement for the Crown Vic taxi starting 2013:

(a) it still only seats three people. No rear-facing jumpseats like London taxis or middle row
(b) it looks like it was beaten over the head with the ugly-pipe. An ugly-pipe made of depleted uranium, I may add.
(c) it's not a hybrid, which would be a perfect choice for stop-and go NYC traffic. Yeah, I know there was a court decision forbidding NYC to set MPG standards for taxis, but if they were only selecting one model, they could have at least selected one that makes great MPG.
(d) why the hell should they only use one model, rather than the current system of approving a dozen or so cars that meet the city's specs. Approve the NV200, but allow drivers the choice of using something different as well.

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These are the vehicles one see's in Europe. Whats the problem?

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CHILCUTT~
The secret to a long life. Is knowing when it is time to leave.

The problem is that Mickie Bloomie wants to have only ONE type of car used as a taxi -- any government-mandated monoculture is a bad thing.

Yes, the US appetite for 6,000 plus pound vehicles to carry a 100 pound housewife and two kids to soccer practice is quite puzzling to me.

In the parking lot where I work there are NUMEROUS crew cab, long bed, full size trucks with drivers lacking the skill to park them within one oversized parkinig space. Many of them do not have one single scratch in the bed. They are NEVER used for trucks, only as passenger vehicles.

Not only are there so many of them that you can't find a parking place, but it's no wonder why we don't have as much fuel to go around with so many people using these things for cars.

I have a full size truck, but guess what? I use it when I NEED a truck. I drive a car for transportation of myself and my wife.

All that said, a person has the right to drive an 18 wheeler to work as long as they want to buy fuel for it and find the CORRECT place to park it.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

If you don't mind, we're trying to have a serious conversation. There's a joke thread here if you'd care to contribute.

MV

Especially bad in my area, which is extremely wealthy (I however, am not). Guys drive full size F-150s just for the heck of it, most moms seem to prefer the Land Rover, MB M class and BMW X5. The bigger the better though, I saw some wretchedly tanned middle-aged woman with child in front seat (NO CHILD SEAT, MIND YOU) park one of those atrocious new gigantic Infiniti SUVs in a lot next to my new car. She pulled in and out 7 or 8 times to straighten out, I had my phone ready to capture the moment when I figured she would inevitably hit my car (luckily didn't happen). I needed something more practical that could carry people so I bought a hatchback *shrug*...

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

It is something like 0.002% efficient, pound for pound. Modern management of resources is a very bad joke, not anywhere near funny.

Infraction!

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

That sounds like "the kettle calling the pot black "

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Agreed. Biggest sign of this was when Ford decided to raise the side of the bed height on the F-150s. Remember that? was like 10 years ago or so. It was done as a concession to styling and not to utility.

Was working in commercial fishing industry at the time, using F-150s as a delivery truck. Older body style, you could easily lift boxes over the side of the bed, and even trash cans on the 4x4. We were accustomed to swinging 150lb sacks of clams up and over into the bed.

When the new trucks came out, the side was so much higher that it made it impossible to realistically use the same way. Boss was livid, ended up getting a second truck, a Ranger for delivery, and keeping and maintaining the old F-150 for water collection and towing needs, instead of just getting a replacement same size truck.

The super-duty front end (which kept the same bed side height) was way too large for in town delivery. (resort town with narrow cobble stone streets and tight quarters)

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Because it was a 35-year old platform and there are alternatives (read: the Dodge LX-platform cars). But anyway, if the Caprice is being imported for cop use, why the hell not market it to everyone? The type approval process is already a done deal, so there's little to no expense involved.

The last GTO started to be imported before the "restructuring" of GM by the unholy trinity of old GM management, the band of parasites at the UAW, and the government occurred. i.e. before 2009, the UAW didn't actually *OWN* a share of GM!!

How many cars can claim that?

I have an '03 Lincoln TC and I have to say, that it is one damn fine car. Fit and finish exceeds the '87 W126 I have but I like the 126's ride better; the TC seems a little harsh in that department. Engine (4.6L V8) is dead solid and gets about 23-24 on the hwy.

They made a long body TC which would make it just about the perfect ride but, unfortunately, they're practically non-existent around here.

I guess the Panther chassis went away because it wasn't new enough.

FWIW, beginning in '03 the TC shared suspension components (aluminum front crossmember, aluminum U&L control arms and rear cross links on the diffy) with the CVPI.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.