It's getting hot down here...
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Senior Member
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From: Dallas
It's getting hot down here...
and I'm not talking weather...Ford is accusing the city of Dallas of running a smear campain against them and the Crown Vic.
Dallas has decided to not buy anymore Vics and is sueing Ford over it since a Police Officer was killed last October.
Ford is saying Dallas is contacting other municipalitys and telling them to not buy the Vic in thier next budget year because of the collision factor.
Also Ford is accussing Dallas of rigging a collsion test by welding a tire iron to a floor jack and posistioning it in the trunk so it would pierce the fuel tank.
More to follow
Dallas has decided to not buy anymore Vics and is sueing Ford over it since a Police Officer was killed last October.
Ford is saying Dallas is contacting other municipalitys and telling them to not buy the Vic in thier next budget year because of the collision factor.
Also Ford is accussing Dallas of rigging a collsion test by welding a tire iron to a floor jack and posistioning it in the trunk so it would pierce the fuel tank.
More to follow
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From: Lakeville, Minnesota, USA
I'm not going to say that there is no issue with fire and the Vics in police duty BUT:
In a study done by the Florida Highway Patrol, they found that the Full Size Caprice that used to be offered by GM had a nearly identical, but slightly higher rate of death in fire in their vehicle.
Ford is the only one left making a true full size police car, and thus gets a lot of press time when issues like this come up - kind of a kick em when there down kind of a deal.
How come nobody ever points out that the Vic is as safe as what the competitiors offered too? These are cars in hard duties that sometimes put them in harms way. Not an easy job for the car or the officer.
In a study done by the Florida Highway Patrol, they found that the Full Size Caprice that used to be offered by GM had a nearly identical, but slightly higher rate of death in fire in their vehicle.
Ford is the only one left making a true full size police car, and thus gets a lot of press time when issues like this come up - kind of a kick em when there down kind of a deal.
How come nobody ever points out that the Vic is as safe as what the competitiors offered too? These are cars in hard duties that sometimes put them in harms way. Not an easy job for the car or the officer.
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From: Houston and Lil ol' England
I have got to agree with Gopher completely.
I am constantly amazed that a big company like Ford gets negative press about this kind of issue.
What does the Ford PR department and upper management get paid for?
They have the resources to get the Vic independently tested alongside other makes to see how it performs as far as safety goes.
If the Vic comes out well in the tests then Whoohoo, throw on a big newspaper and TV ad campaign showing how good it is.
If the Vic fares badly, admit it and fix the damn thing.
This would show that they have moved on from the Firestone tyre and Pinto fuel tank debacle which would improve customer confidence.
Anyone from Ford listening? I could make this go away and my salary demands are not too outrageous.
I am constantly amazed that a big company like Ford gets negative press about this kind of issue.
What does the Ford PR department and upper management get paid for?
They have the resources to get the Vic independently tested alongside other makes to see how it performs as far as safety goes.
If the Vic comes out well in the tests then Whoohoo, throw on a big newspaper and TV ad campaign showing how good it is.
If the Vic fares badly, admit it and fix the damn thing.
This would show that they have moved on from the Firestone tyre and Pinto fuel tank debacle which would improve customer confidence.
Anyone from Ford listening? I could make this go away and my salary demands are not too outrageous.
Last edited by EnglishAdam; Sep 18, 2003 at 08:43 AM.
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From: NJ
Here is a news article posted from Corner Carvers.com. The thread didn't state where the article was originally copied from.
In bold you will notice some interesting info.
I understand they want to protect the officers, but currently automotive technology is not advanced enough to protect drivers from every conceivable type of accident.
Setting the Record Straight on Crown Vic Police Cars
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 12, 2003 (FCN) -- Ford Motor Company is sending notification to more than 30,000 law enforcement customers nationally in response to the manipulated crash tests the city of Dallas conducted this summer involving Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) vehicles.
Crown Victoria Trunk Pack
The notification is aimed at reassuring police departments around the country that the Trunk Pack is effective in reducing the risk of fuel tank puncture following high-speed, high-impact rear crashes.
"Several important facts were not included in Dallas' announcement and the subsequent media reports," said Sue Cischke, vice president, Environmental & Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company.
Dallas officials stated that the Trunk Pack offered by Ford "failed" to protect the fuel tank in 75 mph crash tests.
"In conducting the Dallas test, the Trunk Pack was loaded with atypical items and police equipment was specially altered and deliberately positioned to puncture the Trunk Pack," Cischke said. "In short, the test did not simulate what would happen in the real world."
Dallas crash tests on the Trunk Pack included nonstandard items like a crowbar welded to a floor jack and a wrecking bar.
As an example, Ford found that a crowbar was welded onto a 2-ton mechanics floor jack with four high-strength welds (see photo). The sharp edge of the crowbar was pointed toward the fuel tank. Additionally, the jack-handle sleeve was welded into the upright position and pointed at the fuel tank.
"There is no conceivable functional reason for welding a crowbar to a jack in this fashion," Cischke stated.
The Trunk Pack also was loaded with a wrecking bar. Prior to the Trunk Pack development, the Blue Ribbon Panel and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted a survey of 80 law enforcement agencies to determine what type of equipment police officers typically carry in their trunks.
Only one agency out of 80 reported carrying any kind of bar -- in this case a pry bar -- in their trunks. Dallas, however, included two bars, a crow bar and a wrecking bar, in its tests. The sharp edge of the wrecking bar was pointed toward the fuel tank.
"Ford Motor Company believes that our law enforcement customers should be informed about the circumstances of the Dallas Trunk Pack testing," said Cischke. "We hope this explanation has served this purpose."
Ford conducted both laboratory and 75 mph crash tests with the Trunk Pack and representative police equipment determined by the panel's survey. During that testing, there was no fuel tank puncture resulting from the trunk equipment.
"Ford stands by its Trunk Pack as an effective tool that reduces the risk of fuel tank punctures from police equipment," Cischke concluded.
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 12, 2003 (FCN) -- Ford Motor Company is sending notification to more than 30,000 law enforcement customers nationally in response to the manipulated crash tests the city of Dallas conducted this summer involving Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) vehicles.
Crown Victoria Trunk Pack
The notification is aimed at reassuring police departments around the country that the Trunk Pack is effective in reducing the risk of fuel tank puncture following high-speed, high-impact rear crashes.
"Several important facts were not included in Dallas' announcement and the subsequent media reports," said Sue Cischke, vice president, Environmental & Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company.
Dallas officials stated that the Trunk Pack offered by Ford "failed" to protect the fuel tank in 75 mph crash tests.
"In conducting the Dallas test, the Trunk Pack was loaded with atypical items and police equipment was specially altered and deliberately positioned to puncture the Trunk Pack," Cischke said. "In short, the test did not simulate what would happen in the real world."
Dallas crash tests on the Trunk Pack included nonstandard items like a crowbar welded to a floor jack and a wrecking bar.
As an example, Ford found that a crowbar was welded onto a 2-ton mechanics floor jack with four high-strength welds (see photo). The sharp edge of the crowbar was pointed toward the fuel tank. Additionally, the jack-handle sleeve was welded into the upright position and pointed at the fuel tank.
"There is no conceivable functional reason for welding a crowbar to a jack in this fashion," Cischke stated.
The Trunk Pack also was loaded with a wrecking bar. Prior to the Trunk Pack development, the Blue Ribbon Panel and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted a survey of 80 law enforcement agencies to determine what type of equipment police officers typically carry in their trunks.
Only one agency out of 80 reported carrying any kind of bar -- in this case a pry bar -- in their trunks. Dallas, however, included two bars, a crow bar and a wrecking bar, in its tests. The sharp edge of the wrecking bar was pointed toward the fuel tank.
"Ford Motor Company believes that our law enforcement customers should be informed about the circumstances of the Dallas Trunk Pack testing," said Cischke. "We hope this explanation has served this purpose."
Ford conducted both laboratory and 75 mph crash tests with the Trunk Pack and representative police equipment determined by the panel's survey. During that testing, there was no fuel tank puncture resulting from the trunk equipment.
"Ford stands by its Trunk Pack as an effective tool that reduces the risk of fuel tank punctures from police equipment," Cischke concluded.
I understand they want to protect the officers, but currently automotive technology is not advanced enough to protect drivers from every conceivable type of accident.
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From: NH
They should stop whining about reality. In reality some things are going to happen and some people will die. No one can build a car that is 100% safe 100% of the time.
Why don’t they have some Winston Cup Teams build them some cars with roll cages, race fuel tank etc. Even then some will die..
Why don’t they have some Winston Cup Teams build them some cars with roll cages, race fuel tank etc. Even then some will die..
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Member
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Lawrenceville, GA
Winston Cup Cop Cars....hmmm other than never being able to out run a cop (note I would never do that anway) I like it....
Get some sponsorship for the PD's.
Think of the comunity outreach programs that would enable
Stan
Get some sponsorship for the PD's.
Think of the comunity outreach programs that would enable
Stan
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NHTSA has already stated publicly that the Crown Vic fuel tanks exceed all of their safety criteria and could not duplicate the explosions in their labs.
The Crown Vic also has lower incidence of tank explosions per 1000 cars than the Caprice.
These cops are just pissed becasue they are Chev guys and most would rather have the Caprice.
The Crown Vic also has lower incidence of tank explosions per 1000 cars than the Caprice.
These cops are just pissed becasue they are Chev guys and most would rather have the Caprice.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Tyler, Texas
Originally posted by J-150
NHTSA has already stated publicly that the Crown Vic fuel tanks exceed all of their safety criteria and could not duplicate the explosions in their labs.
The Crown Vic also has lower incidence of tank explosions per 1000 cars than the Caprice.
These cops are just pissed becasue they are Chev guys and most would rather have the Caprice.
NHTSA has already stated publicly that the Crown Vic fuel tanks exceed all of their safety criteria and could not duplicate the explosions in their labs.
The Crown Vic also has lower incidence of tank explosions per 1000 cars than the Caprice.
These cops are just pissed becasue they are Chev guys and most would rather have the Caprice.
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Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Lakeville, Minnesota, USA
At this time, the only true full size police CAR offered by any of the manufactuers is the Crown Vic.
The impala is what Chevy markets as a competitior, but most police authorities prefer the rear wheel drive, V8 powered full size car for the tough work.
The impala is what Chevy markets as a competitior, but most police authorities prefer the rear wheel drive, V8 powered full size car for the tough work.