Post by stanhas87 on Nov 14, 2007 16:07:47 GMT 1
Dear All:
It is agreed that the Ford Crown Victoria is a model which will be discontinued soon. As been happenning in Canada since 1999, the Vic will be sold only as a fleet car in 2008, leaving the Gran Marquis as the model which will be left for the General Public. Is still unknown how - or if - this model will be replaced; Ford still states that the Cruiser still has a long life ahead of it while the Falcon and/or a model made over the current Mustang's platform may be the Vic's replacement. Alas, sales of this vehicle for 2007 was higher than Ford expected or wanted to produce so basically, is seen the ideial vehicle for the fleet market. Not only that, it has a model which is specially made for the Middle East (Oman, Kuwait uses it as a Cruiser); more details (thanks to Wilkipedia) below:
Middle East Market
Large American sedans have always been part of the landscape in the Middle East. Since the Chevrolet Caprice was discontinued in 1996, the Crown Victoria and its twin, the Mercury Grand Marquis have been the car of choice for large American car buyers in the region. Even after General Motors realized their loss of market share and introduced the Australian Holden Statesman in left hand drive form as a Chevrolet Caprice, sales of the Ford Panther platform remain strong, especially in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The Australian Caprice, however, has certainly brought some serious, tough competition for what used to be a niche market.
2003 model Crown Victoria LX with diplomatic license plates in Kuwait. Vehicle equipped with Export Handling Package and features Saudi Arabian specifications.Vehicles destined for the Middle East are referred to as "GCC Spec" vehicles, and the Crown Victoria is available in five different trim levels in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries; Standard (P72 VIN designation) Sport (P73), Standard Long-Wheelbase (P70), LX (P74) and LX Sport (P74). While options and standard features vary from country to country in the region, the following is listed as standard equipment on present models:
A true dual exhaust system (except Standard Long-Wheelbase)
17" 5-spoke aluminum sport wheels with P235/55HR17 all-season tires (16" 9-spoke aluminum wheels and P225/60VR16 all-season tires on LX models)
Remote keyless entry system with driver’s door mounted keypad (rare option on Standard, not available on Standard Long-Wheelbase)
40/20/40 split bench with rear air vents and 8-way power driver’s seat, 4-way manual front passenger seat (available in both luxury cloth and leather trim; rear air vents not available on LX Sport models)
Speed control
Dual-Media AM/FM stereo/cassette with a single-CD player (except Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase, which come with AM/FM stereo/cassette player)
2005 Crown Victoria Standard at a Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealership in KuwaitA driver's side spotlight assembly is optional on Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase models, whilst a monochromatic paint job is optional on Sport, LX and LX Sport models. Choice of colors on monochromatic paint jobs include Dark Toreador Red, Silver Birch, Tungsten and Black. A Mercury Marauder rear spoiler is standard equipment on Sport and LX Sport models, being an option on the LX and Standard trim. LX and LX Sport models also come with power 8-way driver and front passenger seats.
Worthy of note, the American Handling and Performance Package (HPP) has been changed to "Export Handling Package" for the Middle East. The only differences between the two is that GCC Spec models have a 2.73 rear axle ratio (as opposed to 3.27) and as a true dual exhaust system is standard equipment, it does not come as part of the package. Vehicles equipped with this package also come with a monochromatic paint job. The Export Handling Packages (EHP) comes with a tuned rear air suspension, revised coil springs, handling shock absorbers and an upsized rear stabilizer bar. EHP is standard on Sport and LX Sport models and is only an option on the LX trim. It is not available on Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase models.
2007 and newer models now come with an available DVD entertainment system (marketed as “Export DVD Entertainment System”). This has been made optional on Sport, LX and LX Sport models.
The Crown Vic comes with a 5 year/200,000 kilometer (125,000 mile) warranty – whichever comes first. As far as the market in Kuwait is concerned, where Grand Marquis sales exceed that of the Crown Victoria, only the Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase models are available. Other models have not been imported as of the year 2000, and 1999 was the last year for the LX trim level. This was part of the authorized dealer/importer's decision to focus on the Grand Marquis.
Is interesting to notice that while the long wheelbase Vic is not sold to the General Public in the USA, is done so in that area. Likewise, the Holden Stateman is also made as a Buick, and is the favorite GM nameplate in China.
Personaly, I think that the Vic/Marquis should not be discontinued; it seems that they always will have a market for these (very unique as of now) models. Also, is impossible to make a listing of the movies which featured the Vic; these appear even in Toyota/Honda/Nissan Commercials!! They had more appearances than the 1977/1978 Monaco/Fury, to be frank.
It is agreed that the Ford Crown Victoria is a model which will be discontinued soon. As been happenning in Canada since 1999, the Vic will be sold only as a fleet car in 2008, leaving the Gran Marquis as the model which will be left for the General Public. Is still unknown how - or if - this model will be replaced; Ford still states that the Cruiser still has a long life ahead of it while the Falcon and/or a model made over the current Mustang's platform may be the Vic's replacement. Alas, sales of this vehicle for 2007 was higher than Ford expected or wanted to produce so basically, is seen the ideial vehicle for the fleet market. Not only that, it has a model which is specially made for the Middle East (Oman, Kuwait uses it as a Cruiser); more details (thanks to Wilkipedia) below:
Middle East Market
Large American sedans have always been part of the landscape in the Middle East. Since the Chevrolet Caprice was discontinued in 1996, the Crown Victoria and its twin, the Mercury Grand Marquis have been the car of choice for large American car buyers in the region. Even after General Motors realized their loss of market share and introduced the Australian Holden Statesman in left hand drive form as a Chevrolet Caprice, sales of the Ford Panther platform remain strong, especially in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The Australian Caprice, however, has certainly brought some serious, tough competition for what used to be a niche market.
2003 model Crown Victoria LX with diplomatic license plates in Kuwait. Vehicle equipped with Export Handling Package and features Saudi Arabian specifications.Vehicles destined for the Middle East are referred to as "GCC Spec" vehicles, and the Crown Victoria is available in five different trim levels in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries; Standard (P72 VIN designation) Sport (P73), Standard Long-Wheelbase (P70), LX (P74) and LX Sport (P74). While options and standard features vary from country to country in the region, the following is listed as standard equipment on present models:
A true dual exhaust system (except Standard Long-Wheelbase)
17" 5-spoke aluminum sport wheels with P235/55HR17 all-season tires (16" 9-spoke aluminum wheels and P225/60VR16 all-season tires on LX models)
Remote keyless entry system with driver’s door mounted keypad (rare option on Standard, not available on Standard Long-Wheelbase)
40/20/40 split bench with rear air vents and 8-way power driver’s seat, 4-way manual front passenger seat (available in both luxury cloth and leather trim; rear air vents not available on LX Sport models)
Speed control
Dual-Media AM/FM stereo/cassette with a single-CD player (except Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase, which come with AM/FM stereo/cassette player)
2005 Crown Victoria Standard at a Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealership in KuwaitA driver's side spotlight assembly is optional on Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase models, whilst a monochromatic paint job is optional on Sport, LX and LX Sport models. Choice of colors on monochromatic paint jobs include Dark Toreador Red, Silver Birch, Tungsten and Black. A Mercury Marauder rear spoiler is standard equipment on Sport and LX Sport models, being an option on the LX and Standard trim. LX and LX Sport models also come with power 8-way driver and front passenger seats.
Worthy of note, the American Handling and Performance Package (HPP) has been changed to "Export Handling Package" for the Middle East. The only differences between the two is that GCC Spec models have a 2.73 rear axle ratio (as opposed to 3.27) and as a true dual exhaust system is standard equipment, it does not come as part of the package. Vehicles equipped with this package also come with a monochromatic paint job. The Export Handling Packages (EHP) comes with a tuned rear air suspension, revised coil springs, handling shock absorbers and an upsized rear stabilizer bar. EHP is standard on Sport and LX Sport models and is only an option on the LX trim. It is not available on Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase models.
2007 and newer models now come with an available DVD entertainment system (marketed as “Export DVD Entertainment System”). This has been made optional on Sport, LX and LX Sport models.
The Crown Vic comes with a 5 year/200,000 kilometer (125,000 mile) warranty – whichever comes first. As far as the market in Kuwait is concerned, where Grand Marquis sales exceed that of the Crown Victoria, only the Standard and Standard Long-Wheelbase models are available. Other models have not been imported as of the year 2000, and 1999 was the last year for the LX trim level. This was part of the authorized dealer/importer's decision to focus on the Grand Marquis.
Is interesting to notice that while the long wheelbase Vic is not sold to the General Public in the USA, is done so in that area. Likewise, the Holden Stateman is also made as a Buick, and is the favorite GM nameplate in China.
Personaly, I think that the Vic/Marquis should not be discontinued; it seems that they always will have a market for these (very unique as of now) models. Also, is impossible to make a listing of the movies which featured the Vic; these appear even in Toyota/Honda/Nissan Commercials!! They had more appearances than the 1977/1978 Monaco/Fury, to be frank.