panther dead?

[michael ward]

I KNOW THE VIC HAS BEEN FLEET ONLY IN 08/09 ALONG WITH TOWN CAR . AND THE G.M WAS FOR PUBLIC SALE I DONT SEE ANYTHING ON 2010 MODELS IS THE PANTHER PLATFORM OFFICIALLY DEAD? :confused: IF SO WHAT A SHAME. THEY WILL LOOSE THE POLICE MARKET FOR SURE. WHATS THE REPLACEMENT CAR THE NEW TAURUS WITH FRONT DRIVE? FORD IS MAKING A BIG MISTAKE LIKE CHEVY DID IN 96.

[SC Cheesehead]

yep, you heard right.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55056

2011 and there will be no more...:shake:

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

It's been a long run though! Can't be too upset about it, all good things must come to an end, or something like that.

[Hack Goby]

America's Five Most Overpriced Cars
1. Dodge Ram 2500



2. Mercury Grand Marquis



3. Jeep Liberty



4. Dodge Nitro



5. Dodge Durango

[Marauder Rick]

These are all of our panthers guys... It is currently the nations longest running platform. Actually I believe that's worldwide. I have to double check.


Ford

Ford LTD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_LTD_%28North_America%29) (1979–1982)
Ford LTD Crown Victoria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_LTD_Crown_Victoria) (1983–1991)
Ford Crown Victoria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Crown_Victoria) (1992–Present)
Ford Country Squire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Country_Squire) (1979-1991)





Mercury

Mercury Marquis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Marquis) (1979–1982)
Mercury Grand Marquis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Grand_Marquis) (1983–Present)
Mercury Marauder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Marauder) (2003–2004)
Mercury Colony Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Colony_Park) (1979-1991)





Lincoln

Lincoln Continental Mark VI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Mark#1980_to_1983_Cont inental_Mark_VI) (1980–1983)
Lincoln Town Car (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Town_Car) (1981–Present)

[cassidy]

So they will still make the Town Car for limos and fleet purchase?

If there is no body on frame rear wheel drive available, my next car will be a TRUCK... (Although those Chrysler stow'n'go seats that fold into the floor are amazing!)...

Is 2011 the end for ALL Panthers worldwide? I have no problem getting a 2012 Panther from Australia if I have to...

HUGE MISTAKE FORD !!! We will all be driving 40 mile per gallon obamamobile death traps. (or should I say BarrySoetoromobiles?)

[JUST 1BULLITT]

We'll all have to stay tuned for more! (At least they didn't just PULL THE PLUG on us immediately and say "2009 is IT!!" then we'd all really be SOL!!) at least now we can TRY and save up for the "Last runs of them" by 2010/11...it WAS a long and damn GOOD run!! I HOPE to never be without at least a couple Panthers in my Driveway/Garage/ManCave! :banana2:

[Marauder Rick]

I believe Lincoln is going to get the Ford D3 platform which is said to be an AWD platform. Ford and Merc are said to get the austrailian "Falcon" platform.

[cassidy]

Is the D3 platform as big as the current Town Car "L"?

If I were rich...I mean really rich...I would buy the rights to the Panther platform...upgrade them to future safety standards...put a motor at every wheel and load the area between the frame rails with the best available batteries and sell that model forever...

It would be the "L" version of one of the current Panthers...I really like the Grand Marquis styling over the Town Car (more male don't you think?). Wouldn't that be the ultimate electric car??? I want a 400 mile range...it is possible.

Also the only van I would ever buy is the Town'n'Country with the stow and go seats...what a neat design!!! You can fold two rows flat into the floor...DVD players on three rows of seats...back-up camera...and lock the Sirius into SIRIUSLY SINATRA and I will drive around the world...OK stopping at the oceans...

P.S. I just looked it up...OH MY GOD...the MKS is NOT BIG ENOUGH TO BE CALLED A TOWN CAR !!! Will I be driving a truck from now on? How long will the Cadillac DTS be made? At least that is a real full size vehicle in the American tradition... The future does not bode well...

[CBT]

Is the D3 platform as big as the current Town Car "L"?

Yep, almost as long as the Marauder "L" car. Got a pic of that here somewheres, hang on....

[cassidy]

I saw the MKS many times...and I think mid size. That is not the same outside dimensions as the Panther platform...especially the "L"

[michael ward]

thanks for the info guys!!! so 2011 it is i know all good things come to a end. but they should replace with a full size RWD and keep the market going. this fwd crap dont cut it. i miss my marauder soo much.. needed a truck bought a f150 and love it but its no marauder...:burnout:

[offroadkarter]

their is no market for BOF RWD full size cars, people want small cheap fuel efficent cars now...


And whoever said they are getting a 2012 panther from australia, australia doesnt even know what the panther platform is, they have good cars with big motors down there....

Middle east is where its at, they still sell the crown vic over there, and its being decontended to.

[SC Cheesehead]

their is no market for BOF RWD full size cars, people want small cheap fuel efficent cars now...


And whoever said they are getting a 2012 panther from australia, australia doesnt even know what the panther platform is, they have good cars with big motors down there....

Middle east is where its at, they still sell the crown vic over there, and its being decontended to.

No, the Imperial Federal Government has mandated, through it's goofy CAFE program, that "thou shalt drive small, cheap, fuel efficent cars." Market for BOF RWD is still out there, but the capability to serve it is being restricted, IMO.

[Mike Poore]

It still remains to be seen. The Town Car keeps returning, even though FMC claims it's dead. Wasn't it the 08's that they started re-making mid year, because of demand? Of course, we remember the death of the Mustang, and due to consumer demand, look where it it today. I'm not ready to put the Town Car down for the count, until Ford comes up with a suitable replacement. The version they're selling is very profitable, and no matter what they say, still, it all comes down to that.

[LIGHTNIN1]

If ford quits making RWD cars people will just buy Mercedes,BMW or whoever else makes RWD. I'm not going to drive one of their "GREEN CARS" on matter of principle if nothing else.

[michael ward]

If ford quits making RWD cars people will just buy Mercedes,BMW or whoever else makes RWD. I'm not going to drive one of their "GREEN CARS" on matter of principle if nothing else.
Me either they can keep there fwd/awd platforms its a shame they have to idiot proof all these new cars. what happend to the good old days when everyone drove rwd in winter. cant they make a drivetrain rwd/awd its always fwd/awd that suks..

[LIGHTNIN1]

You can imagine what one of the green cars,maybe the Smart car, will do in deep snow.If i get hit by a truck on ice I want to be in something BIGGGGG! I've been in my share of wrecks and a microcar won't cut it for me.

[RF Overlord]

While I will nurse my cars along for as long as possible, eventually I will have to replace at least one of them...and if Foord doesn't have a RWD platform then they have lost another customer. I don't WANT to, but if I HAVE to, I'll buy a Charger/Challenger...OOPS I forgot that FIAT wont be making those anymore, either. OK, then if I HAVE to, I'll buy a BMW.

Or a Bugatti Veyron...

[Merc-O-matic]

It still remains to be seen. The Town Car keeps returning, even though FMC claims it's dead. Wasn't it the 08's that they started re-making mid year, because of demand? Of course, we remember the death of the Mustang, and due to consumer demand, look where it it today. I'm not ready to put the Town Car down for the count, until Ford comes up with a suitable replacement. The version they're selling is very profitable, and no matter what they say, still, it all comes down to that.

The Lincoln Town Car (Panther Platform) is dead! You can still "order" one (2010 model)
same as an '09 until June of 2010. It will be built at the St. Thomas, Ont.
Ford Plant in Canada....same place the Crown Vic, Grand Marquis
and Marauder were/are built. In the summer of 2010 the plant will
CLOSE for good and "That's all Folks"...... all gone the way of the Model-T!

Point of Information: An aging population in Florida leaves (every year)
behind a fair supply of almost NEW Town Cars/Grand Marquis and Crown Vic's.
And most can be bought for a "song" if you play your cards right.
And I might add, in a good selection of colors too! Road Trip.... This
opportunity won't last forever!

Gotta Love It!:beatnik:

[michael ward]

The Lincoln Town Car (Panther Platform) is dead! You can still "order" one (2010 model)
same as an '09 until June of 2010. It will be built at the St. Thomas, Ont.
Ford Plant in Canada....same place the Crown Vic, Grand Marquis
and Marauder were/are built. In the summer of 2010 the plant will
CLOSE for good and "That's all Folks"...... all gone the way of the Model-T!

Point of Information: An aging population in Florida leaves (every year)
behind a fair supply of almost NEW Town Cars/Grand Marquis and Crown Vic's.
And most can be bought for a "song" if you play your cards right.
And I might add, in a good selection of colors too! Road Trip.... This
opportunity won't last forever!

Gotta Love It!:beatnik:
this is so sad what is it all coming to. I need to pay my truck off fast and find another low mile marauder or a 2010 or 11 mustang before I'm S.O.L..

[offroadkarter]

No, the Imperial Federal Government has mandated, through it's goofy CAFE program, that "thou shalt drive small, cheap, fuel efficent cars." Market for BOF RWD is still out there, but the capability to serve it is being restricted, IMO.



How many average driving americans, with their accords, camry's, and other cars that say "I've fulfilled my purpose on earth, now I'm just waiting to die and become dust" do you think will trade up for a G8 or some other RWD car...

They all like bland boring dreary awful no feedback front wheel drive cheap cars, not loud shouty driving machines.


Besides if i want another RWD car, i'm not going to buy a 239hp (oh wait, they dont offer dual exhaust anymore) 2.73 open rear grand marquis :D

[SC Cheesehead]

How many average driving americans, with their accords, camry's, and other cars that say "I've fulfilled my purpose on earth, now I'm just waiting to die and become dust" do you think will trade up for a G8 or some other RWD car...

They all like bland boring dreary awful no feedback front wheel drive cheap cars, not loud shouty driving machines.


Besides if i want another RWD car, i'm not going to buy a 239hp (oh wait, they dont offer dual exhaust anymore) 2.73 open rear grand marquis :D

Yeah, I hear you on the GM, but it's a shame that the RWD V8 market is going to just die out because of government mandates.

Perhaps we're in the minority, but for me and a few others "bland boring dreary awful no feedback front wheel drive cheap cars" just don't cut it.

I want, I NEED a " loud shouty driving machine." :burn:-------->:drive:

[scruff]

i suggest we start buying up wrecks and stock pile the parts so that we may enjoy driveing a panther for many years to come??

[Bradley G]

Soon they will be worth 35-45 hundo on trade as clunkers.
I'm keeping my clunkers:banana2::banana2:

i suggest we start buying up wrecks and stock pile the parts so that we may enjoy driveing a panther for many years to come??

[offroadkarter]

cash for clunkers program wont be around by the time the value drops that low....

yeah, dont think the program will be around 3 years from now

[cassidy]

The current Towncar becomes a limo easily with body on frame construction...the MKS is a glorified taurus...

I can always buy a four door pickup or SUV or minivan if I have to...thank GOD people will always have big families to move around and trailers to tow.

When is the LAST order date for the LAST Towncar "L"...I gotta buy one.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I'd love to take a base non stretched Towncar before they're gone. And the cash for clunkers goes through until nov 1st.

[Vortex]

Dont know about anywhere else but here in North Texas if you go to Craigslist and enter 09 Marquis you will find lots of almost new Grand Marquis pretty cheap. Most are the LS (Fleet) version so there are no foglights/passenger electric seat controls/overhead console/adjustable pedals and most do in fact come from Florida; mine did. I bought a Norsea Blue 09 with 9k miles for 18k (tax included). Ford does not let dealers order Grand Marquis anymore unless its a customer special order. Hey, its been a good run and times are changin. I sometimes think change for the sake of change is kinda dumb though, I read all sorts of bad reviews on the GM's but let me tell you cruising down the highway at 75 mph with the a/c blowing cold its quiet as a vault and gets better highway mileage than my new VW bug did in 1973, thats a fact. Guess the bottom line is if you want a almost new GM cheap, you'd better jump now.