Does it have stability control, traction control, side curtain airbags? How strong is the A-pillar( for rollover purposes)?
Well, I've had a couple of these cars. The most recent one is a 2010 ( You couldn't buy them unless you were a fleet or company, I bought mine from a local bankrupt limo company, its bog standard, No modifications, but it has every single option ), Yes it has ABS, Traction Control, Stability Control, and mine has side curtain airbags. Not sure on how strong the A-Pillar is, but I have been in a roll over in my 02 before, ( more on that later ).
How does it do against this type of crash when the frame can't absorb the hit?
No idea. But I would still assume fairly well. ( More on that later )
The Panther platform is over 30 years old. Like GM's W-Body, it doesn't really feature the best safety standards seen in new cars. One of the reasons why Ford discontinued the Crown Vic was it couldn't meet new safety regulations( I believe).
It is over 30 years old, but unlike the W body, it was a good platform at one point. I refuse to buy anything made by general motors again. I've to much problem with that garbage over the years.
Safety was not really one of the reasons they got rid of it, though I will admit, they did not do very well in side impacts. ( Most cars don't but some do ). But I can live with that. The main reasons were, fuel consumption for fleets is pretty terrible, they only average 18-22mpg. Which for me is fine, because I literally don't care how much gas costs. They were becoming less and less popular because of that, the tooling to build these cars was starting to age to the point that it would require a complete overhaul of several plants. And a couple of other reasons.
I'm sad to see it go personally, ( No I'm not an old fart, ha ). But I understand why it did go. Though many police departments aren't happy about it.
As to the Regal, it is a good vehicle. It is very stable( almost BMW-like) and handles pretty decently. I want a car that I can do an emergency maneuver safely. I don't feel the Crown Vic can do that with it riding like a boat. It doesn't have the suspension for it.
You talk like its some kind of top heavy SUV, all of mine have had the LS Handling package ( the police suspension without the crazy stiff shocks in front ), and none of them were " boatlike ", sure they don't handle like my Boxster by any means, but its not like your gonna roll the thing if you have to swerve.
The Regal does seem pretty good, but the problems I see for it, are for me. Its to small ( Not that I can't fit, I just like big cars ), and isn't it a 4 banger turbo? No thanks.
hat is why handling should be important. I prefer RWD as well, but the Regal is a pretty decent FWD vehicle especially with the 2.0T in the Turbo model and GS. I drove the GS on GM's Milford Proving Grounds( also referred to as the Lutz Ring). It is a blast to drive full out.
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I prefer RWD to the point where I won't buy an FWD car if I can help it, AWD? Sure. But no FWD for me. And if you think the Regal is a blast to drive, you should try out my 560WHP+ Mercury Marauder ( Panther platform car, just the hot version, mine is a bit modified. By a bit I mean about 25 grand worth. )
I just simply don't like small cars like that, I'm sure they're fine. I just dislike them.
For me, because I can't get another Vic, my next car will most likely be an RWD or AWD SRT8 Dodge Challenger, or a BMW M3 Sedan.
The reason I like the Crown Vics, is because I love them as daily drivers, I love the big lazy V8, relaxed steering feel, tons of room. And for me, rock solid reliability. I can't say I've ever had a major failure with one. And Ive had a couple of them.
I was in my first accident with one of these right out of college, I got rear ended by a lady in a Toyota Wagon, I was at a red light, she didn't pay attention, wrecked right into me. I swear, my Vic only moved a couple feet, truck was smashed in of course, but I suffered no injurys of any kind. While she suffered a broken leg, and cracked rib. Bad example I know
The second accident I was in a Crown Vic, was oh idk, about 5 years ago, I was up in PA visiting family, BAD snow storm, tons of ice. Bad. I was heading down an pretty steep S Bend, taking it slow, and behind me, I got nailed by a trail blazer sliding down said S bend, tons of ice at the top, tons of ice all over the hill ( I was stupid for even being out ), so this knocks my car sideways, slides down the hill sideways, hit the brakes, gave it just, tried to kick the ass end out, counter steered every direction, to much ice, slid down the hill, I was going fast enough that I flipped over a pretty small ( the kind that isnt high enough, the car flipped over the side of the hill, rolled over 3 times, roof held, all the glass smashed, landed on the roof, probably went over the side at least at 34-40mph. Trailer blazer couldnt stop, didn;t flip, but went over the hill to into a tree ( It was a REALLY bad storm, accidents all over the place that night ) pretty near me, she was fine. I was fine to, I was just hanging by my seatbelt thinking....how am I not injured? At all? Managed to unbuckle myself, and crawl out the smashed drivers side window.
Third accident was last year, which is why I bought a new Vic ( Well by new, it only had like 12K on it when I got it, and it was nice that its loaded with every single option, still miss my Marquis ), was heading down the main Drag into the town ( that I kind of live by, got some nice stores that I sometimes visit. Normally I'm a straight to the city boy ), going about, 45mph? Well out of nowhere, a 03? 04? ( the boxy generation before the current ) Malibu slams directly into me, straight head on crash. It was not her fault actually as I found out later, one of her tie rods end had broken, and the thing drifts right over into my lane, guess she didn't realize she had brakes
Anyway, both cars were completely totalled. Here's the thing, she ended up with 1 broken leg, and another broken foot from the footwell caving in, 2 cracked ribs, and a couple of other not serious, but pretty major injuries.
What happened to me? Well my glasses got smashed from the air bag, I had a huge bruise on my chest from the seatbelt locking. But other than that, I walked away without any injuries.
Maybe these events are why I trust these cars so much.
