AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine State Police are getting new cruisers beginning this summer.
Officials say the new vehicles will be Ford Police Interceptors, which are based on the Ford Taurus.
The Interceptors will replace Crown Victoria cruisers, which Maine State Police have been using since 1996.
Ford has stopped making the Crown Vics, replacing them with the new Interceptor line of cruisers beginning this year.
I wonder what they are going to have under the bonnet.
Much
280+ HP 3.5L Ti-VCT flex-fuel V6 is standard. Optional 365 HP 3.5L twin-turbocharged EcoBo0st V6.
http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#
Standard AWD will be nice for the Maine winters, too. People love to complain about the money being spent on the new cruisers, but if I were a trooper that had to travel the roads day in and day out in a 1996 Crown Vic that is probably close to falling apart, I’d be happy to be in a new vehicle that is much safer. Not just because it’s brand new, but the safety options on a new car are worlds different than what they were in 1996. I’m sure they’re not replacing ALL of the old crusiers anyway. Just the ones that NEED to be replaced first.
I have a quarter in my pocket that says we see a more than normal amount of these cars going off the road this winter. The troopers have been using rear wheel drive for so long that recovering from a slip or slide is second nature. Granted there will be less slips and slides with the AWD, but when they do slip, the troopers instinct will be to try and recover like they were in a rear wheel drive.
I agree to a certain extent. I think they use the new Haldex system which is torque sensing and most likely limits the amount of under steer. I guess we shall see!
I’d bet those ’96 Crown Vics are better maintained then most cars on the road. Having one of those cars would be an upgrade to my family sedan.
I bet you all the money you have there isn’t a single 1996 Crown Vic in service with MSP. They adopted the CV in 96 and I willing to bet they run a 4 or 5 year life cycle.
Only if I can throw in The ‘Ol Lady.
I went to the Ford site and looked at the features of the new police cars – and they are superb! Our men and women in the State Police and all other departments that choose these new vehicles will have a much safer and a much more responsive vehicle to ensure public safety AND protect our police, sherrifs, wardens and troopers. Of particular interest are the *optional* level III ballistic protection panels – I do hope those are selected by agencies (until they are made standard equipment, which I believe they should be) for protection against gunfire. Suspensions are much more rugged, the all-wheel drive system is particularly suited for our weather extremes – mud season and snow, as well as that week we call summer… Anyway, I look forward to seeing these new vehicles deployed – but KEEP the plain-wrapper Mustangs as they are SO hott!
It’s about time, but they could use a few newer SUV’s north of Bangor…
They’ll have them but they’ll be in the Augusta area
figures
Be lucky if they were in Augusta, probably down on the Pike, might see a stray in Augusta, but I bet they will hoard them closer toward the Portland area.
Why do you think that ?
That’s where the cops hang out more often for any speed detail. Everyone North of Augusta gets ignored pretty well by the state anyways. I am waiting for my Canadian Citizenship notice.
I’m sure they’re expensive. Let’s hope they don’t trash them too fast.
….
Government agencies don’t pay the MSRP. These vehicles cost about the same as the Crown Victoria’s. Much of the equipment they had in the old cars are transferred to the new cars which also keeps costs down.
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Hopefully Ford has most of the kinks worked out of these. First year production cars always seem to have a few flaws.
This fleet-order trim level may be new, but it’s hardly the first year of production for the Taurus.
Exactly what I was thinking. The last of the Crown Vics had just rolled off the line a few months ago, and they had a spot on the news about it.
I immediately wondered how long it would be before Maine Troopers would be driving them, with all the cuts the state has had recently.
I’d love to see this one followed more closely as time goes on, as to how many the state is buying, what troop gets how many, and what year Crown Vics those will replace, as well as if costs go down as far as gas and maintenance/repairs.
Just for the sake of ‘transparency’ and because I’m a taxpayer. ;)
Henry Ford was a raging anti-Semite, with a photo of Adolph Hitler on his office wall, and had published essays on the “Jewish conspiracy” he perceived. The Maine State Police couldn’t find an alternate American car manufacturer whose roots weren’t founded in hatred?
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/pages/antisemitism/henry-ford-was-hitlers-inspiration.htm
Henry Ford, Charles Lindbergh, William Randolph Hearst, Prescott Bush, Averill Harriman. All rabid anti-Semites. Some folks claim Franklin Roosevelt also belonged in that category as he refused entry to a boatload of Jews Rufus Jones (a Quaker) got out of Ge3rmany during the Holocaust.
The point is, today Ford’s beliefs (or lack thereof) have as little to do with the way FoMoCo is run as Sam Walton’s “made in America only” policy has to do with today’s Walmart’s.
OH PLEASE.
And your point would be??
They have been making the Interceptor since 2010. This is not a first year model.
Its the same base model as the Ford Taurus SHO, sold to the public, same powerplant and drivetrain
we can afford this? we cut elderly and spend freely? hmmmm,,, best watch your speeds!
No we can’t, but in another article speeding is up ticket writing down, so apparently they want us to speed to see how fast them new cars can catch up to us!
All agencies routinely replace cruisers as they age. The State Police aren’t going to be just buying new toys for the heck of it. They and a lot of agencies are just replacing the cruisers that need to be replaced, as they need to be replaced. There is nothing new happening here with the exception of the fact that Ford isn’t making the Crown Victoria anymore.
well aside from the obvious, with all the new plow trucks and other equipment we seem to need, imo our priority’s are a bit messed up. as a self employed taxpayer i could use a new vehicle to but, in these times we’re in its not feasible. and i don’t think the state needs to throw money around like a drunken sailor either. and why in the world are we buying yukon’s for weigh wagons? wasted money period! purely status symbols..
Your right there, they used to have station wagons for the creeper cops.
I can’t blame anyone for being conscious of the taxpayers dollars. There are a lot of places in the government that I think we could save money, but not replacing old cruisers it isn’t the first one that comes to mind. As far as the Tahoe’s go, they only cost a small amount more then the taurus and can carry the gear used for inspecting trucks. A lot of local agencies are looking at using them as well because they are one of the few vehicles large enough to carry two grown men and the computer in the front and a bad guy or two in the back behind a cage.
And the two-wheel drive version gets the same gas milage as the crown victoria.
You either missed the point are ignoring it completely. I would argue taking care of invalids, children in poverty, and old folk are the priority. The cruisers and expensive SUV’s (there are many more less expensive models available that would serve the same purpose) can wait! So could more failed tax breaks for the wealthy and businesses!
That’s what I was thinking, too! 16-year-old vehicles being replaced in the name of public safety and I knew people would still complain. There are quite a few folks out there who replace their personal vehicles every few years. Good for the State Police!
What a crock! If there is a 16 year old vehicle in the Trooper fleet anywhere I want to see it in service with my own eyes.
Believe it or not the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is known for its longevity, some lasting past the 400k mark on the odometer.
Sooner or later, old equipment has to be replaced/upgraded. Nothing lasts forever.
When your house gets broken into and the cops don’t show up because their POS cruiser broke down, you’ll change your tune. :)
When MY house “gets broken into” I won’t call the police… Won’t need to.
i agree mark,, i guess we’ll be getting a look at the new fords the coroner’s bought. heh heh
Now we get to see them write lots of tickets to pay for them.
Not in Maine. By law which is good… All that revenue goes to the general fund.. Because of the exact reason you just stated.. Ticket writing used to go to the police fund but it was abused so they ended that practice.
Money taken from the people is money taken form the people.
I agree with that statement
Money isn’t taken from people if they are speeding. They are breaking the law and the money is the consequence of that.
Unless it is a buddy, or a buddy of a buddy, or some other nonsense. Then they are set free with no consequences. Who pulls the police over when they are screaming around for no good reason to take their money away from them?
wonder if anyone can buy that package? would only be fair to have that many ponys under the hood
you can get the taurus with the twin turbo and AWD…its called the SHO. For the money, Id buy a Mustang
If these are like the production Taurus, the Ford Motor Co. will differently make a bundle of money on replacement parts. If you have time, check out the cost of parts for a Taurus.
This isn’t your street Taurus. Its a totally different car under the hood.
Yeah, still a hunk of junk. You sure are counting your chickens before they are hatched.
Must be nice. In a time where many are contemplating how to put food on the table, get clothes for their kids for school in September and pay the mortgage, the State of Maine seems to be rolling in the bucks. Must the surplus from so many cuts to DHHS, HEAP, Education, and about every other program in the state that doesnt support the politicians interests. I am happy for those that work tirelessly to protect the citizens of the state of maine, but i am sour at the expense after what has been cut.
And you don’t think the state police have had their share of cuts….There are about 20 percent less troopers on the road then there were in 1982, and their workload certainly hasn’t decreased.
It is in their budget to buy new cars every year, This model is cheaper then the crown vic. so be happy..
Don’t worry, the same people supporting the DHHS recipients will be buying the new cruisers, not the welfare queens.
Happy they didn’t go with Obama Motors…
Oh, you mean what has once again become the largest-selling automaker in the world that you right wingers wanted to let die so that we would lose another million jobs? That one? You should re-name yourselves the JOB KILLER PARTY because that is just exactly what Republicans are: BORN TO BE JOB KILLERS. PS: Your pathetic TeaFool Party is going get smashed to pieces at the voting booth here in Maine come November. Mainers are fed up with your JOB KILLER corporate toadie TeaRadical agenda.
Just to set the record straight,Toyota is by far the worlds largest-selling automaker in the world today.they are ahead of government motors by at least five laps.
G.M. is a distant second with volkswagen close behind in third.
And Toyota is made in America, much of GM is not.
Much of GM is not made in a America because they have to pay huge UAW wages, where Toyota, Nissan and Honda do not. Their plants are not unionized. It costs GM an average of $2000 more per car to build in the US. As a business, it only makes sense for them to build in Mexico. Certain lines are built in China as well, though those are only sold in China and not shipped here.
They also have laws that do not allow their corporations to run rough shode over their workforce, they earn a livable wage, have their health care taken care of by the government, and on and on ad neauseum. Please do not compare us to Japan or Europe because you are comparing apples and oranges. We need unions in this country to protect us from government and corporate corruption, mismanagement, and greed.
You are diluted. There are tons of laws here that protect our workers.
The Japanese and Europeans operating here in the US are subject to the exact same laws as the Detroit Three.
In 1937, when the UAW was formed at the Flint sit-down strike, there was a definite need for unions as workers were treated unfairly and taken advantage of. Today, that is not the case. If you can come up with a logical reason to pay a line-worker $25/hr, plus four weeks vacation, plus several paid holidays (including the first day of gun season and election day) to do a job that requires no real skills or education, just the ability to run an air gun, then I would love to hear it.
“The Japanese and Europeans operating here in the US are subject to the exact same laws as the Detroit Three.”
Except for minor little thing called *gasp* Health Care. Both Europe and Japan have universal healthcare. I wonder what that does to US operating costs per vehicle….
The reason is simple, because they have earned it. Why should upper management be getting all of the perks? You are the delusional one if you don’t think unions are needed. Why do you think corporations and their paid republican lapdogs are so rabid on getting rid of them? YOU show me why a CEO and his upper and middle management should be making millions a year while receiving corporate welfare from the government and the benefit of what amounts to overseas slave labor. Pitiful! You wouldn’t want to see an America without unions again trust me. Go back and look at the history before unions and tell me that was a good thing for anyone other than the fatcats.
CEO’s make millions because they have huge responsibilities. I’m not saying that making $140 million/yr is justifiable necessarily, but millions are not unreasonable for an individual that is tasked with running a company with thousands of employees. Any decision that person makes can impact thousands of lives.
Someone that threads a nut on a bolt does not deserve $25/hr. You have to EARN your money. If a company can afford to pay someone $17/hr, but they are forced to pay their union help $25/hr, then they have to raise their prices. Then they are less competitive in the market place. I would never argue that there was not a need for unions. There certainly was (which I already mentioned). My point is that they are greedy and feel entitled today.
If you want a real eye opener, read the book Rivethead. It’s written by union auto worker and it details how he would get drunk at lunch (to the point of vomiting out of his car on the way back to work), clock in and out for other people, do drugs, etc. Unions had their place and now there are sufficient laws in place to protect the worker (and then some).
Wow, Faux news has your brainwashed nicely
No, I will not waste my money buying a book by some drunk and drug addict who blames an organization he chose to belong to for his personal problems. Perhaps he (and it seems you) paint with that broad a brush but I’m not that ignorant. You’re arguement regarding pay scales failed to move me either. Bunk I say. America, love it or leave it. We won’t be giving it away to the lesser countries of the world anytime soon and we sure as hell aren’t going back to the days before the new deal, America’s darkest times.
For someone who isn’t ignorant, you struggle with grammar. That aside, if your attitude was the prevailing attitude, America will never be able to compete on the global scale again.
I will accept that not all union workers are lazy or entitled, but it seems as though the bulk of them are. Google or YouTube “UAW workers drinking” and see how many news reports crop up. It’s sickening. What the UAW has done for the auto industry, mill workers have done for the paper industry in Maine. Their greed and sense of entitlement has driven things like mandatory raises, exorbitant amounts of time off and ridiculous pay scales. That’s why corporations off shore those jobs–so they can survive.
When the Japanese build plants here, they don’t unionize. They pay their workers $10/hr less than the Detroit Three do. There is no socialized healthcare here, but they have healthcare programs. They probably aren’t 100% employer-paid like UAW workers, but few of us have that luxury. Point being, the Japanese are building competitive cars on our shores for less money using a workforce that is not lazy and entitled. People earn their raises, rather than just expect one at the end of every fiscal year because they have a pulse.
Actually, globally GM is once again the largest manufacturer. They only slipped out of #1 for a year or two and before that they held the title from 1931 on.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/20/us-gm-idUSTRE80I2EY20120120
I want to know how come the people who blame Pres. Obama for high unemployment
never mention how come the wealthy “job creators” have not used their tax cuts to end
the unemployment problem , yet ?
Have the GOT Party candidates got any other plan to do so, yet ?
Do you have a problem following rules? Number 1 rule of the forum is. Stay on topic. How does your statement have anything to do with police cruisers?
Why wouldn’t it be, they were bailed out with taxpayer moneys to keep those unions rolling. THAT is what Americans are tired of! Is it November yet?
JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Citibank were bailed out with taxpayer money too. I don’t hear you complaining about them. Is it OK for them to be bailed out and not GM? You are just hear to bash unions.
I can not speak for others but I am p.o.’d that GM and Chrysler did not have to go through the bankruptcy process that other failing publicly traded corporations must go through. The results of a bankruptcy preceding would have been similar to what resulted after the feds bailed them out; a smaller company making fewer models and selling them at fewer dealerships. GM and Chrysler would have survived. Bondholders who held senior debt got shafted, contract law was shredded. What does this mean for future large concerns that encounter difficulty? Will they be able to turn to the feds (taxpayers) for a bail out? Precedent is an important factor to consider in legal matters.
I was done with domestic (the big three) auto makers many years ago since they could not hold a candle to the Japanese manufacturers and perhaps that taints my opinion but the fact remains, it is NOT the role of government to pick and choose winners. Taxpayers will never be made whole by GM.
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/government_needs_to_sell_gm_st.html
Ford survived on it’s own, no bailout, why could’nt GM and Chrysler?
GM’s Chevrolet makes a much better police cruiser than does Ford…..But I imagine you would have preferred they go with toyota.
I just “LOVE” how the discussion deteriorates from supporting our state police force to politics, name calling and finger pointing. No wonder our elected officials don’t work together, even the public can’t/won’t. Sad, really. :/
Gotta remember though, this is the same agency that bought those Camaro’s years ago and wrecked all but one or two. People have long memories. These cruisers are part of the normal replacement rotation, but they are “new.” Had the Crown Vics still been available, and the State bought some, no one would even have noticed. I personally was hoping they were going to go with the Dodge Charger, but that really would have caused a stir.
The ‘police purpose’ Charger has reliability problems. Most opt for the V8 and get less power then a V6 Impala. Also the Charger along with the new Chevy Caprice PPV(Police Purpose Vehicle) are much more expensive than the Interceptor.
Yea, and they got the Suburbans with the tinted windows for reliability. If you are going to go for looks, might as well go full bore and get the Dodge. Besides with all the inter-agency “keeping up with the Jones'” the State Police in their Fords just won’t win the Police car show first prize against the Border Patrol’s Chargers. Then again the Border Patrol has a few Hummers too…
twin turbos and AWD should win the race..who cares about show when you have GO!
the V8 Charger RT makes 350 horsepower, SRT makes 475…show me a V6 Impala that came close…Im not a dodge fan but youre misinformed on the HP numbers
State can’t be that broke!!
We aren’t obviously. It’s just a lie to be told by the republicans when someone else wants to buy something they don’t agree with. Then we’re broke.
I like the Crown Vic’s better. More legroom in that back seat!
Now THAT was funny.
Well, I’m going to break the thread of these comments and actually say something about the Crown Vic. I think it is a car about which it can be said: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It has become an American icon, and its passing will be mourned not only in police circles, but among the general public. Yes, it is old technology, and yes, some of the newer designs from Ford and Chrysler are faster, but the Vic is a strong, reliable, roomy platform, and a very good looking car too. The Dodge interceptor is very fast, and good looking, but reports suggest it is not as reliable as the Vic, and certainly it is not as roomy. I know little about the new Taurus-based interceptor, except that Michigan State Police testing praised its speed and handling characteristics. It doesn’t look much like a police car, though. Perhaps the ray of light in all this is that we may see lots of refurbished Crown Vic P-71’s hitting the local market. You couldn’t ask for a stronger, more reliable used car.
This is a “Green” move for the State Police, as the new fleet of Taurus’ will sport Ford’s new engine, the Eco-Boost, V-6 Twin-Turbo, an engine that makes as much horsepower as the 4.6L the Crown Victorias adorned, while mantaining a fuel economy above 32mpg.