Crown Vic and Chevy Caprice did extremely well on LE sales. Camaro did very well in the very end (California brought about 100 the last year, and still is keeping some in reserve for future use).

To answer your latter question, the Dodge Diplomat and maybe even the Crown Victoria would have been killed earlier if it wasn't for LE sales. Crown Vic is getting a new body next year, despite roughly 2/3s going to LE and fleet sales. Sounds like it's paying off for Ford.

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1. The "free advertising" isn't worth that much. The State Trooper's Z28s were very visible around where I live, but the C5 Corvette consistantly outsold the Camaro in this region.

2. The Thunderbird SC's head gasket issue sure didn't get "caught" by law enforcement.

Camaro was already a "dead man walking" as early as late 1997, and more than likely earlier. GM pulled advertising on the F-body after the 1998s came out. GM also killed off development money on the car. They wanted the car dead. No amount of LE sales was going to save the Camaro.

As for Thunderbird SC, the SC's head gasket issue arose only when someone did something stupid like I did with my 1st SC: install a smaller pulley without replacing that d*mn resonator under the tranny, and putting at least a 3 1/2" pipe leading to the dual split aft of the axle (regular Ford V6s had the gasket trouble). Though the rest of the exhaust was pretty free flowing (even those massive mufflers at the rear!), the resonator was a bottle neck. Mine went out at the toll both going across the Bay Bridge, after I modified my car (and after I had been embaressing kids in Mustangs with this combo for a couple of months). I was asking for it.

However, the stock police SCs "aquitted" themselves very well.


Business model is simple.

Remove the stereo and other frivilous equptment & add thicker seat material. Grab a heavy duty alternator from the performance catologue, create larger brakes (grab them from the new Charger SRT8?), sell the whole package to law enforcement for a grand or so less than we sell the civilian models (no rebates or price haggling) despite taking perhaps $1500, $2000 or more out of the car, and most everyone is going to order at least a few dozen a pop.

Zero investment. Sure sales. Free advertisement. Profit is still certain. Case made.

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1. Why sell to fleets if you can't meet retail demand? By all accounts, the Magnum RT is a hotter item now than the Tahoe was back in '97.

2. I pity the police dog that's forced to ride in the back of a Magnum. If a 27" TV box will barely fit, what about a dog carrier big enough for a german shepard?

#1. Chrysler isn't selling the 300 or Magnum to fleets. The Magnum is going to LE which has the close to the same profit margins as it would if it went to the general public.

#2. If the dog were to ride in the car while standing at attention, then that would be an issue. However, fortunately, they don't.

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3. I suspect that guionM is affiliated with a law enforcement agency, and that he'd really like to get his hands on a Magnum "Enforcer."

If so, I can really see where he's coming from.

#3. (Part 1)...mmmmmmaybe. (Part 2) Ya darn tootin I would!

 

to the dude thats saying that law enforcement sales hurt regular sales:





there is zero history of that happening EXCEPT the crown vic.


thats the exception... not the rule.

sure no one wants a crown vic except some old men..... sure LE sales are the only thing keeping it alive.


but the tahoe, and whatever else they sell to law enforcement doesnt get its image hurt.

 

This is news to me. How extensive is this going to be? Will it look more like the Police Intereceptor concept or the more recent 427?

 

Just wait till it gets tested.

I get the impression they're going to find quite a few problems with it- despite the recalls already on the car and the fact most of them seem to pull to the right (and Chrysler is doing buy back for those they cant even fix!) It may go either way.

To some officers, they want that V8 and RWD - but the fact of the matter is that officers dont buy the cars. It has to do what it needs to - and these days the v6 FWD impalas get the job done - because most of the time when a speeder or perp. sees the flashing lights - they stop.

And if they dont stop - you can never outrun motorola. This could go either way...

 

Law enforcement sales are 60,000 units per year. Ford gets an 85% share of those. If DCX can even get half of those annual sales (which I think would be conservative)...it would be HUGE for LX car sales and profitability.

BTW, a warning to all you Chicago area guys. Last week I saw an Illinois State Trooper in a white Monte Carlo SS pulling someone over. I think it was the normally aspirated version, since it had the old 16" wheels.

 

I don't think there a snowballs chance in hell that Magnum will take half of the Cruiser merket, or even half of Ford's (alone) cruiser market.

I think they'll pick up a decent amount of sales by offering this, and it'll be interesting to see if it catches on, but I think half is a little over-the-top.

 

Oh, don't be so sure. I have the chance to speak to alot of cops regarding their cars...and the CV doesn't take their breathe away...neither does Impala......and certainly not the Tahoe.

They miss the old 9C1 Caprice. Why? Because they could complete a pursuit much more quickly and safely. They feel that slower cars, put their lives and innocent citizens lives at greater risk during a pursuit. It just takes too long to catch someone.

The Magnum won't be a novelty police car...(like the Tahoe, for example). If the price is competitive, many law enforcement agencies will flock to the Magnum.

 

I have the current recall list on my file at this moment.

Please tell me exact what recalls does the Chrysler 300 "already have on the car"??