Owen Posted June 18, 2002 Share Posted June 18, 2002 Police departments continue to buy Ford’s Crown Victoria for their officers despite a series of lawsuits alleging that the car has a design flaw that can cause the gas tank to explode in a rear collision. (USA Today, 6/6, David Kiley) Just make sure you don't tailgate one of these! Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted June 18, 2002 Share Posted June 18, 2002 I guess lessons learned from the Pinto have been forgotten by the 'next generation' of Ford designers Owen, I don't think that you're supposed to tailgate Cops anyway, are you? Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted June 18, 2002 Share Posted June 18, 2002 I messed up my car's weight distribution real good by installing a big heavy chunk of 2X3 tubing behind my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockjaw Posted June 18, 2002 Share Posted June 18, 2002 Good deal, those are slow. Tailgating an undercover state trooper in AL is a good way to get stopped and fussed at. Of course when he hits the brakes to make you tailgate him, kind of hard to make that one work. You are not going to believe this, but I got a warning and an order to get out of his car. Geez, I guess I made him mad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest John Adkins Posted June 18, 2002 Share Posted June 18, 2002 the Crown Vics that caught fire from a fuel tank rupture were rear ended by cars going over 60 MPH... http://www.auto.com/industry/iwirc9_20020309.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimZ Posted June 19, 2002 Share Posted June 19, 2002 Originally posted by John Adkins:the Crown Vics that caught fire from a fuel tank rupture were rear ended by cars going over 60 MPH... http://www.auto.com/industry/iwirc9_20020309.htm Yup - as with the Pinto, the 'design flaw' was most likely having a gas tank in the first place. Go take a look at the back end of your Z and the placement of the tank. Tell me that it wouldn't rupture under the same circumstances (especially those of you that have removed the bumper for appearance). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted June 19, 2002 Author Share Posted June 19, 2002 True, true. Those bumpers aren't much but they're better than nothing I guess. Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted June 20, 2002 Share Posted June 20, 2002 Those Crown Vics are based on a 70 year old auto design: Frame, front engine, rear drive, live axle, rear tank, body on top. Modern sedans have the tank under the rear seat, between the 2 axle lines. Much more crash-worthy. I dunno that the hunk of steel behind my tank will keep me from blowing up in a 60mph rear collision - I'd probably get crushed or killed from the impact regardless. It is good for some psychomalogikul reassurance though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYRON Posted June 20, 2002 Share Posted June 20, 2002 There could be more to the story. My Dad services the local PD's lifts and auto service equipment here in Conroe and at HPD in Houston. One flaw that you probabaly havnt heard of is after those cars get to be higher mileage the pinch gaps that hold the back portion(trunk and spring pearch area)of the the unibody gets fatigued and they are coming apart making a crack that runs the width of the car just above the rear axle all the way to the top of the spring perches. I could see that this would severly weaken the structure of the car and make it far more dangerous in a rear end collision... Myron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zpeed Posted June 21, 2002 Share Posted June 21, 2002 arn't american cars supposed to have the fuel tank in front of the rear axels, cause i am pretty sure thats why u guys arn't getting the holden monaro till around 2004 or so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockjaw Posted June 21, 2002 Share Posted June 21, 2002 You don't have to rub it in. Damn all these people in other countries get the good cars while we sit over here and drool incessantly waiting for them to "allow" us to have one. This sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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