Have you seen the new lights they are doing?

Fully hidden led strips... can't tell there are lights until they turn on, then all sorts of lights along running boards, roof lines, grills, pillars, etc.

jdMyers said:

Not so exotic to many but for me at these individual pockets of time in my life we're exotic for me.  My various rides.  Be kind

Cool! - so you are retired now? I don't know about other states but IL seem to be using more and more SUVs and unmarked pickup trucks now than sedans.

Langner91 said:

That's because there are hardly any sedans left that are from the traditional US brands.  Most municipalities try to buy American brands.

Ford = Zero sedans.
Chevy = Malibu, a little small for a police vehicle.
Dodge / Chrysler = Charger / 300 - still used in some places.

The sedan is dead.

I missed the change, but woke up one day to notice the limited number of models most companies are offering.  It is wild that Chrysler offers three total models with their name on it.  Dodge has four.  Ram must be keeping them afloat.

Americans just like them some trucks and SUVs.  

JohnInCarolina said:

Langner91 said:

That's because there are hardly any sedans left that are from the traditional US brands.  Most municipalities try to buy American brands.

Ford = Zero sedans.
Chevy = Malibu, a little small for a police vehicle.
Dodge / Chrysler = Charger / 300 - still used in some places.

The sedan is dead.

I missed the change, but woke up one day to notice the limited number of models most companies are offering.  It is wild that Chrysler offers three total models with their name on it.  Dodge has four.  Ram must be keeping them afloat.

Americans just like them some trucks and SUVs.  

True.  But it also never made sense to buy a Ford Taurus - or whatever, when you could get a Camry or Accord - with much better gas mileage and similar safety ratings.  

With that said, a good friend, who is a retired policeman, bought a new Taurus in 2010.  In 2019 it had 38000 miles on it, had multiple dents on the hood, roof, and trunk from hail damage (he had gotten a generous check from the insurance company), and he needed to get rid of it to get something he could tow behind his RV.  I was in need of a new/used vehicle and was looking at something in the $30k range.  I had never and would never consider a Ford - and he knew that.  He gave me the keys to it and said "drive it for a month or so and see if you like it".  

A month later I bought a very comfortable, very smooth-driving, very safe (much better traction on wet roads than my wife's Camry) vehicle for $6000 (he discounted the price for the insurance check he had already received for the hail damage) and saved myself about $25k compared to what I was planning on spending.  

At any rate, the point is that there was nothing wrong with the Ford sedans, they just didn't appeal to many people - mostly due to their heavy weight and the impact that had on gas mileage, I think.

Foghorn said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Langner91 said:

That's because there are hardly any sedans left that are from the traditional US brands.  Most municipalities try to buy American brands.

Ford = Zero sedans.
Chevy = Malibu, a little small for a police vehicle.
Dodge / Chrysler = Charger / 300 - still used in some places.

The sedan is dead.

I missed the change, but woke up one day to notice the limited number of models most companies are offering.  It is wild that Chrysler offers three total models with their name on it.  Dodge has four.  Ram must be keeping them afloat.

Americans just like them some trucks and SUVs.  

True.  But it also never made sense to buy a Ford Taurus - or whatever, when you could get a Camry or Accord - with much better gas mileage and similar safety ratings.  

With that said, a good friend, who is a retired policeman, bought a new Taurus in 2010.  In 2019 it had 38000 miles on it, had multiple dents on the hood, roof, and trunk from hail damage (he had gotten a generous check from the insurance company), and he needed to get rid of it to get something he could tow behind his RV.  I was in need of a new/used vehicle and was looking at something in the $30k range.  I had never and would never consider a Ford - and he knew that.  He gave me the keys to it and said "drive it for a month or so and see if you like it".  

A month later I bought a very comfortable, very smooth-driving, very safe (much better traction on wet roads than my wife's Camry) vehicle for $6000 (he discounted the price for the insurance check he had already received for the hail damage) and saved myself about $25k compared to what I was planning on spending.  

At any rate, the point is that there was nothing wrong with the Ford sedans, they just didn't appeal to many people - mostly due to their heavy weight and the impact that had on gas mileage, I think.

I drove a bubble model hand-me-down 1996 Taurus until it was rear-ended, and totaled, by some dumb fvck in 2008. 

Loved that car. Parts for simple things were easy to find online. Banged out a dent here and there with a rubber mallet. Loved seeing the look on folks' faces when I would show up with it to pick up furniture. I still miss it.

Botch said:

I want to know what that thing is...
 

 

It's a Romulan Warbird that has just uncloaked...

caliking said:

Langner91 said:

That's because there are hardly any sedans left that are from the traditional US brands.  Most municipalities try to buy American brands.

Ford = Zero sedans.
Chevy = Malibu, a little small for a police vehicle.
Dodge / Chrysler = Charger / 300 - still used in some places.

The sedan is dead.

I missed the change, but woke up one day to notice the limited number of models most companies are offering.  It is wild that Chrysler offers three total models with their name on it.  Dodge has four.  Ram must be keeping them afloat.

Chrysler/Dodge hasn't been an American brand for some years now. 

Years back all the part prints were labeled "Diamler Chrysler" and when I left the tool and die world their prints were titled FCA for Fiat Chrysler America. 

jdMyers said:

CPFC1905 said:

Far, far nicer than my first two;

Wow.  Not that's fun

My last actual operational role required one of these;


G-Wagen 320 diesel. B6 uparmoured.  Quick to about 50 mph, then not much else.  But you could see all four corners, fitted through narrow gaps and it was solid as a rock.
Had a few Land Cruisers too which were much better for cross-decking in to. 

However, the locale for that whip would leave a lot to be desired...

jdMyers said:

RRP said:

jdMyers said:

Not so exotic to many but for me at these individual pockets of time in my life we're exotic for me.  My various rides.  Be kind

Cool! - so you are retired now? I don't know about other states but IL seem to be using more and more SUVs and unmarked pickup trucks now than sedans.

Yes sir.  Now in our city schools.  We went to a lot of suvs as well.  We begged for the. For our k9 handlers.  Now regular issue.

Congratulations on your retirement! My son is just starting his career, going through the FTO phase

jdMyers said:

Tell your son to keep a scrap book.  Document a quick sentence.  The best of the day.  The worst of the day.  Over time.  He will have a great book

You, know...THAT is such great advice for ANYONE these days! Though I am soon to be 79 and have been retired for 19 years I worked at 7 companies. While I am actually blessed with an uncanny memory I know most people are not...yet due to my age I am actually the sole surviving member of upper management at 5 of those employers! I can recite this and that to widows and other survivors...BUT if they don't know I still exist then so what...I even have a totally priceless record of personnel from one employer which spans nearly 60 years!!!