Considering Crown Vic, '03 with 68000 miles

[Titan]

One owner, meticulous care rendered during it's garage-sheltered life. He traded for a new Crown Vic. I've read where some of these cars had a bad alternator, and some have had a fuel pump/sender go bad. Otherwise, anything to look out for? I plan to use it to drive highway about 50,000 miles every year...hope to get over 200,000 relatively trouble-free miles out of it. If I buy it, it's because I have the impression that the 4.6 drivetrain is much more reliable than most anything else that is not very expensive and in a big cruising car.

It will be only my second Ford product in my life...first was a flat-head Ford F-100 1954 pickup. I loved that old truck. OOPs, that reminds me, I bought a used 1960-something Falcon Station wagon with the fake wood side panels to replace the truck. So, this will be my third Ford!

 

[Colt45ws]

http://www.crownvic.net

 

[psudaytona]

I just purchased a 1998 Police Interceptor and I have to say its the best car I have ever driven. Comfortable and fast(at least IMO). Pretty much everything on it is easy to work on as well.
Mine has 107K on its current powertrain and suspension and its driving great. Suspension is getting a bit "clunky" but the shocks on these are easy to change.
Parts are plenty easy to get, with a few exceptions.

 

[Titan]

Wow. Those guys are as nuts as the BITOG people! Thanks for the link...that will surely help a lot.

One thing I already noticed was I saw a maintenance schedule that said put Non-Synthetic in the rear end at 90,000 miles. I wonder if that meant to change it at that mileage if it isn't synthetic, or, if it meant not to use synthetic. Oh, well, lot's to learn over there!

 

[Colt45ws]

Factory spec for awhile was dino 80W90 and you were supposed to change it at 90k. Ford changed the spec to 75W140 a couple years ago (before '03, I think it was '01 or '02) with I think 100k change out. I would change it before, obviously.

 

[alreadygone]

Wife's Gran Mommie is same car (01). INTERSTATE CRUUISER!!!! 27 MPG allways. Now a little over 100k mi. never raise hood. 5K mile oil change with Motorcraft 5-20 and Motorcraft filters.

Best car we've ever owned.

Bob

 

[MrCritical]

They still make Crown Vics?

 

[Colt45ws]

Yes, for fleets only. '07 was last civilian year.

 

[boxcartommie22]

not true civi vic still made for 2008 are here

 

[refaller]

That's interesting. Ford does not list them on their web site any longer. I will just wait to inherit my dad's Grand Marquis. By then I should be old enough to own one.

ref

 

[06RANGER]

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not true civi vic still made for 2008 are here

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I believe Onmo is correct.

 

[Titan]

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Wife's Gran Mommie is same car (01). INTERSTATE CRUUISER!!!! 27 MPG allways. Now a little over 100k mi. never raise hood. 5K mile oil change with Motorcraft 5-20 and Motorcraft filters.

Best car we've ever owned.

Bob

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EXACTLY why I am buying the 4.6 drivetrain...decent mileage for a big, Granny-type interstate cruiser, and reportedly very reliable. The two issues I've seen are some alternator issues in the '03 model, some fuel pump issues, and a couple of coil problems. All of those are manageable, as there's a Ford Dealership in almost every small town I drive through. I worry about my Subaru stranding me at some point with a niggling problem I can't fix myself on the road, and the closest dealership 200 miles away.

 

[Titan]

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Yes, for fleets only. '07 was last civilian year.

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I don't know, I do know they still make Grand Marquis in '08. If you can find a new '07 leather Grand Marquis, they have an outrageous rebate on them, brings them under 20K new. Cloth '08 Grand Marquis can be had for 18,500 at at the local dealership. If you want a big highway cruiser, that kind of car at that kind of price is hard to beat.

 

[Titan]

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Factory spec for awhile was dino 80W90 and you were supposed to change it at 90k. Ford changed the spec to 75W140 a couple years ago (before '03, I think it was '01 or '02) with I think 100k change out. I would change it before, obviously.

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I can't imagine a "synthetic" fluid would not be allowed. Surely the statement meant that non-synthetics require to be changed at 90K...I'll find out for sure before I AmSoil it. Also need to research the Auto Trans Fluid requirements and get that addressed.

I assume the driveshafts have the old-fashioned Grease fittings?

Feel very old-school about this car...which is kind of nice after all the turbo and double-turbo charged all-wheel drive technological marvels I've owned in the past. I'm certainly still keeping my Subarus, but, I think this Old-school car is going to be fun to own.

 

[Kestas]

Enjoy it! I have a 91 model with 80K. Big, comfortable, and easy on the insurance. They are underrated by all except the BITOG crowd.

People love the crushed velour in my car! What a babe magnet!

 

[Titan]

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People love the crushed velour in my car! What a babe magnet!

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That's a bonus I had figured on!

 

[Colt45ws]

actually i didnt put that word in there, but they changed to 75W140 synthetic. I wouldnt hesitate to put amsoil in the diff. And yes, they still make the grand marquis for civilian markets, I was talking about the Crown vic specifically.

 

[Panzerman]

Those cars run forever, even in Police fleets that get the snot beat out of them. If you get one that was never pounded or sat hours idling, Id say you'll get sick of it before you wear it out.

 

[Titan]

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Those cars run forever, even in Police fleets that get the snot beat out of them. If you get one that was never pounded or sat hours idling, Id say you'll get sick of it before you wear it out.

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That's exactly what this one is. Older couple, and the man only took the car to the dealership once, when it had 5100 miles on it, to have it checked over completely. Otherwise, he's done all the maintenance on it, and lives in a small town with only a couple of traffic lights. He got 61000 miles on his OEM tires.

I think I might run ARX through it once, just to make sure. Change all the fluids (unless his records have the changes noted recently), bleed the brakes, and call it nearly-new!

 

[JustinH]

I would take a look at the trans fluid, ask the owner when it was changed, and make sure its good and red/pink not burned.

I would change it once a year with mercon V fluid and a new filter. Costs about 35 bucks a year to do the whole change, and its worth the money.

The 03 has the revised 4.6L motor, very stout and makes more power than the previous revision. I would put it on a diet of motorcraft 5w20, and motorcraft filters.

Also I would change the rear end to a synthetic fluid, probably amsoil.

Do all of the above, and the car will run absolutely forever.

You might want to consider putting a 19 dollar trans cooler on the front if it, and an inline magnefine filter (14 bucks I think). I get my coolers from bulkpart.com.