Tell me about Crown Vic's

[Clement]

I'm thinking about getting a Ford Crown Vic to replace my Hyundai Accent. The thing is, I have kid#3 on the way, and I don't want a minivan.

Reliability, maintenance? I've never had a rear wheel drive car before.

My Hyundai has been fantistic, it's just getting a bit too small.

 

[Mud]

Hands-down my 95 CVPI has been the most reliable rock-solid transportation that I've ever owned, and this ain't my first vehicle. 126K miles so far. I love this car.

A CVPI is a factory equipped police interceptor. Yup - a cop car. You can't buy them new, but you can buy them used and I think that these are an often overlooked bargain. And you do not have to buy them with lights and sirens. Get one in decent shape (take-home or admin car) and it can see 200K miles no problem.

I bought mine - fully loaded - with 69K miles on it about 2 1/2 years ago for $3500 plus $300 to ship it from Kansas to the Houston area. Car was bought from www.kcpolicecars.com and they were excellent to deal with. My next one will come from them as well, but my 95 still runs like new so dunno when that will actually be. Mileage is anywhere from 21-26mpg depending on city/hiway, etc.

The CVPI's are equipped with a recalibrated PROM for higher idle speed and shift points but the 4.6 modular engines are the same for standard and PI versions, no matter what anyone may tell you. Frame is reinforced, oil cooler, additional power feeds, heavy duty shocks, silicone coolant hoses, 160 amp alternator, dual exhaust w/crossover, front/rear sway bars, different steering box/ratio, and stiffer rate springs are some of the PI factory equipment. Ride is good, no mush, but not too stiff either. I think all versions have the 4 wheel disc brakes, but for sure the PI versions do.

Maintenance is always high on my list. But most of the maintenance on these cars is very similar to what you need to do on anything else - things like changing fluids, brake pads, etc. Some additional things in particular are cleaning the EGR passages (they tend to get carbon buildup), and it is not uncommon for the DPTE (I think the abbreviation is right?) sensor to need replacement - $45 part. If you get an EGR flow trouble code, most times its this sensor not the valve. Also the later (than 95) models had plastic intakes that were prone to cracking.

Do some research at kcpolicecars, also forums at www.crownvic.us and www.crownvic.net and you will see that for the most part, owners have been very happy with these cars. I know that for me, my cost to own has been very economical and as I mentioned I would get another one without hesitation. No way would I get a new one though, much prefer a used PI version.

Hope that helps - of course most folks like what they drive, so there's all kinds of vehicles/opinions, but you asked about CV's in particular. Just be sure to buy from someone reliable so you don't get one that was featured on Wildest Police Videos ....

 

[windnsea00]

They blow up when you get rear ended but other than that they are your old fashion V8 american sedan

 

[brianl703]

I think cars used for police work are much more likely to get rear-ended at high speeds than are cars used by civilians for normal civilian activities. You can see these accidents on those "police video" TV shows...

Apparently, some drivers are attracted to the flashing blue lights on the side of the road like moths to a bugzapper...

 

[methusaleh]

If you are interested in a used police vehicle for dirt cheap, just check with local cities, towns, county, and state governments. Most have auctions regularly. Here in MA Crown Vics are a dime a dozen, I buy them and invest a few dollars of my own and re-sell on eBay. There is a hot market for them on eBay if you decide you don't like it. If you choose to go to an auction in MA, drop me a line via PM, I can help you with some details.

 

[ShortBuSX]

These cars are everywhere around here. I guess they buy them from police auctions or whatever, still with the high beam intact...now they are painted "bass boat" colors and are sporting 20s...Ive even seen more than a few with body lifts...its really grossly sick. Often I feel like taking pics and posting them on internet forums, but Im affraid itll will break my camera. *bling*bling*

 

[robbobster]

Not many cars tend to survive when struck from the rear by a car travelling in excess of 70 mph...

I'd love to make my own Marauder-clone out of one, for the ultimate sleeper, but I don't need a new project right now...

 

[GMGuy]

Examine the circumstances under which the gas tank fires occur. High speed impact. A challenge to any vehicle. While doing that, also examine how many walked away from high speed impacts with their cv cruiser.

I'm probably driving all the worst for "dangerous" gas tanks.
A Grand Marquis, a side-saddle tank Chevy pickup truck, and a few gas tanks behind the rear bumber 70's Chevy cars. I should have blowed up a long time ago.

Provide regular maintanence to your cv/gm and you'll get a lot of life out of it.

Alex.

 

[DJ]

I am a diehard GM man and my vehicles of choice are a 96 Caprice and a 95 Roadmaster wagon(VERY similar mechanically) and I have to say the rearend fire thing on the Vic is grossly overblown.
That said the 4.6 is a dog if you care about such things. The GM equivalent cars like mine went out of production a decade ago though but have a potent powerplant(the LT1) good milage and the wagon has seatbelts for 8 and heated leather in the 12 way seats. My wagon is also a full second faster in the quartermile than an 03 Vic I raced yet still gets low to mid 20s for milage on the highway. I know not everyone cares about power but I do.

 

[darkdan]

My 1998 crown vic PI has 149k miles on it.

So far just the usual suspension tid bits, a few tires, and the plastic intake manifold cracked.

Full frame, RWD, V8....the way we're intended for us to travel.

Feel free to stop by www.crownvic.net sometime. It's about 7000 of us.

Here's an interesting article on their longevity:

http://www.hendonpub.com/publications/policefleetmanager/featuredarticle.asp

Plus, with a small budget you can make them fast!

[ February 13, 2006, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: darkdan ]

 

[swjohnsey]

The Crown Vic is a decent car especially for the price. I have a 2000 with the handling package with give you the slightly more powerful engine with dual exhaust which is the same hp as come in the police package cars.

I have about 115,000 miles since new. No problems of any kind. Rear pads replaced at around 100,000 miles, front pad are still going.

Mine is governed at 108 but the police version is governed at 129 with the same engine (different drive shaft) I have put Bilstein shocks and a stiffer rear swaybar so the ****ed thing handles pretty good for a large car, actually handles a little better than the police package car because of the lower ride height.

Think has an overall average of about 18 mph per gallon for the 115,000 miles with highway mileage 21/22 mph at 70 mph and around mileage of around 17 mph.

 

[DJ]

Yeah service life is wonderful on these old boats, my Caprice is at 165K replaced a lot but mostly to modify it rather extensively. The wagon has 192K I have only owned it 20K but I can see a Goodwrench tranny, I have put shock and O2s in it and it will need a radiator soon, but that is cheap and easy on these things. The Vic and the Caprice lineup both are very much 70s cars with modern engines and trannies pretty easy to keep alive and the fleet purpose of these chassis means they were built with longer than average target service lives.

 

[BrianWC]

I like my Saab 9-5. Dirt cheap used, big, comfy, handles like a cat. Great little turbo 4 (or 6 if you want). Can be sludgy if not careful but aren't we all on here? I had a 900 previously and while it was roomy for it's size, the 9-5 is BIG. The sedans have a 3 body trunk at least and the wagons are great haulers. Did I mention I get 33 mpg?

 

[DJ]

I can haul 4X8 sheet goods with the gate UP 5000lbs tow rating if you have a boat or anything. They don't make'em like that anymore

 

[Dark Jedi]

the gas tank fire thing. is when something flies through the gas tank. for has a fix for it. something like a kevlar plastic cover that goes over it. if you buy a police car they already have it on them. as ford puts them on those car when they are new. ford knows about this prob but never told the general publuc about this possible danger. I think if I remember on the news program I saw a few weeks back. it would cost somethng like $200 for parts and labor to get this mod done.

my cousin is a cop and loves the PI cars. they are built tough and he told me they dog the **** out of them .


also the 70' chevy truck gas tank exploding. it was later found out the news agentcy set up the tank to explode. so that report is false. in the end any tank gas tank has the possiblity to blow up in a crash.

 

[BrianWC]

I just have a bad taste for Vics. Everyone I've been in has been a cab where the driver smoked 15 packs of cigs per day. I smoke and I hate that!

 

[punisher]

Worked on them at the dealership for 10 years and still own a '94 I cannot seem to let go.

Reliable, 'some '96s have intake manifold cracking problems. Window regulators break, AC compressors usually take a dump around the 80K mile mark, brake pads often are used up in 30K miles, fuel pump at 100K miles. ABS, traction control and automatic temperature control can cause problems eventually. If you take care of them and change fluids as required, they are darned hard to kill.

Seems like the later Crown Vics/Grand Marqs have more electrical problems than earlier models, progress I guess.

As a general rule, cheap to fix as there are so many of them. Check for Grand Marqs, more options and around the same price. Chances are they might be less abused as well.

 

[Clement]

Thanks. Hadn't thought about the grand marquis. I'll have to look into those too.

 

[Islandvic]

Like darkdan said, check out www.crownvic.net

we are addicted to vics and gMArq's like crack heads.

My '96 Vic has 147k miles on it and it has only needed a starter, plastic intake manifold replacement, cat converter, battery, shocks, ball joints and stabilizer links, heater core and window regualtor. THis may seem like a lot, but all failed after 90k miles. The car is very solid and has minimal creaks and other noises compared to other rattle trap cars that are three times as new!

These cars are very easy to fix and parts are cheap

My '01 Gmarq w/ 30k miles has no problems so far.

Juat change the fluids and filters and they last forever.

You can find low milage program and rental Vics and GMArq's steeply discounted at dealers.

Look for HPP and Sport varients.

 

[BrianWC]

I'm just laughing b/c on my saab forum, someone posted the "What do they talk about on other car forums?" thread.

For Crown Vic, it was "Why does everyone slow down in front of me?"