I worked at a Ford dealership in the 90's and we serviced a lot of local law enforcement Crown Vics. Of course, the cops were not even close to gentle with these cars, they were severely thrashed on a daily basis. We marveled at how nearly indestructible these cars were, usually only needing minor repairs and routine service.
In law enforcement from 1996 to 2016, I've driven the Caprice, Impala, Lumina, Fusion, Escape, and Explorer. But I would have to say my favorite would have to be Ford's Crown Victoria as my patrolling preference. Although, not perfect by any means I am thankful that most of my car time was assigned to one of these vehicles. Even though its a large car it is very easy to drive, and its limitations are predictable. And you can beat on it without the sense that it would fall apart on you. Love this channel. Keep these great videos coming.
My local Police Department still had a Crown Vic in their fleet up until pretty recently. I haven't seen it this year though. My first car was a 98 Crown Vic, had it 6 years. My second car was a 2002 Grand Marquis, had it about 3 1/2 years. I just bought a 2007 Grand Marquis a couple months ago.
I had a 2001. It drove better than my grandfather's Caddy Eldorado. I miss my old Mercury Grand Marquis. It was the best car I've ever owned. I bought it with 90,000 miles and sold it with 210,000 miles on it. All I did was change the battery when I bought it, changed the oil every 3,000 miles and put gas in it. Car never gave me any problems. I didn't like that it was an old man's car and bought a Honda Accord after. Biggest Freaking mistake I've ever made in my whole life! The Honda was a nightmare. Transmission went, then the catalytic converter, then the brake lines and finally the head gasket! The whole time I was fixing this shit box Honda I kept thinking Oh My God I Miss My Grand Marquis. If I ever get a chance to buy another Ford Crown Vic or Mercury Grand Marquis I will in a heartbeat. Best car I've ever had.
Thanks for highlighting the Panther platform. I've had four Grand Marquis and a Town Car in my lifetime, and my current daily driver is a 07 Marquis which I affectionately call Bernice. I grew up on full frame RWD cars and they are very comfortable. Just don't like driving them on the snow and ice. I'm seeing fewer and fewer of them on the road. Eventually they will be as rare as Hailey's Comet!! :)
I've had my 99 TC for 8 years. Only left me walking 1 time due to starter eaten up buy Pa salt n brine. I got a old set of steel rims with some light truck rough treads I run on both mu TC in winter. And keep a set of chains if it ever gets that bad in case. they have these zip tie type now that take seconds to put on and take off. Or just put a few bags of rock salt to weigh down the ass end. I live in a hilly country kinda place and work on gas well pads. I've never had any issues with snow. Just get urr momentum up and you be ok.
A few things I've learned about the crown Vic over the last few years. 1. Some police departments stocked up on cars in 2011 And bought more vehicles than normal, so they would have a fleet full of them for many years to come. 2. I've talked with a few police officers and they still say the Vics were the best cars made for police duty. Being that they were just as roomy as the explorers, but the explorers were much larger. 3. The car community has gone crazy for these things in the last few years even having panther only car meets with hundreds of marauders, grand marquis, town cars and of course plenty of old police interceptors. I was talking to one of those guys that attends those and he said how he was actually pretty mad at how popular they have become, because it drove the prices up. (although this is mostly thanks to Cleetus). 4. They actually share a lot with the F-150 because the Vic is body on frame, it's basically a pickup truck in the shape of a car. I hope to own a town car or marauder someday before the prices get too high. They were truly special vehicles that weren't appreciated until it was too late.
That 4.6 2v engine was certainly indestructible. I have one in an 05 explorer. 204k miles and she runs like new. No leaks and doesn’t burn oil. Takes a good deal of abuse from me too pulling 7k lbs or responding to fire/ems calls
As you know, Ford no longer sedans for the USA, which I think is a mistake as their is still a market for sedans. The Crown Victoria is more reliable then the Ford Explorer that is currently made for police
@@matthewbrady4259 - If and when my 2000 Civic bombs out (not for a long time, I hope), I may have to go there. The U.S. automakers have abandoned the sedan market for gas guzzling SUVs and short term profits. Me, I absolutely hate to drive SUV's. Much less own or lease one.
@@matthewbrady4259 I agree. A Town Car makes the best family car. Live in Pa and never had any issues in any weather. My friend has a Toyota from the late 90s. Body's dipped in zinc when built and he has taken great care of it fighting salt and he's still on same drive train and body parts 26 years later. It's amazing that Toyota made a car like his Camry and Carolla that just keep going. I don't like smaller cars. I love how much room, the ride and the safety in a big Town Car so much I have a 99 and a 07. 99 has 253k and only made me walk 1 time in 8 years cause of Pa salt rotting starter selinoid cable. Listen guys no need for all that salt fellas. You don't have to melt every flake. Just keep it under a few inches and keep roads clean. If too bad screw it well stay home.
1994 - 1996 Chevy Caprice Wagon, 90s/2000s Crown Vic / Grand Marquis / TownCar are some of my favorite automobiles to this day. I passed up the perfect Caprice Wagon in 2014 and still regret it seven years later.
On 2018 I purchased a 2011 P7B retired unit from Indiana. It was the Sherrif's car for Monroe County Indiana based upon the business cards I found in the glove box. Never had damage, low mileage (69,000) and idle hours and had a rarely installed CD player in the dash, never had a light bar or K9 bars in the rear door or partition. All seats are cloth. Rear end had a slight growl and I had it rebuilt. Still had the Rhino push bar on the front. Four years later it is still going strong and still gets looks. Why a Vickie for a commuter car? Simple. It's far more durable than some small car and since I was driving a lot of rural roads to work early in the morning, hitting a dog or raccoon with a little car would cause a lot of damage. With Elwood, just keep driving.
I love this channel for some relaxing, late night viewing... Or anytime really, but I usually save it for calming down and relaxing.... Keep up the great work!
Thank you for this video. A couple months ago, I purchased an ‘04 CVPI and in doing so, learned they’ve got a cult like following. The P71 internal code is also reflected in the VIN of a true CVPI. The 5th-7th character of the vin are P71 for interceptor models. There’s a P70 and P7B for Taxi models. For being a large car, it’s relatively fun to drive. The rear end gearing on the CVPI and the taxi variants could be had as 3.27:1 or 3:55:1 ratio depending on whether the car was destined for highway or city use. The CVPI received heavy duty shocks, higher rate springs (which gave it a nearly 1” lift over the civilian model) along with slightly better power numbers due to programming and better designed air filter housing. In addition to those upgrades, CVPI models also received engine oil cooling, heavy duty engine, and heavy duty transmission cooling as standard equipment on most cars.
It doesn't help that the all cops cars now are all turbo powered that turbo gives out your screwed. Plus add in oil dilution makes you wonder how many motors have to be replaced monthly now since all cop cars are turbo due to oil dilution.
Watching this while sitting in a drivethru when suddenly see a last-gen crown vic going down the road, smoking so bad that it looked like he was doing a 45 mph burnout.
Early Modular Vics had an issue with the intake cracking and leaking oil into the engine. I think they fixed that in 1995, but many still had oil burning issues when the valve seals wore down. (Mine could really make a cloud when I stepped on it!)
@@drewzero1 Every 4.6 used to blow oil back in the day. I dont recall it being as big of an issue with the Mustangs, but I never confirmed that. I can remember being a teenager and thinking; why would they replace the 5.0 pushrod motor with this junk? And then stuffing it into every limo, taxi, cop, and old-person’s car!
1992-95 4.6 engines had issues with valve seals. They finally got that fixed in 1996. (My 1996 has 405,000 miles with 1 quart of oil used every 3,000 miles) I have had 3 plastic intake manifolds. The first one cracked on the water passage right behind the alternator and after that they changed those water passages to metal. But, yeah, they did have problems.
I love the Panther platform and the 4.6L V8 it was a shame when Ford stopped making them and same with the E-series vans. Long live the Panther platform, 4.6L V8 and the E-series
I mean the transhit I mean transit isn't bad I just wish you could get a 6cyl in the connect size van i dont get why you have to upgrade to a huge ass van just to not be stuck with a 4 banger
@@andregonsalvez9244 they wont even though there are ways to make them better on gas like Ford said is the big reason for the canceling of them. An aluminum body they did it to the F-series they know how and it works
Well, I love seeing these cars the Lincoln Town Car in particular has also been axed, well the Lincoln Town Car has always been made in the USA until the 2007 model year when Ford shift Lincoln Town Car production to Canada and by 2010 or 2011 the Lincoln Town Car production is axed.
...and just as many police departments band-aided their Crown Vics...airport livery and executive car companies have done the same with their Town Cars...with no reasonably priced alternatives...⭐😳😥😎
Thank you for doing this video series! I know the Panthers weren't so requested, but you did the video justice with all of the accurate information shared here. Those photos of the old square bodies were really nice to see, cause you found some clean examples! I own an old CVPI myself, in black with the classic steel wheels, I've always wanted one, and finally got one last year after an accident wrecked my Honda. To this day the huge community that surrounds these cars today has lent me some amazing friends, and a cool car club I go to monthly to celebrate the last body on frame boat of a car. Awesome video, Thanks again!
The last car my dad owned was a '92 blue Crown Victoria. Super reliable and comfy. It's one of my favorite cars of all time. I had it for a couple of years after he died and it was a blast as always. Thanks for this episode man🙏🏾, you brought back some very good memories. Mil gracias!!!
I second that motion. I had a 1981 K-car for almost 14 years and 140,000 miles. Had a transmission rebuild, a carburetor replacement (which had to be rebuilt), several sets of tires, and other stuff which I've long forgotten. One thing great about the car was the bumpers; they took a good hit on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn with no damage. Whose genius idea was it to furnish cars with the cheap plastic bumpers they have now?
I had a 06 crown Vic and I can say it the best car I have ever owned. Average mileage was around 24 miles to the gallon and was a tank. Put 4 snow tires on in the winter and she would cruise at 45 mph in the snow and wouldn't slip or slide. Transmission went out at 312,000 miles and she was starting to rust. Motor was still running strong
Agree, especially the Chrysler Fifth Avenue since it was by far way more popular with the general public than the Diplomat/Gran Fury due to the Dodge/Plymouth being used mostly for fleet services rather than the general public.
My kid brother was an NYPD detective; he put in his 20 and retired in 2006. The NYPD used the Diplomats and Gran Furies as police vehicles a lot at the time. Which I'm certain were used as livery taxicabs when the NYPD retired them. One day in (I think) early 1992, when I was living in Brooklyn, I was changing the PCV valve in my K-car, when a plain Dodge Diplomat passed by. Being that those cars were used as cabs all over, I paid it no mind. The car stopped, and a scuzzy looking guy with long hair and an equally long beard approached me. It was my brother; he was doing undercover "buy and bust". I wonder if our mother ever saw him like that; she might have fainted then and there. 😉🚔
@@AdamBomb-kd4fe I have seen more Diplomats and Gran Furies as police cars! They were very common during my teenage years! They were probably used more in New York as taxis!
Had a 2000 Grand nice highway car and very comfortable. Fuel mileage was ok if you were gentle on the throttle. When I sold it I got more than I paid for it
The Kansas State Highway Patrol brought the last of The Ford Crown's for Police Work. They were painted the classic KHP Paint Detail with the single Red Light we on top KHP used both the Mer and the Crown at one point. I purchased a 92 Ford Crown used KHP Unit with the 281 V8 with 220 horse it was fast. Some of the best Patrol Vehicles at that were the Chevrolet and Ford's. Both were respected in their own right. At one point some departments used the Lincoln Continentals in their Patrol Fleet. One of The Hot Rod Magazine tested the Lincoln Continentals and it was actually faster in the quarter mile drag in than the Crown. I believe one of The Departments in Colorado used them as well as The Kansas City Missouri Police Departments. Unfortunately, the were only used as a test for Law Enforcement and didn't fit mustard
I bought a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis with over 240k on it for around $1800 back in 2012. I drove it with very minimal maintenance for close to 6 years until the ball joints let loose and the wheels literally fell off! Fixed the ball joints and sold it for around $1500. Not a bad investment in my book.
Those cars are so awesome. I'd love to see an episode on the Lumina and 90s Monte Carlo. I own a 1995 Monte Carlo in really good shape, it's probably one of the last ones out there.
My mother had a powder blue 99 Grand Marquis for over a decade. Thanks to her thrifty money management talents, she paid cash when it was new (As a child of the Great Depression, Mom hated debt!). I believe it was her favorite car. Mom told me about young males excitedly asking if her car was for sale. Nope! She kept it until needed repairs started to increase. It wouldn't surprise me if it did have those big wheels and added fender flares and brightwork now. It was one of the best cars in the family. Rest in peace, Mom! We miss you!
A good tip to know if an Explorer is a cop or not is to look for the roof rails. Police Explorers did not ship with roof rails while every passenger version did.
Awesome! I've owned 5 Panthers. I love them. Easy to fix, cheap to upgrade and will handle more abuse than any other vehicle on the road. I'm currently swapping an AOD from my '84 Crown Victoria and a mildly built 351w into a 1994 Grand Marquis. Wonderful video. Thanks for uploading
I love this! My Mom had a '79 navy blue LTD. We'd be driving down the highway and people around us would slow down, thinking we were an unmarked police car (until they say two kids in the back seat). Later, we had a 1984 LTD Brougham which was great to see mentioned in this video. I'd love to see a full video on the Brougham!
The three Ford Motor Company Panther platform 1990s through 2011 car models were stellar vehicles. NYC medallion taxi cab Crown Vics regularly achieved 300,000 to 500,000 miles.
Good car. Had on from 90s and early 00s. It was a supercharged gp. Ran super well. Dan plastic coolant elbows. Other than that the 3.8 is a bulletproof engine. Great teen first car.
Think we can see one on the Buick Lesabre or Buick Park Avenue? Also, the crown vic has always been my dream sedan, i've always wanted one. Damn near had one but someone beat me to it.
I worked as a police officer in Phoenix, AZ for 5 years and couldn’t believe how much abuse these cars could take on daily basis. I was so impressed that I sold my BMW in 2008 and have had Crown Victoria as my personal vehicle since then. That’s over 13 years of car ownership without any major issues that I can remember. To me Crown Victoria is the best car ever made.
I have ‘97 Crown Vic. I bought it used about nearly 2 years ago. Nothing but routine maintenance needed. Fluid changes, couple of ball joints and shocks. Smoothest car I’ve owned. I love it, and I hope it lasts me decades. I got it with only 135,000 miles on it in March of 2020.
I don’t think it had to do with it being body on frame necessary I think it’s just they didn’t see a point in spending more money on a dated dying chassis they were ready to phase out anyways
@@sakou1237 Cheaper and faster to make a uni body than a frame welded up then a body bolted to it. And when a frame car is wrecked it can be fixed easier and cheaper if not a bad crash. You hit a deer in a newer car and it's done cause you can't just fix it like these great cars. Ppl do but in a insurance money viewpoint not woth it to them. Sad. We got jipped by no new panthers for junk. All about that dollar
Electronic stability control along with traction control and abs braking are for idiots who don't know how to drive. I learned to drive in the 70s on a big old RWD V8 Dodge Monaco four-door sedan without any fancy electronic bs. Today I have a collection of four Panthers that I will not be getting rid of until I am unable to drive or kick the bucket.
The second and third gen of the Panther Platform Crown Victoria will become a big collector's car within the next 10 years. They were the last of their kind. Tough, durable, indestructible, long-lasting, reliable, RWD American V8 full-size sedan. I still see many on the roads. If there were to be any traditional American car still in very good condition that I'd make into a sleeper, it would be the second or third gen or its Mercury twin made into a 500hp sleeper by doing modifications to the 4.6. The vehicle that I feel has now replaced the Panther Platform is the Chrysler LX Platform. Even though the LX Platform is not body-on-frame, it still has many similarities to the Panther. RWD, V8, roomy, etc.
We once took a Country Squire cross country, complete with wood grain and all.. Big enough you could sleep in the back but boy that two speed automatic transmission was smoking going through the rockies! Never knew what gear it wanted to be in. Also had the Pinto version, known as the Country Squirt.
I imagine I would be a hit at a meet with an 80s era Country Squire, with original stereo/cassette, and Billy Squire's "Don't Say No" tape in the player cranked up! 😊
Ahh my favorite car. Thanks for this vid! I had an 01 Grand Marquis for 7 years and it was the best family car ever (notice I said car). Its best feature, deep wide long TRUNK made it like a 4 door pickup. It was super reliable and my young familys main car for a 4 years. It was great for driving around my babies/small kids and could easily swallow car seats and all the baby stuff you need to lug around with you on trips. Ironically it showed me why people are switching to crossovers. A crv has all the same virtues. Comfortable, great utility and better mpg (my grandma had the 2.73 rear end and would average 22mpg in suburban driving). In the end it was the little things that started to go and it was 17 years old by then so a big problem wouldnt be worth fixing. For that reason I started car shopping while it was still running good. I replaced it with an accord and while the accords good the "tunnell trunk" (all sedans have tunnel trunks now) makes it way less useful than the grand marquis. Again this is why people are getting crossovers. I sold grandma too an older guy for 500 bux. No idea if its still on the road. This is still a great vehicle if you want a cheap reliable car. Its just this and the gm 3800 powered cars. All other used cars are cheap or relaiable but never both.
Oh and 1 followup. I specifically sought out the Ford Panther because I had grown up with fwd 4 bangers and wanted to try v8 rwd and body on frame. I wanted the ford panther or lt1 powered gm b body. I went with the grand marquis because 1. the lt1 powered b bodys were 15 years out of production and were not cheap by then cuz of their lt1 folklore (also they didnt have latch and I had babies by then) and wernt as fast as the gm fanboys claim, and 2 everyone thought you were a cop if you had a crown vic. With a grand marquis only the guy driving in front of you at night thinks you're a cop.
@@nfullenwider before the Grand Marquis I had a 3800 powered 94 Regal Custom. That car was more reliable than the mercury and got 33mph highway if you hypermiled it. It was fast too from 0-45 mph (1st gear at wide open throttle). I now have a 15 accord v6, 280hp and the buick 0-45 was as quick as my 280 hp accord. Of course the accord just pulls away after that amd keeps on pulling but still given its simplicity power and fuel economy and reliability I think the 3800 is one of the best gasoline engines of all time.
@@Henry_Jones I said this earlier. It's overlooked so much for v8. They run forever. only bad is the dam plastic coolant elbows. But they recalled with steel so boom it's perfect. Had a few. Never walked. Had this 99 Towncar with 4.6. No issues. only 1 from capped out starter. 2 of the best, simplest greatest longest lasting engines in last 30 years. The SC Gp run like rapped apes.
@@jasonchristopher2977 yep mine wasnt showing any signs of anything big breaking but little things were starting to go. The breaking point was when it broke down on the lift in the shop after getting the carcoal canister fixed. That was corroded leads on the starter and was a cheap fix but that was when I decided its worth what, 500? A grand? Not the cost of a huge repair so I decided to replace it while it was still running decently and had value. I miss having that giant trunk all the time.
My friend got a well taken care of crown vic in the 90's & it was a big smooth ride feeling like a personal chauffeur everytime I rode in it. It was funny as well watching traffic always part ways for us coming down the road.
The best Crown Victoria I owned was a 1980. It was a retired FBI car. Must have been a higher-ups car because this one was loaded with everything including the lighted keyholes on the doors. Bought it while in high school so that would have been 1986. If I remember correctly the price was no more than $500 and the car looked like new. Very fast car also or seemed that way back then.
My husband and I are the second owners of a 2003 Vic, a Gramma vehicle. We absolutely love it! We'd like to also get a decommissioned interceptor, but we haven't put much effort into it yet. My favorite response when anyone asks if ours is as good a car as they're known to be is: "It's a Vic." Enough said!
The Panther platform Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria were on the same wheelbase and the same length. The 1978 down were different lengths. Beginning in 1969 the Ford was 121 inch wheelbase; the Mercury Marquis was 3 inches longer at 123; the Lincoln Continental was 3 inches longer at 126. The Panther cars were 114.3 for both the LTD and Marquis beginning in 1979. The Lincoln Town Car WAS 3 inches longer on the Panther platform beginning in 1980. In 1992 they went to 114.7 for both Crown Vic and Grand Marquis. The 1983-86 LTD and Marquis was 105.5 same as the Fairmont. Great video!
Yeah I've always wondered why they used unmarked Crown Vics when every miscreant knew that the only ones on the road were use by the cops. In Australia, for comparisons sake, we used unmarked Falcon and Commodores but 95% were driven by the general public.
Great video!! Working for Hertz as a transporter during the mid-1990s until 2006, I would try to drive a Panther car when I could!! I drive my late father's 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis LS now. These in my opinion are the best cars Ford ever built!! I affectionately call her "Baby Girl". She just turned 125,000 and she still runs like new. At this rate, she'll out live me. I do see less cars like mine out there now. And when I do, the other owner and I would stop and talk about our cars. It's pretty cool. Hope you do follow up episodes on the Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars. They have interesting histories, too!!
IIRC, the Ford Contour was the Americanized version of the European Ford Mondeo. Which also begat the Jaguar X-Type. The most recent Mondeo became the Ford Fusion. Which (I'm fairly sure) was used by the NYPD. Heck, here in NYC, I've seen blue and white Smart cars with the NYPD logo; I assume they're used by what used to be called meter maids.
This is a car I like now more than when it was new, as I suspect many others do as well, judging by how many people want to buy them as used cars now, especially the ex-police cars. Through continuous improvements and refinements, the Crown Vic became very reliable. I know people regularly wrack up hundreds of thousands of miles on these, despite being not the most fuel-efficient choice.
Mine has the 3:27 to 1 rear axle ratio and it only averages 23 mpg. If it had the 2:73 to 1 rear axle ratio it would be good for about 3 more miles per gallon. No, it isn' the most fuel efficient.
I'm still baffled by Ford's claim about the Panther platform not being able to support Electronic Stability Control. Excuse me if I sound ignorant in saying this but, ESP is basically an additional module, yaw sensor and roll sensor that tie into the ECU/PCM and ABS module along with some programming. How would a vehicle being body-on-frame make this impossible? If that logic were valid then the PPV Tahoe among other vehicles couldn't exist today. I like the Taurus and even own a SHO but it's no replacement for the Crown Victoria PI in the real world, only on paper.
Great video, I drive an 89 LTD CV and I love it. I still can’t believe they thought that 500 could take over for the crown victoria. Like I get that its time had come considering all the government meddling, but they could’ve at least put a little effort in lol. I think honestly an elongated Mustang would have been perfect. Basically do another Fairmont/83 LTD and make a sedan on the Mustang platform, they could’ve easily offered the 4.6 alongside a V6 option, and retaining the solid rear axle even without such a substantial frame would’ve still been a benefit for cost of maintenance and repair.
just inherited my great grandfathers 2004 LX P74 with 92K on it. drives like a dream. coming from owning four hondas, it has been a blast to roll around in a RWD cushy boat and see people sit in my blind spot never to pass me. time to get a interceptor's differential and muffler delete/dual exhaust lolol
I love my 93 Ford Crown Victoria LX. It is a family heirloom at this point being bought by my grandmother brand new in 94 and being passed to my mom in 2000 and I inherited it in 2015 when I couldn't find a car that would live for more then a few months. I have owned the car ever since and though it needs a lot of work, I have moth balled it to save up money to have the drivetrain rebuilt. I may drove a Cadillac CTS now but the Crown Victoria will always be a car that i will never sell.
Might I suggest the mercury cougar line of cars. I've got one, a 1971 model but I think it would be interesting to see you review the later 80s and 90s models.
That's awesome I was pulling parts for my vic in my families scrapyard and on the way to it I saw a wrecked 90s cougar thinking to myself you dont see that one every day
I’m 62 now, I’ve owned 33 different vehicles from trucks suvs & sports cars! But my 2010 P 71 is the best car I’ve ever owned. I’ve put around 10 grand in it so far and probably won’t ever drive anything else besides a pick up. It does everything that I need to be a all around great driving experience!
I drive a 1997 Marquis. 180K miles. 23.1 mpg all day long. I've gotten as high as 25mpg when on a long road trip. I would make the argument that these are the best cars ever produced in overall value.
Love the panther platform i own a 2011 ford crown vic police interceptor with 139k miles that came from new castle country pd in Delaware i daily it ive put nearly 2,700 miles on it since ive bought it ive had no issues.
the STREET appearance package or SAP was more then just an "unmarked police car" it had civilian door trim, reverslight deck and a few other thing to make it look like a STREET car instead of a cop car
It wasn't just the cops who loved these cars. In the NYC area these were THE livery car. Crown Vic for yellow cab service, and Lincoln Town Cars for black car service. Even Jeremy Clarkson loved the Town Car. He made an entire video where he claimed that the only proper for-hire car in US Murica was the Lincoln Town Car.
The same happened here when various law enforcement departments changed to the Explorer. The Explorers can't keep up in a high-speed chase like the Crown Victorias, especially when corners are frequent and the vehicle being chased is agile and low to the ground.
@@cityofabscissae Yeah the Explorer is a real turd for trying to drive fast. I've got way better power to weight in my basic Golf daily driver and they can't corner worth a damn. The extra gear they carry now days adds an enormous amount of weight.
I had a Grand Marquis for five years and it was the easiest car to find parts for. There was practically a Panther section in my local junkyard. With my current cars I'm lucky if the junkyard has one!
I absolutely love the Panther platform. I daily drive an 07 Crown Vic P-71 with 200,000 miles on it, and I inherited my Mother's 97 Town Car with 144,000 miles. They both run and drive beautifully. Mom's car will remain a garage queen. These cars are easy and cheap to work on. I have a whole list of Panthers I've owned (I especially love station wagons): 82 Country Squire 86 Country Squire 91 Country Squire 90 Crown Victoria 89 Grand Marquis I love these cars.
I worked at a Ford dealership in the 90's and we serviced a lot of local law enforcement Crown Vics. Of course, the cops were not even close to gentle with these cars, they were severely thrashed on a daily basis. We marveled at how nearly indestructible these cars were, usually only needing minor repairs and routine service.
Not surprised at all, being after police service the taxi companies scooped them up , and got another 5 years out of them
Expect the fact they need rear end work ever 6 months or so.
@@jesseeades1434 I can only remember one that blew the rear end.
@@1984xlx we run them as cabs now. 2009 to 2012 crown vics. We have to rebuild the 8.8 rear ends every 6 months or so.
@@jesseeades1434 Gotcha. Apparently the earlier ones I worked on had more robust rear ends.
This guy is the best old car reviewer ever, I struggle to stay awake watching others review cars
One of the best car channels on TH-cam for sure
I love Tofer too!!
The new Scotty Killer I tell ya.
Needs more Brown c;
Yes a very underrated, and he chooses the best cars, like the ones we never knew about because we were too young
In law enforcement from 1996 to 2016, I've driven the Caprice, Impala, Lumina, Fusion, Escape, and Explorer. But I would have to say my favorite would have to be Ford's Crown Victoria as my patrolling preference. Although, not perfect by any means I am thankful that most of my car time was assigned to one of these vehicles. Even though its a large car it is very easy to drive, and its limitations are predictable. And you can beat on it without the sense that it would fall apart on you. Love this channel. Keep these great videos coming.
Are the Escape and Fusion patrol cars?
Oh yeah, you can beat on it till the transmission blow, and it WILL blow. The biggest weak point in these cars. Still love them.
@@baronvonjo1929 For a time, yes. This was when they were testing out "hybrids" for the NYPD. I was not impressed.
I’ve heard that the crown vics were faster but many officers preferred the caprice because it was a more comfortable ride.
@@SaintAndSinner99
They aren’t that expensive anymore
My local Police Department still had a Crown Vic in their fleet up until pretty recently. I haven't seen it this year though.
My first car was a 98 Crown Vic, had it 6 years. My second car was a 2002 Grand Marquis, had it about 3 1/2 years. I just bought a 2007 Grand Marquis a couple months ago.
Here in Naples Florida Collier County Sheriffs still use a few daily. Amazing considering that they have to be at least 10 years old.
keep fluids changed and watch for intake leaks and she'll run for a half million or more Guarnteed.
@@12yearssober i seen cop vics in every major city shows how reliable they are
@@rayhanrizvi334
I have as well except for the salt belt states where the rust has got the best of them.
I drove a Crown Vic as a Deputy Probation Officer. I retired 8 years ago and I see today the department still has it on the road.
I had a 2000 Grand Marquis. By far the smoothest and most comfortable ride I ever had.
I had a 2001. It drove better than my grandfather's Caddy Eldorado. I miss my old Mercury Grand Marquis. It was the best car I've ever owned. I bought it with 90,000 miles and sold it with 210,000 miles on it. All I did was change the battery when I bought it, changed the oil every 3,000 miles and put gas in it. Car never gave me any problems. I didn't like that it was an old man's car and bought a Honda Accord after. Biggest Freaking mistake I've ever made in my whole life! The Honda was a nightmare. Transmission went, then the catalytic converter, then the brake lines and finally the head gasket! The whole time I was fixing this shit box Honda I kept thinking Oh My God I Miss My Grand Marquis. If I ever get a chance to buy another Ford Crown Vic or Mercury Grand Marquis I will in a heartbeat. Best car I've ever had.
@@garrisonnichols807 Marketplace has a shit load of Panthers.
My friend has one.
The seats are probably the most comfortable I've ever sat in.
Thanks for highlighting the Panther platform. I've had four Grand Marquis and a Town Car in my lifetime, and my current daily driver is a 07 Marquis which I affectionately call Bernice. I grew up on full frame RWD cars and they are very comfortable. Just don't like driving them on the snow and ice. I'm seeing fewer and fewer of them on the road. Eventually they will be as rare as Hailey's Comet!! :)
I've had my 99 TC for 8 years. Only left me walking 1 time due to starter eaten up buy Pa salt n brine. I got a old set of steel rims with some light truck rough treads I run on both mu TC in winter. And keep a set of chains if it ever gets that bad in case. they have these zip tie type now that take seconds to put on and take off. Or just put a few bags of rock salt to weigh down the ass end. I live in a hilly country kinda place and work on gas well pads. I've never had any issues with snow. Just get urr momentum up and you be ok.
A few things I've learned about the crown Vic over the last few years. 1. Some police departments stocked up on cars in 2011 And bought more vehicles than normal, so they would have a fleet full of them for many years to come. 2. I've talked with a few police officers and they still say the Vics were the best cars made for police duty. Being that they were just as roomy as the explorers, but the explorers were much larger. 3. The car community has gone crazy for these things in the last few years even having panther only car meets with hundreds of marauders, grand marquis, town cars and of course plenty of old police interceptors. I was talking to one of those guys that attends those and he said how he was actually pretty mad at how popular they have become, because it drove the prices up. (although this is mostly thanks to Cleetus). 4. They actually share a lot with the F-150 because the Vic is body on frame, it's basically a pickup truck in the shape of a car. I hope to own a town car or marauder someday before the prices get too high. They were truly special vehicles that weren't appreciated until it was too late.
Yellow taxi also bought extra, creating many more months of employment at the Ford plant.
My 1st car was a 1988 Crown Vic I bought it in 1998 it was 10 years old but was in immaculate condition and drove like a dream
got a 1998 myself,good cars, shes 23 now,still going.2.73s suck. my only complaint!
I recently got a Mercury Grand Marquis LSE. I love this car, and plan on keeping it as my classic.
Watching this in prep to get my repairs done and my 2008 p71 back on the road by the end of the week. Thanks for covering this gem.
It drives again lads
I have fond memories of falling asleep in the back of my grandparent's Grand Marquis. That was a great couch-on-wheels.
That 4.6 2v engine was certainly indestructible. I have one in an 05 explorer. 204k miles and she runs like new. No leaks and doesn’t burn oil. Takes a good deal of abuse from me too pulling 7k lbs or responding to fire/ems calls
As you know, Ford no longer sedans for the USA, which I think is a mistake as their is still a market for sedans. The Crown Victoria is more reliable then the Ford Explorer that is currently made for police
There is a market for sedans but Honda, Toyota and Kia/Hyundai eat most of it up
@@matthewbrady4259 - If and when my 2000 Civic bombs out (not for a long time, I hope), I may have to go there. The U.S. automakers have abandoned the sedan market for gas guzzling SUVs and short term profits. Me, I absolutely hate to drive SUV's. Much less own or lease one.
@@matthewbrady4259 I agree. A Town Car makes the best family car. Live in Pa and never had any issues in any weather. My friend has a Toyota from the late 90s. Body's dipped in zinc when built and he has taken great care of it fighting salt and he's still on same drive train and body parts 26 years later. It's amazing that Toyota made a car like his Camry and Carolla that just keep going. I don't like smaller cars. I love how much room, the ride and the safety in a big Town Car so much I have a 99 and a 07. 99 has 253k and only made me walk 1 time in 8 years cause of Pa salt rotting starter selinoid cable. Listen guys no need for all that salt fellas. You don't have to melt every flake. Just keep it under a few inches and keep roads clean. If too bad screw it well stay home.
the charger is probably the last sedan cop car, i would call it the successor to the vic
@@matthewbrady4259 yup which is a damn shame especially if you arent a fan of Japanese autos
1994 - 1996 Chevy Caprice Wagon, 90s/2000s Crown Vic / Grand Marquis / TownCar are some of my favorite automobiles to this day. I passed up the perfect Caprice Wagon in 2014 and still regret it seven years later.
On 2018 I purchased a 2011 P7B retired unit from Indiana. It was the Sherrif's car for Monroe County Indiana based upon the business cards I found in the glove box. Never had damage, low mileage (69,000) and idle hours and had a rarely installed CD player in the dash, never had a light bar or K9 bars in the rear door or partition. All seats are cloth. Rear end had a slight growl and I had it rebuilt. Still had the Rhino push bar on the front. Four years later it is still going strong and still gets looks.
Why a Vickie for a commuter car? Simple. It's far more durable than some small car and since I was driving a lot of rural roads to work early in the morning, hitting a dog or raccoon with a little car would cause a lot of damage. With Elwood, just keep driving.
I love this channel for some relaxing, late night viewing... Or anytime really, but I usually save it for calming down and relaxing.... Keep up the great work!
i watch alot of car vids when i sleep. like doug demuro and RCR, but this channel always plays when i get up and i never complain.
Thank you for this video.
A couple months ago, I purchased an ‘04 CVPI and in doing so, learned they’ve got a cult like following.
The P71 internal code is also reflected in the VIN of a true CVPI. The 5th-7th character of the vin are P71 for interceptor models.
There’s a P70 and P7B for Taxi models.
For being a large car, it’s relatively fun to drive. The rear end gearing on the CVPI and the taxi variants could be had as 3.27:1 or 3:55:1 ratio depending on whether the car was destined for highway or city use.
The CVPI received heavy duty shocks, higher rate springs (which gave it a nearly 1” lift over the civilian model) along with slightly better power numbers due to programming and better designed air filter housing.
In addition to those upgrades, CVPI models also received engine oil cooling, heavy duty engine, and heavy duty transmission cooling as standard equipment on most cars.
And power steering cooler
Those Panther cars will run forever
I have a few friends of mine who are police officers and each one of them has said that they still prefer the Crown Victoria over the Explorer anyday.
It doesn't help that the all cops cars now are all turbo powered that turbo gives out your screwed. Plus add in oil dilution makes you wonder how many motors have to be replaced monthly now since all cop cars are turbo due to oil dilution.
Or any classic four door sedans that's been used by police departments.
bought a crown vic in a auction and it gave me the same feeling as my mustang. real cars
Watching this while sitting in a drivethru when suddenly see a last-gen crown vic going down the road, smoking so bad that it looked like he was doing a 45 mph burnout.
yea, that was me, thx for sharing x'D (jk ...)
Early Modular Vics had an issue with the intake cracking and leaking oil into the engine. I think they fixed that in 1995, but many still had oil burning issues when the valve seals wore down. (Mine could really make a cloud when I stepped on it!)
@@drewzero1
Every 4.6 used to blow oil back in the day.
I dont recall it being as big of an issue with the Mustangs, but I never confirmed that.
I can remember being a teenager and thinking; why would they replace the 5.0 pushrod motor with this junk?
And then stuffing it into every limo, taxi, cop, and old-person’s car!
1992-95 4.6 engines had issues with valve seals. They finally got that fixed in 1996. (My 1996 has 405,000 miles with 1 quart of oil used every 3,000 miles) I have had 3 plastic intake manifolds. The first one cracked on the water passage right behind the alternator and after that they changed those water passages to metal. But, yeah, they did have problems.
There was a class action lawsuit for every 1996-2001 4.6 for cracked water passages. They replaced those for free until that ended in 2008.
I love the Panther platform and the 4.6L V8 it was a shame when Ford stopped making them and same with the E-series vans. Long live the Panther platform, 4.6L V8 and the E-series
I totally agree about the Panther platform cars and the E series vans from Ford, I wish they would make a comeback but that will never happen .
I mean the transhit I mean transit isn't bad I just wish you could get a 6cyl in the connect size van i dont get why you have to upgrade to a huge ass van just to not be stuck with a 4 banger
@@andregonsalvez9244 they wont even though there are ways to make them better on gas like Ford said is the big reason for the canceling of them. An aluminum body they did it to the F-series they know how and it works
Well, I love seeing these cars the Lincoln Town Car in particular has also been axed, well the Lincoln Town Car has always been made in the USA until the 2007 model year when Ford shift Lincoln Town Car production to Canada and by 2010 or 2011 the Lincoln Town Car production is axed.
...and just as many police departments band-aided their Crown Vics...airport livery and executive car companies have done the same with their Town Cars...with no reasonably priced alternatives...⭐😳😥😎
Because Ford didn't have to pay as much if the cars was made in Canada cause it's considered a Import Product. Tushe ford!!
Who doesn't love a Crown Vic? My friend has two that he whips around the desert in. They sure can take a beating!
Thank you for doing this video series!
I know the Panthers weren't so requested, but you did the video justice with all of the accurate information shared here.
Those photos of the old square bodies were really nice to see, cause you found some clean examples!
I own an old CVPI myself, in black with the classic steel wheels, I've always wanted one, and finally got one last year after an accident wrecked my Honda.
To this day the huge community that surrounds these cars today has lent me some amazing friends, and a cool car club I go to monthly to celebrate the last body on frame boat of a car.
Awesome video, Thanks again!
There's so many ppl who love these cars. I'm part of a few lincoln, Cvpi, clubs. More ppl than ppl realize.
Many thanks and really enjoy the documentaries! Even watch ones about cars I don't remember because the vids are so well done.
Keep up the good work!
The last car my dad owned was a '92 blue Crown Victoria. Super reliable and comfy. It's one of my favorite cars of all time. I had it for a couple of years after he died and it was a blast as always.
Thanks for this episode man🙏🏾, you brought back some very good memories.
Mil gracias!!!
Interesting. I just learned some things I didn't know about the production of those cars. I miss those cars.
This was exeptional, your voiceover, your editing, everything was just on point. There are plenty of panthers still roaming around my neighborhood
If I _really_ need to sleep, I'll rewatch a couple videos, cuz his voice is soothing.
Ok by me, since you're less likely to skip the ads if you're sleeping!😆
Not amazing cars, but consistently good, and one of the cars you can keep alive forever.
I daily drive a 1995 Crown Victoria LX and I couldn't be more proud of it. I'll keep it forever
You need to do one on the 1989-1995 Dodge Spirit and Plymouth Acclaim
All the Chrysler K cars and minivans deserve a video of their own!
Yes please.
IIRC in the Neon video he said he was doing those soon
I second that motion. I had a 1981 K-car for almost 14 years and 140,000 miles. Had a transmission rebuild, a carburetor replacement (which had to be rebuilt), several sets of tires, and other stuff which I've long forgotten. One thing great about the car was the bumpers; they took a good hit on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn with no damage. Whose genius idea was it to furnish cars with the cheap plastic bumpers they have now?
@@AdamBomb-kd4fe It was Lee Iacocas. Dam safety bumpers. Crap. They aways crack and bust even with no bumps.
I had a 06 crown Vic and I can say it the best car I have ever owned. Average mileage was around 24 miles to the gallon and was a tank. Put 4 snow tires on in the winter and she would cruise at 45 mph in the snow and wouldn't slip or slide. Transmission went out at 312,000 miles and she was starting to rust. Motor was still running strong
The Chrysler Fifth Avenue/Dodge Diplomat/Plymouth Gran Fury deserves a review! They made great police cars!
Agree, especially the Chrysler Fifth Avenue since it was by far way more popular with the general public than the Diplomat/Gran Fury due to the Dodge/Plymouth being used mostly for fleet services rather than the general public.
@@donaldwilson2620 You're right! I've seen more Fifth Avenues than either the Diplomat or the Gran Fury!
My kid brother was an NYPD detective; he put in his 20 and retired in 2006. The NYPD used the Diplomats and Gran Furies as police vehicles a lot at the time. Which I'm certain were used as livery taxicabs when the NYPD retired them. One day in (I think) early 1992, when I was living in Brooklyn, I was changing the PCV valve in my K-car, when a plain Dodge Diplomat passed by. Being that those cars were used as cabs all over, I paid it no mind. The car stopped, and a scuzzy looking guy with long hair and an equally long beard approached me. It was my brother; he was doing undercover "buy and bust". I wonder if our mother ever saw him like that; she might have fainted then and there. 😉🚔
@@AdamBomb-kd4fe I have seen more Diplomats and Gran Furies as police cars! They were very common during my teenage years! They were probably used more in New York as taxis!
Had a 2000 Grand nice highway car and very comfortable. Fuel mileage was ok if you were gentle on the throttle. When I sold it I got more than I paid for it
My first car was a 2004 Crown Vic PI. Such a durable dependable car, not to mention being a lot of fun. Sometimes I miss it.
The Kansas State Highway Patrol brought the last of The Ford Crown's for Police Work.
They were painted the classic KHP Paint Detail with the single Red Light we on top
KHP used both the Mer and the Crown at one point.
I purchased a 92 Ford Crown used KHP Unit with the 281 V8 with 220 horse it was fast.
Some of the best Patrol Vehicles at that were the Chevrolet and Ford's. Both were respected in their own right.
At one point some departments used the Lincoln Continentals in their Patrol Fleet.
One of The Hot Rod Magazine tested the Lincoln Continentals and it was actually faster in the quarter mile drag in than the Crown.
I believe one of The Departments in Colorado used them as well as The Kansas City Missouri Police Departments. Unfortunately, the were only used as a test for Law Enforcement and didn't fit mustard
9:16 That's what I like about the last generation Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car. They all look the same.
I bought a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis with over 240k on it for around $1800 back in 2012. I drove it with very minimal maintenance for close to 6 years until the ball joints let loose and the wheels literally fell off! Fixed the ball joints and sold it for around $1500. Not a bad investment in my book.
Coulda kept and got least 500k.
@@jasonchristopher2977 i did end up replacing all the coil packs and spark plugs one by one as I drove it
I love my 09 & 10 CVPI's. Rest in peace 06.
Love the banana in the tailpipe scene!!!
Those cars are so awesome. I'd love to see an episode on the Lumina and 90s Monte Carlo. I own a 1995 Monte Carlo in really good shape, it's probably one of the last ones out there.
My mother had a powder blue 99 Grand Marquis for over a decade. Thanks to her thrifty money management talents, she paid cash when it was new (As a child of the Great Depression, Mom hated debt!). I believe it was her favorite car. Mom told me about young males excitedly asking if her car was for sale. Nope! She kept it until needed repairs started to increase. It wouldn't surprise me if it did have those big wheels and added fender flares and brightwork now. It was one of the best cars in the family. Rest in peace, Mom! We miss you!
I’ve had two town cars, a 94 and an 02. I liked the 94s boxy styling much more than the 02
The pillow shaped Lincoln was not the best looking machine.
A good tip to know if an Explorer is a cop or not is to look for the roof rails. Police Explorers did not ship with roof rails while every passenger version did.
Awesome! I've owned 5 Panthers. I love them. Easy to fix, cheap to upgrade and will handle more abuse than any other vehicle on the road. I'm currently swapping an AOD from my '84 Crown Victoria and a mildly built 351w into a 1994 Grand Marquis. Wonderful video. Thanks for uploading
I love this! My Mom had a '79 navy blue LTD. We'd be driving down the highway and people around us would slow down, thinking we were an unmarked police car (until they say two kids in the back seat). Later, we had a 1984 LTD Brougham which was great to see mentioned in this video. I'd love to see a full video on the Brougham!
The three Ford Motor Company Panther platform 1990s through 2011 car models were stellar vehicles.
NYC medallion taxi cab Crown Vics regularly achieved 300,000 to 500,000 miles.
You should do an episode on the Pontiac Grand Prix.
Good car. Had on from 90s and early 00s. It was a supercharged gp. Ran super well. Dan plastic coolant elbows. Other than that the 3.8 is a bulletproof engine. Great teen first car.
All the cops I know LOVED the Caprice. Surprising to see you dissing it.
Like fat or ugly girls fun to ride but so big n ugly.
I never heard that lol. Always about a vic in my areas
Think we can see one on the Buick Lesabre or Buick Park Avenue?
Also, the crown vic has always been my dream sedan, i've always wanted one. Damn near had one but someone beat me to it.
I worked as a police officer in Phoenix, AZ for 5 years and couldn’t believe how much abuse these cars could take on daily basis. I was so impressed that I sold my BMW in 2008 and have had Crown Victoria as my personal vehicle since then. That’s over 13 years of car ownership without any major issues that I can remember. To me Crown Victoria is the best car ever made.
I have ‘97 Crown Vic. I bought it used about nearly 2 years ago. Nothing but routine maintenance needed. Fluid changes, couple of ball joints and shocks. Smoothest car I’ve owned. I love it, and I hope it lasts me decades. I got it with only 135,000 miles on it in March of 2020.
Best $1500 I’ve ever spent. Also.. everything was in go good condition, minus the seats. Leather cracking. Original aluminum wheels.. etc.
Why did the body on frame platform prevent stability control being added when it became required?
I don’t think it had to do with it being body on frame necessary I think it’s just they didn’t see a point in spending more money on a dated dying chassis they were ready to phase out anyways
it’s more stable being one complete piece rather than being 2
@@sakou1237 Cheaper and faster to make a uni body than a frame welded up then a body bolted to it. And when a frame car is wrecked it can be fixed easier and cheaper if not a bad crash. You hit a deer in a newer car and it's done cause you can't just fix it like these great cars. Ppl do but in a insurance money viewpoint not woth it to them. Sad. We got jipped by no new panthers for junk. All about that dollar
@@jasonchristopher2977 Yep. Ford wasn't getting any funds from the Panther Platforms.
It is indestructible.
Go figure
Electronic stability control along with traction control and abs braking are for idiots who don't know how to drive.
I learned to drive in the 70s on a big old RWD V8 Dodge Monaco four-door sedan without any fancy electronic bs.
Today I have a collection of four Panthers that I will not be getting rid of until I am unable to drive or kick the bucket.
The second and third gen of the Panther Platform Crown Victoria will become a big collector's car within the next 10 years. They were the last of their kind. Tough, durable, indestructible, long-lasting, reliable, RWD American V8 full-size sedan. I still see many on the roads.
If there were to be any traditional American car still in very good condition that I'd make into a sleeper, it would be the second or third gen or its Mercury twin made into a 500hp sleeper by doing modifications to the 4.6.
The vehicle that I feel has now replaced the Panther Platform is the Chrysler LX Platform. Even though the LX Platform is not body-on-frame, it still has many similarities to the Panther. RWD, V8, roomy, etc.
Not really it's crap and panther is king. That's the difference. You'll go broke fixing a cryer product and retire on a panther.
We once took a Country Squire cross country, complete with wood grain and all.. Big enough you could sleep in the back but boy that two speed automatic transmission was smoking going through the rockies! Never knew what gear it wanted to be in. Also had the Pinto version, known as the Country Squirt.
I imagine I would be a hit at a meet with an 80s era Country Squire, with original stereo/cassette, and Billy Squire's "Don't Say No" tape in the player cranked up! 😊
Ahh my favorite car. Thanks for this vid! I had an 01 Grand Marquis for 7 years and it was the best family car ever (notice I said car). Its best feature, deep wide long TRUNK made it like a 4 door pickup. It was super reliable and my young familys main car for a 4 years. It was great for driving around my babies/small kids and could easily swallow car seats and all the baby stuff you need to lug around with you on trips. Ironically it showed me why people are switching to crossovers. A crv has all the same virtues. Comfortable, great utility and better mpg (my grandma had the 2.73 rear end and would average 22mpg in suburban driving). In the end it was the little things that started to go and it was 17 years old by then so a big problem wouldnt be worth fixing. For that reason I started car shopping while it was still running good. I replaced it with an accord and while the accords good the "tunnell trunk" (all sedans have tunnel trunks now) makes it way less useful than the grand marquis. Again this is why people are getting crossovers. I sold grandma too an older guy for 500 bux. No idea if its still on the road.
This is still a great vehicle if you want a cheap reliable car. Its just this and the gm 3800 powered cars. All other used cars are cheap or relaiable but never both.
Oh and 1 followup. I specifically sought out the Ford Panther because I had grown up with fwd 4 bangers and wanted to try v8 rwd and body on frame. I wanted the ford panther or lt1 powered gm b body. I went with the grand marquis because 1. the lt1 powered b bodys were 15 years out of production and were not cheap by then cuz of their lt1 folklore (also they didnt have latch and I had babies by then) and wernt as fast as the gm fanboys claim, and 2 everyone thought you were a cop if you had a crown vic. With a grand marquis only the guy driving in front of you at night thinks you're a cop.
I swear by the 3800.
@@nfullenwider before the Grand Marquis I had a 3800 powered 94 Regal Custom. That car was more reliable than the mercury and got 33mph highway if you hypermiled it. It was fast too from 0-45 mph (1st gear at wide open throttle). I now have a 15 accord v6, 280hp and the buick 0-45 was as quick as my 280 hp accord. Of course the accord just pulls away after that amd keeps on pulling but still given its simplicity power and fuel economy and reliability I think the 3800 is one of the best gasoline engines of all time.
@@Henry_Jones I said this earlier. It's overlooked so much for v8. They run forever. only bad is the dam plastic coolant elbows. But they recalled with steel so boom it's perfect. Had a few. Never walked. Had this 99 Towncar with 4.6. No issues. only 1 from capped out starter. 2 of the best, simplest greatest longest lasting engines in last 30 years. The SC Gp run like rapped apes.
@@jasonchristopher2977 yep mine wasnt showing any signs of anything big breaking but little things were starting to go. The breaking point was when it broke down on the lift in the shop after getting the carcoal canister fixed. That was corroded leads on the starter and was a cheap fix but that was when I decided its worth what, 500? A grand? Not the cost of a huge repair so I decided to replace it while it was still running decently and had value. I miss having that giant trunk all the time.
As a crown Vic owner ,u have earned my sub with this one
My friend got a well taken care of crown vic in the 90's & it was a big smooth ride feeling like a personal chauffeur everytime I rode in it.
It was funny as well watching traffic always part ways for us coming down the road.
The best Crown Victoria I owned was a 1980. It was a retired FBI car. Must have been a higher-ups car because this one was loaded with everything including the lighted keyholes on the doors. Bought it while in high school so that would have been 1986. If I remember correctly the price was no more than $500 and the car looked like new. Very fast car also or seemed that way back then.
My husband and I are the second owners of a 2003 Vic, a Gramma vehicle. We absolutely love it! We'd like to also get a decommissioned interceptor, but we haven't put much effort into it yet. My favorite response when anyone asks if ours is as good a car as they're known to be is: "It's a Vic." Enough said!
I had a 2006 LX for 5 years, only had to replace the fan regulator.
Most comfortable car i have ever had!
My first car was a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis. It was SLOW, but to this day the most comfortable car I’ve ever owned.
I've owned 4 of these. A 1988, 1991, 2000 and a 2003. It was a love / hate relationship, But it was definitely 90% love!
I watch your videos even if it’s a car I’m not really into or knowledgeable about. They are THAT GOOD. But I do love the panther cars.
The Panther platform Grand Marquis and Crown Victoria were on the same wheelbase and the same length. The 1978 down were different lengths. Beginning in 1969 the Ford was 121 inch wheelbase; the Mercury Marquis was 3 inches longer at 123; the Lincoln Continental was 3 inches longer at 126. The Panther cars were 114.3 for both the LTD and Marquis beginning in 1979. The Lincoln Town Car WAS 3 inches longer on the Panther platform beginning in 1980. In 1992 they went to 114.7 for both Crown Vic and Grand Marquis. The 1983-86 LTD and Marquis was 105.5 same as the Fairmont. Great video!
Yeah I've always wondered why they used unmarked Crown Vics when every miscreant knew that the only ones on the road were use by the cops. In Australia, for comparisons sake, we used unmarked Falcon and Commodores but 95% were driven by the general public.
Had a 2010 p7b and nothing can beat its reliability and just all around fun car to drive the 2v 4.6 v8 made such a great sound
Great video!! Working for Hertz as a transporter during the mid-1990s until 2006, I would try to drive a Panther car when I could!! I drive my late father's 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis LS now. These in my opinion are the best cars Ford ever built!! I affectionately call her "Baby Girl". She just turned 125,000 and she still runs like new. At this rate, she'll out live me. I do see less cars like mine out there now. And when I do, the other owner and I would stop and talk about our cars. It's pretty cool. Hope you do follow up episodes on the Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Cars. They have interesting histories, too!!
Awesome video as usual but I do have a suggestion for another episode. How about the Ford Contour I hardly if ever see them around
IIRC, the Ford Contour was the Americanized version of the European Ford Mondeo. Which also begat the Jaguar X-Type. The most recent Mondeo became the Ford Fusion. Which (I'm fairly sure) was used by the NYPD. Heck, here in NYC, I've seen blue and white Smart cars with the NYPD logo; I assume they're used by what used to be called meter maids.
Love these cars!
This is a car I like now more than when it was new, as I suspect many others do as well, judging by how many people want to buy them as used cars now, especially the ex-police cars. Through continuous improvements and refinements, the Crown Vic became very reliable. I know people regularly wrack up hundreds of thousands of miles on these, despite being not the most fuel-efficient choice.
I get about 26 on a great day hiway. City sucks. 16-18. But if you cut cats and get flow masters it'll be great mpg.
Mine has the 3:27 to 1 rear axle ratio and it only averages 23 mpg. If it had the 2:73 to 1 rear axle ratio it would be good for about 3 more miles per gallon. No, it isn' the most fuel efficient.
I'm still baffled by Ford's claim about the Panther platform not being able to support Electronic Stability Control. Excuse me if I sound ignorant in saying this but, ESP is basically an additional module, yaw sensor and roll sensor that tie into the ECU/PCM and ABS module along with some programming. How would a vehicle being body-on-frame make this impossible? If that logic were valid then the PPV Tahoe among other vehicles couldn't exist today. I like the Taurus and even own a SHO but it's no replacement for the Crown Victoria PI in the real world, only on paper.
@8:49 "Want a Donut?" OH SNAP is that Ryan Stiles???
This is one of my favourite American(and somehow even it's Canadian made) Cars on my list
I've owned 3 Crown Vic's, you can't beat that big car ride.
Great video, I drive an 89 LTD CV and I love it. I still can’t believe they thought that 500 could take over for the crown victoria. Like I get that its time had come considering all the government meddling, but they could’ve at least put a little effort in lol. I think honestly an elongated Mustang would have been perfect. Basically do another Fairmont/83 LTD and make a sedan on the Mustang platform, they could’ve easily offered the 4.6 alongside a V6 option, and retaining the solid rear axle even without such a substantial frame would’ve still been a benefit for cost of maintenance and repair.
just inherited my great grandfathers 2004 LX P74 with 92K on it. drives like a dream.
coming from owning four hondas, it has been a blast to roll around in a RWD cushy boat and see people sit in my blind spot never to pass me. time to get a interceptor's differential and muffler delete/dual exhaust lolol
My grandfather had a 1985 Grand Marquis. Roomy, solid, spacious, comfortable.
Love this video I grew up in stthomas used to see all the new crown Vic’s out front
I love my 93 Ford Crown Victoria LX. It is a family heirloom at this point being bought by my grandmother brand new in 94 and being passed to my mom in 2000 and I inherited it in 2015 when I couldn't find a car that would live for more then a few months. I have owned the car ever since and though it needs a lot of work, I have moth balled it to save up money to have the drivetrain rebuilt. I may drove a Cadillac CTS now but the Crown Victoria will always be a car that i will never sell.
Might I suggest the mercury cougar line of cars. I've got one, a 1971 model but I think it would be interesting to see you review the later 80s and 90s models.
That's awesome I was pulling parts for my vic in my families scrapyard and on the way to it I saw a wrecked 90s cougar thinking to myself you dont see that one every day
Fortunately; My Old Car did an episode that profiled the Mercury Cougar from its debut in 1967 to its end in 2002.
I’m 62 now, I’ve owned 33 different vehicles from trucks suvs & sports cars! But my 2010 P 71 is the best car I’ve ever owned. I’ve put around 10 grand in it so far and probably won’t ever drive anything else besides a pick up. It does everything that I need to be a all around great driving experience!
I owned a 1999 crown vic lx for a year and a half(sold it this summer) and other than my current ‘95 mustang it was the best car i had so far
love Love LOVE This channel!!
Its one of the very few I have set for every new vid notification!
I drive a 1997 Marquis. 180K miles. 23.1 mpg all day long. I've gotten as high as 25mpg when on a long road trip. I would make the argument that these are the best cars ever produced in overall value.
i look forward to My old car's videos. i don't know how this page doesn't have 100,000 and more subscribers. thank you for always making these videos
Love the panther platform i own a 2011 ford crown vic police interceptor with 139k miles that came from new castle country pd in Delaware i daily it ive put nearly 2,700 miles on it since ive bought it ive had no issues.
Awesome, this is the most content I've ever seen for a police interceptor. I know very little about how those cars are made.
Actually the first one that I can call "my old car" - I had an 03 that I loved, but Alberta winter driving caught up to her.
the STREET appearance package or SAP was more then just an "unmarked police car" it had civilian door trim, reverslight deck and a few other thing to make it look like a STREET car instead of a cop car
It wasn't just the cops who loved these cars. In the NYC area these were THE livery car. Crown Vic for yellow cab service, and Lincoln Town Cars for black car service. Even Jeremy Clarkson loved the Town Car. He made an entire video where he claimed that the only proper for-hire car in US Murica was the Lincoln Town Car.
My best friend is a state trooper. When they were transitioning from the Crown Vic to the Charger, nobody wanted to give up their Crown Vic.
The same happened here when various law enforcement departments changed to the Explorer. The Explorers can't keep up in a high-speed chase like the Crown Victorias, especially when corners are frequent and the vehicle being chased is agile and low to the ground.
@@cityofabscissae Yeah the Explorer is a real turd for trying to drive fast. I've got way better power to weight in my basic Golf daily driver and they can't corner worth a damn. The extra gear they carry now days adds an enormous amount of weight.
My cousin used one when she started as a police officer. She loved it.
I had a Grand Marquis for five years and it was the easiest car to find parts for. There was practically a Panther section in my local junkyard. With my current cars I'm lucky if the junkyard has one!
My family owns a scrapyard there are about 5 panther bodies within a quarter mile of the entrance
@FunWithCars casey illinois, stutesmans used cars and garage
Had an '05 till last year. Loved it, smoothest ride I've ever driven. Lol wish I still had it.
I have an 2011 Crown vic p71 as a daily driver. Its in great shape,easy driven car with plenty of power and roomy interior, love it !
I absolutely love the Panther platform. I daily drive an 07 Crown Vic P-71 with 200,000 miles on it, and I inherited my Mother's 97 Town Car with 144,000 miles. They both run and drive beautifully. Mom's car will remain a garage queen. These cars are easy and cheap to work on.
I have a whole list of Panthers I've owned (I especially love station wagons):
82 Country Squire
86 Country Squire
91 Country Squire
90 Crown Victoria
89 Grand Marquis
I love these cars.