Ford Crown Victoria - advice/opinions

Ford Crown Victoria - advice/opinions

Author
Discussion

lbg

1 posts

122 months

Tuesday 14th January 2014
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I bought a Crown Victoria P72 last year

I can honestly say it's one of the best cars I've ever owned

I live in Central London. It's got LPG so 69p a litre to fill it up currently (£30 quid to fill the tank)

True the handling isn't amazing (I have a BMW 330ci as my other vehicle) but that's not really the point

It's literally like driving around on a really comfortable sofa. Being stuck in London traffic doesn't seem so bad when you're wafting along.

Anyone that's had a ride in it comments how comfortable it is.

Perfectly fine at high motorway speeds and very relaxing to drive

I look like a bit of an idiot I'm sure but that's ok

I got it for 2500 on eBay

The smile hasn't worn off yet. I absolutely love it.

croyde

22,702 posts

229 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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I still want one. Nice to hear that you drive it around town smile

Tophatron

425 posts

220 months

Friday 31st January 2014
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lbg, how much does it cost to run it on lpg (i.e. what's the equivalent mpg compared to petrol)? Always liked the Crown Vic for some weird reason..

SheriffAds

103 posts

127 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
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Tophatron said:
lbg, how much does it cost to run it on lpg (i.e. what's the equivalent mpg compared to petrol)? Always liked the Crown Vic for some weird reason..
LPG doesn't change MPG as such as it uses the same quantity of fuel (although I think it actually burns a bit more LPG than petrol). LPG is just cheaper so cost per mile is less. You should do about 25mpg with a Vic so at 70p/litre you can do the maths.

RDMcG

19,096 posts

206 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
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You might consider a Mercury Marauder instead. Same body as the Vic, much better interior, console shift, better seats, and quicker....

MrBig

2,638 posts

128 months

Monday 17th February 2014
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I'd love a Crown Vic, but I couldn't really tell you why.

That said I would take a Murcielago over a Ferrari or a Nissan GTR in the full knowledge that it's a far worse car dynamically.

Maybe I just enjoy having the st scared out of me hehe

optimal909

198 posts

143 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
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I've just got my '01 P71 delivered to Hungary where I live. Yeah, the engine bay and the frame is a bit rusty (it's from the rustbelt) and the cabin is a "bit" spartan, but I already love it.

It is at the mechanic getting new oil, water pump, a belt and a tensioner, spark plugs, etc., then I'll take to have the frame cleaned of rust and properly coated, also it needs a proper wash inside-out.

Can't wait to have it "on duty"! smile

fourpointsixgt

513 posts

163 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
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Agreed, they do have a certain allure, can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's because it would be seen as pretty cool over here, especially a P71 with an aftermarket exhaust fitted. The huge boot makes it ideal for an LPG tank, parts are peanuts, you granny could service it, and that boat anchor of an engine is one of the most reliable power plants ever made.

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Wednesday 2nd April 2014
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fourpointsixgt said:
Agreed, they do have a certain allure, can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's because it would be seen as pretty cool over here, especially a P71 with an aftermarket exhaust fitted. The huge boot makes it ideal for an LPG tank, parts are peanuts, you granny could service it, and that boat anchor of an engine is one of the most reliable power plants ever made.
The boot is freakishly large and deep. I put two suitcases in and there was still enough room left for me.

As for the handling, I don't think I've driven anything quite so fun in the snow. Pull away in second, traction control off, and it was sublime.

croyde

22,702 posts

229 months

Wednesday 7th May 2014
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I went to see a guy who had 3 the other day. All in brilliant nick and one only had 38,000 miles on the clock. They were 2009 and 2008 models. All P71s and the one I drove felt more European in handling than any other US car I've driven. I presume the Cop suspension is better.

Because they were not that old and were in good nick, even the interiors looked like new, they were all about the £10k mark, which I'd suspect, what with traveling to the States to buy them and shipping, tax, test etc would not really generate a profit for him but he just collects them and sells them on when he needs space.

He also had ex police Impalas and Chargers as well. All late 2000s.

Sadly £10k is too much for me especially as it would be a second car and rarely used. I was mighty tempted tho' even after having to drive it down the tiny windy narrow lanes of Kent.

Here's the one I drove http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-Police-Ford-Crown-V...

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Wednesday 7th May 2014
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Two minutes from me and I've never seen or heard of him.

croyde

22,702 posts

229 months

Wednesday 7th May 2014
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You tempted

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Wednesday 7th May 2014
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Not at those prices.

My wife has never forgiven the last one for constantly hitting on her on the head whenever she went to get anything out of the boot.

That, and that it used to randomly smell of curry.

croyde

22,702 posts

229 months

Wednesday 7th May 2014
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Haha. I was going to ask you as you've owned one. I was quite surprised how high the seating position was.

You could see all the bonnet rather like being in a 4x4. I know the cop ones ride higher.

If I ever own one I'd like to put different front seats in. Something not as spongey.

I wonder if something from a modern Mondeo would just fit.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Wednesday 7th May 2014
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Different seats depending on spec I think.

Mine was a P72 spec that was originally destined for the Middle East I think that had then had a centre console fitted (out of a GMC but fitted well).

It was like driving to work in your armchair.

optimal909

198 posts

143 months

Thursday 8th May 2014
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croyde said:
Haha. I was going to ask you as you've owned one. I was quite surprised how high the seating position was.

You could see all the bonnet rather like being in a 4x4. I know the cop ones ride higher.

If I ever own one I'd like to put different front seats in. Something not as spongey.

I wonder if something from a modern Mondeo would just fit.
Indeed it feels like in-between a normal car and and a smallish SUV in terms of driving position.
As for the seats, I was also considering to change them, but after a couple of weeks of driving I recon these are good enough. Thankfully I have cloth seats, not those vinyl-leather ones. I will buy a centre console though, but that costs only 30 USD or so in the US.

So far, I'm loving it. Being a P71 its handling is fine, brakes are good as well. I was led to believe that the frame's torsional rigidity is not good, but it doesn't feel like that, even on very rough roads it feels reassuringly solid.

SheriffAds

103 posts

127 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
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Low mileage doesn't mean much on one of these cars - you also need to pay close attention to the idle hours. Take city cop cars for example, they spend most of their time in traffic and on the side of the road, engine running, waiting.

To put prices into perspective: I know a guy who is presently importing a CVPI. It is a 2010 car that looks very clean. It has low hours and miles and is fully kitted up with everything you could ever need including light bar, nudge bar, prisoner cage etc. By the time he pays tax on it and gets it on the road we estimate him forking out about £9K

optimal909

198 posts

143 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
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SheriffAds said:
Low mileage doesn't mean much on one of these cars - you also need to pay close attention to the idle hours. Take city cop cars for example, they spend most of their time in traffic and on the side of the road, engine running, waiting.

To put prices into perspective: I know a guy who is presently importing a CVPI. It is a 2010 car that looks very clean. It has low hours and miles and is fully kitted up with everything you could ever need including light bar, nudge bar, prisoner cage etc. By the time he pays tax on it and gets it on the road we estimate him forking out about £9K
Mine was a disguised interceptor of the NY State Thruway Authority (without light bar, nudge bar and the rest), but I have no idea how much it idled. During the first 1000 miles I covered there is no oil consumption though, and the powertrain appears to reassuringly solid.

I'm bracing to go through a lot of trouble registering the car including a side-trip to Germany, the total cost will be around 13000 USD, including the 4000 USD I paid for the car in the US. It still appears as money well spent. smile

croyde

22,702 posts

229 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
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SheriffAds said:
Low mileage doesn't mean much on one of these cars - you also need to pay close attention to the idle hours. Take city cop cars for example, they spend most of their time in traffic and on the side of the road, engine running, waiting.

To put prices into perspective: I know a guy who is presently importing a CVPI. It is a 2010 car that looks very clean. It has low hours and miles and is fully kitted up with everything you could ever need including light bar, nudge bar, prisoner cage etc. By the time he pays tax on it and gets it on the road we estimate him forking out about £9K
Which makes the three I saw reasonably priced. In fact I doubt the owner would be making anything selling at £10k.

SheriffAds

103 posts

127 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
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croyde said:
Which makes the three I saw reasonably priced. In fact I doubt the owner would be making anything selling at £10k.
Well not really... when you consider a newer car, albeit by a year, fully kitted out for £9k. The cost of a decent light bar alone is £2500, then cost of wiring it (even if you did it yourself), add in a centre console for controls, sirens etc - in this case all provided and done prior to sale for your total cost of £9000. Now of course that is taking into consideration the cost of restoring a car to police which in my opinion I don't see why you would want a P71 otherwise... however...

If you wanted a plain car without any thrills, you can get one for a lot less money than what that guy is offering. Whether he is making a profit or not depends on how much he paid for them - why would he be selling them on in the quantity that he is if he wasn't making a profit? All I'd say is that if you want one but don't want the hassle of importing one then by all means pay the higher price for someone else to have already done that. Or save a lot of money and do it yourself.

Check out http://www.911evac.co.uk/ if you really want a P71 and want to talk to people who have been there, done that.