RE: Ford's Crown Victoria debuts
Monday 29th November 2004
Ford's Crown Victoria debuts
2005 model hits the streets: huge, heavy and sluggish
Among the last of its kind, Ford has just released the latest version of its Crown Victoria in the US. It's run by police forces, taxi companies, and the folks in middle America who love the idea of an American car, just like they've always made them.
It's huge andheavy, and has no pretensions to being a driver's car: for that -- even in the cheap-car US -- you have to buy European. But then you pay. The Crown Vic, fully loaded with all options will cost you just $30,275 -- roughly £16,000, before haggling.
Your money buys you a 1,844Kg rear-wheel drive behemoth with a 4.6-litre V8 under the bonnet. It manages to generate a lazy 224bhp and return some 18-25mpg, though with the optional dual exhausts you'll get a bump to 239bhp. It'll haul the Vic from zero to 60 in under nine seconds, so you retain a miniscule shred of respectability when pulling away from the lights.
In terms of handling -- well, there isn't any. The body is suspended from the chassis on rubber mountings, while the steering and brakes are 
massively assisted. The point is to isolate you entirely from the road and, in this, it succeeds. Inside, wide, wide seats with no lateral support ensure that the few corners you negotiate will be tackled in a manner that doesn't challenge the soft suspension. If you're big though, you won't be troubled by those nasty side bolsters which can make the larger individual feel squished after 10-12 hours at the wheel.
Technology doesn't play a huge part, though you get ABS and airbags plus cruise control. And of course it's an automatic -- four speed only.
However, as one reviewer put it, it lacks bling andit will fill your garage -- but if you simply want the largest, safest, most comfortable saloon car, there's no contest.
Discussion
. My great-uncle had one of these about 15 years ago. On the surface that seems like an odd choice cause he was a professional engineer. After a long day in the office, perhaps he just wanted a complete break from any hint of design and engineering? My one abiding memory of riding in the car is the total lack of damping in the suspension. Once it started to roll, it just rocked corner to corner, side to side, back to front ... on and on and on until you became sea sick. Just awful. Not redeeming features at all.
Ford needs the fleet sales.
The cops need something big to haul crackheads to the clink with.
It is more durable as a rear driver for crashing across the grassy medians on US highways in the pursuit of revenue.
The cops can sit in it all day and think they're at home as they zap people late for work, again as a lazy way to generate revenue and avoid the business of law enforcement.
Chevy no longer produce their behemoth competitor so it is easy sales for Ford.
Mr&Mrs OAP like these things for the space and the fact that they don't have to make any effort to avoid a collision, and may stand a better chance than other cars at withstanding an attack by a multitasker in an SUV.
It is a niche filler.
m
The cops need something big to haul crackheads to the clink with.
It is more durable as a rear driver for crashing across the grassy medians on US highways in the pursuit of revenue.
The cops can sit in it all day and think they're at home as they zap people late for work, again as a lazy way to generate revenue and avoid the business of law enforcement.
Chevy no longer produce their behemoth competitor so it is easy sales for Ford.
Mr&Mrs OAP like these things for the space and the fact that they don't have to make any effort to avoid a collision, and may stand a better chance than other cars at withstanding an attack by a multitasker in an SUV.
It is a niche filler.
m
Yeah, the 300C and the equivalent GM model should be all accounts torpedo this particular ageing boat straight out of the water, but brand loyalty is such in America that there are some people who'll buy anything with 'Ford', 'Crown' and 'Victoria' on it, rather than think about the opposition, which are driven by 'commies' and 'long-hairs'.
Doesn't work over here - imagine if Vauxhall decided to replace the Vectra with the '80s model Cavalier? Everyone would go and buy a Mondeo.
Doesn't work over here - imagine if Vauxhall decided to replace the Vectra with the '80s model Cavalier? Everyone would go and buy a Mondeo.
I'm surprised everyone is dissing it. It's a great alternative to an SUV and uses less fuel and can actually got round corners without flipping over. If you get the police interceptor version you get stiffer sway bars and LSD. It's got independent rear suspension and obviously it's RWD. What's not to like? You can drive half way across the USA without stopping for gas and no-one will tailgate or block your path because they assume you are a cop. You can get three or four corpses in the boot, if need be.
They handle well. I used to race Solo II at the local police training track and once a cop came out in a crown vic to show us how it was done. OK, he knew the track very well, but he embarrassed some serious European exotic hardware.
D
They handle well. I used to race Solo II at the local police training track and once a cop came out in a crown vic to show us how it was done. OK, he knew the track very well, but he embarrassed some serious European exotic hardware.
D
"It's got independent rear suspension and obviously it's RWD"
Only part right, it IS RWD, it does NOT have IRS, what it has is a full Watts linkage system to locate the rear axle.
I sell these (in the police car version) and drive them on an almost daily basis and I never cease to be impressed with the handling and braking available. It is easy to take potshots at a large, traditional style car such as the 'Vic, but they serve a purpose and really do deliver a lot of room for the money.
I question if the reviewer actually DROVE one of these or if he just rehashed the "image" of the large US car?
I mean, everybodyin the US knows that every Limey drives a Mini or an old Austin and eats pies, Right?
Rick
Only part right, it IS RWD, it does NOT have IRS, what it has is a full Watts linkage system to locate the rear axle.
I sell these (in the police car version) and drive them on an almost daily basis and I never cease to be impressed with the handling and braking available. It is easy to take potshots at a large, traditional style car such as the 'Vic, but they serve a purpose and really do deliver a lot of room for the money.
I question if the reviewer actually DROVE one of these or if he just rehashed the "image" of the large US car?
I mean, everybodyin the US knows that every Limey drives a Mini or an old Austin and eats pies, Right?
Rick
Funny old website this is. Last week I learned that Toyota is actually way better in making sports cars and engines than, say, Ferrari.
(Apperently their engines easily go 400bhp, they only hold back because...well, just because.)
Now a whole heap of people inform me an American 80's revival barge is the epitomy of handling and chassis design.
Well, you sure told me. I'm off putting the Alfa up for sale.
Yehaa.
(Apperently their engines easily go 400bhp, they only hold back because...well, just because.)
Now a whole heap of people inform me an American 80's revival barge is the epitomy of handling and chassis design.
Well, you sure told me. I'm off putting the Alfa up for sale.
Yehaa.
Hey, if its good enough for Sheriff John (I am the law!) Bunnel, then its good enough for everybody else!
As he says: "The standard issue patrol car, its a life saving tool", great for swerving dangerously across grass medians in pursuit of a "deranged crackhead maniac" going the wrong way down a highway.
Thats enough high-octane quotes for one day, phew...
As he says: "The standard issue patrol car, its a life saving tool", great for swerving dangerously across grass medians in pursuit of a "deranged crackhead maniac" going the wrong way down a highway.
Thats enough high-octane quotes for one day, phew...
weed said:
Mr&Mrs OAP like these things for the space and the fact that they don't have to make any effort to avoid a collision, and may stand a better chance than other cars at withstanding an attack by a multitasker in an SUV.
Mr and Mrs OAP actually go for the Vic's corporate sibling the Mercury "Grand Marquis":
How do I know? It's the State car of Florida of course. If you see the barge in your rear view and the grill logo is ROUND then you are ok (but I would recommend giving it a wide berth because of driving habits). If the logo is a blue oval, you're f
d, because it will be a police officer of some sort. BTW, State Troopers in Florida are now driving a "blacked out version" of this thing so you cannot see them coming a mile away (like you used to be able to do when they had the beige roofs). Cheers
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM on Monday 29th November 14:32
duncanreally said:
I'm surprised everyone is dissing it. It's a great alternative to an SUV and uses less fuel and can actually got round corners without flipping over. If you get the police interceptor version you get stiffer sway bars and LSD. It's got independent rear suspension and obviously it's RWD. What's not to like? You can drive half way across the USA without stopping for gas and no-one will tailgate or block your path because they assume you are a cop. You can get three or four corpses in the boot, if need be.
They handle well. I used to race Solo II at the local police training track and once a cop came out in a crown vic to show us how it was done. OK, he knew the track very well, but he embarrassed some serious European exotic hardware.
D
It's almost unfair to look at the stock version of this car, since most times it will be seen with a performance package of some kind.
Jesus, I had one of these for 4 months when working out of Houston at the start of the year..
Got the thing with 200miles on the clock and NOTHING worked - electric windows, radio, and I have seen better plastics on Flora packets.
It was rather fun going around corners, it was quite a kick turning the wheel and waiting for 2-3 seconds for the darn thing to do anything.
The joys of american motoring..
Got the thing with 200miles on the clock and NOTHING worked - electric windows, radio, and I have seen better plastics on Flora packets.
It was rather fun going around corners, it was quite a kick turning the wheel and waiting for 2-3 seconds for the darn thing to do anything.
The joys of american motoring..
My worst passenger experience was in one of these as a taxi in the states a couple of years ago. Someone pulled out on us at a junction and the driver took evasive action. The resulting tankslapper (actually uncontrollable and undamped body roll) took the best part of 200 yards for the driver to attemt to tidy up, before he gave up and we skidded to a halt sideways. If it had been any Eurobox and I mean any, it wouldn't have happened.
I may be wrong but the spy photos in the States suggested that the 2004 version will continue to have a separate chassis
You would think that they might try to bring some of the chassis dynamics into the twentieth century, when everyone else is moving into the twenty-first
I may be wrong but the spy photos in the States suggested that the 2004 version will continue to have a separate chassis
You would think that they might try to bring some of the chassis dynamics into the twentieth century, when everyone else is moving into the twenty-first I am kind of partial to them myself. They have a niche and fill it quite well.
A couple of years ago I was talking with a guy who was one of the driving instructors at a track day I was at. There was a remark about taking a CV around the track. He said he would rather drive that than a Mustang, since it handles better and is more predictibe.
A couple of years ago I was talking with a guy who was one of the driving instructors at a track day I was at. There was a remark about taking a CV around the track. He said he would rather drive that than a Mustang, since it handles better and is more predictibe.
I love how everyone loves to put down American Cars, and often use something like a Crown Vic as a perfect example. Fact is, I would never own one for many of the reasons stated above. It is an old technology car with a soft suspension, and handles like... well, like a tank.
However, for people like my dad, who never takes a corner faster than walking speed, but spends quite a bit of time traveling on the motorway (interstate highway), it's perfect. They are very comfortable to ride in, and are also very quiet. And because it's old technology, they are cheap. You can get one loaded with all the goodies without breaking the bank. My dad will not be running with the cars in the fast lane, and for him it's a perfect car.
However, for people like my dad, who never takes a corner faster than walking speed, but spends quite a bit of time traveling on the motorway (interstate highway), it's perfect. They are very comfortable to ride in, and are also very quiet. And because it's old technology, they are cheap. You can get one loaded with all the goodies without breaking the bank. My dad will not be running with the cars in the fast lane, and for him it's a perfect car.
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