2004 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 4.6 Romeo from North America

Summary:

The Ultimate

Faults:

Oil leak (valve cover).

General Comments:

You can only know how fine these cars are on the road if you have actually owned one. I have had several full size Fords over the years, but had started to drive smaller cars for the fuel mileage. I must say I had forgotten how it feels to drive a "real car".

The big Crown is the king of the road.

It does everything well. It has it all, safety, room, comfort, road respect, and reliability.

The performance of this car is top class. Braking, cornering, and acceleration are better than any other car I have owned. The few cars on the road it cannot catch (and they are few) will meet their match on the highway at high speeds, where the Crown can run at full throttle all day without breaking (and the radio and helicopter are ready to help too).

Given that the gas mileage is surprisingly good (low to mid 20s in city/rural mixed driving), I expect that this car will be cheaper to own than most economy boxes long term, since unlike most cars, these things do not fall apart (taxi companies drive these to 500 thousand miles).

It is sad Ford will discontinue the panthers in 2011. These are truly the last of a breed, and highway and city staff will now be stuck driving downsized cramped midsizes that will not P.I.T. easily, cost much more to fix, and generally be less reliable.

The Crown Vic P71... the last of the full size Police V-8 Highway Interceptors.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th November, 2010

6th Feb 2011, 23:02

I drove a 1991 Toyota Tercel half way across the country and back last summer 2010 for less the $200.00 in gas round trip from Kansas to So Cal and back.

""" The car got 37 mpg all day long!"""

Granted the Vic is good car, it's well into the gas guzzler category. It's not as comfy as a PA or as fast as Charger, or as fuel efficient as most cars on the road today, but it is reliable and safe. If you like owning a taxi cab, go for it. Cops don't pay for the gas, and you're more likely to get a rock thrown at you than a smile for looking like one, and the helicopter won't be there for you.

It was over $3.00 a gallon when I wrote this, so go get a Vic and have fun LOL.

In reply to 6th Feb 2011, 23:02

2nd May 2011, 12:54

Believe it or not, the gas mileage is actually not so bad.

I get in the low 20s in mixed driving, and when you consider that your Tercel is a death trap in an accident, I will happily pay a bit more at the pumps for fuel (life insurance).

I also owned a Tercel, and it got about 29 mpg in mixed driving. I still have dents in legs from the steering wheel pushing on my knees (no room).

I had to change the engine on it, and rust was a huge problem.

The reality is that gas is only one part of the cost of owning a car. Every Toyota I have owned has had costly repairs (i.e. Landcruiser diesel head at only 60,000 miles=$$$).

My Crowns (and Fords in general) have been much cheaper to own than my imports.

And no one has thrown a rock at me. Yet.

I'll take the Crown Vic.

2nd May 2011, 12:57

Yes, and a go-cart would get 100 mpg.

2004 Ford Crown Victoria P71 Police Interceptor 4.6L V8 from North America

Summary:

Built to last

Faults:

Nothing so far.

General Comments:

Arizona Beige Metallic P71, black honeycomb grille + black trim, no spotlights or spotlight holes.

Rock solid. Reliable. The last of a dying breed of true American sedans.

The only sedan I've owned that which I can step out after driving, look back with a smile on my face, and TRULY think to myself "I love my car."

Last year of old-style cable linkage throttle before switching over to Electronic Throttle By Wire system in 05. Good for those who have come to rightfully mistrust computerized components and systems in vehicles.

04' is probably the best year for this car, with most aggressive factory tuning output of 250hp, thanks to the MAF 80 airbox similar to that of the Mercury Marauder.

Handing is excellent and parking (even in tight spots) is nothing for this car.

The Crown Vic makes driving on trips fun. The extra thick padding on the bucket seats in the interceptor models are very comfortable for longer drives.

Simple no-fuss controls (seat, manual A/C + Heat, radio)

The mean V8 growl and purr is music to the ears.

Wins friends over who ride with me and razz about driving "granny's car". One friend even said "I want one."

Easy to maintain - you could use gardening tools to fix them, figuratively :)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th May, 2010

22nd Jun 2012, 19:29

Yup, the Crown is THE car, and everything you say is so true.

Driving one, you are the king of the road, and so... it is the real muscle car.

It does everything so effortlessly, and handles every wrong move with grace.

And, you are SAFE. These things are graceful tanks that will protect you against death and injury.

That big V-8 sounds like a champ, and every drive is a reward of having the real, last rear-wheel drive super car, the last of the full-size V8 interceptor, American-dream, Canadian-made good guys.

Now all we have left is front wheel drive junk and hybrid women's cars.