I'm a retired government fleet mechanic. I have been driving Crown Vics and Grand Marquis for over 30 years. They are absolutely the best used car you can get, assuming they are the type oof car you want. I'm now an old guy, and I absolutely love them. They ride like floating on a cloud. I started with beat up ex police cars way back, and more recently have switched to the Grand Marquis. I bought a really nice 2006 Grand Marquis 11 years ago (I recommend the '03 and newer, they got some pretty significant improvements in '03) with '97,000 miles on it. It now has 381,000 miles on it, and is still running like new. Properly treated and maintained, these cars can last well over 400,000 miles with no serious problems. About 6 months ago, I bought a like new Grand Marquis from the original owner with only 36,000 miles on it, and a stack of service receipts that came with it. It will eventually replace the 2006 when/if it ever wears out. I have never had a transmission fail on one of my cars, I have seen them fail on cop cars, but they get badly mistreated. Cop cars also have a much lower rear axle ratio, which causes the engine and transmission to turn faster and wear out quicker. They also get worse gas mileage. My 2006 with 381,000 miles has never had any transmission problems. You can get replacement transmission pan with a drain plug, making it easy to drain and replace the transmission fluid more often. As far as problems, I had the rear air suspension fail on my '06. I replaced the air bags with coil springs. Parts cost was about $200, and it was an easy job. I also had the blend door actuator fail. This is what controls the temperature of the air coming out the vents, from cold to hot. Replacing it properly is a big job, and requires removing most of the dash. I live in Phoenix, AZ, and do not need heat. I was able to remove the passenger side airbag, reach in behind the dash with a sharpened piece of rebar, and break off the plastic part that moves the blend door, then block the door in the full A/C position. You can switch back and forth between heat and A/C, but it is about a 1 hour job, and you can't have both unless you replace the entire unit. There are a lot of UA-cam videos showing you how to do this. The alternator failed shortly after buying the car, but that can happen on any car, and is a 10 minute job on a Crown Vic/Grand Marquis. The serpentine belt tensioner and idler failed, causing loud belt squeal. Another cheap and easy fix. The MAF (mass air flow) sensor failed, but that was my fault for not replacing the air filter soon enough. Simple job, about $50. In dusty AZ, air filters get dirty a lot faster than they do in most places. The only other problem I've had on my 2006 was fairly recent. The drivers door power window regulator failed. It had probably been up and down a million times. About $100 for parts and 2 hours labor. Maintenance. On my own cars, I change the oil every 3000 miles, the transmission fluid (just the fluid, not the filter, and you can only get about 5 qts. of fluid out) every 9,000 miles, the transmission fluid and filter, coolant (what you can get out) and rear axle fluid every 27,000 miles. In 381,000 miles on my '06, I still do not have any cam chain rattle. I think proper maintenance has a lot to do with that. We did not maintain our fleet cars nearly as well as I maintain mine. Mine were all rust free AZ cars. I recommend against getting an ex cop car. The cops beat the crap out of them.
That's why we got Jr an ex-RCMP car, to beat on and have fun without tearing up the daily driver. Thanks for the information and sharing your experience.
@@geraldscott4302 my favourite with Lincoln T.C !! I love signature long Wheelebase Town Car. My secret b dream...create an alone Crown Vic in LONG !! WITH FBI EQUIPMENT
These cars make me appreciate the time we live in so much more. Imagine living thru the malaise era when everything was junk. My first child was conceived in my 93 Crown Vic
100% agree. I'm driving my fourth Grand Marquis.They've all been relatively trouble free and traded in after 200,000 miles, two of them over 240K miles. All owners lament how the world's best, most dependable automobile for mature adults is no longer. The Panther Platform had to be the paragon of development. Ford really hit the nail on the head.
@@charlestatakis9363 I'm never getting rid of any of my Panthers. Only one of em has seen salt but the other dozen or so have not and they're stored indoors and they'll last forever that way.
I drive a Land Rover now, well known for being luxurious and having great ride comfort. And it still doesn't compare to the 02 Crown Vic I had while I was in college and years after graduating . Best car platform ever.
I just purchased a 2002 p71. Immaculate condition, zero rust under it, or on it. I absolutely love my Vic. 137k on it. it was a detective's car and sat in the garage all winter and was used in the summer. Wish I could send pictures. Yes sir, I am all with you, best used all american full frame car!
right now im rebuilding the engine on my 1998 town car and the inside of the engine is in pristine condition, all it needed was some rings, that car will outlive me for sure.
Yes, the panther platform in general is fantastic. I originally started out with a '09 Town Car, then came across an '06 Town Car for the right price, so now I own two. If I was a wealthier guy, I'd probably own a dozen more.
a guy in a town car followed me in my marauder on my way to my mothers house a few weeks ago. We got to talking, turns out he had two marauders 3 crown vics and a town car.
These cars are the best. The last of the body on frame rear wheel drive V8 powered sedans that were made to last forever and only be turned off for oil changes within the first 100-200k miles. They definitely made some less desirable ones but the 03s with the locking fuel door were the best but even some of them were repainted...
You know a particular automobile has a solid engine and transmission when they last so long that the salt completely eats away the body and the frame but it's still strong enough to stay in one piece. Wouldn't want to get in an accident with one of those tho...
they are the best ever... I wouldn't let either of mine go for less than $15k... and probably shouldn't even go that low. Think about it - you can't replace what you have for that money, the newer cars have more "bells and whistles" but are built to break (among other problems). My 2010 P7B remains my go to daily driver. When I need to feel some speed I jump in my 2010 Hemi police Charger. Oh, and I laughed when you said the Vics have bad transmissions that only last 150k miles... not many cars now will make it to 100k
I'm loving my 97 LX! Bought it the end of June with 183k on it, I've now driven it from Hamilton to Dryden, On and back to Hamilton twice, it now has 190K. No back pain, no leg pain, just comfort! I got it down to 9.5L/100km on the trip. It does need an intake manifold, it has a vacuum leak at cylinder 8, no coolant leaking though! Definitely my favorite modern car! Only things I've replaced are the rear air bags, all 4 shocks and the alternator. I think I agree, best used car on the market!
I think it's pretty safe to say that a vast majority of people who buy these cars become fans of them. When my buddies car got totaled I convinced him to get a Vic and he loves his. I bought my first Crown Vic ('11 P71) and loved it until it got totaled. I replaced it with my '06 P71 that I currently use as my daily driver and I'm considering getting another P71 or Grand Marquis as a third vehicle. On the list of all the cars I have ever owned my Crown Vics take the top spot. So easy to work on, big comfortable ride, reliable as hell, I could go on and on. I will seriously do my best to have at least one Crown Vic in my arsenal for the rest of my life.
in 15 years of two Grand Marquis and a Lincoln Town Car I haven't had any issues very very few. And when I sold the other car it was still running just fine I just found great deals and bought a new one. I got into a wreck with my other Grand Marquis. May I add I went through two large trees and walked away with no major injuries. Not only do they run great they're also incredibly safe.
1615 hrs. I have a 2011 Grand Marquis we picked up this last spring. I paid just over $10,000 for it; had been looking for awhile. It has 73,000 miles, has been repainted to a similar-to-original silver, and is the 'ULTIMATE EDITION.' Full leather, absolutely immaculate. I put in a rear sway bar and it really addressed the boatiness; corners surprisingly well. Added a chip, did not notice any difference. Am planning on an intake breather upgrade, dual Borland exhaust, and a throttle body spacer. This car is by FAR the best used car I've ever owned. Bought it for me, now my wife drives it... I have on occasion noticed a slight knock upon starting, but it stops in a second or two. Timing chain...?
Yes! Timing chain! As long as it goes away within a few seconds of start up, you’ll be fine. Just be aware of prolonged rattling. As far as performance, you need a Marty Tune. Wake that baby up!
Yes they are the best used car your money can buy I own a 03 grand Marquis and I have owned it for 6 years and she has 223,000 miles and purrs like a kitten. I personally think everyone should own one and Ford should have never discontinued production of this great car in my opinion. And I'm getting ready to purchase a 2010 crown Vic with only 53,000 miles one it lol. I will keep purchasing these cars until I can't buy them anymore that's how much I love them.
Only issue I had was the intake leaking coolant and transmission shutter. The intake I put jb weld on it and hasn't leak ever since. And I also added 2 tubes Shudder fix and it went away.
I just picked up my grandfather 2007 Grand Marquis LS 142K Miles, I got new part for it and I love driving this thing. I just took it on a cross country road trip and it was sweet, way better then my 2018 Honda Civic
I live in Sweden and i have had 2 Grand marquis 4.6 v8 (92+96) and one colony park 1990 an one 1994 town car, it has been the without a doubt my best cars ever, just brougt a smile to my face Evert time i drove them. And i have had over 100 cars since i got my drivers licence in 1995
I have an 06 P71. 251k (miles) and runs great. Typical stuff done as you say but trans is orig and still working great. But this was a detective car driven by the same person during gov't ownership and it's a Southern Calif car so there's no rust and not no abuse. I paid 2400 in 2019 with 195k but bought it b/c the seller was the second owner and had receipts for everything, new rear diff, all new suspension except springs, manifold, serpentine belt and tensioner, new cooling system (radiator, thermostat, etc) all new oil cooler lines (trans and engine) brake pads and discs and just b/f I bought it a whole new A/C system (all) with receipts. The a/c system was almost as much as the car. I've done nothing in 60k but I need a brake job again soon.
I had a job a while back that had me traveling nearly every week to a customer site, and one of the perks (if you'd call it that) was driving a rental all the time. Sometimes, the pool of vehicles on the lot was pretty sparse due to high demand. Because it was a business rental, and I was there every week, they'd frequently give me whatever was left. The Towncars (always black), the Crown Vics with leather, and some of the more agile upgrades were my favorites. If it was a Towncar or a Crown Vic, I didn't mind the usual traffic bottlenecks or long miles. I could sit in there for hours.
Blend door actuator!! I started it one day. Got the thing out, then had no desire to deal with putting it back in. Drove around over a year without it until one day i put the new one back in. Not so bad if you leave one of the screws in in the back and then cut into one of the screw holes on the new actuator to make a c shape. Didn't take anything off other than the front dash piece and one of the climate hoses. So happy when it was done.
I bought a p71 last year with 64ish k miles. No issues yet, it's a 2009. Great ride. It still has the police center console, which is great "historically" but no cup holder. Still has the spotlights and antennas. Other drivers are very nice on the road, until they see the driver has a white beard. My small-town police department still has a couple of them on active duty. At some future point I may lift it a couple of inches and put different (larger) tires on it. It's not my daily driver as I'm retired and only go to get food, gas, and medical. it's an addition to my collection. Others are my 1987 Buick GN, 69 Mustang, 86 chevy pickup, and my only front wheel drive, a 2006 Eclipse.
Had an intake manifold crack last year after buying a crown victoria after 3 months! Saw the leak in the spark plug and replaced intake and spark plugs/coils and a hose and saved the engine! 🙏
I have got a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria i Importet from Florida to Norway NO. It has 74k miles on it. The only issue had on it, is the headlight auto ''blackbox''. It was 4 mini relays on the maincard. Did replace the 4 relay's with some Omron type. It works perfectly now. Did try a Dorman bypass module first, but did not work at all. Its some crap! The last issue was the accumulator(dryfilter) for the AC. It was leaking caused by the rusty leaking hole in the bottom. There is a platic ''bottle'' that covers this filter. There can be some water in the bottom that can cause this problem. Has been recommed to drill a drain hole in bottom. All in all Im very happy with this car. I will never buy an european car. Has 3 amcar's and one 86 Toyota Corolla.
Absolutely love mine, kids love it too. 07 p71 with almost 190K now. No rust, undercoated with fluid film in every cavity and out. Doesn't see a winter either, I hate rwd in the winter. Still oem manifold, I dropped a 185 degree t-stat in when I got it at 90k. So far its done great. My only complaint was the trans cooler, I didn't like the temp (hitting 220+) so I put in an aftermarket in-line after the oem with a magnefine filter. It rattle's and squeek's but its loud and does burnout's and nets me 27mpg. Been driven cross country several time's and back and not a hiccup.
I bought my first (1991-my favorite year) Grand Marquis in 2005. I bought my second (2001) in 2013 and I intend to drive it until I go to the grave. California car, no rust at all, 113,000 miles. I changed the intake manifold. The heater core goes bad so I replaced that, and gaskets, the air shocks went bad and I put in a springs/shocks kit ($450 installed in Los Angeles pre-covid). It was so easy, and I don't notice any difference in the ride. I put a new front end in at 100k and it rides like new. No rattles at all on a 23 year-old car. If I had to I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.
I hurt my back a few years ago and bought a 2007 CVPI (white) because of the automatic transmission (all my other vehicles were standards) and ease of getting in and out. It was to be a temporary thing until I healed up. I still have the car, plus another 2007 CVPI (brown) I purchased at a police auction, plus a 2004 CVLX (white) that I just purchased from a Subaru dealership. I can't help myself; I love these cars! By the way, I was a dyed in the wool Chevy fan for years, but you can't beat a Crown Vic. These panther platform cars are drying up just like Tri-five Chevys and Volkswagen Beetles did. If you are thinking about buying one, now is the time.
I have owned Panthers for 32 1/2 of the last 35 years. Nothing went wrong on my 1989 Crown Victoria in 12 years except for the heater core at about 60,000 miles, a loose muffler, and one power window. Intake manifold failed on my 2004 Crown Victoria at about 110,000 miles. I gave it to my sister at 117,000 miles and bought a 2010 Grand Marquis, which I still have with 96,000 miles. Throttle body failed at about 45,000 miles, but that is the only thing. I am now retired and only drive about 150 miles per month, so hopefully this car will last the remainder of my life. I think the 302 was more durable than the 4.6, but the 4.6 does perform better at high speeds.
Six weeks ago I bought my second CV, 2001 base model. It has been well taken care of. Had 170,000 miles and the transmission was rebuilt 40000 miles earlier because the guy hated the torque shudder. Now, my other one is a 1999 Crown Vic LX. I have it for 20 years! It had 50000 miles when I bought it and it finally died from a dropped valve at almost 387,000 miles. NO transmission issues and the car actually was running great when it died. I had been expecting something for a while though. Soooo it is sitting in my driveway under the carport until I can do something with it later. I was glad to find the 2001, even though not an LX and I offered and paid $2800. Great condition and I like it. But I want my LX back!
I did have to replace the blower motor resistor, had a a good Siemens blower motor... the one I tried to replace it with wouldn't connect in full so I chose to leave that motor as an HVAC technician. I would love some actual feedback! Thank you for your videos. Mine is a P74.
I got my 2011 Crown Vic Police Interceptor at a government auction from Onslow County for only $2850. Normally you shouldn’t get a police car but this one was treated very well and serviced every 5000 miles. I’ve taken it to Discount Tire in Jacksonville and Rick’s Auto Garage in Sneads Ferry and at both places the workers have gawked at how well the Sheriff’s Deputies took care of the car. People are paying $650 a month in car payments while I’m paying ZERO since I paid cash (wire transfer to be precise).
I just bought my Grand Marquis 1998 with only 116k miles for less than $1,300. Excelent conditions, yeah the paint is al faded in some places but the interior and the engine/transmission are in still excelent conditions and very very comfortable. Great car!
I have a 2000 MGM with 145k. Absolutely Love this Car! I get 27 mpg @ 75 to 80 mph through the Desert to Las Vegas, Temp 110 with the A/C on. I Need to Ride in a Police Car to see which Ride I Prefer. Great Video!
free and easy performance tip for these overhead cam V8 motors, the 4.6 liter.. Right on top of the motor is the EGR valve, right on top of it is a vacuum port with the vacuum line that controls the valve. you can literally just pull the rubber boot and place a small piece of electrical tape over the metal nipple, then slide the rubber boot of the vacuum line right over the nipple again now with the electrical tape blocking the vacuum.. The EGR valve will stay in the closed position, no block off plate needed. now you will be able to use the entire displacement of the motor at part throttle, it will give you better performance and better fuel economy, and I have not seen any difference in operating temperature. I use my Crown Victoria's to do door dash and I leave them running all day in the heat with the air conditioner blasting.. no issues here. you could always use water wetter, a product made by redline.. it goes in the coolant and it lowers the surface tension, I had put water wetter in a Chevy Blazer for somebody and it actually had pretty good seat of the pants Dyno difference.. it reduces hot spots in the heads by conducting the heat even better, but I am reluctant to use it with these plastic intake manifolds because I am thinking there might be more heat getting exposed to the plastic, maybe my thought about this is wrong. if I was worried about the temperature hitting the plastic whether I run the water wetter or not, a lower temperature thermostat could save that quite a bit.
I love my 2010 Grand Marquis Ultimate with 38k miles atm. I consistently get over 27 mpg highway. With the air ride suspension, it's like driving a comfy leather couch on road trips.
@@OldeCarrGuy I'm curious as to what wheel and tire combinations you have on both your sons car and the one your wife drives that has the same wheels(?)..? I'd like to do a similar wheel on my 2010 Grand Marquis.
I own 2 panthers, an 05 Mercury Grand Marquis, that was a former state trooper supervisors car. I bought it 12 years ago with less than 95K miles, it now has 152K miles. Only major repair was transmission, but the rust problem is killing the old girl. Front wheel wells, and rockers. Ive tried to keep ahead of it, but im losing the battle. My second panther, is 1988 Lincoln Town Car, i just purchased and had shipped up from Georgia. 82k miles, and so far, just needed a bew battery, new front tires, ball joints, tie rods and a sway bar, a couple of blown fuses, and an alignment . Althoygh last night i discivered that the heat isn't working, so looks like the dreaded blend door issue. But all in all, i can say for sure these are awesome cars. Paid 3k US for the Marquis, and with just routine maintenance, only one major issue, plus an EGR replacement. So about $2 to $3 grand in maintenance over 12 years , so i got my money's worth for sure
Great video. Just picked up an 05 CV for $750.00. It's got 360k km on it, but the old guy who owned it (1st and only owner) took great care of it. Hoping to get a few more years out of it. Cheers.
@OldeCarrGuy Well, you were right. They drive very nicely. Smooth, extremely quiet, surprisingly quick and very comfortable. Only done 100km bringing it home, but it hadn't been used in a year - stored in a heated garage. Hooked the battery up and it fired right to life. Excited to daily it for the next little while.
Ive owned 3 vic's. One had over 320k and the final nail was a freeze plug, #5 above the tranny. Would need to drop it to fix. Wasn't worth it. Another i gifted to a family member in need, 220k and still hums. The 3rd got blasted by a drunk driver while parked. Had 160k and ran fine. Great cars!
I'm currently sitting in a 97 Crown Victoria LX, it has 140,000 mi and has literally zero rust underneath, and I live in New York state, the old man that owned it before me kept it in the garage and never drove it in the rain. My other car is a 2004 Crown Victoria police interceptor, it came with the 355 gears with the track lock differential.. it has the police trunk pack with Kevlar and I upgraded the bulb in the spotlight. The police car is awesome, I love the rubber floor mat for ease of cleaning and keeping it set so that the dome light doesn't turn on every time I open the door, when I got the police car I had taken the lights out of the grill and back window... but so many people thought I was trying to look like a cop, they would literally harass me, so I said to myself.. you guys want to see police lights? you got it. so I polished up the lenses of the police lights and put them back behind the grill and in the rear window so they can cry lol. I so love how the transmission shifts in the police car, I have never been so in love with an automatic transmission. these cars handle way better than people would expect ends with all that torque across such an RPM range with the overhead cam V8, they have plenty of get up and go. they may not be winning races off the line when it comes to $100,000 cars, but in bone stock form they still beat most modern cars today and as he mentioned in the video, they get way better fuel mileage than most people would imagine... I had a 94 Sentra with the 1.6 liter motor and the five-speed manual.. with that Nissan Sentra I would get 11 miles per gallon because I like to drive faster than a grandma.. The Crown Victoria's can get around faster than that little Sentra and still get better mileage lol. My police card did have a lot of rust so the gas tank straps actually failed on me and they had a ratchet strap holding up the gas tank for a week or so lol. it's easy to do the intake manifold on your own, just take your time. I do prefer the coil on plug design that the later ones have such as my 2004.. it may make better power and fuel mileage and be more reliable, but it's also nice to not have to worry about mixing up spark plug wires. I'm curious as to how it would be to put an aluminum intake manifold intended for a mustang on them. I believe you have to put the throttle body in a new place.
There are aluminum intakes for these cars, but the mustang ones have the throttle body on the passenger side so I thing there would be several mods needed. Thanks for watching.
I am not really a Ford guy, but panther with the 4.6 just works. I bought a 93 in 2002 and drove it to 300k plus. My neighbors mother had a 01 with 30k on it, when she died I bought it for 2400 bucks. That was seven years ago and it now has 140k on it. I am a tech so i changed the intake before it broke and that is all i have done. Gave the 93 with well over 300k to my brother 8 years ago and he is still driving it!
Ive owned my 2003 grand marquis for almost a year, besides having to change the air suspension pump and the blower motor resistor its been so good me, hands down best car i ever owned.
I have a 04 Lincoln TC with 115,000 miles on it. No rust. I live in Florida. Leather interior is so comfortable. Long trips are no longer fatiguing in this car. Looks and drives like new. Best driving American car on the road. I will never drive anything else. I also have a 06 C6 Corvette for fun, but I like driving the Lincoln better.
All the intake manifolds are the same on all 01 and newer Panther platform cars what is when they got the pi engines which means performance improved not police interceptor and Ford is still making the Intakes people have bought them just as recent as this week from online Ford parts dealers but there is a few different part numbers for basically the same intake manifold
i just got a new car and got rid of my 2000 crown vic. I think its a decent car, reliable, just keep it maintained and rust free. But was told from the previous owner its terrible in the snow if you have no weight in the back. The main reason I got rid of my crown vic was because the frame was rusted through and I get bad winters here so best to get a new car. Overall if you dont have winter and its not too rusty its a nice car thats built like a tank.
Best car ever I have one 09 SAP love it 164k on it had it since 57k only had to do tires and power steering line! I live in north east just undercoated it before got too cold and thank god I did was starting to creep.
Yes, they are. I've owned several, and I run a business that uses them - they have easily paid for themselves countless times over, and have always been dependable.
New subscriber here. I was looking for info on the dodge avenger my mother just bought. I was skeptical of the purchase. She's happy with it. Which frees up my 05 Suburban Z71 4x4 that she had been using and will free up the 07 Yukon SLT 4x4, that she had planned on using but due to shipping issues. She opted to buy the Avenger. I notice you didn't mention the dreaded lower ball joint issue that was problematic on pre IFS Panther platform. I inherited a 99 P71 from my father and I love it and plan on coyote swapping it in the future. I just wish it were the IFS car. Also I purchased an OBS 96 Silverado 10+ years ago that needed everything. My father took it old school with a carbed 350 and th350 trans, later installed 700R4 and she just is reliable as can be. Batteries die but the truck doesn't. I paid $2300 for the Suburban last year and $2500 for the Yukon earlier this year. My mother financed the avenger that's not as clean as the one in your vid for $4000. Yes my vehicles are higher Mike's, but they run and I will rebuild them completely and keep them forever. I also have an 1970s Coupe Deville project, parts aren't easy to find. I would love to own a 1920s-60s vehicle one day. God Bless
Hi OCG I have a 07 GM with almost 100 K. Just drove it on a 1000 mile trip both ways w/o any issues. Anyway, I have a question. Im eyeing a 06 GM with 35 original K. Carfax confirms this. However, Im concerned with such low mileage that it wasnt maintained. 4 year increments between 3000 K oil changes. Sometimes, cars that sit around and dont get driven much I heard can be harder on a car than a daily driver? What do you think? Just curious. Joe.
As I said, Miles and condition are everything. If it has been sitting, you will just need to be mor diligent when checking it over. I personally would not hesitate to buy such a low mileage car. Just remember, there will be surprises just like on any used car, regardless of the miles. Good luck
Thanks. I'm going to pass for the time. I bought my current GM at 41K in 2018 and in that time have replaced the tank (straps rusted through and broke causing tank to drag, fuel pump, alternator, starter, intake gasket replacement, diff seal leak repair, tires, brakes plus all fluid changes. My concern is with the car I was looking at with only 35 K, it may not have all been done and will need to. Is it worth the expense when I've already done it to my car and it runs well? It would be a daily driver, not to collect, and I'm not mechanically inclined. Sorry for the long response.
Still driving my 2003 Crown Vic LX.....only thing gone ...is the A/C compressor and the Drier that rots out at the bottom. That's it. Undercoated since new, in salt-ridden Ontario. Replacing the Compressor and drier.....for another 21 Years.
My GM will be 21 in February. Only replaced the fuel pump in 138k miles. They are comfy. Especially on the highway. I dithered when I bought mine with getting the Marauder. But not anymore. Highway fuel economy is fantastic with the std 4.6. My wife wants one too and has been after me to get her one. She has a 2014 Impala with 3.6L. To be honest, it runs circles around a Panther by any performance measure- so far. It has a powerful, high strung engine and I’m hoping my extreme maintenance makes it last. But one thing for certain, compared to a Panther, it’s impossible to work on.
I left a comment and a link to an authentic Ford OEM intake and UA-cam removed it, called it hate speech and said if I kept it up they would delete my channel. Wow. I wish I had screenshotted the message.
I own two panthers. One 97 crown Vic lx 148k and one 97 Mercury Grand Marquis 222k. Other than my truck, I don’t care to own any vehicles that’s not a Panther!!!
I have an 09 Grand Marquis. I leave it garaged in winter and drive an old beat up Taurus in the salty season. No fancy computers or tracking devices means I will make this thing last the rest of my life!
My mom drove a 2004 Grand Marquis while I was growing up! Lot of fond memories of that car. Super reliable too until it got submerged in a flash flood.
I found one that's really nice but the guy wants $8500 for it. New fuel system, custom $2k exhaust, 50k miles, touchscreen radio with backup cam and some nice wheels. What are your thoughts? I'm gonna go look at it this week and honestly, the price doesn't seem that bad if it's as clean as it is. I'd rather spend $8k on something reliable then spend $16k on something newer and less reliable. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I've daily driven an 04 mustang and love these 2 valves to death.
The key to any vehicle purchase is mileage and condition. If the miles are low and the overall condition is good, then it's all about what you are willing to spend. Sounds like this one is a good one!
@@OldeCarrGuy I'll link the listing in my next comment so you can take a look! Not sure if it'll get flagged or not but it's really cool. Haven't seen anything like it on marketplace!
Yes, Crown Vic is the best used car in terms of reliability, ease of maintenance, and cost of maintenance. Toyota 4Runner 4th gen V6 is the best SUV. Tacoma with 4.0L V6 is the best mid-truck. Tundra with 5.7L V8 is best big truck.
I love mine! Bought mine with 95K on it for $400.00 4 yrs ago. Basically did a winter project restoration on it and have only done basic maintenance on it since... I would buy up everyone I could find if I had the room!😆
I own 2 P71 Police Interceptors, and I LOVE them both!! But, I think that you need to consider the previous generation, Panther Platform cars, equipped with the 302/351 Windsor engines!! While not as sophisticated and aerodynamic as the modern platforms, the Windsor engines suffer from none of the "bad" problems, that the 4.6 engines have. I have owned 2 Fox Platform cars (Mustang and Capri), and my Mother owned an '87 LTD Crown Victoria... Her CV ran deep into the 200k miles, before she traded up to an '01 Town Car. Both of my Foxes were well into the 300k miles range, without any problems (yes, some of those miles, were a 1/4 mile at a time)!! Stock vs stock, my money is on the Windsor, for durability, reliability and ease of maintenance and rebuild ability!!!! However, finding one of these early generation Panthers, is definitely a problem... ...and while you are searching, look for a Lincoln Mark VII LSC!!!! That car is "LITERALLY" a luxury Mustang 5.0!!
At one time before Canada went metric, they used to sell gas by the Imperial Gallon which is equivalent to 4.55 L and the US Gallon is equivalent to 3.78 L and one Imperial Gallon is equivalent to 1.21 US Gallons.
Had an '02 Crown Vic that I sold when I bought an '02 Avalanche (we love older , low mileage vehicles). I really regretted selling the Vic until I found an '03 Grand Marquis with 62,000 miles on it. The wife drives an '05 (with Blizzaks in the winter) and seeing we live in the rust belt it's starting to rust. Bought an '09 AWD MKS thinking that would be her replacement but she wants no part of it haha. Sadly she'll be taking over the '03 soon. Hard to find a nicer highway car IMHO.
this is a long shot but im hoping you'll see this. Recently bought a 01 grand marquis LS, did a bunch of work to it put over $5600 into it in repairs, every filter and fluid replaced. Cat converter left side replaced, still showing p0161, bad fuel economy, high pitched/hissing noise near the trunk area, am i missing something? Vacuum leak or exhaust leak? I dont wanna sell, it has 115,000 kms and 0 rust in a rustbelt city, just had a bunch of problems
The high pitch noise may likely be a fuel pump going bad! They were a common problem on those era panthers. Pretty cheap on Rockauto. The easy way to determine if that’s what the noise is for sure is to open the gas cap, put your ear to the filler and see if the noise is louder.
Any panthers with air ride suspension give the best ride in my opinion, however, the air ride systems can be problematic. My non-air ride Crown's and Grand Marquis ride like a dream!
I’ve taken my 04 grand Marquis from 48k to 74k. Zero issues. Will a Marty tune prevent me from going over 200k? I worry about changing what ain’t broke.
A wise man once told me, "The further away from stock you go, the les reliable it is"! Having said that, I don't think you can go wrong with a Marty Tune!
The biggest difference between my Cadillac de Ville and my 2011 Crown Vic LS is the Ford has a lot more road noise, and it increases the faster you drive. Otherwise, I like it a lot.
Hi sir, My 03 Vic has an Evap leak code. I've changed the gas cap and the purge valve, but still smell gas. Any common locations where I can look for the leaks? Thanks!
I f you're able to get under the car, check for weeping gas tank. If your tank has a rusty spot (common of the top of the tank seam) the system wont pressurize and throw an evap code.
@@OldeCarrGuy Not me LOL. I'm not Shop 209 either, the guy doing a 4 to 2 door conversion on a 68 to 74 body style Nova. The only 4 door car I have is a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire, not sure that's worth converting but we'll see?😁
I’m looking at a 2011 CVPI (112k 3600Hrs) asking $4,000, such a great deal. Im gonna look at it soon, gonna bring my scanner and try to hold on the excitement, gonna be the start of something evil I want a CVPI, a Towncar Executive, and a Marauder if I can get my hands on one in my mechanic career
I did have to replace the blower motor resistor, had a a good Siemens blower motor... the one I tried to replace it with wouldn't connect in full so I chose to leave that motor as an HVAC technician. I would love some actual feedback! Thank you for your videos. Mine is a P74.
I'm a retired government fleet mechanic. I have been driving Crown Vics and Grand Marquis for over 30 years. They are absolutely the best used car you can get, assuming they are the type oof car you want. I'm now an old guy, and I absolutely love them. They ride like floating on a cloud. I started with beat up ex police cars way back, and more recently have switched to the Grand Marquis. I bought a really nice 2006 Grand Marquis 11 years ago (I recommend the '03 and newer, they got some pretty significant improvements in '03) with '97,000 miles on it. It now has 381,000 miles on it, and is still running like new. Properly treated and maintained, these cars can last well over 400,000 miles with no serious problems. About 6 months ago, I bought a like new Grand Marquis from the original owner with only 36,000 miles on it, and a stack of service receipts that came with it. It will eventually replace the 2006 when/if it ever wears out. I have never had a transmission fail on one of my cars, I have seen them fail on cop cars, but they get badly mistreated. Cop cars also have a much lower rear axle ratio, which causes the engine and transmission to turn faster and wear out quicker. They also get worse gas mileage. My 2006 with 381,000 miles has never had any transmission problems. You can get replacement transmission pan with a drain plug, making it easy to drain and replace the transmission fluid more often.
As far as problems, I had the rear air suspension fail on my '06. I replaced the air bags with coil springs. Parts cost was about $200, and it was an easy job. I also had the blend door actuator fail. This is what controls the temperature of the air coming out the vents, from cold to hot. Replacing it properly is a big job, and requires removing most of the dash. I live in Phoenix, AZ, and do not need heat. I was able to remove the passenger side airbag, reach in behind the dash with a sharpened piece of rebar, and break off the plastic part that moves the blend door, then block the door in the full A/C position. You can switch back and forth between heat and A/C, but it is about a 1 hour job, and you can't have both unless you replace the entire unit. There are a lot of UA-cam videos showing you how to do this. The alternator failed shortly after buying the car, but that can happen on any car, and is a 10 minute job on a Crown Vic/Grand Marquis. The serpentine belt tensioner and idler failed, causing loud belt squeal. Another cheap and easy fix. The MAF (mass air flow) sensor failed, but that was my fault for not replacing the air filter soon enough. Simple job, about $50. In dusty AZ, air filters get dirty a lot faster than they do in most places. The only other problem I've had on my 2006 was fairly recent. The drivers door power window regulator failed. It had probably been up and down a million times. About $100 for parts and 2 hours labor.
Maintenance. On my own cars, I change the oil every 3000 miles, the transmission fluid (just the fluid, not the filter, and you can only get about 5 qts. of fluid out) every 9,000 miles, the transmission fluid and filter, coolant (what you can get out) and rear axle fluid every 27,000 miles. In 381,000 miles on my '06, I still do not have any cam chain rattle. I think proper maintenance has a lot to do with that. We did not maintain our fleet cars nearly as well as I maintain mine. Mine were all rust free AZ cars. I recommend against getting an ex cop car. The cops beat the crap out of them.
That's why we got Jr an ex-RCMP car, to beat on and have fun without tearing up the daily driver. Thanks for the information and sharing your experience.
@@geraldscott4302 my favourite with Lincoln T.C !! I love signature long Wheelebase Town Car. My secret b dream...create an alone Crown Vic in LONG !! WITH FBI EQUIPMENT
ive had both the chevy impalas are a better car
Exc. post. Everyone want a P71 - junk! Cops beat the hell outa them & maint. dept. are worse than dlrs!
These cars make me appreciate the time we live in so much more. Imagine living thru the malaise era when everything was junk. My first child was conceived in my 93 Crown Vic
if U had a boy did U name him Victor(or Vic for short) or a girl Victoria??
@@carltorjusen558 We considered that but wanted to name him after someone in the family, i.e. myself, so he's "pantherplatform" the third lol.
that's probably the funniest/grossest comment ive ever seen
100% agree. I'm driving my fourth Grand Marquis.They've all been relatively trouble free and traded in after 200,000 miles, two of them over 240K miles. All owners lament how the world's best, most dependable automobile for mature adults is no longer. The Panther Platform had to be the paragon of development. Ford really hit the nail on the head.
@@charlestatakis9363 I'm never getting rid of any of my Panthers. Only one of em has seen salt but the other dozen or so have not and they're stored indoors and they'll last forever that way.
I drive a Land Rover now, well known for being luxurious and having great ride comfort. And it still doesn't compare to the 02 Crown Vic I had while I was in college and years after graduating . Best car platform ever.
not even close
I just purchased a 2002 p71. Immaculate condition, zero rust under it, or on it. I absolutely love my Vic. 137k on it. it was a detective's car and sat in the garage all winter and was used in the summer. Wish I could send pictures. Yes sir, I am all with you, best used all american full frame car!
Find me on Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to see it!
Post a video!!
right now im rebuilding the engine on my 1998 town car and the inside of the engine is in pristine condition, all it needed was some rings, that car will outlive me for sure.
Yes, the panther platform in general is fantastic. I originally started out with a '09 Town Car, then came across an '06 Town Car for the right price, so now I own two. If I was a wealthier guy, I'd probably own a dozen more.
Life goals my friend!
a guy in a town car followed me in my marauder on my way to my mothers house a few weeks ago.
We got to talking, turns out he had two marauders 3 crown vics and a town car.
These cars are the best. The last of the body on frame rear wheel drive V8 powered sedans that were made to last forever and only be turned off for oil changes within the first 100-200k miles. They definitely made some less desirable ones but the 03s with the locking fuel door were the best but even some of them were repainted...
You know a particular automobile has a solid engine and transmission when they last so long that the salt completely eats away the body and the frame but it's still strong enough to stay in one piece. Wouldn't want to get in an accident with one of those tho...
they are the best ever... I wouldn't let either of mine go for less than $15k... and probably shouldn't even go that low. Think about it - you can't replace what you have for that money, the newer cars have more "bells and whistles" but are built to break (among other problems). My 2010 P7B remains my go to daily driver. When I need to feel some speed I jump in my 2010 Hemi police Charger. Oh, and I laughed when you said the Vics have bad transmissions that only last 150k miles... not many cars now will make it to 100k
lol You caught that did you!
I just keep changing fluid and filter on mine. I want to see how long it will go on the original. It's got almost 157k miles now
I'm loving my 97 LX! Bought it the end of June with 183k on it, I've now driven it from Hamilton to Dryden, On and back to Hamilton twice, it now has 190K. No back pain, no leg pain, just comfort! I got it down to 9.5L/100km on the trip. It does need an intake manifold, it has a vacuum leak at cylinder 8, no coolant leaking though! Definitely my favorite modern car! Only things I've replaced are the rear air bags, all 4 shocks and the alternator. I think I agree, best used car on the market!
Very nice!
I think it's pretty safe to say that a vast majority of people who buy these cars become fans of them. When my buddies car got totaled I convinced him to get a Vic and he loves his. I bought my first Crown Vic ('11 P71) and loved it until it got totaled. I replaced it with my '06 P71 that I currently use as my daily driver and I'm considering getting another P71 or Grand Marquis as a third vehicle. On the list of all the cars I have ever owned my Crown Vics take the top spot. So easy to work on, big comfortable ride, reliable as hell, I could go on and on. I will seriously do my best to have at least one Crown Vic in my arsenal for the rest of my life.
in 15 years of two Grand Marquis and a Lincoln Town Car I haven't had any issues very very few. And when I sold the other car it was still running just fine I just found great deals and bought a new one. I got into a wreck with my other Grand Marquis. May I add I went through two large trees and walked away with no major injuries. Not only do they run great they're also incredibly safe.
1615 hrs. I have a 2011 Grand Marquis we picked up this last spring. I paid just over $10,000 for it; had been looking for awhile. It has 73,000 miles, has been repainted to a similar-to-original silver, and is the 'ULTIMATE EDITION.' Full leather, absolutely immaculate. I put in a rear sway bar and it really addressed the boatiness; corners surprisingly well. Added a chip, did not notice any difference. Am planning on an intake breather upgrade, dual Borland exhaust, and a throttle body spacer. This car is by FAR the best used car I've ever owned. Bought it for me, now my wife drives it...
I have on occasion noticed a slight knock upon starting, but it stops in a second or two. Timing chain...?
Yes! Timing chain! As long as it goes away within a few seconds of start up, you’ll be fine. Just be aware of prolonged rattling. As far as performance, you need a Marty Tune. Wake that baby up!
Yes they are the best used car your money can buy I own a 03 grand Marquis and I have owned it for 6 years and she has 223,000 miles and purrs like a kitten. I personally think everyone should own one and Ford should have never discontinued production of this great car in my opinion. And I'm getting ready to purchase a 2010 crown Vic with only 53,000 miles one it lol. I will keep purchasing these cars until I can't buy them anymore that's how much I love them.
That's awesome Man. Keep it going!
Mine has 230k on the odometer it's a 2003 Lincoln town car never getting rid of.
Only issue I had was the intake leaking coolant and transmission shutter. The intake I put jb weld on it and hasn't leak ever since. And I also added 2 tubes Shudder fix and it went away.
I just picked up my grandfather 2007 Grand Marquis LS 142K Miles, I got new part for it and I love driving this thing. I just took it on a cross country road trip and it was sweet, way better then my 2018 Honda Civic
I live in Sweden and i have had 2 Grand marquis 4.6 v8 (92+96) and one colony park 1990 an one 1994 town car, it has been the without a doubt my best cars ever, just brougt a smile to my face Evert time i drove them.
And i have had over 100 cars since i got my drivers licence in 1995
Very nice. Thanks for watching all the way from sweden.
I have an 06 P71. 251k (miles) and runs great. Typical stuff done as you say but trans is orig and still working great. But this was a detective car driven by the same person during gov't ownership and it's a Southern Calif car so there's no rust and not no abuse. I paid 2400 in 2019 with 195k but bought it b/c the seller was the second owner and had receipts for everything, new rear diff, all new suspension except springs, manifold, serpentine belt and tensioner, new cooling system (radiator, thermostat, etc) all new oil cooler lines (trans and engine) brake pads and discs and just b/f I bought it a whole new A/C system (all) with receipts. The a/c system was almost as much as the car. I've done nothing in 60k but I need a brake job again soon.
Bud do you love the car?
Ha best driving experience you'll get. People leave you alone on the highway.
I had a job a while back that had me traveling nearly every week to a customer site, and one of the perks (if you'd call it that) was driving a rental all the time. Sometimes, the pool of vehicles on the lot was pretty sparse due to high demand. Because it was a business rental, and I was there every week, they'd frequently give me whatever was left. The Towncars (always black), the Crown Vics with leather, and some of the more agile upgrades were my favorites. If it was a Towncar or a Crown Vic, I didn't mind the usual traffic bottlenecks or long miles. I could sit in there for hours.
13 city 20 highway I really doubt that this car can do much more than that
Blend door actuator!! I started it one day. Got the thing out, then had no desire to deal with putting it back in. Drove around over a year without it until one day i put the new one back in. Not so bad if you leave one of the screws in in the back and then cut into one of the screw holes on the new actuator to make a c shape. Didn't take anything off other than the front dash piece and one of the climate hoses. So happy when it was done.
I have a Crown Vic myself and I just don't want to sell it even though its 26 years old, still drives good and never let me down.
I bought a p71 last year with 64ish k miles. No issues yet, it's a 2009. Great ride. It still has the police center console, which is great "historically" but no cup holder. Still has the spotlights and antennas. Other drivers are very nice on the road, until they see the driver has a white beard. My small-town police department still has a couple of them on active duty. At some future point I may lift it a couple of inches and put different (larger) tires on it. It's not my daily driver as I'm retired and only go to get food, gas, and medical. it's an addition to my collection. Others are my 1987 Buick GN, 69 Mustang, 86 chevy pickup, and my only front wheel drive, a 2006 Eclipse.
They're not bad new either. I bought my '04 LX Sport new and have never regretted it. It has indeed been a trusty steed. GREAT VIDEO!
Awesome! Thanks !
Had an intake manifold crack last year after buying a crown victoria after 3 months! Saw the leak in the spark plug and replaced intake and spark plugs/coils and a hose and saved the engine! 🙏
I have got a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria i Importet from Florida to Norway NO. It has 74k miles on it. The only issue had on it, is the headlight auto ''blackbox''. It was 4 mini relays on the maincard. Did replace the 4 relay's with some Omron type. It works perfectly now. Did try a Dorman bypass module first, but did not work at all. Its some crap! The last issue was the accumulator(dryfilter) for the AC. It was leaking caused by the rusty leaking hole in the bottom. There is a platic ''bottle'' that covers this filter. There can be some water in the bottom that can cause this problem. Has been recommed to drill a drain hole in bottom. All in all Im very happy with this car. I will never buy an european car. Has 3 amcar's and one 86 Toyota Corolla.
Absolutely love mine, kids love it too. 07 p71 with almost 190K now. No rust, undercoated with fluid film in every cavity and out. Doesn't see a winter either, I hate rwd in the winter. Still oem manifold, I dropped a 185 degree t-stat in when I got it at 90k. So far its done great. My only complaint was the trans cooler, I didn't like the temp (hitting 220+) so I put in an aftermarket in-line after the oem with a magnefine filter. It rattle's and squeek's but its loud and does burnout's and nets me 27mpg. Been driven cross country several time's and back and not a hiccup.
Oh yeah. The ride is amazing. Great cruiser to PA and back.
You're not wrong.
Yes can't deny that
I bought my first (1991-my favorite year) Grand Marquis in 2005. I bought my second (2001) in 2013 and I intend to drive it until I go to the grave. California car, no rust at all, 113,000 miles. I changed the intake manifold. The heater core goes bad so I replaced that, and gaskets, the air shocks went bad and I put in a springs/shocks kit ($450 installed in Los Angeles pre-covid). It was so easy, and I don't notice any difference in the ride. I put a new front end in at 100k and it rides like new. No rattles at all on a 23 year-old car. If I had to I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.
I have owned 2 panthers and your review is spot on!
I hurt my back a few years ago and bought a 2007 CVPI (white) because of the automatic transmission (all my other vehicles were standards) and ease of getting in and out. It was to be a temporary thing until I healed up. I still have the car, plus another 2007 CVPI (brown) I purchased at a police auction, plus a 2004 CVLX (white) that I just purchased from a Subaru dealership. I can't help myself; I love these cars! By the way, I was a dyed in the wool Chevy fan for years, but you can't beat a Crown Vic. These panther platform cars are drying up just like Tri-five Chevys and Volkswagen Beetles did. If you are thinking about buying one, now is the time.
I have owned Panthers for 32 1/2 of the last 35 years. Nothing went wrong on my 1989 Crown Victoria in 12 years except for the heater core at about 60,000 miles, a loose muffler, and one power window. Intake manifold failed on my 2004 Crown Victoria at about 110,000 miles. I gave it to my sister at 117,000 miles and bought a 2010 Grand Marquis, which I still have with 96,000 miles. Throttle body failed at about 45,000 miles, but that is the only thing. I am now retired and only drive about 150 miles per month, so hopefully this car will last the remainder of my life. I think the 302 was more durable than the 4.6, but the 4.6 does perform better at high speeds.
I have a 2011 I drive between Texas and Mexico and have been getting 27 MPG up and down the Mountains... AWESOME vehicle
Six weeks ago I bought my second CV, 2001 base model. It has been well taken care of. Had 170,000 miles and the transmission was rebuilt 40000 miles earlier because the guy hated the torque shudder. Now, my other one is a 1999 Crown Vic LX. I have it for 20 years! It had 50000 miles when I bought it and it finally died from a dropped valve at almost 387,000 miles. NO transmission issues and the car actually was running great when it died. I had been expecting something for a while though. Soooo it is sitting in my driveway under the carport until I can do something with it later. I was glad to find the 2001, even though not an LX and I offered and paid $2800. Great condition and I like it. But I want my LX back!
It doesn’t owe you anything with that mileage! 😂
Who said it did? @@OldeCarrGuy
I did have to replace the blower motor resistor, had a a good Siemens blower motor... the one I tried to replace it with wouldn't connect in full so I chose to leave that motor as an HVAC technician. I would love some actual feedback! Thank you for your videos. Mine is a P74.
I got my 2011 Crown Vic Police Interceptor at a government auction from Onslow County for only $2850. Normally you shouldn’t get a police car but this one was treated very well and serviced every 5000 miles. I’ve taken it to Discount Tire in Jacksonville and Rick’s Auto Garage in Sneads Ferry and at both places the workers have gawked at how well the Sheriff’s Deputies took care of the car. People are paying $650 a month in car payments while I’m paying ZERO since I paid cash (wire transfer to be precise).
Great review 😊! I am trying to find a decent condition Panther car with not high mileage hopefully I can find one.
I used to own a 01 Grand Marquis which was really a great car and never left me stranded .
Everyone needs a panther!
I just bought my Grand Marquis 1998 with only 116k miles for less than $1,300. Excelent conditions, yeah the paint is al faded in some places but the interior and the engine/transmission are in still excelent conditions and very very comfortable. Great car!
I have a 2000 MGM with 145k. Absolutely Love this Car! I get 27 mpg @ 75 to 80 mph through the Desert to Las Vegas, Temp 110 with the A/C on. I Need to Ride in a Police Car to see which Ride I Prefer. Great Video!
Thanks for sharing
free and easy performance tip for these overhead cam V8 motors, the 4.6 liter.. Right on top of the motor is the EGR valve, right on top of it is a vacuum port with the vacuum line that controls the valve. you can literally just pull the rubber boot and place a small piece of electrical tape over the metal nipple, then slide the rubber boot of the vacuum line right over the nipple again now with the electrical tape blocking the vacuum.. The EGR valve will stay in the closed position, no block off plate needed. now you will be able to use the entire displacement of the motor at part throttle, it will give you better performance and better fuel economy, and I have not seen any difference in operating temperature. I use my Crown Victoria's to do door dash and I leave them running all day in the heat with the air conditioner blasting.. no issues here. you could always use water wetter, a product made by redline.. it goes in the coolant and it lowers the surface tension, I had put water wetter in a Chevy Blazer for somebody and it actually had pretty good seat of the pants Dyno difference.. it reduces hot spots in the heads by conducting the heat even better, but I am reluctant to use it with these plastic intake manifolds because I am thinking there might be more heat getting exposed to the plastic, maybe my thought about this is wrong. if I was worried about the temperature hitting the plastic whether I run the water wetter or not, a lower temperature thermostat could save that quite a bit.
I love my 2010 Grand Marquis Ultimate with 38k miles atm. I consistently get over 27 mpg highway. With the air ride suspension, it's like driving a comfy leather couch on road trips.
Very nice!
@@OldeCarrGuy I'm curious as to what wheel and tire combinations you have on both your sons car and the one your wife drives that has the same wheels(?)..? I'd like to do a similar wheel on my 2010 Grand Marquis.
@@TheNecronachtlate model mustang 18”. No modifications necessary!
one of my first cars was a 1987 Crown Vic with all the cop gear. It was like driving around in your living room
Loved the ride of my lifted blackjack
Me too!
@@OldeCarrGuy time to build another...?
I own 2 panthers, an 05 Mercury Grand Marquis, that was a former state trooper supervisors car. I bought it 12 years ago with less than 95K miles, it now has 152K miles. Only major repair was transmission, but the rust problem is killing the old girl. Front wheel wells, and rockers. Ive tried to keep ahead of it, but im losing the battle.
My second panther, is 1988 Lincoln Town Car, i just purchased and had shipped up from Georgia. 82k miles, and so far, just needed a bew battery, new front tires, ball joints, tie rods and a sway bar, a couple of blown fuses, and an alignment .
Althoygh last night i discivered that the heat isn't working, so looks like the dreaded blend door issue.
But all in all, i can say for sure these are awesome cars.
Paid 3k US for the Marquis, and with just routine maintenance, only one major issue, plus an EGR replacement. So about $2 to $3 grand in maintenance over 12 years , so i got my money's worth for sure
Thanks for watching. I have a recent video on the blend door actuator that may be of some help!
Great video. Just picked up an 05 CV for $750.00. It's got 360k km on it, but the old guy who owned it (1st and only owner) took great care of it. Hoping to get a few more years out of it. Cheers.
You're gonna love it!
@OldeCarrGuy Well, you were right. They drive very nicely. Smooth, extremely quiet, surprisingly quick and very comfortable. Only done 100km bringing it home, but it hadn't been used in a year - stored in a heated garage. Hooked the battery up and it fired right to life. Excited to daily it for the next little while.
"In the later models, you actually got cup holders in the rear..."
But not in the P71 😭
I owned a 2000 Crown Vic. Absolutely loved that car! I would get another one, if I could find the right car.
I just got an 08 P71 for free... Can't wait to dig into it
Ive owned 3 vic's. One had over 320k and the final nail was a freeze plug, #5 above the tranny. Would need to drop it to fix. Wasn't worth it. Another i gifted to a family member in need, 220k and still hums. The 3rd got blasted by a drunk driver while parked. Had 160k and ran fine.
Great cars!
I'm currently sitting in a 97 Crown Victoria LX, it has 140,000 mi and has literally zero rust underneath, and I live in New York state, the old man that owned it before me kept it in the garage and never drove it in the rain. My other car is a 2004 Crown Victoria police interceptor, it came with the 355 gears with the track lock differential.. it has the police trunk pack with Kevlar and I upgraded the bulb in the spotlight. The police car is awesome, I love the rubber floor mat for ease of cleaning and keeping it set so that the dome light doesn't turn on every time I open the door, when I got the police car I had taken the lights out of the grill and back window... but so many people thought I was trying to look like a cop, they would literally harass me, so I said to myself.. you guys want to see police lights? you got it. so I polished up the lenses of the police lights and put them back behind the grill and in the rear window so they can cry lol. I so love how the transmission shifts in the police car, I have never been so in love with an automatic transmission. these cars handle way better than people would expect ends with all that torque across such an RPM range with the overhead cam V8, they have plenty of get up and go. they may not be winning races off the line when it comes to $100,000 cars, but in bone stock form they still beat most modern cars today and as he mentioned in the video, they get way better fuel mileage than most people would imagine... I had a 94 Sentra with the 1.6 liter motor and the five-speed manual.. with that Nissan Sentra I would get 11 miles per gallon because I like to drive faster than a grandma.. The Crown Victoria's can get around faster than that little Sentra and still get better mileage lol. My police card did have a lot of rust so the gas tank straps actually failed on me and they had a ratchet strap holding up the gas tank for a week or so lol. it's easy to do the intake manifold on your own, just take your time. I do prefer the coil on plug design that the later ones have such as my 2004.. it may make better power and fuel mileage and be more reliable, but it's also nice to not have to worry about mixing up spark plug wires. I'm curious as to how it would be to put an aluminum intake manifold intended for a mustang on them. I believe you have to put the throttle body in a new place.
There are aluminum intakes for these cars, but the mustang ones have the throttle body on the passenger side so I thing there would be several mods needed. Thanks for watching.
I am not really a Ford guy, but panther with the 4.6 just works. I bought a 93 in 2002 and drove it to 300k plus. My neighbors mother had a 01 with 30k on it, when she died I bought it for 2400 bucks. That was seven years ago and it now has 140k on it. I am a tech so i changed the intake before it broke and that is all i have done. Gave the 93 with well over 300k to my brother 8 years ago and he is still driving it!
Ive owned my 2003 grand marquis for almost a year, besides having to change the air suspension pump and the blower motor resistor its been so good me, hands down best car i ever owned.
I love my 99. Just took a road trip. Almost got 25 mpg. Usually I'm more around 20.
I have a 04 Lincoln TC with 115,000 miles on it. No rust. I live in Florida. Leather interior is so comfortable. Long trips are no longer fatiguing in this car. Looks and drives like new. Best driving American car on the road. I will never drive anything else. I also have a 06 C6 Corvette for fun, but I like driving the Lincoln better.
I hear ya, those old cars were built to last!
All the intake manifolds are the same on all 01 and newer Panther platform cars what is when they got the pi engines which means performance improved not police interceptor and Ford is still making the Intakes people have bought them just as recent as this week from online Ford parts dealers but there is a few different part numbers for basically the same intake manifold
Came here looking for Crown Vic videos, found a fellow New Brunswicker. Subbed!
Awesome! Thank you!
i just got a new car and got rid of my 2000 crown vic. I think its a decent car, reliable, just keep it maintained and rust free. But was told from the previous owner its terrible in the snow if you have no weight in the back. The main reason I got rid of my crown vic was because the frame was rusted through and I get bad winters here so best to get a new car. Overall if you dont have winter and its not too rusty its a nice car thats built like a tank.
Best car ever I have one 09 SAP love it 164k on it had it since 57k only had to do tires and power steering line! I live in north east just undercoated it before got too cold and thank god I did was starting to creep.
can you detail what exhaust is on Jr's '04? That's the sound I want
Stock dual exhaust, no rear cats and replace stock muffler with Thrush Glasspacks.
Yes, they are. I've owned several, and I run a business that uses them - they have easily paid for themselves countless times over, and have always been dependable.
New subscriber here. I was looking for info on the dodge avenger my mother just bought. I was skeptical of the purchase. She's happy with it. Which frees up my 05 Suburban Z71 4x4 that she had been using and will free up the 07 Yukon SLT 4x4, that she had planned on using but due to shipping issues. She opted to buy the Avenger. I notice you didn't mention the dreaded lower ball joint issue that was problematic on pre IFS Panther platform. I inherited a 99 P71 from my father and I love it and plan on coyote swapping it in the future. I just wish it were the IFS car. Also I purchased an OBS 96 Silverado 10+ years ago that needed everything. My father took it old school with a carbed 350 and th350 trans, later installed 700R4 and she just is reliable as can be. Batteries die but the truck doesn't. I paid $2300 for the Suburban last year and $2500 for the Yukon earlier this year. My mother financed the avenger that's not as clean as the one in your vid for $4000. Yes my vehicles are higher Mike's, but they run and I will rebuild them completely and keep them forever. I also have an 1970s Coupe Deville project, parts aren't easy to find. I would love to own a 1920s-60s vehicle one day. God Bless
Yeah, I didn't mention it as I'm not as familiar with the pre-2002. I mostly deal in 03 and up.
Hi OCG I have a 07 GM with almost 100 K. Just drove it on a 1000 mile trip both ways w/o any issues. Anyway, I have a question. Im eyeing a 06 GM with 35 original K. Carfax confirms this. However, Im concerned with such low mileage that it wasnt maintained. 4 year increments between 3000 K oil changes. Sometimes, cars that sit around and dont get driven much I heard can be harder on a car than a daily driver? What do you think? Just curious. Joe.
As I said, Miles and condition are everything. If it has been sitting, you will just need to be mor diligent when checking it over. I personally would not hesitate to buy such a low mileage car. Just remember, there will be surprises just like on any used car, regardless of the miles. Good luck
Thanks. I'm going to pass for the time. I bought my current GM at 41K in 2018 and in that time have replaced the tank (straps rusted through and broke causing tank to drag, fuel pump, alternator, starter, intake gasket replacement, diff seal leak repair, tires, brakes plus all fluid changes. My concern is with the car I was looking at with only 35 K, it may not have all been done and will need to. Is it worth the expense when I've already done it to my car and it runs well? It would be a daily driver, not to collect, and I'm not mechanically inclined. Sorry for the long response.
Still driving my 2003 Crown Vic LX.....only thing gone ...is the A/C compressor and the Drier that rots out at the bottom. That's it. Undercoated since new, in salt-ridden Ontario. Replacing the Compressor and drier.....for another 21 Years.
Love my MGM, easy to care for, reliable as sunrise.
Nice Crown Vics, by the way love that red Yugo in the garage.:)
Thanks! The Yugo is for sale if you are interested!
Yes sir I agree with you a hundred percent 👍🏼 I love my Grand marquis
My GM will be 21 in February. Only replaced the fuel pump in 138k miles. They are comfy. Especially on the highway. I dithered when I bought mine with getting the Marauder. But not anymore. Highway fuel economy is fantastic with the std 4.6. My wife wants one too and has been after me to get her one. She has a 2014 Impala with 3.6L. To be honest, it runs circles around a Panther by any performance measure- so far. It has a powerful, high strung engine and I’m hoping my extreme maintenance makes it last. But one thing for certain, compared to a Panther, it’s impossible to work on.
If you look after them, they'll look after you!
MIne will be 30 next year with 460,000 miles. I did indeed replace the fuel pump 2 years ago.
I left a comment and a link to an authentic Ford OEM intake and UA-cam removed it, called it hate speech and said if I kept it up they would delete my channel. Wow. I wish I had screenshotted the message.
If you send me the link on IG or FB I will see if it will let me post it.
i already know there the best! but i'll watch the video, as i like ocg videos
Thanks so much!
Yes, these are the best used cars. I have a 1998 Crown Victoria LX with 147,000 miles. Such a comfortable car
I own two panthers. One 97 crown Vic lx 148k and one 97 Mercury Grand Marquis 222k. Other than my truck, I don’t care to own any vehicles that’s not a Panther!!!
I have an 09 Grand Marquis. I leave it garaged in winter and drive an old beat up Taurus in the salty season. No fancy computers or tracking devices means I will make this thing last the rest of my life!
A friend of mine gave me his old 1999 Crown Vic. It needs a little TLC but it runs good.
Ive owned 4. 1 LX and 3 interceptors. Ive had over 40 vehicles and the panther cars are the absolute best
I have a 05 grand marquis with 267,000 a 04 lx sport with 84,000 and a 95 town car with 98,000 and I don't want to get rid of any of them lol
Don’t blame you there!
My mom drove a 2004 Grand Marquis while I was growing up! Lot of fond memories of that car. Super reliable too until it got submerged in a flash flood.
Dang! Flash floods are no joke.
I think yes.Regards from Poland.
I found one that's really nice but the guy wants $8500 for it. New fuel system, custom $2k exhaust, 50k miles, touchscreen radio with backup cam and some nice wheels. What are your thoughts? I'm gonna go look at it this week and honestly, the price doesn't seem that bad if it's as clean as it is. I'd rather spend $8k on something reliable then spend $16k on something newer and less reliable. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I've daily driven an 04 mustang and love these 2 valves to death.
The key to any vehicle purchase is mileage and condition. If the miles are low and the overall condition is good, then it's all about what you are willing to spend. Sounds like this one is a good one!
@@OldeCarrGuy I'll link the listing in my next comment so you can take a look! Not sure if it'll get flagged or not but it's really cool. Haven't seen anything like it on marketplace!
Short Answer YES
Yes, Crown Vic is the best used car in terms of reliability, ease of maintenance, and cost of maintenance. Toyota 4Runner 4th gen V6 is the best SUV. Tacoma with 4.0L V6 is the best mid-truck. Tundra with 5.7L V8 is best big truck.
Love my 2007 Grand Marquis
I love mine! Bought mine with 95K on it for $400.00 4 yrs ago. Basically did a winter project restoration on it and have only done basic maintenance on it since... I would buy up everyone I could find if I had the room!😆
Seems as though I’m buying too many according to my wife! 😂
I own 2 P71 Police Interceptors, and I LOVE them both!!
But, I think that you need to consider the previous generation, Panther Platform cars, equipped with the 302/351 Windsor engines!!
While not as sophisticated and aerodynamic as the modern platforms, the Windsor engines suffer from none of the "bad" problems, that the 4.6 engines have.
I have owned 2 Fox Platform cars (Mustang and Capri), and my Mother owned an '87 LTD Crown Victoria...
Her CV ran deep into the 200k miles, before she traded up to an '01 Town Car. Both of my Foxes were well into the 300k miles range, without any problems (yes, some of those miles, were a 1/4 mile at a time)!!
Stock vs stock, my money is on the Windsor, for durability, reliability and ease of maintenance and rebuild ability!!!!
However, finding one of these early generation Panthers, is definitely a problem...
...and while you are searching, look for a Lincoln Mark VII LSC!!!!
That car is "LITERALLY" a luxury Mustang 5.0!!
Thanks for sharing!
Though its not the fastest its the Best Police Car ever ! 🤩🇺🇸 You forgot Rear wheel bearing failure in some Panthers .
When you’re talking about fuel economy, are you talking MPG in US gallons or imperial gallons?
US gallon. I Canada, most folks rate mileage in L/100 km (liters per 100 kilometers), Where 25 mpg converts to 9.4 L/100 km.
At one time before Canada went metric, they used to sell gas by the Imperial Gallon which is equivalent to 4.55 L and the US Gallon is equivalent to 3.78 L and one Imperial Gallon is equivalent to 1.21 US Gallons.
Great information thank u
Glad it was helpful!
What wheels are on those grey crown vics? they look great!
Mustang!
Had an '02 Crown Vic that I sold when I bought an '02 Avalanche (we love older , low mileage vehicles). I really regretted selling the Vic until I found an '03 Grand Marquis with 62,000 miles on it. The wife drives an '05 (with Blizzaks in the winter) and seeing we live in the rust belt it's starting to rust. Bought an '09 AWD MKS thinking that would be her replacement but she wants no part of it haha. Sadly she'll be taking over the '03 soon. Hard to find a nicer highway car IMHO.
Very nice!
this is a long shot but im hoping you'll see this.
Recently bought a 01 grand marquis LS, did a bunch of work to it put over $5600 into it in repairs, every filter and fluid replaced. Cat converter left side replaced, still showing p0161, bad fuel economy, high pitched/hissing noise near the trunk area, am i missing something? Vacuum leak or exhaust leak? I dont wanna sell, it has 115,000 kms and 0 rust in a rustbelt city, just had a bunch of problems
The high pitch noise may likely be a fuel pump going bad! They were a common problem on those era panthers. Pretty cheap on Rockauto. The easy way to determine if that’s what the noise is for sure is to open the gas cap, put your ear to the filler and see if the noise is louder.
@@OldeCarrGuy oh wow, you were right!! But im wondering if this failing fuel pump is the root cause of my bad MPG??
@@mineman-wo1hicertainly wasn’t helping! Make sure you change the fuel filter as well!
When panther platform gets the softest ride?
Any panthers with air ride suspension give the best ride in my opinion, however, the air ride systems can be problematic. My non-air ride Crown's and Grand Marquis ride like a dream!
I’ve taken my 04 grand Marquis from 48k to 74k. Zero issues. Will a Marty tune prevent me from going over 200k? I worry about changing what ain’t broke.
A wise man once told me, "The further away from stock you go, the les reliable it is"! Having said that, I don't think you can go wrong with a Marty Tune!
It’s a the Swiss Army knife of cars!!
There you go!
13 years with no engine problems, they are great 👍
I believe it's the most outstanding car ever and it'll definitely outlast any Ecoboost vehicle with ease.
Great car but i would place it third in best reliable used car in that category.
3. Crown Vic
2. Chevy Impala
1. Lexus ES 300
I'd say any of the big sedans like a Roadmaster, Caprice, Crown Vic, GM, or even a Park Avenue are some of the best American cars every produced.
What kind of exhaust is in Junior's Crown Vic? Thx
No rear cats and glass packs for mufflers
@@OldeCarrGuy Thank you. It sounds great. I'm going to try it on one of my Crown Vics.
The biggest difference between my Cadillac de Ville and my 2011 Crown Vic LS is the Ford has a lot more road noise, and it increases the faster you drive. Otherwise, I like it a lot.
Hi sir, My 03 Vic has an Evap leak code. I've changed the gas cap and the purge valve, but still smell gas. Any common locations where I can look for the leaks? Thanks!
I f you're able to get under the car, check for weeping gas tank. If your tank has a rusty spot (common of the top of the tank seam) the system wont pressurize and throw an evap code.
Thank you! @@OldeCarrGuy
Agreed. I love my 1993 Town Car. Wish it was OBD2. meh.. But it is a low mileage cream puff.
A perfect car to do a 4 to 2 door conversion with!
Who are you? DD Speed Shop? lol
@@OldeCarrGuy
Not me LOL. I'm not Shop 209 either, the guy doing a 4 to 2 door conversion on a 68 to 74 body style Nova. The only 4 door car I have is a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire, not sure that's worth converting but we'll see?😁
I don't care what people say, it's awesome looking I will buy one
Do it. You get hooked right away, and almost all maintenance is dead cheap.
I’m looking at a 2011 CVPI (112k 3600Hrs) asking $4,000, such a great deal. Im gonna look at it soon, gonna bring my scanner and try to hold on the excitement, gonna be the start of something evil I want a CVPI, a Towncar Executive, and a Marauder if I can get my hands on one in my mechanic career
Awesome! Best of luck!
What about 83000 2005 lx with eatc ice blue? Runs great! I think there may be an LCM problem. Auto lights won't work. Other than that great car!
My kids love it!
I did have to replace the blower motor resistor, had a a good Siemens blower motor... the one I tried to replace it with wouldn't connect in full so I chose to leave that motor as an HVAC technician. I would love some actual feedback! Thank you for your videos. Mine is a P74.
Hey Bryan. What exactly are you looking for feedback on?