I need some help from some experts here on the forums. I am looking into buying my first car and I am looking for something cheap, reliable, powerful, a ford, and preferably new. So what better than a retired Crown Vic Police Interceptor. There isn't that many for sale in my area (would you believe) and the prices are Canadian so they'd be more than American so don't be alarmed. There's two that I am looking at right now.

 

2008 Crown Victoria for $2500

 

4.6 ltr V8 250 HP/297 lbs ft of torque
4 spd auto with overdrive

All maintenance up to date. All fluids and filters changed had all brakes and rotors done and intake manifold. New spark plugs pcv valve and newer windshield wipers. Car drives great. Sounds great with its dual exhaust. It was former police vehicle so it will need paint work. Also needs rear quarter window replaced too.

* Aircare not required

 

 

2004 Crown Victoria $3000

 

(Ex police car) V8, Air cared, Good tires, Tinted windows, New front rotors and Disc brakes (Best quality) Had rear end rebuilt about 3 months ago. Has a flow master duel exhaust, Recent tune up done and all oil changes, Has a Brand new ramming bar (which is legal) and a new Mp3 C.D player with all new speakers (Recently installed). This Car runs Great and is a lot of fun.

 

 

 

So what's the difference? What would be a better investment?

Edited August 23, 201312 yr by JSDGraphics

The fact that the 2nd one had the rear end rebuilt tells me that it was in a major accident and at that point I wouldn't even consider it, never mind the fact that it would be a 10 year old car by now. (Cars model years are displayed as the year after they're produced, for some reason.)

my personal opinion i wouldn't invest in a crown Victoria that's just me im sure you can find a good car depending on your price range.

Does anybody know if you can put these on the 2008 crown vic?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-NEW-2010-2011-Ford-Crown-Victoria-4-Full-Wheel-Covers-SET-Hub-Caps-17-/260900858153

 

I wanted the 2008 more in the first place because it is 4 years newer than the 2004, I just wanted the '04 because of the rambar :D

Does anybody know if you can put these on the 2008 crown vic?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-NEW-2010-2011-Ford-Crown-Victoria-4-Full-Wheel-Covers-SET-Hub-Caps-17-/260900858153

 

I wanted the 2008 more in the first place because it is 4 years newer than the 2004, I just wanted the '04 because of the rambar :D

 

They should do.. It says in the description that they're for them.

They should do.. It says in the description that they're for them.

Great cause I was worried I would have to order from fordparts.com and thats about 60 bucks more, but it;s under 2008 on fordparts.com. Even though I know that the crown vic stayed the same pretty much from '98 to '11, I know there are some small changes that have taken effect over the years.

Go for 2008

Younger=Better(most of the time)

Moreover,the 04 had it's rear end rebuilt which means(as unr3al said) it's been involved in a major accident. Also, Crown Vics are prone to catching fire when rear-ended due to the fuel tanks being in the back. It's there in wikipedia. Make sure to get the carbon plate or whatever it is to protect the gas tank. Moreover,the 2008 is much cheaper which means you can spend the extra 500 bucks on something else,like new exhaust,or probably a supercharger

 

Also,put some HG2 Runners on it xD

Edited August 23, 201312 yr by AgenBlaze

Go for 2008

Younger=Better(most of the time)

Moreover,the 04 had it's rear end rebuilt which means(as unr3al said) it's been involved in a major accident. Also, Crown Vics are prone to catching fire when rear-ended due to the fuel tanks being in the back. It's there in wikipedia. Make sure to get the carbon plate or whatever it is to protect the gas tank. Moreover,the 2008 is much cheaper which means you can spend the extra 500 bucks on something else,like new exhaust,or probably a supercharger

 

Also,put some HG2 Runners on it xD

I'm gonna go with the 2008 because it is the best choice of the two, no major accident history (or so I think), it's newer and it's cheaper. Lol I like your idea about the runners, but I was honestly thinking of replacing the horn with a FedSig SS2000 airhorn (if that's legal or possible) and buying the plastic 10 spoke hubcaps :D

Edited August 23, 201312 yr by JSDGraphics

I have an 03 CVPI and she does me wonders, i'm currently in the process of putting a new stereo and strobes in it, I don't care what anybody says, they're a good car, the transmission was meant for police to beat the piss out of them, which means they're tougher than most.

I'm gonna go with the 2008 because it is the best choice of the two, no major accident history (or so I think), it's newer and it's cheaper. Lol I like your idea about the runners, but I was honestly thinking of replacing the horn with a FedSig SS2000 airhorn (if that's legal or possible) and buying the plastic 10 spoke hubcaps :D

Or get Mercury Marauder's wheels

They look awesome

Honestly, your first car should be something small. You need to get used to being on the road and having awareness of the space around you, I really wanted a Nissan Skyline R34 as my first car but it was just too big for me so I went with a Ford KA.

 

Because of its size, its perfect for parking and city / town driving and helps me as a new driver get used to judging situations and if I could fit my car through there.

 

Of course, I'm in the UK so it might well be entirely different so the choice is completely up to you. I wouldn't go for a retired cop car though, those things have a ridiculous amount of miles on them and could be prone to mechanical failures down the line.

My first car is a Crown Victoria LX Sport. I did want to get a Police Interceptor, but then I realized this: The Police beat the living shit out of them. In addition, I didn't want it to look too much like a cop car. My car came with Mercury Marauder rims, so that took care of that problem.

 

If the CVPI has a rebuilt engine or tranny, then it's alright. But you have to remember, those cars idle 24/7, almost non-stop. The only time they probably get turned off is when they get maintenance or filled up with gas. All the heat that lingers in the engine, from running all day long, isn't good for any car. I personally think you could get something nicer. You could get a civilian model that has more options, leather seats, in addition, it wasn't beat to death by overly aggressive cops. My LX Sport is actually faster than a CVPI, because I upgraded several engine components on it with Mercury Marauder parts. 

 

Also, you'll probably get some good answers from these guys as well: http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

 

Just my advice,

 

Nick

Go to an auction - you'll save tons of money. Buying from kijiji or ebay or whatever the heck - you're spending like 2,500 or whatever.

 

An auction you could drive away in a 2008 Crown Vic ex-CPS you got for 1,250. I was at an auction the other weekend to experience an auction for the first time, and they had late model crown vics going for dirt cheap, almost no problems!

 

I don't know if BC has many auctions though. 

Or just get a Mercury Marauder. Rare,cool and fast :V

As nice as the CV is you'll spend 6 times the amount you paid for it within the first year on gas

As nice as the CV is you'll spend 6 times the amount you paid for it within the first year on gas

I've had mine on the road for going on 3 months and i'm almost up to the $1200.00 mark I paid for it..

Great cause I was worried I would have to order from fordparts.com and thats about 60 bucks more, but it;s under 2008 on fordparts.com. Even though I know that the crown vic stayed the same pretty much from '98 to '11, I know there are some small changes that have taken effect over the years.

 

 

Those hubcaps could go on ANY 17 inch rims , so yes you can 

Or just get a Mercury Marauder. Rare,cool and fast :V

Only 500 Marauder's made it to the Canadian Market, there's 4 nationwide on autotrader.ca :P

I've had mine on the road for going on 3 months and i'm almost up to the $1200.00 mark I paid for it..

Well it's not like I'm gonna be patrolling the streets with it all the time... I just want it to go places :P 

 

Those hubcaps could go on ANY 17 inch rims , so yes you can 

Great because I think that the hubcaps make the Crown Vic so much more luxurious looking and classy, and a classy looking car is what I want... Chicks love classy cars.

I do not know much about the vic but from what I do know they are great cars.

However, I know that many people tend to spend quite a bit of money down the road as the cars do go through hell while being used as a PI.

 

Just remember those ads, listen to the Car Fox and check the Car Fax lol.

The fact that the 2nd one had the rear end rebuilt tells me that it was in a major accident and at that point I wouldn't even consider it, never mind the fact that it would be a 10 year old car by now. (Cars model years are displayed as the year after they're produced, for some reason.)

 

The "rear end" isn't the rear of the car, it's the rear differential. Meaning, the rear diff has been rebuilt. Probably had some issues since it's an older model. Maybe he added 3.55's instead of the standard 3.27's, that would help a little with acceleration.

My first car is a Crown Victoria LX Sport. I did want to get a Police Interceptor, but then I realized this: The Police beat the living shit out of them. In addition, I didn't want it to look too much like a cop car. My car came with Mercury Marauder rims, so that took care of that problem.

 

If the CVPI has a rebuilt engine or tranny, then it's alright. But you have to remember, those cars idle 24/7, almost non-stop. The only time they probably get turned off is when they get maintenance or filled up with gas. All the heat that lingers in the engine, from running all day long, isn't good for any car. I personally think you could get something nicer. You could get a civilian model that has more options, leather seats, in addition, it wasn't beat to death by overly aggressive cops. My LX Sport is actually faster than a CVPI, because I upgraded several engine components on it with Mercury Marauder parts. 

 

Also, you'll probably get some good answers from these guys as well: http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

 

Just my advice,

 

Nick

 

The LX Sports are awesome. My only wish is that it came with the same heavy duty suspension as the PI's, the soft suspension on the civilian Vics makes the car a boat.

 

Another thing to consider to coincide with what OL said... don't so much look at the overall mileage on the car, look to see the idling hours. For example, the CVPI's on my department have over 100,000 miles on them, but you're looking at possibly twice as much wear on the engine alone in idling.

 

Some departments don't go by vehicle mileage, they go by hours. So if the car only has 50,000 miles, but has over 10,000 hours of engine use, they retire the vehicle.