Ford Crown Victoria Goes for a Drive

The Ford Crown Vic is an icon of the American roads cape, famously the cop cars are P71 code, and P72 is a taxi, unless its a high spec middle east export P72 which is cop spec mechanically and high spec inside!
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[@kieranwhite6647]

One of my absolute favourites! R.I.P to all the Crown Vics that have died in the films over the years...

[@skinnedknuckles2444]

and lots more were battered or destroyed in Cleetus McFarland 24 hours of le mullets. Over there, they are disposable.

[@furiousdriving]

I watched that but was crying inside

[@tonys1636]

Enough of them available as US police departments change their vehicles annually but buying one meant a lot of work as apart from being run into the ground they were none too gentle removing specialist equipment.

[@furiousdriving]

@@tonys1636 that’s why I want a detective or officer take home, single user type car. Police spec, gentle use

[@tonys1636]

@@furiousdriving Now just where in that haystack did I lose that needle?

[@baselhs]

I’m from Saudi Arabia. The main reason that Crown Vics were so successful in our region is the price. A car with similar specs as yours would sell new back in early 2000s for about $18K. Also, the comfort and reliability was excellent. However, it’s unusual that your car doesn’t have ABS. A friend of mine had a standard 1999 Crown Vic that had ABS. Higher trim levels get auto a/c, leather seats, keypad entry, and self-leveling suspension. Also, most GCC Crown Vics came with rear ac vents and dual exhaust.

[@tmseh]

Not to mention they look bada$$. Add a Three Pedal kit and you got a sleeper.

[@moesizlac2596]

The trick for an American column shifter is, once you just barely pull it out of Park you just drag down until it lands on Drive. If you keep pulling the shifter towards you (against the spring), you will end up going past D and then have to hunt for it. So just pop it out of P and "slam" it, and you are in D. Done.

[@hotrodmercury3941]

Love my Grand Marquis, comfy and relaxing. She's a LS with a HPP and well equipped. Best roadtrip car in the world, can run at 70, 80, 90 mph no issue or heating. Itll never leave you stranded or in trouble. She starts up everytime and you have a whole living room in the back!

[@hectorgoodhope5800]

What's the difference between the Grand Marquis and the Crown Vic?

[@hotrodmercury3941]

@@hectorgoodhope5800 crown vic was a cheaper version. Grand marquis has many options in it. Ford = Nissan while Mercury = Infiniti

[@hotrodmercury3941]

@@hectorgoodhope5800 grand marquis is comfier. You'll notice most crown vics lack comfort options unless you really dig for a better trim. Overall both are interchangeable.

[@hotrodmercury3941]

@@hectorgoodhope5800 sorry for multiple messages. But one last one. If you want a better option. I suggest Mercury or Lincoln out of the three brands. Mercury tends to have better surviving examples, also they were made with more quality. Old people liked the Mercurys more then Ford. Fords tend to be beaten to shit, but have lots more unique variants.

[@hectorgoodhope5800]

@@hotrodmercury3941 excellent thanks for your replies! I'm looking at getting a crown Vic but I will have a look for a grand Marquis if they're not too much more expensive since they have better interior.

[@MrGaryRoberton]

My Neighbour bought one of the Crown Vics new in 2007, and was the owner until his demise in 2018. His car had 53,000 miles on it, and was taken by a family member at the estate clearance. They really were the last example of the old traditional style sedans and are every bit as good as they seem. Rear wheel drive is the only drawback, and were consistently out performed by Front wheel drive vehicles in winter conditions. Wonderful Cars. Cheers!

[@stephenjcuk7562]

I so miss large lower spec saloons or Sedans here in the UK. I mourn the loss of Ford Granadas and the Vauxhall (GM) Carltons/Senators etc. Why are big sumptuous cars reserved for the affluent. An L or GL spec rear drive barge was so good as workhorse and like the Crown Vic just a great place to be in for hours at a time.

[@drpaulcampbell188]

Wow i wouldnt have thought this would be your dream car, i was thinking maybe a Rover P5B or an old Alfa but this surprised me, but in a good way. When i lived in California back in the early 2000s these used to be everywhere, police cars, taxis, you name it you couldn't throw a ball without hitting one. Good to see one in the UK and not in police spec. Yes they are like boats to drive but they are for a different kind of road than you get in the UK, most roads in the US are straighter than here so they don't have to corner as fast. Good camera work too with the passenger view. Now i see why you drive the volvo and merc. Great video as always.

[@furiousdriving]

I have a top 10 that runs to about 20 cars but this is top 5

[@balkanca]

PS: the GCC speed warning is a chime that goes off when you hit the legal speed limit set by regulations across the region - 120 km/h or 75 MPH. It chimes constantly until you reduce speed. The connector is behind the glove box and pretty easy to "disable".

[@maxrockatanksyOG]

As an Aussie car lover- a Ford Crown Vic has always been on my "if i won the Lotto" list. Until then- im stuck with a 2014 Falcon XR6T 😁

[@johnmagelus6895]

US cars are expensiv in Sweden so i stat with Volvo v70 also almost indestructable.

[@arkhsm]

There's worse thïngs you could be stuck with, like any Holden for instance !!

[@chuckselvage3157]

Yeah I own a XR8 ute with the big brother of the 4.6 the 5.4 quad cam and my son owns an XR6 T ute,plus I've owned various other model Falcons over the years.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

A lotto win to own a crown Victoria, seems a bit extreme

[@maxrockatanksyOG]

@@Shane-zx4ps Try importing & complying one in Australia...A 2007 GT500 is between 100,000k to 200,000k

[@wjye]

That car is crazyyy clean and well kept! Even here in the states it’s getting harder and harder to find these cars in clean shape. Beautiful kept car.

[@JRDISTURBED]

you got to buy it from an elderly person its your best hope

[@jkk244]

Matt, a nice Crown Vic can be had for not much more than £3000 here in Texas. P71 detective ones abound. civilian ones as well. Totally rust-free of course. Shipping to the UK for £1100 or so. Just in case you’re looking for your dreams to come true...

[@StevesMachines]

"Police cars never got wood!" 🤣 There's a new t-shirt slogan for you right there 🤣

[@little_june_firefly8219]

This is my friend’s car. Seeing it in person is something to behold. Beautiful car!!!

[@jaydawg2023]

"You need the middle seat passenger to be either a toddler or an amputee." Lmao. You would never hear such dry humor from an American reviewer. Great video!

[@itsahellofaname]

I just bought my first Crown Vic in December, a 2007 non-P71 with full leather interior and 115,000 miles on it, bought it from the original owner. It's my everyday driver, and I absolutely love it. The car basically drives itself...I just hold on lightly and point it in the right direction. It's funny to look in the mirror on the highway and see the pack of cars behind me who are afraid to go speeding past...they think I'm a cop.

[@tiagodeniz1422]

This is the type of video you wish you had to watch in the early 90s. I’d watch worlds wildest police chases and wonder what the crown vic looked liked inside. My fiancée who is from NY can’t understand the excitement and told me off when I suggested one of these for our wedding car 😂 Another fine video Matt, thank you for the hard work it takes to create the content 👍

[@furiousdriving]

I take it it was a no for the wedding?

[@tiagodeniz1422]

@@furiousdriving it was a no, as an american she thinks it would be "cute" to have a london black cab instead haha!

[@jamesmacdonald3090]

I worked for a hire company in California during the 80s, most of our cars were ex highway patrol and sheriffs department Crown Vics and LTDs. The LTDs were quicker as they had the Mustang 5.0 engine, though quickness is all relative term, having moved from the UK with GTi, XR3i and cosworths the yank stuff felt very sedate and very dated. My daily driver was an ex detective AMC Matador. Can't say any of them would be high on my wish list.

[@bqz4380]

I owned a grand marquis with 150K miles on it. These kinds of vehicles can do a lot of amazing stuff. I towed a 2,000 lbs trailer from Michigan to Southern California, and then from California to Florida. In these journeys, my grand marquis had very stable handling. I just needed to set cruise control at 70 miles/hr when I was on freeways, then I comfortably cruised across the United States. It climbed the rocky mountain, crossed Utah and Texas deserts, endured extreme heat in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. I got 18 MPG with a 2,000 lbs trailer. When I drove from Florida to Michigan, I didn't have the trailer. Without the trailer, I got 24MPG (but with a full load of stuff in the trunk and back seat), and I was driving mostly 80 miles/hr on freeways. When I arrived in Michigan I realized that the water pump had some noise, my brother helped me replace it. The new water pump only costed $56.99, and it only took 30 minutes to finish the job.

[@AW-pl3ou]

Bought a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis back in 2014 it only had 13,200 miles. Black exterior and black premium cloth interior. It has almost 120,000 miles right now. Only problem been having was the window regulator breaking 4 times. Everything else, is still in perfect condition. I love this car and plan to find a 2010 or 2011 with very low miles and keep it as a second car. Truly this is the last real American sedan.

[@balkanca]

I LOVE how you present this video, with all the facts straight. Be it GCC spec features or all the detailed horsepower ratings. When I was in the UK in the early 2000s, a gentleman down in Essex would import GCC destined vehicles that were damaged in transit and repaired by Ford. The SVA was a bit of a pain on Grand Marquis models, because of red turn signals in the rear, but they resolved it with Crown Vic tail lights that did look a bit off. Put the fog lamp under the rear bumper, blinkers on the front fenders and bob is your uncle. Although I think they disabled the turn signals on either side of the grille and moved the turn signal function to the corner lights - if memory serves me right. Great video!

[@twoeightythreez]

These are a lot of fun when swapped to manual transmissions. That weight comes in handy when getting hit by large animals. And while the back seat isnt huge, the boot can double as an apartment. In 2003 they completely revamped the suspension and stiffened the frame. A lot less body lean...in fact I think it handles pretty well for a large car. Mine has a manual swap and averages 23mpg with trips being 28-30mpg like you said. Mine still has the 2.73 gears it came with, so I can do 75mph in 2nd gear!

[@rixille]

2.73's are underappreciated.

[@jbrown6496]

Built right near where I live. The Ontario plate in the trunk caught my eye. Great vid.

[@FernandoIjurco]

Yes!! Finally a Crown Vic! I had only seen it on movies (here in Argentina that doesn't exist) until I finally visited the USA, and it's even more impressive and beautiful in person! Thanks for bringing this content to the channel Matt. Still waiting for a Fiat Marea and a Tipo ;)

[@emjayay]

Higher trim Chrysler products in the 60's also had carpeting on the lower part of the doors. Perfect for shoving the door open with your foot. Also on the back of the bucket seats, perfect for putting your feet on when in the back seat with the seatbacks tipped forward like maybe at a drive in movie.

[@rickhunter6513]

Just picked one of these up at auction in October. It’s a street appearance package, in silver just like his one but it has duel spotlights🙄 Such a cool car and I actually get a ton of compliments. It’s only weakness will be rust

[@jonathanfrankel6787]

Ahh memories, almost getting bundled roughly into the back of one of those by the Montreal Police department, until they realised they’d got the wrong person.

[@psions555]

Sorry aboot that buddy! I'm not your buddy friend, I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND GUY!!

[@jonathanfrankel6787]

@@psions555 :)

[@loftyRST]

You enjoyed that didn’t you? The enthusiasm is heart warming. Yet another car that I have zero need for, but would be nice to have👍

[@soundofimpact3924]

I have a 2011 P7B 249k 250hp Rear cat delete, HiPf plugs, K&N filter. Probably has about 260-265hp now. Was a Chicago police cruiser for 140k and then an airport car in NY for 90k. The ride, rigidity & longevity of these body on frame panthers are an acquired taste. The biggest thing I had done was a new intake manifold as they sometimes can leak. Other than that, it is basic maintenance that is affordable and easy to work on. The top end speed is quite unbelievable. Certainly not the fastest car around, but love the surprised drivers of many vehicles when they get smoked by what they may perceive as a big tub.

[@Asif-Haque]

Great video this, took me back to my years in the Middle East, where I had occasional use of this car's plusher Mercury Grand Marquis brother. Petrol cost around 15p/litre then and I'd floor it now and again to hear the V8 burble and marvel at how proudly lazy it was. While it had the cornering ability of a sumo wrestler, it was good to waft and glide at 140 km/h for the 900ish miles from Jeddah to Dhahran in temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius.

[@pcno2832]

9:30 The Panther platform was almost there in the 1972 Gran Torino coup, with the 1979 replacement for the full-sized LTD being a reworking of the then mid-sized Torino chassis for use in a more upright, boxy car. The only major change in the chassis was the relocation of the steering box behind the front suspension. I saw a posting by a guy who was re-building a '72 Torino with a rusted frame; the frame from a 2003 police cruisers fit with very minor modifications.

[@canadianmarauder1923]

They are really safe comfortable cars. I have a 2003 mercury marauder and an 04 marquis. The marquis is a rolling couch. The marauder is a lot different. It’s got cop car suspension and the mustang Mach 1 engine. About the same off the line but the marauder 4v engine really comes alive in the upper rpms. Marauders are very rare. Around 11000 were made in 03-04. I’m doin my part to save mine. Resto underway

[@soco13466]

That 4 valve has dual cams each side, 5.0.

[@will2993]

WELL i certainly didn't expect this on the channel! Glad you got to drive one of our legends. Proud owner of a '97 Grand Marquis :)

[@will2993]

The spec of mine, the HPP, had all the fleet goodies with all the plush stuff too. Panthers are a weird world once you dive into them

[@matty6848]

Like the VG I bet it built to last as well💪🏻🇺🇸

[@will2993]

@@matty6848 Its a great rig! Old lady owned, and cheap as chips! Only 130,000 miles on mine, and I've put 40k of those on my self. Only thing I've had to do was replace the rear air springs.

[@matty6848]

@@will2993 no way, only the rear springs?! That’s the thing with American cars, they may not be as technically advanced as European cars but boy are they sturdy and built to last. And that’s the opposite with European cars, yes they have great technology run in fairness probably smoother, more efficiently etc but man when they go wrong they go wrong big time. I have a 2017 VW Passat turbo diesel company car and kid you not in 3 years it’s been in the garage about 6 times for repairs. If it wasn’t a company car I would of got rid by now. Perhaps for a GV or GM😁🇺🇸👍

[@alejandrob-c2277]

@@will2993 I still have my 95 grand marquis. Its my first car and got it with 133k miles. It needed some tlc and only leaks oil but the car is still alive and ready for me to pass it on my siblings

[@taunuslunatic404]

It rolls a lot in corners since it has flimsy sway bars. There are aftermarket ones (and track arms) that can solve that problem.

[@nickhannaford3253]

Company I did my apprenticeship at had two of these. Standard Crown Vic and a special Grand Marquis that had police spec suspension and high performance engine but had the key code and velour etc. Possible they were prototype/development cars. We made the body side mouldings and the rubber seals for these here in the U.K. So had them for development and wind noise testing. Always had some interesting cars from Ford such as a Fiesta Ghia that was a Q car. Underneath it was a RS Turbo.😎

[@furiousdriving]

Thats very interesting, Im surprised Ford US used UK firms for trim. I knew Roush in Essex helped develop the GT

[@nickhannaford3253]

@@furiousdriving American firm but trim made in Huntingdon and Plymouth

[@nickdoughty518]

Everyone in the UK noticed the protector plate. It gets talked about more than Brexit!

[@markwright3161]

I assume that's the name for the number plate, sorry, licence plate on the underside of the boot lid? Is it for when your driving with the boot open, or for your victims to give the identity of the vehicle to the police when they're unable to get out because they're hands are tied but somehow were able to use their phone? :)

[@alejandrob-c2277]

They're absolute beasts and I can't get enough of the panther platform I have two interceptors and a older mercury grand marquis. The panther platform is awesome

[@literallyshaking8019]

I had no idea any Crown Vics made it to the UK/Europe. One things for certain, even though they’ve been retired nationwide, if you were to drive one of those in the US, people still check their brakes at the sight of a CV. That silhouette, and the lights, (even at night) are etched into the minds of a generation of drivers.

[@NGGPeter]

5:38 That black bracket is to protect the fuel rail from getting impacted during a front-end collision, not to protect the serpentine belt. Also, 0-60 is the same when flooring it regardless of O/D being on or off. It should be on all the time except when towing or using engine braking down a long downhill grade.

[@mysticstarhf9265]

Correct. And there is another black crash bracket on the driver side rear to protect the fuel rail. Most leave it off the back one when replacing the intake manifold as the bolt is a pain to reach; I guess they don't mind getting burned to death in a future collision. Always look to see if the back one is there when buying one of these cars to make sure someone didn't cut corners.

[@miguelrojas2167]

I got one in 2017 as my first car. It has all the spot lights push bar and cop wheels. Plus antennas and new all black paint job

[@johnfloore9799]

I've had quite a few panther platform cars over the years. My favorite was a 2003 Town car, fully loaded with Bridge of Weir heated leather seats etc... About that steering wheel: Yes, the town car had the bones of that steering wheel, just fancied up a bit with leather or leather sides with wood top and bottom. Currently my daily driver is a pristine w126 (an '89 420SEL.) Honestly, from a construction and systems standpoint the two cars a eerily similar. (the merc is monocoque of course) but the major differences in construction of the underpinnings stop there. Similar design philosophy, I guess. I'm sure you will have noted some similarities with your w123 as well. Here in the states young people used to laugh at these when I was coming up; at the very least they were seen as undesirable since there were sooo many of them. Now that they've been out of production for nearly a decade there's a LOT more respect for them, especially in this condition. Panther platform cars were built to be driven seriously hard and not complain one bit. Problem is, people did just that, so really nice ones like this are getting harder to find.

[@ksull72487]

OMG lol. Me and you just became best friends. I had a 89 300E W124. Now have a 2005 P71. I have other cars etc. But you are 100% correct. Both these cars and platforms were meant to be tanks. After driving the P71 it reminds me way too much of the W124. They never break but have their quirks. And yes considering the P71 is aging like the already old W124 the respect and value is beginning to show. The more rare both those cars get the more respect and value.

[@bishopworks3203]

Related to a Police man over here in the States, were just starting to replace our Crown Vics with Explorers now. If you asked my relative about what he thinks about the change, he'd say he couldn't be happier! It's nice to see someone who's actually enthusiastic about these, haha!

[@LITTLE1994]

I have the classic version of this car, a 1989 LX. The Vic is my favorite Ford that's not the Mustang. Definitely the most iconic vehicle ever used by police and taxis. Reliable, tough, comfortable, V8 power, you name it. But it's so sad it and its cousins are no longer made.

[@azaz911c]

In the past, whenever I called a taxi for the airport, I would always hope to get a Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis or Lincoln Town Car. They have a very nice ride quality, much more so than the Toyota Camry's that are now used for most taxis here in Canada.

[@arrangrant6037]

You can’t beat a proper torque converter automatic none of this cheap dual clutch nonsense here👍

[@psions555]

I completely agree that there's nothing better than a torque converter auto, but 3 long ass gears and an overdrive?? Noooooo.... Those were sad days!

[@phil955i]

@@psions555 that's all you need with a 4.6 litre V8

[@piority9]

@@psions555 depends on the rear end. They came with a choice of 2.73, 3.27, 3.55 and I believe 3.73 as well which drastically changed the cars dynamics.

[@samgrabel8648]

@@psions555 it’s 4 gears and a lockup.

[@psions555]

@@samgrabel8648 No, you mean 3 actual usable ratios and an overdrive.

[@khaledesaa1416]

Oh my God, the sound of the engine is like a symphony to me. I love this sound, as well as the sound of the back door, stuck in my subconscious mind since childhood😂. Excellent video, my friend.

[@gryfandjane]

Crown Vics are still a regular sight here in Middle America, but not nearly as common as their siblings, the Mercury Grand Marquis. MGMs are everywhere, frequently driven by seniors. I saw one a while back with a personalized license plate reading, “OLD PPL.” Hilarious, but apt. And understandably, for folks who have owned large sedans since the olden days, Vics and MGMs were the logical choice if you had no use for SUVs. As for me, I’m 64 and I drive a Fiesta ST. ;-)

[@smoothmicra]

The last couple of car reviews I've watched were for the Citroen Ami; from one end of the spectrum to the other!

[@angrymuffinsb]

😂yessss

[@benholroyd5221]

I had those popping up. Have you had that Aero guy whos now (for some reason) got 100k subscribers

[@furiousdriving]

My other dream car is an Austin 7 so my own garage would be a weird mix as well!

[@angrymuffinsb]

@@furiousdriving I’ve always wanted a Plymouth Prowler. No idea why; just love them

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@angrymuffinsb Likely because it's a weird amalgam of design philosophies due to the challenges the parent company was going through. Same reason why I love my '62 GT Hawk so much.

[@decayofalberta1520]

The Ontario plate(Canadian) in the trunk is one thing I noticed. Those are great cars. Great video

[@RalphieG1984]

These were loved by departments in the US. They were body on frame which meant that if they got in an accident they were easy to fix. the engines and transmissions, while not the most efficient were dead simple and reliable. The column shifter allowed to easily fit someone with a gun belt (imagine adding an extra 3-7 inches of extra width added of belt with guns, hand cuffs, ammunition, baton, et cetera). putting the shifter on the column also allowed for the installation of a computer that faced the driver. The body on frame also allowed to go over curbs with ease. I did a few ride alongs in the early 2000's with the Orange County Sherriff's Department and they were great. Very comfy, the A/C worked very well, was comfortable, absorbed the bumps well enough, and had decent acceleration. Most of the old school cops preferred the Chevy Caprice for the bigger engine but the Crown Vic outlasted it by almost two decades. I've asked cops recently if they liked the new chargers and most were indifferent preferring the Crown Vic.

[@volvo480]

An Indian (the country in Asia, not the native Americans) taxi driver in the USA drove an ex-police Crown Victoria which still had the search light mounted to the left A-pillar, to his great amusement. "People think I am police officer. When they see me in mirror, they put safety belt on, move to the right lane and slow down!" he told in that beautiful Indian accent.

[@spamtrak355]

And the fact I get one while not being rich is great :P sometimes people do want to just talk or ask things, strange how such a common car in the states becomes a really stand out thing here. Also love that easy to clean police interior. one in the video here looks like a really nice example compared to my crusty car but I am still happy. And people told me you couldn't daily drive an American car in the UK :P

[@mattw8332]

Ford Crown Victoria: for when a Granada/Scorpio isn't big enough! The thing I really like about these are the stylish steel wheels and hubcaps. The ones on this almost look like bigger Sierra base steelies. My last car was an ex police Ford. Not as exciting as this. It was an Escort saloon 1.8 L diesel with the optional ABS and power steering. Pretty good car for 250 quid.

[@petersimpson5859]

The obvious connection! Rover 75 V8/ZT260 shared the engine. That was a hammer in a velvet glove. Brings back memories of a Buick Park Avenue hire car in Florida. 3800 V6, terrible build quality but never driven a better highway cruiser or anything with more effective air conditioning. Handled surprisingly well too.

[@mescko]

That 3800 was bulletproof, nearly as much as the 4.6. And in FL, you'd BETTER have effective A/C.

[@cheyennedogsoldiers]

I love the Crown Vic, a few years back i spent 7 months in the US and seriously considered buying one as you can still find then and they're not that expensive. However I ended up buying a 7.5 litre F250, which i then brought back to the UK and drove for a year, lol. Loved it though.

[@jonp5641]

Awesome beast! The basic wheels look really good. I actually own a gold coloured Crown Vic, albeit the 1/64 diecast variety.

[@BBT609]

I own a 2005 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and is by far the greatest car Id ever owned. That drive by wire is very responsive, the early technology really is fascinating and it holds its ground. The instrument panel is analog with the miles and goes digital in 2006. 2006 to 2011, the Vic had underwent minor changes like the Fuel Flex, 17 inch rims and so forth. Nice looking Vic man!!

[@jeffreystacy867]

I know this video came out quite a while ago but I think that protector plate on the front of the engine on the right hand side it's not anything to do with protection from the fan belt but to protect the fuel injection rail from the radiator overflow tank in event of a severe crash. There is also one on the back left of the engine to protect the fuel rail from the firewall in the event event of crash. I think the engineers decided gasoline escaping is bad...

[@user-bm6lk3rj4t]

From Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 🙌🏻 ♥️

[@MrTrull1]

What an odd time to upload a video. It’s 5:20am and I can’t sleep & I find a new Furious video. Definitely won’t be going to sleep now! 👍

[@TheGalacticEmperorOfLabels]

Matt's prone to pre-dawn uploads.

[@furiousdriving]

It gets the breakfast and commute crowd and its waiting for everyone else on morning or lunch breaks and in your feed in the evening...some thought goes into this!

[@matty6848]

At 5.20am you might as well get up.

[@terryatkinson3182]

I wouldn't think Matt sleeps much ever. Always running about and working on many things at the same time. The videos are really good And he actually gets things fixed with the limited funds available, love the welding as it's up to the standard most of us would be happy to achieve with what we have using equipment we could afford.

[@matty6848]

@@terryatkinson3182 yes he comes across a man who likes to be busy. I’m the same I can’t stand sitting round the house doing nothing all day. I either have to take the dog for a long walk, work round the house, tinker on my XR3 or do the gym. Sitting around is not for me, especially during the lockdowns when days can be very long!

[@aca2983]

I worked in a small local government and my department had a retired police P71. It was fun and kind of nostalgic to drive. Not fast, but a weird blend of retro and contemporary. To me, it did not feel like an unwieldy huge car. It was actually easy to drive and maneuverable, the excellent visibility aided that. The steering was quick, but had no feel whatsoever. But the fun part is taking it out on the highway. It's like Moses parting the Red Sea! People just get out of the way because they think you are police. I have often thought of buying a Mercury Grand Marquis LS, or a Lincoln Town Car. My ultimate Town Car would be a Cartier or Signature Series L (L for long wheelbase) but LWB town cars were usually the fleet-trim "Executive" models for livery service. I don't drive a lot, so fuel mileage isn't a huge concern, and fortunately I have room to park it. A note about the car in the video: I believe the GCC cars had a unique chrome grille, at least the late ones did. It's a shame that was removed. This car is a bit incongruous to me because the grille, wheels, and interior just aren't typically in that combination.

[@aeyb701]

Well presented, this rare version of the CV. I love seeing how some have made it to the UK, Germany etc. (“Frank”, the German fellow on KZbin had one or two, and a video of driving fast on the Autobahn. He’s since sold it.) My ex -*OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) 2011 P7B has the usual police bucket seats but the driver’s seat is powered, heavy duty, very firm bottom and conspicuous adjustable lumbar support. Foam carpet cleaner works well on seat stains-source-unknown. *Trivia unrelated: look at Paul McCartney’s sleeve on the Sgt. Pepper’s album, and you’ll see the triangular “OPP” badge, given to him when the Beatles visited/ played Toronto in 1966. The OPP still wear that badge.

[@furiousdriving]

Ive seen his videos, not many over here but always great to see them

[@pscollier1]

Definitely a car to blast from Riyadh to Bahrain at 160 for the weekend and put on some serious mileage. Ice cold AC and room for the family of 6. GCC speed alert goes off at 120km/h, I think it just chimes from memory. At that time, a lot of music in the Middle East was still on cassette, hence the tape player.

[@furiousdriving]

Thanks that clears up 2 mysteries for me!

[@arnepianocanada]

I'd never any thought about Gulf Spec cars! Very insightful, and as always a great presentation style. Your enthusiasm is obvious but not silly or over-the-top. You let the car speak for itself.

[@benholroyd5221]

It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks." Will it run good on regular gas?

[@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge]

I mean, wrong era car. And also yes, a Crown Vic should run fine on regular.

[@benholroyd5221]

@@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge wrong era car?! It's a body on chassis, rwd 4 speed with overdrive, no abs or remote central locking 6litre v8 with 82 bhp. Or do you mean it hasn't got chrome?

[@888johnmac]

1970's dodge IIRC .. and fix the cigarette lighter

[@robinforrest7680]

Great minds think alike. Hahaha... looks like I'm not the only one who got the reference 😉

[@HowardLeVert]

@@888johnmac Dodge Monaco to be precise.

[@skinnedknuckles2444]

They are cracking cars. Last of the (body on frame technology). I believe the quickest P71's were the 2004 ones, due to the diff. Not sure how true that is but it's something I'd read about 10 years ago. 2006 they added a rev counter with digital odo. Some P71's had steering controls. As tough as they were, they were just too slow especially as you got more power from mundane cars. The 90's Caprice 9C1 was my all time favorite cop car. It was the one that various police forces had refurbished after they reached the end of their service life.

[@williamkeserich4363]

Its true best tuned and handling

[@toddsonic]

GCC cars got Lincoln Town Car front seats minus the storage as well you could get the long wheelbase on the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis for civilian cars. The import designation actually comes from the fact that a large percentage of the components were produced in Europe raising the foreign content. Canada is considered american for fuel economy regulations. The stab proof seats were part of the taxi package. A 2003+ car, especially the later models with 17" tire handle better and minimize the wandering.

[@SirOsisofLiver]

I hated getting these as rental cars, not because of anything the car did, but because everyone around you suddenly drove like a grandmum heading to Sunday service. Great review and nostalgia trip. Good luck in your quest for one.

[@encinobalboa]

Excellent review. Very well researched and almost 100% accurate. CV came in LWB versions for cab use so partition did not eat up all rear leg room. 2nd Gen lasted until 2002 when frame, suspension, and interior were redesigned for 2003. Many would consider 2003 to be the beginning of Gen 3. 2003 plus cars had rack and pinion steering. With the right suspension mods, steering and handling are vastly improved. Tach came in 2006 and IMO, should have been there all along. Tachs are in F150's and lowly Escorts so it should have been in a Panther. 40-20-40 seating is non-existent in the USA. TBH, 50 drivers seat in USA is just as comfortable as a 40 bucket. There is virtually no difference in internal construction aside from wider seat pan and cushion.

[@HowardLeVert]

I can remember the ignition switch on my dad's 1962 FB Victor having 'wings' that the key sat within to make it easier to turn. This does seem to be almost a car out of time and I found myself comparing its basic engineering to the Ford Fairmont that HubNut was driving around NZ in. Didn't Roadkill or somebody do a Crown Vic versus Chevy Caprice shootout?

[@thebassistthatcouldnt9994]

Yeah roadkill had a video, when they were still here on KZbin

[@ilyasemenov8993]

2000 CVLX, former detective car, exactly the same color as yours - I got it in 2014 off a public auction with 95k miles on it for less than $1500 hoping that it survives 6-7 months until I can afford a newer car. Well, almost 7 years later with ~185k on it now, I dread the moment when I'd have to part with it. It's still rather strong mechanically, but rust belt is brutal to cars and every winter, when outside temperature falls below freezing, something bites the dust. Last winter it was a starter, then I got a mess with a blown plug (quite a common thing for 4.6 unfortunately), then something else. It's still a legend though and I totally love it!

[@michaeltutty1540]

Great video, Matt. A few notes, though. First, the overdrive lock out does not affect shift points or performance. It is meant to be left on unless the transmission is hunting in hilly or twisty terrain. Second, Interceptor cars hand an Interceptor badge on the boot lid. The way what one rolls in the corners, it does not have the Police Package suspension. By the time this was made, the Trailer Tow III Package had been discontinued, and that civilian package used the same springs, dampers, and antisway bars as the P71 package. That stopping was not up to par, either, so I suspect the tyres are getting old. The tyres make all the difference in these cars. The wander in the steering makes me think the front end may be due for an alignment. These cars don't wander if all is well under there. Looks like that car was originally registered in Ontario, Canada, as I saw the period correct Ontario number plates tucked inside the boot lid. Those seats were normally available, covered in leather, in the Crown Victoria LTX or Grand Marquis LTS, but with a floor shift in place of the centre arm rest. Having had a bunch of Panther cars, that one is not my favourite. I had one with the 4.6, and HATED it. The low end torque is not there compared to either the 160 hp 5 litre or the 5.8 litre that was an RPO through 91. The 5.8 was a regular option in Canada right through to the end of the box Panthers. If you want to see what a Panther can do, try finding an 86-91 Crown Victoria or Grand Marquis with the 351W (5.8 litre) and the Trailer Tow III Package. The trick with them is to stick with the Ford gas dampers and make sure it has the grippiest of tyres in a 225/70R15 100H size and rating. Then don't be afraid to stay on the throttle. The 390 lb/ft of torque at 2200 rpm is a revelation compared to the 5.0 or the 4.6. on a straight motorway run, the 5.8 will do a solid 40 mpg. In city, it is the same as the 5.0 or 4.6. with the 5.8 and the towing package, these cars were rated for 6,000 pounds of trailer. I was one of the maybe 5 or 6 people who ordered an 89 Grand Marquis with both options. I know of one still on the road here in Ontario. It is the only car I would consider replacing my 1990 Volvo 240 Estate with.

[@phil955i]

I was looking for a V8 a while back & did look at those for a while, I like their ruggedness & lack of technology (much less to go wrong)

[@udomsimon1]

Your review on the Crown vic is the best on the internet. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

[@knifetrain3118]

I have to say even here in the states this is the first time I have ever heard a Crown Vic being referred to as a dream car! 🤷🏻‍♂️ Referred to as a boat definitely! ⛵️

[@taunuslunatic404]

It's a dream car to me too. I'm from Spain.

[@furiousdriving]

in the UK they are rocking horse poo (rare) and we see them in films, on TV - background that makes the scene, like going to New York the first time, and the extreme engineering in a very basic car make them interesting. I always winced when Mythbusters had a car test as I know a couple would be smashed!

[@trmn311]

I guess we are so use to seeing them here in the US we don’t pay much attention unless there was one behind us with it’s lights flashing! 🚔 They were the work horse of our police departments. Ford SUV’s have replaced them.

[@rickhunter6513]

@@trmn311 yep, very common here in the States till Ford killed them in 2011. What used to be cop/taxi and cheap reliable transportation at car auctions, are becoming collector cars. P71 were beat to shit, so good ones are becoming difficult to find.

[@KingsOfRugby]

10:04 my dad has a Saab 95 Aero that has Night Mode, we've had many Saabs and this is his favourite except from the reliability... Obviously. If inflation stays on my side I'd love a Crown Victoria as my 1st car, but the prices are going up sadly :(

[@keithmatthews1673]

Have mentioned this before but I'd go for a Lincon Town Car having owned one for a few months when I was in the USA. Similar mechanicals but the LTC is real luxury!

[@furiousdriving]

yeah, much nicer but I like the history and story with these

[@brianmanners8910]

Today is 2023/06/11 . Im writing this from Mechanicsville VA and I can tell you without a doubt that there are quite a few Police Depts that are still using the Crown Victoria P71 as an active Police Car . The Virginia State Police still has a P71 that I see patrolling Interstate 295 from time to time . Frankly I think as long as they are still in decent running condition some smaller Police Depts will use the P71 indefinitely. The P71 was the best Police Vehicle ever IMO and Ford was very short sighted when they discontinued production. 😎👍🏻

[@nk53nxg]

The Crown Vic is an iconic automobile, these will be seriously collectable stateside in 10 years once they get rare. Unfortunately most reliable old work horses like these tend to have poor survivability due to most being driven into the ground and then straight to the scrappers. Most people will disregard them as common pig iron until they are mostly gone, seen as bashed up yellow taxis or cruising black and whites. Most people will not realise they were part of that eras street furniture until no longer around. A bit like the British 80's Rover SD1 and Ford Granny Jam sandwich police cars, except rampant rust got most of them🤣😂.

[@furiousdriving]

Sadly very true, I need to get a good one soon

[@frazzleface753]

There are a lot of broken down ones around me. Although some seriously good, lightly used ones driven by elderly people. Mercury Grand Marquis derivative too. Lots of information imparted on this video! Well done! :)

[@furiousdriving]

Its hard buying one remote as there is such a range of quality and some real dogs out there but a few minters too

[@rhspek]

Great to watch this again, seeing recent developments. Just waiting for the review of your own Crown Vic.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Fulfilling a lifetime's ambition, Mr Richardson? Excellent!

[@furiousdriving]

Yes, Ive let entire taxi ranks go to get rises in these before, to the confusion of other waiting passengers "no you go ahead of me, Im waiting for the Crown Vic 3 cars along"

[@DeauvilleBob]

@@furiousdriving I literally hired one in Florida for no other reason than that I saw it in the hire place car park. But my goodness me they don't half wonder about do they? You can feel the whole rear end swaying on the axle all the time. Still loved it though!

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@furiousdriving, you are a dedicated man, sir!

[@ibidesign]

Love your infectious enthusiasm. So much more satisfying than most automobile reviews.

[@Papa7Bravo]

Turns out the hunting was an issue with the gearbox, he's since had it fixed but that's why you noticed a difference when you turned the Air con off

[@JohnMcMahon.]

I’m getting Sgt Tackleberry vibes the way you’re leaning on that engine bay @4:01 (Police Academy) 😂

[@TheGalacticEmperorOfLabels]

A supremely relaxed and informative video on my favourite platform and one of my favourite cars. Thanks, as always, for posting, Matt.

[@encinobalboa]

Watching the vid again... The metal shield that was thought to protect against serpentine belt mishap is actually to guard the injector rail in a frontal impact. There is another shield at the back of the engine that protects the driver's side injector rail which was part of the 03 update.

[@JoJo-209-]

Just bought a 03 cvpi yesterday, been wanting one for the last 6 years.. and i absolutely LOVE it. Its got a bunch of the police intercepter goodies. Only 111k miles on her, new nice blue paint, new trans

[@furiousdriving]

Fantastic! So happy for you, they are awesome cars and great owners too

[@JoJo-209-]

@@furiousdriving yeah only one owner too (Oakland PD) lol .. thinking it must've been a homicide investigators car or sumthn like that cuz of the low miles

[@DavidJohnston58]

As a lover of auto barges, I'm a fan. Why could Ford not have given EU market models similar reliability, longevity and safety? I think I'd like a Crown Vic Great review

[@mikesal8088]

2006 and later P71's aren't "boaty" at all. Cornering is excellent compared to the civilian model. Steering is heavier. Totally different feeling car. Not quick off the line, but built to go 100 MPH all day or until it runs out of gas. I'm totally addicted to P71's! Get one while you still can.

[@ksull72487]

I have a 05 P71. Some P71s had different rear ends, police packages etc. They were retrofitted by companies after manufacturing from Ford. Although Ford did offer the different rear ends. It depended on what the Police Department wanted. They all have budgets. They did have ABS. I’m sure the GCC versions didn’t but every P71 I’ve seen has ABS unless it was much older. 30MPG highway would be a miracle. 24-25 would be a good day lol. These things piss gas. Heavy cars. Although once they got moving as heavy as they are they actually handle and perform quite well. I went off the road in ice. Complete 360 into a ditch. Not a scratch on it. My other cars would of been in the shop. So they are definitely tanks. Most P71s did not have the Kevlar Lining. That typically came around 06 up. Again this was dependent on what the police department wanted. In areas where they were likely to encounter high crime or large cities they could use the door as a shield and fire their weapons between the door and windshield. It was an expensive option. Most departments did not purchase it.

[@mikemidulster]

Nice car! I would image it would be a bit cramped in the back with a safety partition fitted. The length of 212" = 5.385 Metres, making it about a foot ( 30cm) longer that a Jaguar XJ Saloon of the same era, having a similar engine size. Although the Jag would be a lot faster, I doubt if one would keep going for half a million miles.

[@SlikLizrd]

Can't compare a Panther to a Jaguar sedan. They be like day & night. Half-a-million miles !??? Surely, you jest !! I had an XK-140 MC -- be lucky if it went a half-dozen miles without a breakdown. The horrid Lucas electrics would fail if it was CLOUDY. www.mercuryforum.com/forum/grand-marquis-14/1995-grand-marquis-restoration-8937/

[@brucemoyle7610]

Lee Child's favourite car, I seem to gather from the Jack Reacher books.

[@thunderroad7289]

390 thousand miles on my 05 police interceptor crown Vic with zero problems. Love love love my crown vic

[@1QKGLH]

The oversized door and dash buttons are for regions of the country where you wear thick gloves while driving. Living in the UK, you may not know what it's like living where the temperature is 20º-30ºF below zero for a time every year.

[@russellharris3423]

Definitely on my bucket list. I hope you enjoyed your trip around Kent on the A229 and A249 .

[@Kuessemir]

Great review, thanks so much for sharing your experience. Glad you had the opportunity to experience one of these cars. If you are interested...I have an 06 Grand Marquis, it has most of the creature comforts and luxuries (minus the air suspension) that you mentioned but not quite extravagance or price tag of a Town Car. Still a floaty boaty though.

[@Vvtism]

Love to hear someone as enthusiastic about vics as I am lol

[@furiousdriving]

There are a few of us out there!

[@will2993]

You can leave the car in OD all the time by the way, it only engages in top gear at highway speeds. I only turn mine off to pass. Pretty common configuration in american cars

[@furiousdriving]

You can (and I did a few times) but it’s slower, we did the 0-60 with OD on by mistake and it was 2 seconds longer

[@will2993]

@@furiousdriving very interesting! I'll have to play around with my car and see if it shaves any time off. You'd love mine, it's gloriously 90's. Blue and white leather interior

[@wademullis7377]

I have the Mercury version a Grand Marquis which is almost exactly like a Crown Victoria. One thing that gets me perturbed with Ford and I've been a Ford customer most of my life in fact along with my Grand Marquis I have a Mustang GT, but Ford had a proud line of full-sized cars going back to the fifties as you said. They had the Ford Galaxie which was enormously popular starting in the early sixties and going through the early 70s. Then in the seventies they had the LTD which was another enormously popular full-size sedan. Then they had the Crown Victoria which was their last enormously popular full-size sedan. And then for some unknown reason to me they discontinued the Crown Victoria in 2011. Duh !!!!!! I'm speechless.

[@furiousdriving]

And now the Mondeo is going as well, so just SUVs and pickups

[@Retro_andy_1977]

I always liked the crown Vic. My favourite shape was the previous model, but I do love this restyle too. Great cars.