Background: In an era of bulky sport utility vehicles and a plethora of mid-size, front-wheel drive cars, Ford's Crown Victoria can be viewed as a survivor, classic, throwback or reasonably-priced purchase (take your pick.) Baby Boomers remember Crown Vic as a favorite car of big families back in the 1960s and 1970s. It was (and still is) a large, rear-wheel-drive, six-passenger sedan the whole family fits into. Police departments and taxi cab companies seek out Crown Vic for its spacious interior and eight-cylinder power. Cynics sometime view Crown Vic, introduced in 1951, as a conservatively-styled car from yesteryear. However, having withstood the test of time in a fickle industry, Crown Vic may just outlive its skeptics. Since the mid 1970s, smaller, front-wheel drive cars have gained popularity in part because of good traction in snow and fewer transaxle components. But with the advent of improved traction control, rear-drive vehicles, noted for superior handling and smoother ride, are staging a comeback. Many automakers will debut rear-wheel drive car projects during the next couple of years. Ford assembles the Crown Vic in Ontario, Canada.
Engine/trim level: Three trim levels are available: Standard, LX and LX Sport. The sole V-8 powertrain is a 4.6-liter, single overhead cam with sequential, multi-port electronic fuel injection. In Standard and LX editions, the engine delivers 224 horsepower. When a dual exhaust system is added, the horsepower jumps to 239. Dual exhausts are part of a handling and performance package standard in LX Sport and optional in LX. Regular 87-octane unleaded fuel is recommended for the 19 gallon tank. Fuel economy checks in at 18 miles per gallon city and 26 m.p.g. highway, which is about three to eight gallons more per mile better than heavier, V-8-powered sport utilities and on par with many six-cylinder SUVs. Keep in mind many six and eight-cylinder SUVs require more expensive premium grade fuel. An electronically-controlled four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive comes in every edition.
Standard equipment: All three trims come with speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering, AM/FM stereo with cassette player, air conditioning, eight-way driver power driver seat, intermittent wipers, rear window defroster, cruise control and power windows, locks and side-view mirrors. Cloth seating comes in Standard and LX editions while leather seats are a LX Sport staple. Optional in all editions is a compact disc player. Standard in LX and LX Sport are dual climate control and an overhead console near the rearview mirror with digital compass directions. The LX Sport model features new rear air suspension, revised front springs and sport-tuned shock absorbers.
Price: Despite its large size, Crown Vic's pricing is mid-sized when compared to many rivals. Ford supplied the Daily Herald with a top-line, 2003 LX Sport with a $29,475 starting price. After adding in options (trunk organizer, $190; traction control, $175); side air bags $225; six-disc CD changer $165 and $600 leather seat discount, the bottom line added up to $30,385 including the $725 destination charge. A Standard edition starts at $23,705 while the LX checks in at $27,745. Crown Victoria's automotive twin, the Grand Marquis, starts at $23,875 for a GS edition Compare this to other full-size offerings. The posh BMW 7-Series starts at $68,500, a Cadillac DeVille checks in at $44,300 and a Lincoln Town Car's list price begins at $40,615. Chevrolet builds the Impala ($21,110 starting price), its largest sedan, but features six-cylinder power and front wheel drive.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 114.7 inches
Overall length: 212 inches
Overall width: 78.2 inches
Overall height: 56.8 inches
Curb weight: 4,057 pounds
Exterior: While many cars on the road have adopted a short trunk lid design as a slave to fashion, Crown Vic continues with a long, flat style. In an era of look-alike mid-size sedans, the Crown Vic's shape is recognizable in a crowd. Rectangular band headlights wrap around to the side. Horizontal front grille slats are body color as are flush-mounted door handles. Side-view mirrors fold in when brushed against larger objects, handy when tooling about the drive-thru. Another benefit of a V-8-powered, real-wheel-drive car is enhanced towing capabilities. Crown Vic can tow up to 1,500 pounds with no extra add-ons, which is about 500 pounds more than a front-wheel drive car of the same girth. Sixteen-inch wheels and tires come standard.
Interior: Ford Motor Company has not forgotten the importance of six-passenger sedan travel. Crown Vic and Grand Marquee are both available in either five or six passenger capacities. Base and LX editions come with room for six. The test LX Sport model included five passenger seating with bucket seats in front separated by a storage bin/arm rest combo hinged on the left side. Two separate, molded beverage holders are nearby. With six-passenger seating, the gear shift is located on the steering column; five seaters position it on the floor. Even with the transmission hump vertically along the floor in back, this vehicle holds three average-sized adults with ease. A flop-down arm rest includes two cup holders. The traditional dashboard design with brown walnut trim extends from door to door; it's not the wrap-around or cockpit type found in some sedans. Above the trim is the stereo system, below is climate control. Secondary radio controls on the steering wheel come in handy because it's quite a reach to the radio to change stations. Headlights illuminate from a dial found on the far left side of the dashboard. Windshield wipers activate from the turn signal stalk. The instrument panel incorporates three analog gauges (even the odometer) with the speedometer front and center. For those who can't get enough of high-tech gadgetry, electronic instrumentation is optional in some editions. Two buttons on the driver's door unlatch the side fuel door and trunk. Along the 90-degree arm rest are power sideview mirror, lock and window controls. Power operation for the driver's seat is also on the door. Another long-standing Crown Vic characteristic is the generous trunk storage capacity. With 20.6 cubic feet of space, short weekend trips or longer extended vacations become easier to plan because of largest-in-its-class luggage volume. The spare tire stores on a back shelf. The test vehicle included a trunk organizer (optional in all models) along the bottom with flip-up tops revealing more compartment-type storage. Crown Vic's trunk offers deeper storage without it. Curved, interior metal hinges help the lid open and close. This design can sometimes crunch boxes in the way, but thetrunks unusual depth makes this situation less of a concern.
Warranty: Crown Victoria is covered by Ford Motor Company's three-year/36,000-mile (whichever comes first) bumper-to-bumper warranty. Roadside assistance is good for the same duration. According to Nick Scheele, Ford Motor Company President and CEO who spoke in Chicago earlier this month, Ford has no immediate plans to increase the duration of this program. In recent years, Hyundai and Kia, two Korean automakers, have started offering 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties. Chrysler and Suzuki have also extended the warranty time frame during the past 8 months.
Safety features: Dual front air bags, rear-door child safety locks and anti-theft alarm come standard in all models. Four-channel anti-lock brakes are now standard in all trim levels. Remote keyless entry is optional in Standard models. Side air bags are optional in LX and LX Sport editions. Traction control is optional across the board. Crown Victoria also includes Ford's "Belt minder" system which chimes intermittently for five minutes if front riders are not buckled. No noise occurs if occupants buckle up from the start. A new design in 2003 are headlights which automatically illuminate when windshield wipers activate. One safety feature saving a potential headache is Ford's Smartlock anti-lockout system which prevents the driver's door from locking if the keys are left in the ignition. More automakers need to incorporate this useful technology. Another practical and helpful feature is adjustable foot pedals, standard in LX and LX sport, making the entire driving process more comfortable for drivers of all sizes.
Final thoughts: In an era of niche marketing and segment busters, the long-running Crown Vic is still in a league of its own, even after fifty years. When General Motors discontinued its large rear-wheel-drive sedans (Chevrolet Caprice, Cadillac Fleetwood) in the 1996 model year, the domestic, full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan market was for all intents and purposes handed to Crown Victoria and Grand Marquee. General Motors halted production of rear-wheel-drive sedans to open more production room for SUV production at its Arlington, Texas plant. Historically, import automakers have notapproached full-sized sedans with the same zeal as small or mid-sized versions. Crown Victoria represents something of a bargain considering for $25,000, one can have V-8 power and six-passenger seating. A five-seat Hummer H2 would set one back $50,000. |