Crown Victoria: The Long LONG Goodbye

[hudsondog]

I know you've read it all before, but perhaps not from this perspective. I grew up around cars...primarily police cars. So the Crown Vic was like part of the family. It's sad to see it go, even though it's well past its prime. Check out the full "obituary" at the link below and add your comments here. I'd like to hear your memories of the last of the "real" American cars.

 

http://automotivetraveler.com/jump/3620

[rscalzo]

your memories of the last of the "real" American cars.

 

 

Except is was made in Canada. So maybe the last real "North American" car.

[ehaase]

The Crown Victoria is not a memory for me because I still happily drive my 2004 model with 90,000 miles, purchased brand new and has never given me a single problem. In fact, I have purchased only 2 cars in my life - the 2004 Crown Vic and a 1989 LTD Crown Vic (purchased 10/9/89). Since Ford refuses to sell the Focus wagon in the U.S., the only current Ford that appeals to me is the Mustang.

[packardbob]

Thanks for the read. I will miss the Panthers as well. I was lucky enough to tour St. Thomas Assembly in June with 60 or so other Panther enthusiasts. Our tour guide was the powertrain engineer for the plant and made the tour very interesting. By the time we got our tour, there were only about 50 salaried workers left whereas the plant usually employed about 300 so they were struggling to find tour guides. I'm glad our guide stepped up to give the tour, he was very good.

 

I'm one of the few people that doesn't believe you should feel every bump in the road. It isn't any wonder why people don't cruise anymore, who wants to cruise the streets in a car that rides like crap? My mothers 2011 Edge rides like a lumber wagon compared to my Marauder and my father agrees. As I recall, the suspension on the Marauder is stiffer than Crown Vics and Grand Marquis. In short, I would rather deal with an underpowered V8 than have to feel every bit of the road under my tires.

[MIAMI-DADE]

I had a 85 Crown Vic,88 Lincoln Town Car,88,Crown Vic,99 Grand Marquis and now a 05 Vic..My sister has a 07 Grand Marquis..My kids have P71 Interceptors..I put between 200-350K miles on all my Panthers..I loved each and everyone..You have no idea how I am going to miss these cars..My dad [RIP] had a 60 Ford Galaxy and loved it..He loved his Full Size V8 Fords.

 

I am going to keep my 05 Vic for a very long time..There is really nothing on the market now that can replace my Crown Vic..I have 118K miles on it now..I consider that very low mileage for a Panther that is serviced regularly.

 

There will never be another low maintenance car like the Panther!

[hudsondog]

There will never be another low maintenance car like the Panther!

 

The Crown Vic (Grand Marquis/Town Car) were definitely the last of an era. Even though few retail buyers purchased them in recent years, their loss does leave a gap in the marketplace.

[T'Cal]

I had a 2003 Marauder for two years and loved it. It sucked in the snow, though. I traded it in for a loaded 4WD Mariner for my wife to get her something nice that would get her through our bad winters and I took over her old car. Two months ago my son called me from a used car lot about 5 miles from our house saying my car was there and for sale. I checked the next day and he was right. They were asking for more than what I traded it for three years before. It was tempting.

 

As with others here, I had a very positive experience with my Panther. It was an excellent vehicle: part luxury car, part performance sedan, and part safe/roomy family car. It was the best sounding car I've ever owned, too. I am so tempted to pick up a used CV, CVPI, or GM, through some 18" Mustang wheels on it, a pair of Flowmasters, perhaps a stiffer gear (3.73), and maybe some buckets and a console. How do you beat that for fun?