Quote History Quoted:
Crowns were the best crappy all purpose fleet vehicles ever. We could run them triple digits up and down the interstate, idle all day and they were spacious and comfortable enough to spend 12 hours in. I don't think there any disaster that I haven't driven a c/v in. Floods, fires, snow, monsoons, basically mudding .
I miss them. Once retired they all seemed to wind up being owned by thugs in the ghettos.
But to own one personally? Nah.
View Quote
I've always said they were great cars because they do everything good. V8, RWD, double bench seats, big trunk, inexpensive drivetrain that's not really stressed, low maintenance, decent fuel economy on the non-PI/HPP models for the size of the car, decent amenities on the non-PI/Livery models too.
The trick is don't really bother with a P71/P72 unless you're a cheapass or just luck out and find one of those "chiefs" cars that haven't been beat all to shit and actually have the carpet and other things to help knock down NVH. Otherwise, IMHO, you'll always be better getting a civilian CV/GM/TC. If you want performance then just find the HPP or Sport models that have the lower gears and dual exhaust but they'll have much nicer NVH and amenities. Or just do those upgrades yourselves with a regular model. Parts are cheap as shit. Personally I like the higher gears as you can pretty damn good MPG on the highway. My best one trip in my '03 LX was 27mpg but normally would easily hit 25-26mpg. Stays around 18-20mpg around town. My '96 HPP with the lower gears but much better aero only did 22mpg on the highway.
I never saw a benefit to getting a P71/P72 compared to a civilian version.
I think the sweet spot for a fairly unmodded daily would be a '06-07 Town Car. You get the best NVH reduction, nicer amenities then the CV/GM and it was just before they started decontenting the shit out of the panther line since they knew it was going only to policy/fleet use for the last few years. Obviously if you're just going to tear the whole car about to make a street rod that really doesn't matter but a stock or a TC with a stock coyote/auto would be an amazing all around vehicle. They only mod i've ever really had to do to my panthers is put a better head unit in. Other than that I've left them alone and driven them all over the country.