I also had an '88 Vic and it was the cheapest to run, most troublefree car I ever had. Took it to Mexico even, one time.
on finding used Police Interceptors:
These can be good because they have the heavy duty frames, alternators, batteries, cooling systems, transmission coolers, full size spare tires, dual exhausts and other heavy duty components.
Avoid the dog (K9) units, and regular patrol units ("Vomit Comets") that transported prisoners, and had a lot of idle time on the engines that won't show up on the odometers.
The smart money will go for the SAP ("Street Appearance Package") interceptors. Those are found painted in regular metallic and pastel colors, have normal hubcaps, chrome grilles, no spotlights or Go-Rhino pushbars or anything else that make them look different from a normal Crown Vic, but are still equipped as a full Police Interceptor.
SAP vehicles are often used by detectives, Lieutenants and Captains, and non-police agencies like water departments and DEQ agencies, and Federal Protective Agencies, like the secret service, FBI and US Marshall's service.
They have never been abused, driven in high speed chases, driven across medians or transported prisoners, had their engines idled for long periods of time, or driven in one shift after another.
They are rare, but can be found if you search long and hard. You can get an idea of prices by looking for CVPI cars on ebay and searching
www.crownvic.net for information in their archives.
Failing to find a good interceptor, that was a SAP one, a retired Highway Patrol cruiser is a better deal than a regular patrol car, as it is less likely to be a 'Vomit comet" and to be damaged
and repaired.....
Traffic will part like the red sea for you on the highway in one, but if you have a white one with the pushbar and spotlights still on it (many are sold that way) don't be surprised if the REAL police profile you as a "Whacker" and harrass you.
The "Whackers" are molesters, psychos, police wannabes and other types who buy used Crown Vics cheap and drive them around pretending to be Police, and the real Police hate them, and give them no peace.
The used Police interceptors are bought cheap in wholsale lots by budget minded taxi companies who put them in service where they last 300,000 to 500,000 or more miles.
For reliable and very overall cheap transportation, they are hard to beat. I like the idea of them, especially a lightly used SAP interceptor with about 50,000 miles on it, a lot.