Crown Vic buying advice

[derburger]

I'm still looking for a beater car so I can garage my MB for winters. I looked at a 1989 Crown Victoria wagon today. I would have bought it, but the steering feel was non-existant and it worried me. There was about 2 inches of slack in the steering, but I have a feeling that most Crown Victorias are like that. Also, the "wagon" listed to Starboard side on the highway a small bit. Huuuuge car. Very comfortable on the highway, seats great too.

About the car, it's a 1989 Crown Victoria wagon with the 5.0 EFI engine. It has 81k miles, the current owner bought it 4 years ago from the orig. owner farmer nearby. The car has sun wear, the dash was cracked and rattled sometimes, the clearcoat was fading, but the rest of blue vinyl interior was in great shape. A/C is converted to r-134a, compressor still works. The engine started and ran great, but the engine idiot light was on, the owner can't figure out what it is, likely the emissions system but could be anything. The owner has service records, recent starter replacement, etc. I could hear a clunk in the suspension near my feet. The tires were whitewall Michelins, back ones had a date code of 2007 and fronts 2000. The fronts were worn down evenly, not dry rotted but old enough to replace. Brake fluid was black(bad), brakes stopped the car well. Recent pads and rotors.

The guy was asking $450 for it, clear title. Think I should buy it, for a nice beater to last through college and hauling stuff after some work? Is the non-existant (compared to my MB) steering feel common? The owner had owned 4 crownvics/Marquis before this and said it felt like the previous ones he owned. What do you think? The suspension/brakes were much different feeling than my MB.



The boat in question.

[E150GT]

Buy it. I had an '88 and it was a good car. A/c worked and everything. The only thing now now that I think about it, it was not a good winter car or rain car. I can remember plenty of times not paying attention and slamming on the brakes, and going through a red light sideways with the brakes locked. I'm not so sure I want to ever go back to a car without ABS.

[PaulC]

Crown Vics/GM's of that era were numb, but steering was reasonably tight. From your description, it's likely that the front end/steering box has some wear on it.

Brakes are very over-assisted. The average preschool tot could muster up enough pedal pressure to stand the car on it's nose. Also, IIRC, this car has the starter switch that caught fire on occasion, making for toasty interiors and sometimes even toastier garages. Do not park this car in or near a building until you are sure that the switch was replaced with a less incendiary version.

[MS Fowler]

Numb Steering feel, ( or non feel as the case may be) was standard issue for FoMoCo products of this era. Even when they "improved" the steering feel in the next (current) generation Crown Vic, it is still vague.
Other than that, they are as bullet-proof as anything out there. Parts costs should come as a pleasant surprise.
At that mileage, you might need to replace the timing chain as they get loose at 75 to 85 thousand miles.

The rest of the engine is solid.

I'd change the brake fluid, and maybe look for some HD gas pressure shocks. Other than that, drive it.

[MS Fowler]

All FoMoCo products of that era were vague on the steering. The thought was to isolate the driver from the road. They did a good job! Almost no steering feel. But then, its not a sports car, or even a sports sedan.

Keep an eye on the timing chain--they often need replacement in the 75K to 85K miles. Other than that, the engine is a solid as anything ever made.

I think I would change and flush the brake fluid, and maybe try to find some HD gas pressure shocks, and just drive it.

[derburger]

Well, the good thing was that the tires on the front from 2000 were worn pretty much evenly. I do think the front end might need some attention, there was a slight pull at highway speeds but not very bad. There wasn't any slack or dead space in the steering like my MB, just a feeling like the wheel isn't attached to anything. Lots of these vics in junkyards, I think the later crown vic parts might interchange too. There is some rust on a quarter but not rusted through. I looked at suspension parts costs, pretty much dirt cheap (for the poor quality parts) 14 dollars for a ball joint, 7 dollars for a tie rod end.

I don't know if the car would pass a safety inspection though. All the wipers, blinkers, lights horn brakes etc work, but I don't know if it'll fail for front end wear or even if they check it in MO.

[MS Fowler]

Originally Posted by derburger

Well, the good thing was that the tires on the front from 2000 were worn pretty much evenly. I do think the front end might need some attention, there was a slight pull at highway speeds but not very bad. There wasn't any slack or dead space in the steering like my MB, just a feeling like the wheel isn't attached to anything. Lots of these vics in junkyards, I think the later crown vic parts might interchange too. There is some rust on a quarter but not rusted through. I looked at suspension parts costs, pretty much dirt cheap (for the poor quality parts) 14 dollars for a ball joint, 7 dollars for a tie rod end.

I don't know if the car would pass a safety inspection though. All the wipers, blinkers, lights horn brakes etc work, but I don't know if it'll fail for front end wear or even if they check it in MO.

When I lived in St. Louis, Jack Buck had a morning talk show on KMOX. ( At least I think it was Jack--not a sports talk show)
Anyway one morning the host was talking about Mo's vehicle inspection program. Here is what he said ( more or less). I took my car in for an inspection last night. I pulled up to the front door, went inside and told the manager I wanted an inspection. The manager pulled out the inspection form, completed it, handed it to me with the bill. I asked, "Is that all there is to it?". he replied, "Its night so I see your lights are working, you did not crash into my front door, so the brakes must be good, and since its raining, and you saw the shop in time to stop, I must believe your wipers are OK."

If they haven't improved the program, I bet your crown Vic would pass.

Jack also told a story about when KMOX first went with the all talk format. In fact they were one of the pioneers in talk radio. he told about the time he was assigned to cover the national Boy Scout Convention which was being held in St. Louis. You must remember, this was live radio with no backup plan. He showed up for the broadcast, and covered the evening's event--a slide show. Must have been great radio.

[Wodnek]

If you look on big city craigslist listings you can find 99 - 02 Crown Victorias for under $1500. At least in Chicago. They are barebonz inside with rubber flooring but well maintained with all the late model refinements.

[LUVMBDiesels]

My aunt and uncle have the older version of the same wagon the Country Squire with the wood panels from 1982. It is still running strong and looking good. Remember that these cars are the foundation for all the taxis, police cars, and limos Ford makes. Just about any mechanic can fix them and parts are really cheap. Wagon specific parts might be more expensive. In NYC there are taxi guys who can completely rebuild these cars in one shift. I took my car into one of these places for brakes when i worked in NY and watched them remove the front end sheet metal of a crashed taxi, pull out the radiator and core support then stick in spares they had ripped out of a taxi that had been hit in the rear. All in less than two hours!

[Crowe]

A good site you might want to check out is www.crownvic.net for info on all versions of the Crown Victoria.

[Skippy]

I used to have a one of those cars. Numb steering is pretty normal if you're comparing to MB, but should still be way better than over-boosted early 70's Chrysler steering. Two inches of play in the wheel is not normal. At 450 bucks, go ahead and buy it, but plan on some front end work. Most of the suspension and steering stuff from 79-02 interchanges.

I found considerable handling improvement in mine by using better tires aired up considerably higher than FoMoCo's reccommendations, along with late-model cop car shocks up front and some KYB's in the back. Some guys go all out and do cop springs and shocks front and rear, disc brake conversions for the rear end off late models, and coverting the lo-po 5.0 (150 hp or so) to the HO version (220-ish). I've even seen manual transmission conversions.

I second the idea of crownvic.net for information. I still post over there once in a while.