Considering buying late 80's-early 90's Crown Vic - Ford Forums

DanHS · 08-03-2004, 16:14

My mom's car recently died, so she's been driving my dad's Taurus wagon. I'm thinking that maybe my mom could drive the wagon and my dad could get a nice V8 rwd car. I began looking in the paper for full size cars and saw an '89 Crown Victoria w/Police interceptor package for $950. We don't have much money at the moment so I figured this could be a chance for a good car at a good price. Then I saw a '93 Crown Vic for $850 for sale on the side of the road. I stopped to look at it and saw it had 60k miles on a rebuilt motor. It had a clean leather interior, straight body, alloy rims, and said "never used as a taxi, personal car". It has two tail pipes, does that mean it's a V8? It didn't say on the car.
If I check these cars out, what should I look for? What possible problems might they have that I should check for? Also, how bad are these in the snow? My 5.0 Mustang, like most rwds with big engines, is horrible. Does the weight of the Crown Vic help keep it from sliding around?

T_Juggalo · 08-03-2004, 16:42

the 93 is a V8 as are all crown vics
They are both good full size RWD cars, you would have to take them both for a good testdrive, and preferably put it on a lift to look underneith to check for rust or other problems

BlueSteel · 08-03-2004, 20:18

If you do get the crowns I suggest the 93, it sounds a better deal if your garunteed a rebuilt engine. As for traction, yes weight helps but it depends on the tires and suspension. I switched from stock 215/70/R15 goodyears to 205/70/R15 Kelly Chargers and replaced the stock monroe Red Riders (I think thats the name) with KYB GR-2 shocks, helped handling and ride. Stops on a dime too with Bosch all sport brakes and pads with slotted rotors and drums. Thats all on my 87 crown vic with a 253 HP engine. The 93 should have a 5.0L (302 cubic inch displacement) with a AOD. Or might have a 4.6L (289 or is that 283?), I think that was a option in 93, either way, great engines. Checks for warn rubber gromets on the front steering linkage. Lift each front wheel in the air and wiggle it back and forth, up and down, if you have allot of play or hear popping/cracking sounds, the ball joints are gone. Check all fluids and see if any have leaked to the ground. Rock the car a little, see if the shocks and springs feel okay. When driving let go of the wheel a little and see if it starts to veer off a little, if so then needs alignment. Pound the throttle a little to see if the car acts right. Also make shure the cars shifts all gears, over drive tends to go rather fast.

laminge · 08-04-2004, 05:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanHS

My mom's car recently died, so she's been driving my dad's Taurus wagon. I'm thinking that maybe my mom could drive the wagon and my dad could get a nice V8 rwd car. I began looking in the paper for full size cars and saw an '89 Crown Victoria w/Police interceptor package for $950. We don't have much money at the moment so I figured this could be a chance for a good car at a good price. Then I saw a '93 Crown Vic for $850 for sale on the side of the road. I stopped to look at it and saw it had 60k miles on a rebuilt motor. It had a clean leather interior, straight body, alloy rims, and said "never used as a taxi, personal car". It has two tail pipes, does that mean it's a V8? It didn't say on the car.
If I check these cars out, what should I look for? What possible problems might they have that I should check for? Also, how bad are these in the snow? My 5.0 Mustang, like most rwds with big engines, is horrible. Does the weight of the Crown Vic help keep it from sliding around?

Welcome to the forums

T_Juggalo · 08-04-2004, 12:49

when I bought my 84 crown vic I got it for $400. so I never even looked under the car or checked for problems till I took it home

But I would probably say the 93 is a better deal unless it has major problems. but the 89 has police package and ou should take that into concideration

BlueSteel · 08-04-2004, 20:40

Hey laminge, did you forget to type something or was I being reminded of something? Sorry, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.

laminge · 08-05-2004, 05:07

Nope

Just a welcome...