Have you ever looked at a Ford Crown Victoria in your rearview mirror and then checked your speedometer to make sure you are within the speed limit? That’s the kind of respect this humble-looking sedan commands. The Crown Vic was the car of choice for the police, with 70 percent of municipalities picking it rather than those offered by Chevrolet and Dodge. Ford’s St. Thomas plant in Ontario ended production of the Crown Victoria in 2011. However, it continues to be the most recognized law enforcement vehicle in North America.
The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) was taken out of service as a result of rising gas prices and new fuel consumption requirements meant that the car just wasn’t good enough anymore. However, don’t let its discontinuation take away from why it was chosen in the first place – its simplicity and bulletproof reliability. Those two qualities didn’t just make it appealing to law enforcement, but to the general public as well. Let’s take a detailed look at the 2008 Crown Victoria to determine whether it makes for a good daily.
Crown Victoria — A Quick Summary
The Crown Victoria is quite an old name. Ford first used it for a premium two-door Fairlane from 1955 to 1956. The name was re-introduced for a top trim level on the company’s LTD sedans. The Ford Crown Vic, as we know it, had only one generation change in the 20 years (1992-2012) it was around.
It’s no secret that the Crown Victoria was a sibling to the Mercury Grand Marquis which also meant it was the largest offering from the manufacturer in the sedan body style. It was positioned above the company’s Taurus. While there were two generations of Crown Vic, there were also several specific versions within each generation — an LWB version (used for taxi cab fleets) and the aforementioned Police Interceptor. Like the Grand Marquis, it shared its chassis, and the Crown Victoria made use of a body-on-frame design.
This chassis design has almost become non-existent today with a lighter monocoque chassis taking its place. Interestingly, the cars that made use of this chassis were the only ones with that old-school chassis and V8 engine configuration at the time. Given the success with the demand from law enforcement, Ford managed to sell quite a few of these sedans – over 1.5 million units to be precise.
Special Versions
Here are the three special versions of the Ford Crown Victoria and a list of features that set them apart.
2008 Crown Victoria Special Edition
After the second-gen Crown Victoria was introduced in 1998, the company made no changes for nearly a decade. However, the company was forced to keep things fresh as the sales numbers began to dwindle.
The 2008 Crown Victoria Special Edition was launched to commemorate its success, and it featured quite a few unique cosmetic elements. For instance, it has unique bumpers and a 3-slat grille. A spoiler, upgraded stereo system, and Special Edition badges were also part of the changes on the special edition.
Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
The most popular version of the Ford Crown Victoria is the Police Interceptor. This version was formerly known as the P71 before it got the Police Interceptor title. Differences came in the form of unique badging. However, there were certain who didn’t get the badge to be used as undercover vehicles. This version also featured a blacked-out grille and rear trim. The car also had some mechanical changes which would be required by police cars.
LWB Version
Ford also introduced an LWB or long-wheelbase version of the Crown Victoria not long after the second generation model was introduced. The car was six inches longer thanks to a longer frame. It made use of longer rear doors and featured more space on the inside for the rear passengers. Ford did not offer this version to conventional buyers and only sold it for commercial use for taxi fleets.
4.6 Ford Modular V8 — Here’s What You Should Know
Like the first-generation Crown Victoria, the second generation was powered by only one engine option – a 4.6-liter SOHC Modular V8. While the capacity remained unchanged, the engine in the second-gen Crown Vic made more power (200 HP). Some versions with the dual-exit exhausts made 215 HP. The most notable change that the second-gen 4.6 Ford Modular V8 introduced was coil-on-plug ignition. Although a common sight these days, it was a valued updated for Ford’s most popular fleet vehicle.
Ford continued making changes and in 2001 introduced new cylinder heads that took the power to 220 HP and 235 HP for the single-exit and dual-exit exhaust versions respectively. This cylinder head was borrowed from the Mustang GT – so the performance shouldn’t come as a surprise. Engines made in 2003 witnessed another power increase thanks to the addition of a knock sensor, it bumped the power to 239 HP. The Police Interceptor of 2004 took the power figure to 250 Hp with the help of a revised air intake.
While the power figure didn’t change again, the company did add drive-by-wire or electronic throttle in 2005. This system brought an improvement in throttle response. The 2008 Crown Victoria was the final model year that was available to consumers in North America. It also got the final version of the engine which means it has all of the aforementioned additions and any other minor improvements the company made along the way.
Are Crown Vics Fast?
The 2008 Crown Victoria is fast for what it is while having a lot of potential. Let us explain. In stock form, a 2008 Crown Victoria makes 250 HP and 297 lb-ft of torque. While that doesn’t sound slow, the body on the frame chassis makes it quite heavy. It has a curb weight of 4122 pounds, which means its power-to-weight ratio isn’t the most impressive at 133 HP/ton.
In terms of performance numbers, the 2008 Crown Victoria can get to 60 MPH from a standstill in around 7.5 seconds. The 2008 Crown Victoria has a quarter-mile time of 16.30 seconds. While that might not sound impressive, it is important to remember that this large sedan weighs over 4100 pounds. However, one of the best qualities of this car is the way it delivers its torque. It has an impressive amount of low-end torque and the majority of it is available from just 1,500 RPM.
As its name suggests, the Ford modular V8 was designed for use in several different applications. There were multiple versions of it, but the one the 2008 Crown Victoria made use of was the same unit also found in the Mustang. Yes, this engine has average stock performance. However, things start to change considerably when you go aftermarket. There are many upgrades available for this. From simple bolt-ons to complicated turbo installs, this is where the potential of the engine becomes apparent.
Is 2008 Crown Victoria Reliable?
The 2008 Crown Victoria is known to be bulletproof in terms of reliability. Ford invested a lot while developing the car, and it shows. The 2008 Crown Victoria has also made it to many lists of most reliable vehicles, including one by Consumer Reports. While there are some examples of ex-law enforcement Crown Vics have had a tough life in the past, they were also maintained with no expenses spared.
Fleet maintenance is huge when it comes to maintaining a fleet used by law enforcement which is why buying a retired example is not a bad idea. However, it’s best to stay away from taxis as they were used extensively, often without the fleet maintenance support they required. The 2008 Crown Victoria is also quite simple mechanically. This means it’s quite easy to work on and there’s also no shortage when it comes to spare parts – they are cheap and plentiful.
Another factor that helps with maintenance is the fact that there’s a lot of room in the engine bay, despite it having quite a large engine. Almost every component is easy to reach and service.
Crown Victoria Common Problems
Despite its bulletproof reliability, the Ford Crown Victoria has some problems. Here are the most common ones:
Cracked Intake Manifold
Ford Crown Vics made between 1997 and 2001 used a plastic intake manifold. While there’s nothing wrong with that, this unit develops a coolant leak from the front of the manifold. As a result, coolant loss causes the engine to overheat. This also causes the check engine light to illuminate along with a low coolant light.
Ford went on to fix this problem by changing the intake manifold to feature a metal coolant passage and this prevented the problem. This problem can also be fixed by replacing the part, there is no repair.
Transmission Pump Failure
Some reports suggest the 2008 Crown Victoria can face transmission problems. This occurs when the front pump gives up. When this happens, the pump fails to create hydraulic pressure, which then causes issues with the gearbox. A clear way to determine whether a Crown Vic has this problem is to look for a whining sound from the location of the front pump.
Gear Oil Leak
Ford Crown Victorias made between 1999 and 2011 have a problem that can lead to a gear oil leak. This problem occurs due to wear on the rear axle shafts. It is said that the bearings the shafts use can fail and cause increased play which allows for gear oil to make its way out. Gear oil leaking in this region can be quite dangerous as it can leak onto the brakes and wheels.
Rough Idle
As we mentioned earlier, Ford added an electronic throttle to the Crown Victoria in 2005. Every car produced after that including the 2008 Crown Victoria has a chance of facing throttle position sensor failure. When this occurs, it causes symptoms that are just like they would be on other vehicles. The problems include a rough idle, driveability issues, stalling, and trouble starting.
How Much Is a 2008 Crown Victoria?
A 2008 Crown Victoria is usually priced between $3,000-$8,000 at the moment. Before the supply shortage, clean and low mileage examples were available for $5,000, but now it’s closer to $8,000. While there’s a high possibility of prices going back down shortly, this is how things stand as of now.
Get Quality Parts for Your 2008 Crown Victoria
When you buy a 2008 Crown Victoria, you aren’t looking at spending much. For most buyers, it’s a fun and low-cost daily. This is why we believe the prices should also reflect that. Head over to our Shop where you’ll find competitive prices and awesome deals on OEM quality spares! We’ll help you keep your Crown Vic on the road and give it back that bulletproof reliability!
