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Ford Crown VictoriaThough they were what most people drove in the 1950s and 1960s, full-size cars like the Ford Crown Victoria are now an anomaly. But Ford's biggest sedan still offers significant virtues, including affordable V8 performance and room for six people. Today, the Crown Victoria's passenger and cargo volumes compare favorably against fashionable SUVs.
I'm new to this forum and need some advice. I'm the proverbial "little old lady" gentle driver, and only drive about 6,500 miles per year. For seven years I've been driving a 1986 Crown Victoria LTD sedan, 5-liter V8 fuel injection. It gets between 19-21 mpg. While it has a leaky oil pan, the engine compression, transmission and A/C are great. It drives like a dream. I LOVE this car!
But with 205,000 miles on it, it's starting fall to bits, becoming less roadworthy. Gas gauge doesn't work, dashboard lights have failed... It needs paint, a new windshild, brakes, shocks, weather stripping, door handles, window controls, seat bolts and seat belts... I think it's probably reaching the end of life. Condition would be rated as "Poor".
Rather than pouring money into it only to have new things break, I'm thinking of replacing it with a similar Crown Vic with fewer miles. I like the big old beasts, but prefer the '86 and newer because the fuel injection makes them more fuel efficient. Can anybody here recommend specific years and models that are equally safe, reliable and low-maintenance? Can you warn me away from any specific years or models? Or do you think I should stick with this one?
I'd greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thanks!
Yes, the 5L is a 302, the 5.8L is the 351. The difference is cubic inch displacement. The 5L will get a little better mileage, the 5.8L makes more torque for towing. Since you probably don't ever pull a trailer, it won't make a difference. I'd say look for another one and keep your old one for spare parts if you have the space to keep it around or have someone help you strip off all the good stuff and get rid of the rest. I had an 87 interceptor that had a bad electrical system but the rest was good so I stripped the running gear and donated the rest to the local fire dept to use for extrication practice. Whatever you decide to do, Good Luck!
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Repair or Replace 1986 Crown Vic LTD? 
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