I have the opportunity to pick up a used '06 Crown Vic police interceptor for pretty cheap. If I get it, it will serve as a daily driver and hopefully provide a more pleasant driving experience for my 90 mile commute (folks tend to act more civil around a cruiser I notice, me included). In addition to that, I'm sort of banking on it's mere presence in my driveway at night to act as a deterent to criminal activity. I'm just curious as to whether any one here has done this, consider it a worthwhile investment regarding the deterent aspect and has any good stories to share.
Crown Vic Police Interceptor as a deterent to crime?
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Ragnar Danneskjold
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As long as you don't try to trick it out with any web-ordered police gear, and you actually like the car, go for it.
Claude Clay
Member
the closer to home you are the more the locals will know it for what it isn't.
but it may serve as a deterrent to visitors who may be 'shopping' in your neighborhood.
but it may serve as a deterrent to visitors who may be 'shopping' in your neighborhood.
expvideo
Member
Exactly! People that try to be mistaken for police officers really grind my gears. The "let them assume" attitude is just... arrrggg... it makes me mad. If you want to be a cop, go apply to be a cop.
Anyway, like Taurusowner said, if you like it because of the car, get it.
Mainsail
Member
Here’s what I’ve learned after driving one for the last few years:
> You will forget what road rage is. Even if you do something stupid.
> Everyone around you on the freeway will drive politely. You may see an aggressive driver approaching in the rear-view mirror, but once they see you they magically become angelic.
> The left lane is yours. Everyone (who actually glance in the mirror now and again) will move to the right as you approach.
Rule One is, Do nothing to actively make anyone believe you are a police officer. Do not flash your lights for any reason. If you’re behind someone on the freeway and your lights are off, leave them off – if they’re on, leave them on. You can no longer stop to help a damsel in distress with a flat tire. Get used to people glaring at you when you do not stop to help them.
As for the car itself, they’re fast, handle like they’re on rails, and actually get reasonable gas mileage. I have street parking in my neighborhood, and the neighbors like parking near mine.
> You will forget what road rage is. Even if you do something stupid.
> Everyone around you on the freeway will drive politely. You may see an aggressive driver approaching in the rear-view mirror, but once they see you they magically become angelic.
> The left lane is yours. Everyone (who actually glance in the mirror now and again) will move to the right as you approach.
Rule One is, Do nothing to actively make anyone believe you are a police officer. Do not flash your lights for any reason. If you’re behind someone on the freeway and your lights are off, leave them off – if they’re on, leave them on. You can no longer stop to help a damsel in distress with a flat tire. Get used to people glaring at you when you do not stop to help them.
As for the car itself, they’re fast, handle like they’re on rails, and actually get reasonable gas mileage. I have street parking in my neighborhood, and the neighbors like parking near mine.
DHJenkins
Member
Just one thing - if you're going to be in the left lane, PASS PEOPLE. There's nothing worse than somebody in a fake police car doing 5 miles below the speed limit in the fast lane, because most people are afraid to pass.
VictorySong
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Most of the time when I see a crown vic I think cop! But is it really worth buying a car just based on the fact that some robber "might" think it's a police car? They are cool and I like them alot but don't buy it for the wrong reasons.
P.S. NICE VIC MAINSAIL!!!! Oh and they are ALOT faster then you would think a family sedan could go.
P.S. NICE VIC MAINSAIL!!!! Oh and they are ALOT faster then you would think a family sedan could go.
Mainsail
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I have just the one antenna on the roof for my dual band ham radio. My back seat was new when I got the car as police agencies remove them and use the solid one-piece unit. The windows are tinted dark enough that people can't be sure there's nobody sitting in it when it's parked.
franconialocal
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Double Edged Sword.......all the way......
saltydog452
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You're not talking about a black/white two tone, side mounted spot light model...right?
Do they take the spotlights off when they sell them? I always assumed so, but I saw one on the highway the other day that obviously wasn't a cop car as it looked like ****e...and it had the light. Or maybe the person just put on one for the hell of it (they should keep their car a bit nicer if they want to be mistaken for a cop, and probably shouldn't blow past other folks with an obvious cigarette in their hand either).
archigos
Member
While most of the time you're probably right in that it might deter crime, keep in mind that you'll probably be encouraging some specific forms of crime (namely vandalism). A couple months ago there was a cop car in my home town that became the victim of a Molotov Cocktail due to some youths.
Mainsail
Member
The spotlight is difficult to remove because there is a hole in the A-pillar and a divot cut out of the door. They usually leave them in.
phoglund
Member
I gotta say I like the look of that car Mainsail. Slick. The idea of driving one like that is appealing. 
You are more likely to set yourself up to be a victim of a crime. I always kept my take home squad car in the garage when I wasn't working.
In case you haven't noticed from the posts in General and Legal here, a lot of people don't like like the police. The last thing you want to do is be mistaken for one.
In case you haven't noticed from the posts in General and Legal here, a lot of people don't like like the police. The last thing you want to do is be mistaken for one.
Speedo66
Member
And when they change models you have to buy another car?
Sorry, too much acting like a wanna be.
Sorry, too much acting like a wanna be.
Yosemite Sam
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Yeah, there's still a majority Crown Vics around here, but I'm seeing a lot more Chevy Impala and Dodge Charger interceptors.
Sleek car, Mainsail. Silly question, but are the Interceptors beefed up from stock Crown Vics and have 500+ HP V8s under the hood?
Sleek car, Mainsail. Silly question, but are the Interceptors beefed up from stock Crown Vics and have 500+ HP V8s under the hood?
Yosemite Sam
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Doc: I might have been thinking of my county's new Chargers, and probably at the crank. No idea.
My 1990 Mustang 5.0 was identical (in color and appearance) to the state police Mustang interceptors. Under the hood, though "Stella's" Ford Motorsport package had 325+ HP and 450+ Ft Lbs torque at the road. I have no idea the actual (at the crank) horse and torque. "She" was set up for road racing (legal road racing).
I had dozens of times people would roll down their window at a red light and wipe their forehead and retort, "Holy $&%!, I thought you were a SP!"
There was one other example of someone thinking she was an interceptor, but at those speeds I could see why. Wouldn't be too High Road to detail it even though it was an emergency.
Oh Lordy I miss "Stella".
I had dozens of times people would roll down their window at a red light and wipe their forehead and retort, "Holy $&%!, I thought you were a SP!"
There was one other example of someone thinking she was an interceptor, but at those speeds I could see why. Wouldn't be too High Road to detail it even though it was an emergency.
Oh Lordy I miss "Stella".
Duke of Doubt
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Not a bad car, all in all.
In another life I might have had one, but I really couldn't, now. It's hard enough explaining to some people how a defense attorney is not a DA.
A few years back I had a defense colleague who had one. It was sort of wierd, as he interned with a DA office before he became a defender. That guy BELONGS in a DA office; he's not the defender "type" at all. I actually like the guy, but ... he's out of character.
Dittos on negative attention. Some downtown taverns cater to those who, for some reason, don't LIKE the police ... run flats, anyone?
In another life I might have had one, but I really couldn't, now. It's hard enough explaining to some people how a defense attorney is not a DA.
A few years back I had a defense colleague who had one. It was sort of wierd, as he interned with a DA office before he became a defender. That guy BELONGS in a DA office; he's not the defender "type" at all. I actually like the guy, but ... he's out of character.
Dittos on negative attention. Some downtown taverns cater to those who, for some reason, don't LIKE the police ... run flats, anyone?
The latest p71 Crown Vics are around 250hp at the crank. The Chargers are around 345hp with the Hemi, 250hp with the 3.5L v6. Look up the Michigan State Police tests online, every year they put the latest cruisers through a battery of performance tests and post the results. The Charger is the power king right now, which is good and bad, depending on the situation. The Crown Vic has a ton of trunk space and is a predictable handler, but man does it need an update. Great cars for the money though. There's a reason cab companies buy them up at auction, often for more than any of us would pay for one: they last forever and will pay for themselves many times over.
I wouldn't want one as a crime deterrent, but as a good driver I'd get one if it fits your needs. 2006 is a good year, has all the handling updates, different wheels for better brake cooling, etc. It might even have the bullet-resistant door panels, they were optional that year.
gp911
I wouldn't want one as a crime deterrent, but as a good driver I'd get one if it fits your needs. 2006 is a good year, has all the handling updates, different wheels for better brake cooling, etc. It might even have the bullet-resistant door panels, they were optional that year.
gp911
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Darthbauer
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Everyone that is saying they are fast must have never driven a really fast car. I have an 06 for a company car and it is slow due to very little hp and a lot of weight. It is a police trade in interceptor that is stripped down in the motor body and seats and it still drives like a boat. I got into a race with a guy in a Scion TC and I was having trouble keeping up. If you want a big ford sedan then go with the new Taurus, a guy smoked me in one of those the other day.
Also, if you drive 90 miles a day or one way to work then you want to get something else. I get around an average 13mpg in mine. I drive it like a cop that just got a need back up call though.
Im not saying that it's a bad car, cause it is actually fun but if your going to get it for a DD then you should reconsider since gas really has no where to go but up.
It is great on the freeway though, mostly everyone does get out of your way.
On another note, dont park it anywhere near a skate park. Unless you like your paint being keyed.
Also, if you drive 90 miles a day or one way to work then you want to get something else. I get around an average 13mpg in mine. I drive it like a cop that just got a need back up call though.
Im not saying that it's a bad car, cause it is actually fun but if your going to get it for a DD then you should reconsider since gas really has no where to go but up.
It is great on the freeway though, mostly everyone does get out of your way.
On another note, dont park it anywhere near a skate park. Unless you like your paint being keyed.
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