1985 Ford Crown Victoria LTD from North America - Comments

Battery and Alternator changed at 120,000 miles. New 02 sensor, new air pump hoses to catalytic converters.

Changed all belts and hoses. Rebuilt front and rear brakes. New brake hoses. New master cylinder. New front rotors. New wheel cylinders on all four wheels. New brake hoses. Cost less than $250.00 in parts. Provided the labor myself. Not a bad deal considering a brake shop would charge much more. Brakes would have lasted a bit longer, but I figured I would just change all the parts, and not bother with it for several more years.

Changed Universal joints at 130,000 miles out of safety concerns. Change your your U joints at 100,000 miles. they have a limited lifetime. This is a safety issue on ANY rear wheel drive car. Bearings on mine at 130,000 were dust, drive shaft would have fallen off. This is to be expected. Not a manufacturers fault.

Changed water pump at 125,000 miles. Started to leak. This item usually goes around 100,000 miles. Water pump was only 35 bucks. 3 hours of work to install it myself. This is not Ford's fault. It is a normal wear item.

Changed the front and rear shocks, and put on a new muffler. New tires.

Change oil every 3,000 miles, rotate tires every 6,000 miles. Change coolant every year flush and fill. Change tranny fluid every 30,000 miles. Change spark plugs, rotor and distributor cap every 15,000 miles. Changed the wires.

Car runs like new. No hesitation, no stalling. It gets around 15/20 MPG.

I have done a lot of work on this car, but that is to be expected on car that is almost 18 years old and has well over 100,000 miles. Parts wear out. Change the normal wear items, and you will have a very reliable car.

This car is also great because it very cheap to repair, and is very easy to work on. Parts are everywhere and they are cheap.

I have known people to get 300,000 miles out of the engine and transmission. It all depends on how you take care of the car, and how you drive it.

It is too bad Detroit doesn't make a car like this anymore. This is truly the last of the traditional American full sized cars. Rear wheel drive with a big V8 and tons of room.

This thing is a freeway cruiser. I love the ride, and the way it handles. The power steering is effortless, you can turn the wheel with one finger. I miss this type of effortless handling when I drive my brand new car.

This is my wifes car, and I drive it whenever I can, as I just love the way it rides.

I have thought about selling this car, and getting a new one, but I just like it too much. I just don't want to part with it. I am actually thinking of having it repainted, and having a new vinyl top installed.

If your anything like me; don't sell it. You'll miss it too much. I had an '86, it was the police version. After I wrecked that one I happened upon a '79 LTD (same exact car) with 32,000 actual miles. Couldn't pass it up. These are going to be classics someday (in my mind they already are) So I'd hang onto it cuz like my dad always said "they don't make em like this anymore" ;)

The Vics are the last of the big sedans, but the best. I own a 93 and I must say it is one of the best cars I've ever owned. Maybe your Vic will go another 200,000 yet!

My 1984 ex-RCMP Crown Vic now has a legal roll bar, 5 point

harnesses and race seats. I run about the same lap times on

our local road course as a 2003 Mustang SVT making over 425

horsepower. I just love weirding out the street racers, too.

Your lucky your car gets 15 to 20 mpg. My car gets 9 to 14 mpg. My car is very reliable. No major problems. Ford made a winner with the Crown Victoria. No wonder why Ford is the best.

Um, at last check Ford was still building the Crown Vic, Grand Marquis and Town Car, all V8 and rwd, so not sure where all this "they don't build them like this anymore" is coming from.

You must also be unaware that rwd is returning--see how many of the new models introduced in the last 12 months are rwd.

"They don't build them like this anymore"

To the last person, good point, but I think what the other commentators mean is that they don't build them in those old-fashioned square shapes with the separate steel bumpers and the glittering hood ornaments and the abundance of chrome... the things that add to the bigness and flashiness of the old-school highway cruiser. Today's Grand Marquis, Crown Vic, and Town Car are much more streamlined looking, and while still big, weigh a little less. In fact, the Town Car has lost 6 inches in length and some trunk space. since the 80s. And the Cadillac... just a put a 2004 Deville next to an 88 Brougham and you'll see what those other commentators mean. In general, I believe that today's big cars are better "performers" but yesterdays, while clumsier and slower, looked more like the "status symbols" they were intended to be.. even if they're not much bigger, they LOOK bigger.

Boxy angular shapes will always appear larger than more streamlined designs, but back in the late '70s when most of these cars were designed, the boxy shape was considered to be the most efficient, allowing the maximum amount of interior room in an overall downsized package.

That's why the Taurus created such a stir when it first appeared in 1986, because it went against the trend of boxy styling that was in vogue at the time.

Now chrome is making a comeback-see how many chrome wheels and chrome accents are appearing now even as original equipment.

The 2005 Mustang styling was based on the 1969 model.

The portholes have returned to the Buick Park Avenue.

Mercury has already brought back the Marauder and the Monterey. Could a revival of the Turnpike Cruiser be far behind?

"everything old is new again"

I have an 1985 Crown Victoria, It only has 117000 miles on it. NEED TO GET RID OF!! I figured anyone with special interest in older Fords like the people on these pages would take good care of it. Located in Florida. Please contact acutelilprincess@aol.com Very very cheap.

I have a 1986 Ford Crown Victoria LX. I always wanted boxy style and found a one owner about four years ago. She drives like a dream, as did my 1977 Ford LTD Landau. I haven't had to do much to this Crown Victoria. She only has 102,000 original miles and I keep her parked mostly. Paint is good and the interior is in excellent condition... never smoked in, and everything works. I've always like the Crown Victoria, LTD's, Galaxy 500's, Ford F-100, and Fairlanes. I'd have every year and make of these if I could afford it:) I've got my dream car... and she only cost me $2500.00, gets 18-22 miles to the gallon and runs out like a new one:) Can't ask for any better. Hope you continue to enjoy your Crown Victoria too. Lori.

I just bought a 1985 Ford Crown Victoria LTD 6 days ago.

It had one owner, and less than 60,000 miles on it.

The only things that need repair are a cracked windshield, radiator hose, and rear shocks.

There is also a minor dent in the rear panel that can easily be hammered out, and the antenna needs replaced, and the windows need to be put back onto their tracks.

All are inexpensive repairs.

But the power options still work and the paint and top and interior are in great condition:) Even the sensor headlights still work.

The transmission is in nearly perfect condition, and it purrs like a kitten.

I paid $500.00 for this car and am totally in love with it!

I feel very safe driving my 2 year old daughter in it.

I thought this would just be a beater car to drive until I could afford a newer model, but now I have decided to fully restore this one:)

Oh, and the scrapyard yard offered me $465.00 for it should it ever break down beyond repair. But I doubt that will ever happen:)

Sincerely, Betty.

I personally own a 85 CV. It was purchased new by my great-grandfather and has only 39000 miles on her to date. I love this car and will never part with it. All of my friends laugh at me because I treat it just as I do my 67 ElCamino! I am a Police officer by trade and currently drive a 2003 CVPI with 124000 very hard miles on it. They are truly great cars!!

I've owned three of these "panther platformed" cars - 85 Grand Marquis, 88 Crown Vic wagon, and a 97 Grand Marquis. All great cars providing safety and durability.

While the 97 is more efficient, I miss the interior of the 85. The pillow velour seats and door panels were a treat. The 97 seems bare bones in comparison, and the latest car fad of acres of hard plastic and massive centre consoles turns me completely off.

The days of these "body on frame" are numbered - a crying shame.

Could agree more.  My family has had many 'Panther platforms', and all were very reliable and durable.  But we had more of the full-sized GM cars of that type and era (like Chevy Caprice, Olds Delta 88), and they were even more reliable.  Sad to see the age of the 'real car' go - and many young people won't even know what they're missing.