|
2003 Ford Crown Victoria Review
The traditionalist's choice.
2003 Crown Victoria Review Summary & Specifications
Ford Crown Victoria may be the most traditional domestic automobile available today. Or, depending on how you look at it, it could be one of most unconventional, given how far the market has migrated from this car's basic recipe. In the Crown Victoria, you have the classic ingredients of the American automobile: size, V8 power, rear-wheel drive, four doors, all packaged in the once ubiquitous three-box sedan configuration.With room for up to six occupants, a huge trunk, safety features aplenty, a well-cushioned ride and a silence-is-golden acoustic experience, the Crown Vic has plenty to offer big families or older drivers for whom driving thrills are moments preferably avoided. Yet with technical upgrades including rack-and-pinion steering, a revamped suspension, and a stiffer chassis, the Crown Victoria's driving experience is far from lackluster. Its character is fluid and relaxed, its performance surprisingly competent. Sprinkle-in a pinch of new-for-2003 visual enhancements, and you have a Crown Victoria that's a traditional, but evergreen choice.
|
|
| Vehicle Category | Fullsize Cars |
| Editor | Kim Reynolds |
| Model Lineup | Standard ($23,805); LX ($27,175); LX Sport ($28,795) |
| Engines (standard) | 4.6-liter SOHC 16-valve V8 |
| Engines (optional) | 224-hp 4.6-liter SOHC 16-valve V8; 239-hp 4.6-liter SOHC 16 valve V8 |
| Transmissions (standard) | 4-speed automatic |
| Transmissions (optional) | 4-speed automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | dual airbags with two-stage deployment (depending on speed, seatbelt use, driver's position and front passenger occupancy), seatbelt pre-tensioners, seatbelt energy management, seatbelt reminder chime for front passenger, ABS emergency brake assist, LATCH child seat mounting, glow-in-dark emergency trunk opening |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | front side airbags |
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Assembled In | St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada |
| Manufacturer Phone | 1-800-392-FORD |
| Manufacturer URL | www.fordvehicles.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 23805 |
| Model Tested MSRP | Ford Crown Victoria LX ($28,555) |
| Standard Equipment | automatic climate control, cruise control, wiper-activated headlamps, heated mirrors, eight-way adjustable power driver and front passenger seats with adjustable lumbar support, AM/FM stereo/cassette/CD, tilt steering wheel, steering-wheel mounted redundant controls for sound system, climate control and cruise control, electrically adjustable pedal positioning |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | leather interior ($795), leather seating discount (-$795); driver/front passenger side airbags ($255); traction control ($175); trunk-mounted six-CD changer ($165); P225/60TRX16 white sidewall tires ($80) |
| Destination Charge | 705 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | |
| Price as Tested | 27850 |
| Layout | rear-wheel drive |
| Horse Power | 224 @ 4800 |
| Torque | 272 @ 4000 |
| Fuel Economy | 18/26 |
| Wheelbase | 114.7 |
| Length/Width/Height | 212.0/78.2/56.8 |
| Track Front/Rear | |
| Turning Radius | 40.3 |
| Seating Capacity | 6 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 39.3/58.0/42.5 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 37.9/57.1/39.6 |
| Trunk Volume | 20.6 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | 2000 |
| Front Suspension | upper and lower A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar |
| Rear Suspension | live axle on longitudinal control links, Watt's linkage, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar |
| Ground Clearance | |
| Curb Weight | 4057 |
| Stock Tires | P225/60TRX16 |
| Brakes Front/Rear | 12.0-in. vented disc/11.6-in. vented disc with ABS and panic assist |
| Fuel Capacity | 19.0 |
|
|