# Driving a retired police cruiser **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-a-retired-police-cruiser/709850 "2015-01-14T21:20:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-a-retired-police-cruiser/709850/41 "2015-05-30T19:17:32Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Fix the cigarette lighter. I hear they have good pickup ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-a-retired-police-cruiser/709850/42 "2015-05-30T19:50:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In Florida, ex-PD Crown Vics are overwhelmingly driven by black folks. I have no idea why, but 9 out of 10 on the road (and I’ll see at least two on any given daily commute) are driven by black guys. The other one will be a while college student and he’ll have put ironic bumper stickers on his. In other words, poor people. These are cars that are frequently so worn out that they are of little value so people with any money get a better used car. Also, they are an attraction to a category of people who think they look more impressive than they really are. So “Oooh, a cheap Crown Vic. I’m really going to impress folks.” Right. I have a cousin that used to buy used LTDs and such just because “Hey, it _is_ an LTD.” But they were beaters, had ripped up and dirty interiors, etc. And definitely in the “Fix or repair daily.” phase. I’m sure he would have gone for a Crown Vic back then. Now he has money. He buys really nice trucks. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-a-retired-police-cruiser/709850/43 "2015-05-31T02:26:12Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > In other words, poor people. These are cars that are frequently so worn out that they are of little value so people with any money get a better used car. Also, they are an attraction to a category of people who think they look more impressive than they really are. So “Oooh, a cheap Crown Vic. I’m really going to impress folks.” Right. Possibly poor people, but these cars aren’t really [that cheap](http://www.policecarsorlando.net/inventory.aspx?make=Ford&model=Crown%20Victoria&sold=1&). You could get a similar-aged Civic or Corolla for the same sort of money. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-a-retired-police-cruiser/709850/44 "2015-05-31T04:43:30Z")
[Here’s the thing to do with a retired police car.](http://bringatrailer.com/2015/03/02/strange-swap-1947-studebaker-m5-pick-up-with-crown-vic-police-interceptor-guts/) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-a-retired-police-cruiser/709850/45 "2015-05-31T07:32:01Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > [Here’s the thing to do with a retired police car.](http://bringatrailer.com/2015/03/02/strange-swap-1947-studebaker-m5-pick-up-with-crown-vic-police-interceptor-guts/) That reminded me of the Chevy 789. Damn, those are purty. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-a-retired-police-cruiser/709850/46 "2015-06-01T02:28:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Possibly poor people, but these cars aren’t really [that cheap](http://www.policecarsorlando.net/inventory.aspx?make=Ford&model=Crown%20Victoria&sold=1&). You could get a similar-aged Civic or Corolla for the same sort of money. I’d take the Crown Vic over the other two (I’ve owned two Civics in my past, and they were both awesome cars). I’m older and larger, and there’s just something so nice about putting in lots and lots of miles on a heavy, body-on-frame vehicle. In fact I’d kind of like to pick up a Mercury Marauder if I can find one in decent condition when I get home (but, oh, they’ll all be at least 14 years old by then). ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-a-retired-police-cruiser/709850/47 "2015-06-01T04:08:00Z")
With regards to affordability of an old Crown Vic vrs a Civic or such, the parts for a Crown Vic are generally cheaper, the vehicle is easier to service yourself and being both larger and less technically advanced (and thoroughly vetted as a fleet vehicle over a couple decades), holds up to abuse fairly well. In my opinion… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-a-retired-police-cruiser/709850.md?page=2)