To transport customers in the backseat. Wheelbase Schmeelbase, there was about three inches of leg room in the back. Remember that there is also a cage in the back between the front and backseats. Regardless of what the wheelbase was the interior was cramped.
When I came in we still had some Caprices hanging around, no Celebritys. Mostly Crown Vics. The Capice had more power than the CV but handled like a tugboat. It was worse on wet roads. We now also have Dodge Durangos for those couple of days when the snow gets bad.