2003 Ford Crown Victoria LX

The Ford Crown Victoria is America's most popular full-size rear-drive sedan (and dominates police and taxi fleets nationwide) for two big reasons. One, it's an excellent car and extremely well suited for family, fleet, cab and cop-car use. Two, it's one of only three large rear-drive sedans on the market; the other two are its (somewhat pricier) Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car "Panther" platform stablemates.


GM and DaimlerChrysler opted out of the rear-drive large sedan market years ago, although both offer some very competitive front-drivers (the bestseller is Buick's LeSabre). Most police and taxi fleet buyers, for various reasons, still prefer rear-wheel drive.

Styling of the '03 Crown Victoria is primarily carryover from '02, however, the real news is the significant improvements to ride and handling.

For 2003, Ford's Panther platform products are much improved in function, though styling remains basically the same. Beginning with a new, stiffer frame, these improvements include significant upgrades in ride, steering, handling, comfort and safety. The 2003 frame is 24% stiffer in torsional (twisting) rigidity and 20% stronger in resistance to vertical bending. A stiffer frame reduces transmission of noise, vibration and harshness to the body and lets the suspension work more effectively.


Front suspension is a short/long-arm design with coil springs over new monotube shocks. The steel upper and aluminum lower control arms and the suspension geometry are redesigned for '03 for better tracking at speed and more control during cornering and on rough surfaces. The live rear axle is located by upper and lower control arms and a lateral Watts linkage, and its motion is damped by monotube shock absorbers, newly mounted outboard of the frame rails for better control. Load-leveling air springs are available on some models.


Steering gets more precise with a new low-friction, variable-ratio rack-and-pinion system, which replaces the previous recirculating ball. The power assist is speed-sensitive, providing more boost for reduced effort at low speed, less boost for improved road feel at higher speeds. An added bonus (especially for those cabs and cop cars) is a turning circle nearly a foot shorter than before.