I appreciate your admiration for the Crown Vic. My wife tired of me extolling it’s virtues when I was a cop. But, I never bought one for a personal vehicle, because it never matched my life style. A small fwd high mileage compact for commuting and an SUV or truck in either 4wd or 2wd form as a combination, easily surpasses the capabilities of a Crown Vic that I need.
If it were that great, it would not be on the verge of discontinuance every year and be out selling the Accord. It’s not because the rest of the automotive world is dumb…it’s because they don’t think quite like you or I and their needs are different.
For me, it’s just a matter of cost per mile to own and operate. Ford Panthers are hard to beat. They seldom break. When they do break, ANY mechanic can fix them.
I paid $3500 for the '92 LX off a used car lot 7 years ago. I paid $2700 for a '98 P71 on an e-Bay auction, former Colo. State Patrol car. I liked it so much I bought another one, a 2005 with 88K miles from the same place for $3600. It’s still smells new…$9200 for 3 Vics that I could sell today for $6000…
That’s $3200 for three cars that have provided us with over 150K miles of trouble-free transportation, including hundreds of miles on Mexican dirt roads…
Around town, yes, they are a little cumbersome…But they make up for it out on the highway where they can tic off 800 miles a day in smooth, quiet, comfort…Isn’t that why you own a car??
These cars have been in high-volume production since 1992. 1992-2010, 18 years unchanged. There is a REASON for that and it’s not Ford being stubborn…
In my very humble opinion, the reason is that it’s reliable, RWD and tough. I can’t wait to get my chance to get one with the Fla. crowd. But, for the space utilization for those who don’t want/need the benefits that a Crown Vic offers; the Accord serves the woosey set well. You don’t have to sell me or other SUV owners on them, just the Camry/Accord/Fusion buyers. IMo. cumbersome is a fwd car’s second nature. Few if any cars handle as well as a good rwd car with the right suspension and tires.
Wait till the “Taurus” boosters have to live with these junkers for cop cars. "They’ll be back"
PS…I’m slowly seeing your point !!! But I keep remembering that Ford makes the Ranger still, as a place to keep using their spare parts and Pinto motors, for many a year.
You can always tilt the front seat back as far as it can go and sleep in it. Dogs can sleep pretty much anywhere. They spend most of their life sleeping. If you want more comfort than the front seat offers, look for a car where the rear seat backs can be folded forward providing access to the trunk. The idea is to allow you to carry long objects like lengths of prefinished flooring and such. You are a long object, and if you aren’t too long and the opening is high enough, you may well be able to drop the seatbacks, wrap yourself in a couple of blankets, and put your legs and midsection into the trunk with your head and body on the back seat.
Won’t be as comfortable as a motel, but it’ll be cheaper.
A Buick Estate Wagon then… You can fold down the seats and put a queen-size mattress in the back…Or step up to a Suburban, have seating for 6 AND a queen-size bed in the back…
For serious touring, you need a serious touring vehicle…
A Honda Element, a Subaru Outback, 8000 miles??..God help us…
IMHO,ANY Crown Vic,Coupe deVille,Continental type o’ land barge would be my choice to cruise the asphalt hihgways.Better yet,an older M-B Diesel would meet your criteria and deliver decent mileage.Now,THATS stulin’an’drivin’.
I’m totally amazed caddyman suggest a crown vic.I thought he was into cadillacs! Perhaps he is a big golf fan. I do agree that a crown vic would be the way to go, traveling across the USA. Hondas are great,but you need to realize that a vehicle can break down at the worst locations.
More room is also a big consideration,if you are sleeping in the vehicle . The dog will take up a whole seat , no matter how small a dog.