Storm Chasing with a '99 Crown Vic

[StormChaser]

Greetings all. I am a meteorologist and hard-core storm chaser. Never have I owned anything but body-on-frame automotive construction. When my last non-Ford car (a 1986 Pontiac Parisienne Wagon) finally died in '99, I researched thoroughly and found that only the CV/Grand Marquis and Chevy Caprice makes met my requirements. The Caprice had just been discontinued. The choice was narrow and simple -- the CV. I thought, "If the CV is good enough for cops and taxi fleets, it just *might* be tough enough to take a pounding from Oklahoma's worst weather." It safety ratings were top notch also -- very important when one has two kids.

So I bought a used '97 CV and enjoyed it hugely for the short time I owned it. Seven months later I was broadsided by a drunk redneck who ran a stop sign at 50, while hotrodding his '78 Trans Am. My (ex)wife and kids were fine, except for a few superficial cuts. I only sustained a concussion. The CV was totaled; but it saved our lives. All air bags deployed and we got out safely.

With the insurance settlement I bought a '99 CV with 22K miles. Now, 4 years later, it has 120K miles and is covered (on top, and all 4 sides!) with about a thousand little hail dents -- but runs very well. It has been hit by large hail repeatedly, along with a 65 mph sand storm, 100+ mph winds on the edge of a tornado, hurricane-force winds blowing large hail, and flying tree limbs. The only damage from any of that was the hail, which I anticipated and which surely will happen again (so I don't bother repairing the hail damage).

I had to have the grille and a headlight housing replaced after smacking a deer at 70 mph while on a storm chase; the replacement parts were Mopar/Ford and are holding up well. As long as these cars are made body-on-frame, I'm buying them. They're built to take abuse in severe weather, and to keep a family safe around town. And nothing rides the Great Plains interstates smoother.

My only problems so far have been
1. A dysfunctional keypad (replaced under warranty)
2. Factory shocks are just now going bad at 120K miles (will soon replace)
3. Ford's factory paint job just stinks! The paint began to flake at 50,000 miles. Now it is is peeling away from the driver's side door right beneath the window at about an inch per month.

===== Roger =====

http://www.stormeyes.org/tornado/rogersky.htm

[landyacht]

Too bad about all the hail damage, it'd be cheaper to just buy another one then to have all the bodywork done i'd imagine...

Your love of the big sedan is respected here, thanks for sharing your story! I a huge fan of the car myself, and will eventually own a Marauder (hoping!). Mixes the best of the Crown Vic ie safety, ride, comfort, versatility, with the power and performance a young guy like me longs for.

Thanks again for your post! May the landyacht's live on!!

[ncinirator]

Nice post. I have a 89 and a 99 CV. Ford does crap paint jobs on these cars. My 89 has severe paint fade around it and my 99 has a little fade around the back of the trunk. But runs great. Being a police officer all I have driven are CV`s. Though a caprice is a faster stronger car, the CV cant be touched in comfort. Ride on!

[manny62]

Nice post StormChaser. I own an ´89 and a ´92 ex-cop CVics. Both still run nice and I agree with you regarding safety. Specially the old ´89, 5.0L, it´s a reliable, robust and comfortable tank. I once towed a 4x4 GMC truck out of a creek on a dirty road after a heavy thunderstorm. The truck had an electric problem while attempting crossing the creek. Obviously everybody was laughing at, since that scene should be the opposite way. My complaint about the ´92 is the rigid sport-like suspension, it feels kinda rough compared to the ´89 one, but in exchange, runs like my ´71 Mustang GT-351 muscle pony I owned years ago. I thought I wasn´t going to find anything with such performance until I got this ´92 CVic, 4.6L, whoaaaa!!!!.....it just beats everything else on the road!!....CVics rule!!!!....