A while back, an article in Forbes Magazine titled “Ford Crown Victoria Wins Best Cop Car Of All Time… Beating Today’s Vehicles” caught our attention. It made us reflect on our many years of experience using various training vehicles, including the legendary Crown Victoria.
With over 50 years of history between the Scotti School and VDI (Vehicle Dynamics Institute), we’ve had the opportunity to use a wide range of vehicles for training. In my personal experience, I (Tony Scotti) consider the Ford Crown Victoria the best training vehicle of its era. Properly prepared, the Crown Vic offered exceptional handling (up to 0.9 Gs), consistent and precise feedback to drivers, and, above all, it was virtually indestructible, all at a reasonable cost.
The long history of training programs conducted by the Scotti School in the past and VDI in the present, along with the large number of students we train annually, is a testament to any vehicle’s durability. The fact that the Crown Vic could endure so much punishment while remaining a reliable tool for security driving training speaks volumes about its toughness.
However, the Forbes article mentions the Crown Vic “Beating Today’s Police Vehicles,” which warrants some clarification. While the Police Package Ford Crown Victoria was a standout in its time, it lacked Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for most of its production run. ESC became a federally mandated feature for all passenger vehicles starting in 2012. Still, the Crown Vic was discontinued after the 2011 model year and thus never received this feature as standard equipment. It’s, therefore, not fair to compare the Crown Vic directly to modern police vehicles, many of which come equipped with ESC and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
The 2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor did not have Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) as we know them today. While it did include some features aimed at safety and driver convenience, such as:
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Standard for enhanced braking control.
Traction Control System (optional) To improve grip under slippery conditions.
These features were more rudimentary compared to modern ADAS technologies, which typically include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Such advanced systems were not standard or widely available in vehicles like the Crown Victoria in 2011.
While the Crown Victoria has since been retired from most police fleets and replaced by SUVs and pickup trucks, there’s still one major law enforcement agency that holds onto the sedan’s legacy: the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD), the largest sheriff’s department in the country. In 2011, the LASD placed a massive last-minute order of 600 Crown Vics, ensuring the vehicle would remain in use well into its twilight years.
Interestingly, in the 2024 Police Vehicle Evaluation conducted by the Michigan State Police, no sedans were included in the lineup—unless you count the Mustang Mach-E, which isn’t exactly a traditional sedan. This highlights the shift from vehicles like the Crown Victoria to modern police fleets.
Additional Information On The Crown Vic
Ford Crown Victoria Wins “Best Cop Car Of All Time”… Beating Today’s Vehicle
LA Sheriff Department Stocking Crown Vics
Last Ford Crown Victoria manufactured: What will cops drive now?
Exploring the Last Dodge Charger Police Pursuit Vehicle with Tim Kuniskis
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Crown_Victoria_Police_Interceptor
Ford Panther platform