The Panther Lust Is Real

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
07/21/2015 at 21:37 • Filed to: None

The good news is that I’ve got my Civic sold...either to a guy tomorrow or a guy who wants to come get it this weekend. And with that, I’ve turned up the wick on my hunt for a nice P71 Crown Vic.

Today I went and checked out a 2003 right down the street from where I work. A former MA state police car, it originally looked like this:

I’ve always liked that paint scheme, although if pressed on what I think is the best looking state police car, I’m a total homer for my Rhode Island State Troopers:

I’m also a big ‘80s Crown Vic fan, but I digress.

So I looked at this 2003, which was repainted allover in the dark blue of the MA car above. The problem is that the door jambs and inside the trunk/hood are the light blue. It would drive me mad, I know it. Of course, the paint is more scratch than gloss (some scratches right through to the light blue, actually), so I’d need to get it painted anyway. He’s looking for $1500, I’d want to pay about $800, and even then, I don’t really want to. But it gave me an opportunity to drive one and determine that that was what I want, so that’s good.

A little bit more Craigslist creeping found me this possible gem:

What I like about this one is that it appears to be in much nicer shape than the other one, although it is newer (2008) and has more miles on it (130k vs 118 in the 2003). But inside, there’s something pretty neat.

The interior has been swapped for CV LX leather, including the leather steering wheel. Also, the car has a 3.23 limited slip rear, a Borla exhaust, good tires, and a lot of other new parts. Basically, it has all the things I was planning to do to the other one, but already done. And the door jambs match the paint, which makes my OCD feel warm and fuzzy.

It’s a bit further away from me up in Massachusetts, but it seems to me that I’m better off buying as good of one as I can afford rather than buying a slightly tattered one and fixing it up (which is my usual MO) since this is going to be my daily driver.

If all goes according to plan, I’ll be out of the Civic tomorrow, driving the truck the rest of the week, and picking up a Crown Vic this weekend. Should be a good time.

Also, it should be noted that I’m probably going to look like a bit of a poseur where I work. I work in parking enforcement in Providence, and I park in the garage where all the cops park...place is full of P71s and newer police vehicles (mostly Impalas and Explorers for Providence). It’s a great place to park though, since there’s always a cop or 40 there loading or unloading their cars.

DISCUSSION (24)

jkm7680 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 21:45

The Borla exhaust one. If you don’t want to look like a poseur, just swap the wheels out for something else!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 21:45

Can’t help but wonder how many people on here will understand the wick reference.

That ‘08 looks fantastic! Give him money now!

MM54 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 21:46

Cool! The ‘08 with the LX interior sounds like a good deal, and with the exhaust it should really sing at 5 grand!

Make sure the spotlight works or can be easily hooked back up - it’s fairly handy to have a 100W spotlight on occasion. Plus it looks good.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
07/21/2015 at 21:57

I hadn’t even thought of that...it is a bit of a dated saying, isn’t it?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > jkm7680
07/21/2015 at 21:59

Exactly...except that steel wheels with baby moons are pretty much my favorite thing in the entire world, haha. Like I would have Torque Thrusts for my winter wheels and the steelies would be my regular tires, that’s how much I love steelies with baby moons. I think with the exhaust, as long as I park nosed into the spots I’ll be fine...nobody will be mistaking those tips for police issue.

Viggen > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 22:00

Kinja'd!!!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > MM54
07/21/2015 at 22:00

Oh yeah, gotta have a working spot light. I always find myself wanting to shoot a high powered beam of light at people, but I never have the means. The ‘03 I looked at had a spot light as well, but it was full of yellowish water.

Justin Hughes > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 22:01

Do you know the 2008’s history? Obviously the 2003 was a MSP car. That means lots of idling and lots of full throttle acceleration to catch the perps. Not a showstopper, especially if the transmission’s already been rebuilt. My 2003 P71 came with the full service logbook from the Ashland, NH PD, and that’s much of the reason I got that particular one.

Still, I think the 2008 is the better car. Slightly more power, a few more minor refinements, plus all the mods you actually want. P71s sound awesome with free flowing mufflers - mine came with Flowmasters. And you’ll make all the Providence cops jealous with that leather interior!

jkm7680 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 22:01

Same, if I had an FCV I’d have to either keep the steelies or throw Mustang wheels on it.

How many CVPIs do they have left in there?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Viggen
07/21/2015 at 22:01

I might have to give MA the nod here. That’s one sexy police car.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 22:04

Maybe a bit. Though those in colder/stormy climates will hopefully know. We always had lanterns in the house when I was growing up just in case the power went out.

You could swap some Marauder parts on to look a bit less like a poser. Grill and badges for example.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 22:04

That blue almost looks like an ex-NYS trooper car.

MM54 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 22:05

Most of them are sealed beam bulbs so they’re very easy to replace.

Viggen > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 22:06

Massachusetts State Police livery is best livery! (biased Masshole)

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > jkm7680
07/21/2015 at 22:35

Plenty. There's three unmarked ones in the garage, but I'll do a count in the morning. I'm guessing about 10 total.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Justin Hughes
07/21/2015 at 22:37

I don’t, but the guy seems to be a P71 enthusiast, so I’m sure he’ll fill me in. I usually like to buy a car that I can tinker with, but this time I like that the ‘08 has the big things I want already done while still leaving me plenty of small stuff to mess around with.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
07/21/2015 at 22:38

It really does, now that I'm looking at it. I'll have to grab the VIN from the guy and see where the title originates from.

jkm7680 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/21/2015 at 22:39

Nice, it’s good to see departments holding onto them.