Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2002

Large Sedan Under $30,000

Winners: Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis
"Old-world design that refuses to age."

A rolling example of the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," philosophy, the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis twins continue to be the vehicles of choice for taxi companies, police departments, retirees and families who want a large, comfortable sedan without having to spend the big bucks on a luxury nameplate. These cars possess clean styling and good old-fashioned big car attributes like a V8 engine, rear-wheel drive and full-frame construction. Abundant interior room means that passengers won't be claiming "frontsies" or "shotgun" in order to avoid sitting in the back. The Crown Vic comes in three trim levels: base, LX and LX Sport. We'll take the Sport with its 235-horsepower motor, 17-inch wheels and bucket seats with console shifter setup. The Grand Marquis comes in similar versions, with the LSE being similar to the Vicky LX Sport. But upstaging its Ford cousin for 2003 will be the Marauder version of the Grand Marquis. With 300 horses underhood and a sinister dipped-in-black visage, the Marauder will make Chevy wish it never dropped production of the Impala SS. But for now, even driving enthusiasts like the gearheads here at Edmunds can appreciate a smooth, comfy and quiet-riding big car. And being able to part passing lane traffic on the freeway (when other drivers think a cop in a "plain brown wrapper" is coming up behind them) is merely a minor benefit to piloting a Crown Vic.