Mercury Grand Marquis: Deal not Dud.

You're kidding, right?

lol

I had 3 Grand Marquis cars in the nineties and early this century. Ford blew it for me as follows:

The oil pan on the first one rusted out two weeks before the warranty ran out and eventually the frame rusted clean thru. The unibody that was bolted onto the frame with rubber mounts was holding up the frame. The second one was leased and its seats were too mushy. The third one's seats were too firm. BTW, I should also mention that the first one's clearcoat developed big white blotches (it was a dark blue car) and Ford refused to do anything about it (hid behind the warranty). Needles to say, I gave up on Ford and went back to Audi.

Further to my comment above, I think Ford let Mercury slide down the toilet by not making the Marauder DOHC V8 standard on all models and by not offering practical goodies like biXenon headlights.

Was this written for AARP or for the auto enthusiasts who normally visit AutoSpies?

Just wondering.

lol

One of my favorite cars :)

Figures!

lmao!

"why not consider the Mercury over the Mercedes? You would save yourself $75,000 that could be used to buy a brand new Porsche"

RIGHT, or you could buy a Mercury over a Rolls Royce Phantom and save $360,000 that could be used to buy a brand new Lamborghini Murcielago. You got to be kidding.

lol

I want the 1 minute and 45 seconds of my life that I wasted reading this back.... NOW!

LOL!

lol

Very funny post. Question... Since there is a new Taurus/Sable twin coming next year, what would you guys say to the old (current Taurus/Sable) being slightly restyled and moving upmarket a little to become the new Crown Vic/Marquis. Its about as big and almost as comfortable plus with the addition of a V8 I think it would be the perfect replacement.
T

I don't know . . . the massive trunk and long powerful hood of the current model scream "Grand Marquis." While a nice car in its own right, I think the Sable is too round in shape to take over for the majestic Grand Marquis.

"I would be willing to bet if image and prestige were removed from the equation, that most people would be just as happy with a Mercury Grand Marquis as with a Mercedes-Benz S550."

You mean, like if an S550 were as stale, cheap, and just all-round shitty as the Mercury, people wouldn't care which one they'd buy? Well, that's obvious..

The only cool thing about this car is if you get one in white or silver, everyone will slow and move out of your way thinking your a cop

That feature is worth its weight in gold, and it's standard equipment!

edeme , are you and mercury guy the same person?

Why not buy a 2-year old one for about $7,000?

But the Marauder was slow as hell - it only made sound not speed.

I'm young and I wouldnt mind having one of these. One of my freinds has a drive way full of them and they all run great and are comfotable. I'm also really big 6'5" 320 lbs. and any other big car out there costs so much that I wouldnt be able to afford it. and most tuning parts for a mustang 4.6L can be used on them too.

Long Term Review: (Driven them since I was 25)

Great Car, despite what the so-called experts say.
This is the cheapest car to insure because of its decade long safety record.

Yes, This car is good on gas for its roomy size, because it is 2 wheel drive. It gets better mileage than many smaller all wheel drive vehicles, especially on the highway where it was born to run. Its mileage although not impressive for the city, is still manageable.

Engine is smooth, quiet and powerful, even on long grades. Trunk space is huge, the car almost doubles as a mini pickup truck.

TRIPPLE 5-STAR CRASH RATING
held title for Over 10 Years running for Frontal, Side-Impact, Rear-Impact and Roll-Over.

The Full frame is strong and safe giving this car a top of the line crash rating.

This engine idles at highway speeds where V6 and 4 cylinder engines vibrate and rev to produce the same power. The engine has just the right amount of horsepower.

The 2008 Models are now Flex-Fuel.

Among the very few Cars that offer a Full Sized Spare Tire anymore.

The Full frame means you can jack the car from almost any spot on the frame. I like having real steel beams underneath me for safety.

Nice woodgrain interior. Many cars at 3 times the price don’t offer a rich wood interior. You have to spend big on Audi’s A8 to get a few select pieces of wood interior. Towing capacity is high as the car will take a full Class IV frame hitch. Seating is spacious. This is a great vacation car or a great business car. Battery is in front for easy service.

Visibility on this sedan is great. There is a lot of glass to see out. The mirrors work better with a 1” convex circle added to both sides to aid in seeing beyond the C-Pilar, but the c-pillar blind spot is not really that bad, worse on other cars I’ve driven (Chrysler 300).

I bought a new 2004, it runs perfectly with no repairs to date except oil changes. I also own a 2005 Chrysler 300. The Mercury is far better in terms of ride quality, power, comfort interior and trunk space. To be fair, the 300 has the underpowered base V6.

If a Camry or Chrysler 300 is too small for your needs, this is an affordable car that feels impressive. A great alternative to a bland econobox or car that has miser written all over it.

I actually like the live axle. You can feel the road and the car shifts smoothly. My 300 has wheel sensors and stability control which I hate. It makes the car feel artificial, and it feels like the power gets robbed in comparison to the Grand Marquis. I’m not sure why people find live axles as humorous. It is reliable and works for me, but to each his own.

The base GS has the best Heater/AC. The analog dials make it easy to dial in your settings without looking away from the road. The floor only vent is among the best if you like heat on your feet and not in your face. Many cars seem to not handle this as well for some reason (Chrysler, Hyundia). I actually

cont...

prefer the analog base system over the top end digital dual climate control on my Town Car.
Ford offers accessories for the Trunk, like a floor pan organizer. It is a full insert compartment the full width of the car, not canvas junk like other cars I’ve seen.

PROS:

Safe, Cheap to Insure

Smooth, quiet, Horsepower

Woodgrain Dash, door panels

Power Lumbar driver Seat – standard

HEATED MIRRORS – Standard (How many cars even offer this as standard equipment)

Full-Size Spare, and Ample Space

Cornering lamps (Turn Signal turns on side headlight to light up street corner, it also alerts drivers for intended lane changes)

Full Gauges (Water temp, Oil Pressure, Tach) Oil pressure was replaced recently by the tachometer, I’d rather have both.

4 Wheel-Disc brakes (Anit-lock)

Run Cool-safe (engine will shut 2 cylinders down to pump out heat if the engine looses coolant)

5000 LB Towing Capacity


CONS:
Power Windows. The Steels Window regulators were replaced with bicycle cables and nylon pulleys adopted from VW cars. This is a junk concept, designed to reduce weight. It wears out if you open and close the windows often over time.

Incandescent Bulbs in tail lights need to be
redesigned to LED.

No triptronic (Semi-Auto) Transmission)

Transmission needs updating to 6 or 7 speed but Final
Drive ratio is still not bad in overdrive.

Bench Seat, Buckets might be better, although I have a steel RAM-Mount covering the center hump to mount my laptop.

Snow Tires are needed on the back 2 wheels for winter. The car is only slippery with all-seasons.
I have Snow tires on extra factory rims, so installation is only a 10 minute job in the driveway.

Ball Joints are now the non-grease type. The older grease joints lasted far longer if you kept them greased. Most cars are like this today anyways.

Summary:
Of course this car is not on Par with a BMW, but if you don’t have the money for a high-end car or if you have to provide your own company car for work, this is a great car at a price that would force you into an econo-box at this price point. How many people want to make a first impression picking up clients or your boss in an econo-box?

This is all the car this tech-savvy guy will ever need. Ford just doesn’t promote this relatively unknown car. I also had a 1996, and I will likely buy a 2009 if they build them.

With a Half Million Dollar Liability policy, this car is dirt cheap to insure.
I almost fell out of my chair when I got my insurance quote. I had to ask if they made a mistake. And I’m talking New York State, the highest cost state for car Insurance.

People who can’t afford a new car might be able to swing the overall cost of ownership of this car. The myth of it not being a young person’s car might be meaningless if it fits into a tight budget, especially with so many young couples on the verge of bankruptsy today. It is still an alternative over roaming the used car lots looking for a clean car.

Cars loose resale within the first year. If you don’t pay a lot, you don’t loose a lot at trade-in.

Yes, I test drove Kia and Hyudia, they don't have heated mirrors at that pricepoint, and those tiny tires don't handle potholes very well.

I'm a 17 year old, and I'm a proud owner of the 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis LS.http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3337793. I get 25-30 MPG (beat that in a V8!). Never a bit of trouble, and it puts me in my seat everytime I floor it, and it never loses its power and sounds much. better than a Mercedes or BMW. For those of you who think the Grand Marquis is a big slow car for old people. well guess again. The Grand Marquis is basically a Crown Victoria but with the luxury and quality of a Town Car. And the handling WILL surprise you, It handles like a sports car. Everyone who has rode in my Grand Marquis was blown away at how fast it is, how great it rides, and how comfortable. And the Grand Marquis is for anyone. Its very nice, inside and out, its easy on the eyes, but it doesn't have all the gismos that could malfunction and end up costing you a fortune. In my Grand Marquis, stock, you get Leather Seats, Climate Control, a digital dash, Premium Sound system with cassette, 6-CD changer, and AM FM with dobly digital and a built-in amplifier, one massive trunk, and a huge V8 the has plenty of power.

I like that last post, suggesting a "sports car" image for my car. I've got a 2005 GM Ultimate with leather, air ride and pretty good stereo. I average around 19 mpg in town and 26 on the freeway, unless I have a tail wind. Then it goes up. Great car and absolutely a great value. I really like the big 1st class airline type seats and the lumbar support. So go ahead if you want. Waste a ton of cash on some over-hyped piece of useless bling. You most likely you are equating cost with true value, or else you don't know how to shop.

2010 Mercury Grand Marquis ranks high in the class of affordable large cars..It has a V8 powertrain which is really dependable and doesn't have high maintainance parts..The V8 provides all the

acceleration and a very powerful ride..I loved the super-huge interiors, which is a six seater..The dashboard and the controls are well-designed and high functional and well-placed!What makes it

America's favorite large-sized car is its simplicity and substantial design and maintainance costs really low..Ofcourse this car, you'll find a lot on the streets of US!
http://www.exploreauto.net/2011-mercury-grand-marquis-review.html

OK, so I went and traded in my 2005 Grand Marquis Ultimate for a new F-150 two years ago, so's I could tow my little camper. Now after the two years, I decided I'm not much of a camper, and in fact I may actually be more of a "hotel guy" it seems. So back to the dealer I went and traded the truck back for, guess what, a one year newer version of the car I like. Whereas the truck could be a little ponderous, my "new" low mile Grand Marquis is running like a dream. Peppy and comfortable, it's just what I want at a price I like. I'm good for the next four years. What's not to like? And it sure ain't no dud.