I'm 57, I'm a drag racer ('68 Camaro) a sports car enthusiast (Corvette C5) those are my fun cars. But I also have a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. I cannot say enough things about this car. It is the ideal transportation/long distance touring car. I'm 240 pounds, and I actually fit in it comfortably. I love the soft cushy ride, and the soft cushy leather seats. I like the smooth quiet ride, like floating on air. No, it's handling is not great, but it doesn't need to be. That's not what it's designed for. There are other cars for that. It does have power. I have easily hit 100 mph down a freeway on ramp. Merging into traffic is effortless. And if you need to get ahead of somebody that is blocking the lane you need to be in to make the next exit, just step on it and show them your tail lights. It's much faster than all the little 4 cylinder and V6 cars on the road today. There is a reason they use the Panther cars for police cars. They are fast, tough, and comfortable. They are easy to get in and out of. My '06 has rack and pinion steering so it probably does handle better than a '90s car. Properly taken care of, these cars will pass 300,000 miles, all the while getting high 20's mpg on the highway. Not bad for a 2 ton car. They are also very simple cars. They have a V8 engine that is easy to work on for a late model car, they have rear wheel drive, they have a solid rear axle, mine has rear discs, and they have body on frame construction. The front end on the 2003 and up cars is built like a tank. Beefier than many trucks. The body is solid as a rock, no squeaks or rattles after 120,000 miles. Yes the interior is a bit flimsy, but show me an American car that doesn't have that problem. Part of the reason for that is that this is a very outdated car for it's model year, and that is what I love about it the most. It feels and drives like a big '70s sedan. And it has a nice flat dash that you sit some distance from, not like new models where the dash wraps around you. The top of the dash is also very narrow, like a '70s car. It doesn't stick out very far from the base of the windshield. Both the windshield and rear window are very upright and easy to see through. The wide upright C pillar looks great. The styling is very conservative, again very '70s like. I may keep this car forever, even if I have to replace the engine or transmission. It is the last of the big American land yachts, nothing like it will ever be built again. To me, all that adds up to a very special car indeed. Now if I can just find a hood ornament for it.
Ive had a 05 and 04 crown vic. The 04, I got my from grandfather who bought it new, 256,000 miles on it when I got it and had never had anything replaced. going to get a 2007 Grand Marquis tomorrow. Im 28, so not many of my friends appreciate the car since its an "old man car" but its one of the best sedans ever made. LOVE EM!
Last Monday i finally got my 2001 grand marquis on the road a week i had bought it(long story with dmv) but my mom's got a 99 and my friends got a 00 marquis. all of them are amazing cars. Such a great car to own. I wish they still made them. btw my friend & i are both 25, both of our cars are still stock and just love the way they are
My first time seeing Robert's first Aging Wheels video. Wow, I can see so much of your current stuff in this first one. I like the AW channel very much. I have a 2008 CVPI and love it. It's my only vehicle and my favorite of all vehicles I've owned. The Panthers are indeed outstanding: easy to drive, durable, reliable, comfortable, roomy, V8, RWD, full frame...etc. Mine is a keeper for sure. Cheers!👍😎
The panther platform is amazing because its tough. I got rear ended by a semi that was doing 100kmh. My crown vic was still working... The semi was not. The car was a total loss, but still ran and went into gear and everything still worked. I slid 200 feet sideways and slammed into a ditch... But I still walked away and my car still ran just fine.
The 4.6 found in the Panther is severely detuned in the name of mpg, durability, and low end torque only. These cars are very adequate around town and don't forget that 4.6 is pulling around a heavy safe body and churning out 16mpg city 25hwy. Not bad for a big heavy boat. You can easily bolt on Mustang performance parts to jump hp to 300, but why? Did I mention by 1994ish these cars could easily see 250-300,000 miles with out much more than a blend door actuator, an intake manifold 96+, and carbon cleanings of the EGR 91-95, although the 4.6 up to 98 could use oil once the valve seals shrunk. The 4R70W is a very robust transmission that occasionally shuddered in the early years, but just add some friction modifier and you'd be good to go. The 4.6 engine often out lives the rest of the car with no know issues such as head gaskets or the such, not even oil leaks are know to this engine. These bodies held up extremely well to salt and age. The interiors are far more durable than what GM was putting out at the time. For the money, you just can't do better. No $$$ CV joints , no timing belt $$$, stainless steel exhaust, stainless steel/aluminum brake/fuel lines 98+, impeccable safety records in crash test. Crazy cheap parts cost and easy to work on bodies and drive trains. I currently own several of these cars and have since 1996. I couldn't imagine a better deal for the $$$.
Been watching your channel since the 944 days, and I just watched this. Never in my life did i think that a video about a 90s panther body would have essays and insults in the comment section. Nobody wrote essays about the 944, the Supra, the Saab, the Trabant. Apparently the most passionate community is that of the grand marquis.
The 2003-2011 variants still have all the pothole taming qualities these older ones did, but with vastly improved handling. In fact, its a very capable platform and can be made to handle extremely well. The weight distribution is actually a near neutral 52/48 and they are very enjoyable to drive in bad weather. Add in the legendary toughness and they are pretty hard to beat. Yeah, the interiors are a bit cheap feeling at times, but they are also extremely durable. People tend to forget you could get these new for around the same price as a mid level Altima or Accord and these have way more character than those cars do, with fullsize car practicality to boot . Now that they are old and depreciation has bottomed out prices, they are a no brainer, because they are so durable and cheap to repair when they DO break. My 2004 Grand Marquis now has a manual gearbox swap and that makes it very fun to drive! Its even more fun in snow, due to the good weight distribution and RWD. The front end is so tough that roads blocked by snowdrifts are absolutely no problem. This car will effortlessly explode snowbanks that would total out most other cars.....its literally a tank. The fact that there are still so many on the road yet is testament to how durable they are. Nobody is really easy on these cars (especially now that nice ones can be had for under $5 grand) and they just take a lickin and keep on tickin. Oh yeah, to the OP....the seat switch on the door was actually Mercedes inspired....i read somewhere that Mercedes actually made Ford change the shape of the switch because it looked too similar to the ( at the time copyrighted) mercedes seat switch back in 1992. It truly is a shame that Ford just let this thing languish, it was actually pretty contemporary and advanced when it came out in 1992. Keep in mind the same basic body shell lasted all the way to 2011. If Ford would have re done the body/ interior and added ecoboost drivetrains and possibly even hybrid and full electric options, I have no doubt this platform could still be relevant today.
I have owned a 96 town car, a 96 thunderbird, and now an 05 grand marquis among several other vehicles. I purchased my MGM because it is RWD, comfortable, and super dependable. It's not for drag racing, and it is cheap, but it's a great commuter car in the under-crowded area in which I live. My car is rated at 224 hp and 275 lb/ft. It's quicker than an economy car and gets great highway MPG all while hauling whatever I need in the trunk no problem. The rear leg room is not bad at all unless you have the front seats all the way back. I am 6 foot 1 and don't need the seats nearly all the way back to be comfortable. I really wonder why you failed to mention reliability once in your review of a platform and engine known for reliability....
What is the secret to the panther platform? Good design, ergonomic, well built, not fast but fast enough, and extremely utilitarian. I cant think of a car that can crush 600 miles so easily. Ive traveled 600km at 125mph and returned 18 mpg. If you can afford the gas, get one. I loved it and so will you.
In 2001 I bought a '99 Grand Marquis and loved it, and when the suspension was still fresh (under 200,000 miles) you could throw it around pretty good. I once got 26mpg on a tank of gas going through Oklahoma with 4 people, a dog and a load of Christmas presents and luggage in the back. I had so much nostalgia for that slow cruiser with a good presence, that I bought a 2002 at auction last week for cheap, even though it had over 200,000 miles - not many folks would do that with modern cars. Easy to work on, no less reliable than most anything else on the road, and parts are cheaper than most. A good old car to have IMHO. Power is sufficient, silky smooth transmission, basic features without being overly complicated or potentially troublesome. I expect these to be semi collectible in the future, just because of the whole frame rear drive layout/last of an era.
@@dkruitz wdym less to go wrong lol? They are both ohc v8s. Toyota just makes a more reliable v8 and overall car. Plus a lexus transmission will always last the entire time of the engine all the way up to 500k!!! Have some respect and don't even mention Toyota and Ford in a reliability comparison
I love the Panther Platform and everything about them, i grew up with them all my life throughout the mid to latter 1970s, 80s, 90s and right to the end of production in 2011. We had 2 door, 4 door and station wagons. I grew up with every model that was produced and we had one of each and i love the 4.6 liter V8 and the 5.0 liter V8. They are soo easy to work on and the parts dont cost a fortune. My first car was an 86 LTD Crown Victoria Country Squire Station Wagon and that car lasted well over 300,000 miles. I currently have an 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis, which is the last generation and was vastly improved in many areas and soo far 130,000 miles and still going strong. Ill keep buying the Panther Platform as long as i can find them. I cant tell you how many i find on dealers lots for low prices and they also have low miles.
Had an 01 Grand Marquis, sold it because I needed some cash and regretted it right away! Have a 95 Town Car, and I love it but I actually think I preferred to Marquis. Can't go wrong with a panther platform. Friend of mine has an 02 Buick Park Avenue and he tells me it feels way less roomy after riding in my Panther!
Hearing you insult this car is akin to insulting my mother. Im getting defensive. I love the panther platform more then anything ever made. My dream is to one day pick up a Mercury Marauder. BTW your grand marquis has 190 now but can be 235 with a couple cheap mods.
A LOT of people like us love panther platform cars. This guy just had a bad day or something. Oh, yeah...get an early 2000s Marauder and it has DOHC, 302 horsepower! Not too shabby for a 15-year-old engine design...
@@ohhhwolfy2536 Absolutely, I'm a Chevy guy since my mid 20s, my dad always loved, and drove his Ford's. I still loved my dad even though I felt he had poor taste in vehicle manufacturers ... When he passed I inherited his 2001 Grand Marquis. I've been driving that car for three years now, high 20s Hwy. Mpg. Replaced the idler arm at 198,000 ish miles, its still going strong at 2004,000 miles. I LOVE that car, I now understand my dad's love of Crown Vic's and Grand Marquis.
@@ohhhwolfy2536 Yeah, quite nice. At least the DOHC 4.6 has some respect, unlike a certain Nissan V8 nobody knows about, which has more power than the DOHC 4.6 and came out in 1989. The Nissan VH45DE In My opinion is the engine Ford reverse Engineered to make the Coyote V8 the Coyote looks almost identical. Remember, the VH45 probably began development in the MID 1980s.
For MPG, my Grand Marquis isn't much different than my wife's CR-V. We use an app for tracking all our fillups, we've been using it for the past three years, it gives easy statistics and graphs to view. Her CR-V has a 1 MPG edge in city driving 19.5MPG, but mine has a 1-2 MPG edge on the highway 26.8MPG.
I worship my 2000 grand marquis, but you aren't really wrong about any of this. They're odd yet amazing in many ways. I like it because I can work on it myself, I hate paying people to do things I did get the air suspension out, all springs now.
Your review shouldn't have been called "The Secret of the Panther Platform" since it is very clear that you just don't have any understanding about what makes these cars so fantastic and why they have a large loyal following. I am a 53 year old gear head and have owned many different performance cars over my lifetime. I have restored several cars and currently have a car dealer's license which has allowed me the opportunity to buy, own, drive and sell many different types of cars. I have previously owned a 1995 Crown Victoria LX HPP and a 1997 Grand Marquis LS HPP. Currently, I own a 1996 Crown Victoria LX HPP, a 1999 Grand Marquis GS HPP and a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria LX Sport. Additionally, I was a CHP Officer for 27 years and personally drove many different police cars including the Panther platform cars from the late 1980s until just recently. I drove these cars extremely hard over the years and my life often depended on their capabilities. They always took the beating, hung in there and never let me down. In my humble opinion, the Ford Panther platform cars are easily one of the best overall vehicles ever built, PERIOD. They may not be the best in any one area, but they do so many things very very well. They are RWD V8 cars that ride and handle extremely well, get reasonably good fuel mileage, have good power, are very safe, they are easy to modify for improved performance, and parts are inexpensive and readily available. More importantly, they are reliable and tough as nails. Perhaps, you just didn't get the opportunity to drive a good example long enough to appreciate their fine qualities.
Fun video. Enjoyed. I see you're in Rolla MO. Years ago use to visit my aunt and uncle there at least once a month. He ran a parts store called Hook Auto Supply. Closed years ago; but some of your elders might remember Just bought a 2009 Marquis myself, and so far love it. Good stuff. Thanks.
I have a 2006 Lincoln Continental with 195k and runs like new and its MINT Airbags, motor, trans all like new I'm a Ford Tech at a dealer and seen it come in on trade 85yr old man traded it in and sat for 2 yrs New brakes and rotors and front wheel bearings Inside is just amazingly clean, not a single thing is wrong with it I LOVE THIS CAR, best car I have ever owned
Digital instrument clusters were optional that people could ask for when buying the car, they are otherwise always analog. Buttery smooth ride. Also gearheads love it because it is easy to work on, and modding it is not that much hard work to get higher performance out of it. Depending on the model, there was handling and performance package options for the Crown Vic and Grand Marquis, along with the LX sport and LSE respectively. The Mercury Marauder is the king of the panthers but the newer generation only saw a limited run from 03 - 04. If you have a base model, it is super easy to give it an extra 30 horsepower with dual exhaust, a larger air intake from a P71 and ported plenum. The Jmod is implemented as an easy transmission mod that prolongs its life and makes it shift faster than stock.
I have the same exact car 95 mercury grand marquis with the ford 4.6. Stock it came with 210 hp. But my dad and i gave it enough love that we got the engine the power it deserves at around 390 hp plus it sounds fantastic straight piped
Oh gosh my grandpa had a light blue one with aluminum chrome wheels i remember him driving it growing up and evetually he got a newer one. Sadly a few years later in 2014 he passed. Tho his newer one still exsists today. And oh boy their a joy to drive.
the reason people love the panther platform so much is because it's a cruiser. when you have to drive a long distance you ride very comfortably and the seats aren't tideous to sit in, there is enough room to carry whatever you want, and the vehicle isn't too terrible on gas,(I know this because I in fact have a grand marquis myself). they are easy to fix, parts are cheap, they don't require too much maintenance other than common preventative maintenence. the car is an ideal vehicle in many aspects such as: first car, reliable daily driver, road tripping, livery service, taxi cabs, police cars and much more. the panther platform/grand marquis are great and useful vehicles for so many people and purposes and that's why people love these cars
DUDE i was laughing my ass off when you showed the dash panel and its all digital with the Knight rider music.. I have a 2000 with that dash but i do love the shit out of my 2000 i just got it i had a 89 for 9 years
This guy needs a BMW. This guy deserves a BMW. And the mountains of expensive problems that go with it. A Panther car will go 400,000 miles+ with almost no issues as long as it is properly maintained. It may look a bit rounder, but there is a lot of '70s DNA in these cars. And they are all the better for it.
You bought a good car..l own a 06 Grand Marq and a 03 Crown Vic.. Been driving the Vic for 10yrs..and its just as good as the day l bought it.. I got it at 78K and now has 187K..runs like a top..
I have a 1999 Grand Marquis and a 1993 Town Car, and I wouldn't trade in my panthers for the world. I love those two cars. Both have the 4.6l v8 engine, but the 93 Town Car seems to have a lot more power. They are both "pillow ass rides" as my Grandpa would put it. I don't really know why I love them, but I love my landboats. Comfiest cars on the road.
It's funny to see how seriously people take these reviews even though it's a known fact how poorly American cars of the 80's and early 90' were made. Mind you, I only drive US made cars myself, but the interior quality and exterior body panel fitting is not the strong suit of these cars. Also the engines had lackluster performance when compared to, let's say, Mitsubishi 6G72 V6. Don't get me wrong, these cars have soul and character, but they definitely are not the all mighty roadwarriors people think they are.
The Panthers were an exception just like the B bodies. Yeah the engines were very weak for the displacement but they were adequate and they make nice noises...which is a big part of what makes a car nice to own. v6 engines simply sound silly and they dont get any better mileage then a V8. The 4.6 was designed to be smoooooooth and reliable, which it is.
@@twoeightythreez Weak for their displacement? 235hp out of a 281 cubic inch engine isn't bad. Remember this was long before the times of 1hp per cubic inch or more like we have today.
@@outspokengenius The original Windsor 4.6 only had 190hp. I had a 1992 Grand Marquis which was very smooth and reliable. Still not much power for its displacement. Just because it was more power than the stock 5.0 Ford small block doesn't mean it wasn't low output. It was. 1hp per cube wasn't uncommon in the 1990s, just not as common as today. For example, The Infiniti Q45 back in 1989 had a 4.5l (273ci) V8 that was rated at 276hp....and it actually put out closer to 330hp so not uncommon at all. More examples? oK. How about one from the same time period, same manufacturer, even! Ford Taurus SHO...222hp, 181cid So yeah, the 4.6 is pretty low output even for its day. Doesn't matter, still a damn good workhorse engine.
@@twoeightythreez It should be pointed out that America is a large country. When we drive somewhere on a trip, were on a multi-hour journey. Some of our cars (lets be honest here, most of our cars) are designed to make that trip less painful. Hence the "land barge" vehicles we have.
I bought a 96' MGM 2 yrs ago from the Estate of a mechanic. It had 77, 500 miles and had not been driven in the winter. The deceased man's Nephew was selling it and he wanted someone who appreciated the car like his Uncle and would take care of it. I got it for $2500. It's been a great car and since I don't have a car payment, I can afford gas.
I bought a ‘95 Crown Vic new drove it for 140K mi and that car didn’t owe me a dime. Other than routine maintenance It had one repair to the EGR system in all that time. Loved it, one of the best cars I ever had. I don’t miss it but I really enjoyed driving it at the time. I think it was a good “road rage” car. The acceleration was best above 35 mph as it got up to freeway speed quickly once it got moving. Oh and it had a loud multi-note horn.(but never used it)
i own a 99 LTC , it's a super dependable , great ride quality looks nice also , if I want to drive something with power I take my 1980 t/a out , with 540 cubic inches of pure pontiac power it rocks , back to the lincoln , its a great car.
I just got a 2004 Grand Marquis GS for my first car. I do quite enjoy it, but unlike the model shown in the video, I have a more traditional instrument panel(with no tachometer) and I didn't have the automatic air conditioner. Also the entertainment setup has a CD player/radio. Update: Got the automatic air conditioner installed, along with a CD player/Cassette/radio.
I have always wanted a Grand Marquis. Now, at 30 years old, I just bought a 2009 with 33k miles from the original owner in Phoenix, AZ. I plan on keeping it forever.
Made me nostalgic for another panther body. Living in New York, you learn to appreciate them. They did have a tendency to occasionally go up in flames. A amusing quirk.
You definitely missed the entire point of these cars and it's easy to see why. You didn't live through the 50's, 60's and 70's when large sedans were still kings of the road. They are safe, they are big and have a full frame. They can take a hit better than many smaller cars. They get high marks for safety in industry testing. They can be a part of a planned defense against today's distracted drivers. I would feel that my mother, wife and children and indeed myself was a little bit safer while driving or riding in one. They are reliable, they run on and on and can suffer untold abuse. When they break down, they are do it your self easy with plenty of cheap parts available They are inexpensive to buy used, especially if you don't care how the car looks. They are comfortable & roomy, a little bit of your living room gliding down the street with you. If you want a sportier car, guess what? All the parts are available and the car is easily modified for whatever your large sedan driving needs. Do you need cop car performance, reliability and room for a squad of colleagues and their equipment? Do you need drag racing acceleration for stop light storming with your motor head club cronies? These cars weigh as little as 3700 lbs and can handle a lot of power which is bolt on thanks to the V8 architecture. They are relatively light weight in part to some aluminum body parts. A new Ford Mustang GT weighs 400 lbs more than an old Crown Vic and a new Dodge Challenger, 600 lbs more. Do you need dependable freeway cruising in comfort with the wife to the cape? These cars are some of the smoothest, best riding and quietest ever built. Maybe you need a quiet, comfortable, soothing car pool queen for those daily, long trips to and from the office with your abused co-workers who need room to shave, eat breakfast, use their lap-tops, text and cry on each others shoulders as they commute? One trip in a Panther and you'll never take John's pick-up or Mary's Prius again. Are you stuck with a Minivan as your DD? Yech! Maybe you would rather drive a Mustang? Done, the engine's the same and all the parts are there to let you have a similar feel and sound as a Mustang but with four doors and a back seat that will let you take all three kids and their backpacks to school in comfort and safety every day. Okay, I'm stretching things a little but you get the idea. Oh yeah, that reminds me, you can get a Panther with a 6" stretch if you need a lot of front and rear seat legroom, it's called a Lincoln and very popular too. In fact, popularity was the real reason these vehicles stayed on and on long after the general public was re-programmed to buy different types and styles of vehicles. Most migrated to the FWD, AWD and SUV right on que as led by the industry. It seems however, that people still like riding in these cars, big Lincolns, Mercurys and Fords, limo's and taxis. The Panther was the backbone of the livery and law enforcement industries and set the standard for the future as well. The police still want them and in fact, there are stories of certain police departments ordering as many vehicles as possible, ahead of their needs, when they heard of the platform's demise. It seems that the same thing happened in the livery industry and the military motor pool. It's no wonder, have you seen what passes for a hearse these days? So the car has a long history, back to 1955 for the Crown Victoria name. However, the Panthers platform has been around since 1978, a little over 33 years. It held up better than most during the onslaught of foreign vehicles in the new world market. If that's not being successful, what is? It represented what most of us grew up with way back when it was the type of vehicle that good and decent Americans aspired to. Large sedans with lots of room and power. This one still has both and in a refined package, the result of years of making it a little better all the time. This vehicle is still popular with service workers, people who need a large, roomy sedan for daily duties. It has to please the drivers, riders, maintainers and bean counters and all that ain't always easy. The Panther made it seem easy however, it just did what it was designed to do. Henry Ford's ideal of offering a lot of value for your money shone on in the Panther platform and it was still made and welcomed in America. I hope that this will help you to see a little bit more of the big picture when it comes to the Panther. It can not be understood or written off with a simple test drive of a nearly 20 year old car. The legend will not die until all of the fond memories stored away in the Panther's past have expired and these days with youtube and others, those memories may never fade and indeed will help to create a legend that is larger than life. Don't believe me? Check out some of the Panthers youtube videos to get an idea of the vehicles diversity. My favorite is of the man who uses his stock Panther to climb the huge rocks at Moab. He and his dog became famous after sightings and then videos by the off road set proved him more miraculous than mirage. Moab was probably the last place I expected to see a Panther showing off it's prowess. But then again, by it's history, the Panther has often surprised and seldom disappointed when pushed beyond expectation. Long live the Panther and other American icons if for no other reason than nostalgia. 20 years from now, it will be good to spot one out on the highway now and then so we can point it out while bragging to our grandchildren about how much we miss our big cars and how much better things were in the good old days.
Don Hart Couple of things. First off, that is one heck of a speech you wrote there. I can clearly see why you love the panther. Secondly, they didn't actually get stellar marks in crash tests. Side impact ratings are marginal to poor on the last generation cars. I can only imagine the older generations did worse, but that's only speculation. Lastly, I may not have articulated it very well, but I said nostalgia was the reason people loved these things. I think I said something like it's "the last big american boat". Granted, I probably didn't go into any more depth than that. It doesn't really matter what I say. I'm glad to see you have so much passion for these cars.
Thank you and yes, I am a very passionate person who always looks for what suits me best. I do love these cars and I beg to differ with you, the late model Panthers have great crash ratings, five star frontal, both sides, five star roll over and five star rear side with four star front side. The older models were just as good. Here is a link to their ratings: www.internetautoguide.com/7-9-28-475/ford-crown-victoria-crash-tests.html - A 2000 V8 Camaro ran into the back of my 2006 GM several years ago and was towed away totaled. I drove the GM home and it seemed okay. It was a hard hit and I sold the GM for parts and bought a very well cared for 1997 CV, the last of the Aero models and the lightest of the Panthers. It is quite not as fast as the GM in stock trim but still holds it's own in stoplight battles. You claim that yours was slow, mine is quicker than most cars on the road today and still averages 23-25 MPG with 2.73 differential gears. I read somewhere that in 1997 Ford lowered the 1st and 2nd gear ratios in the trans for better low end acceleration and this car has it. No racer by any means but with quick reflexes, I can beat lots of drivers who think that their cars are faster than mine. It's always fun to see their surprised faces and determined looks. I cut the bottom of the air box out and also the bottom of the well it sits in in order to get more cold air to the engine. It works great and is protected from water and road debris. I also installed a K&N air filter and while there seems to be a little more power, the sound alone is enough to turn heads when I floor the accelerator. Just fun! There is something about these cars and it's much more than nostalgia. There is a lack of pretentiousness that leads to a feeling of satisfaction for the driver. The car just seems to do everything better than expected. It is light enough to toss around with abandonment yet heavy enough to give a stellar ride. It gets better fuel mileage than expected and requires lower maintenance than many cars. It's one of those things that hits you after owning one of these cars for a while. There is something else in these cars that's missing in most of today's soul less imports. Some cars are just dripping with personality while others are mere appliances. You won't catch me driving an appliance if I can help it. There's another aspect that I can't quite put my finger on it but while my wife's Sable is much more fun and rewarding to drive, we prefer the CV most of the time, winter excepted. I have owned a Prius and it was good on fuel but soul less, I own an F350 diesel dually and it is a fun beast to drive but not practical unless we are hauling heavy stuff or towing our fifth wheel TT or boat around. I have an Aerostar cargo van that we use for camping and it is comfortable and capable and a great camping machine that holds everything including our bicycles and inflatable kayaks and keeps everything clean and dry but not really what I want to drive every day. I'll keep the CV for now, it is a classy vehicle and always comfortable and safe IMO. We like the room, the visibility for sight seeing, the ride, the comfort and the overall experience. These cars are definitely classics and they will live on in infamy for an indefinite time, IMO. Your mileage may vary.
+Don Hart I'm only 39 and I loved the Grand Marquis I got to use a 1988 LS one back in 1996. Loved it. The Grandparents had a 1994, and later a 1997, and the last one was a 2000 I believe. The 2000 was nice, i drove it out to AZ for them and did 110mph (limited) the whole way. I never had a issue with the handling, or the brakes but this was a NEW car. Ford did add more HP, they called it the Marauder and it had something like 300HP if I recall. Actually the test mule had a lot more they had to tone it down for production (an Uncle worked at the Wixom plant). They were very reliable vehicles my Grandparents never had an issue with them. In fact the 1988 one bounced back and forth for fun to my mother and me till for $500 she gave it to a friend. (We all had new vehicles but kept it because it ran just fine). Yes, $500 was giving it away as it rode and drove just fine heck the power antenna still worked. There is a reason why rental companies used them, putting 200,000 even 300,000 on the motors was doable and common for Taxi's and Police to do. Very reliable vehicles, did I say that? They carried 4 adults with plenty of room, they had soft rides, they had a real trunk that you could put a body or two in. I wish they would have kept producing them, and just put in a new power plant. I would probably buy one if they still made them. Very nice vehicles indeed.
+Don Hart i can attest to the statement about taking a hit better. i was involved in front end collision in September 2015 in a 1997 grand marquis. i thought it was only the hood and front right quarter panel that we're affected. i later found out it was also the rack and pinion, so i had to scrap it. long story short it literally felt like i hit nothing and because i was wearing my seat belt nothing bad. i can report that now i have 2001 Grand Marquis
I own one very similar to the one in the video but its a 97. Pros easy and cheap to fix, good safety ratings, large interior/trunk. Auto climate control works well. Brakes are excellent. The digital dash is unique and I like it. The engine is very quiet. The car is very reliable and durable. Keypad entry is great. The parts from many years are interchangeable. Cons styling is bland, fuel mileage in town stinks, cup holders stink, stock radio is basic and useless, steering is a bit twitchy and car handles poorly with the soft springs. The 2 piece wiper cowl warps and the wipers that park themselves stink in winter. It is a very relaxing car to drive because its so quiet comfortable and soaks up bumps so well. It will not tire you out on a long trip. The cars are excellent value for your money if your on a tight budget.
I just picked up an '08 Crown victoria former sheriffs department police model. If you want to see just how good the panther platform and 4.6 engine can be, go find and test one. The car is pretty amazing handling and driving wise. No sag or squishiness at all, steering is amazing for an american boat class car. The Mercury of this generation would be easy to mod with cop suspension parts. Now for being the kind of fleet sale car it is, it's shockingly solid and tight even after hard police and cab use. Transmission tune for these is firm shifting, downshifts quick and the cars power is pretty effortless. This is why people like the panther platform.
You know I would take one of these Mercury's any day over all the CRAP and foreign cars out there now. These are so much better than all the new stuff. Keep fixing these cars and keep them going. These were very good years for Ford in general. I prefer the Lincoln's myself, but these are just as good. Your review was mediocre. American's use to like everything BIG. Now many American's are getting brainwashed into getting rid of their good older american cars for this new foreign crap! So sad while these cars go to waste. No more pride for American quality and support for US anymore.
+AMCNorthstar 93 I agree. I've driven my share of foreign cars whose main purpose for existing is a few bucks saved in gas. These old cars are about comfort. Also, everybody hammers the low power output for such a substantial engine but, I always thought these cars moved pretty well. I mean, it's no sports car but it accelerates a lot better than my girlfriend's accord or any other foreign car that makes that horrible whining noise when it accelerates as opposed to the warm, dignified rumbly growl of the 4.6 in my 2008. It's just a different mindset. These were the common cars back then and when you compare them to the common cars of today, they're a lot better.
Dominick Foster EXACTLY!!!!! I glad I'm not the only one to say the same thing. These cars are so much better in every way possible than any new car and especially foreign cars. Even foreign people in other countries like big American cars more than their own cars which is why you see more and more american cars being shipped overseas. This country has so many foolish people getting sucked into these new cars. These cars have a nice sound going down the road and sounds a whole lot better than those stupid loud rice burner cars that only get you a few more miles and lot less comfort and safety. I would take one of these big Fords or GM cars over any new car hands down!! I have mainly GM cars now. I drive a 2005 Deville as my daily driver and Iove it!! I have been around Cadillac's my entire life but I always loved the Ford's and Lincoln's just as much. My favorite two auto makers are Ford and GM. What's nice about both the Lincoln town Car and the Cadillac's is that they are built right in Michigan by proud auto workers!
These cars are not going to waste. They are literally the cheapest and easiest cars to keep on the road now....very durable and plentiful enough that you basically can buy another when yours breaks amd use your old one for parts.
It kind of doesn't make sense in that car though. Even by the 90s, the American land yacht was kind of a grandma car. It's a dashboard that should have dials with needles on them, rather than some overly-complicated and over-computerized system for a buyer who probably didn't even have a computer at home.
I think you missed the boat on this vid... I was a panther skeptic myself till I got a gig in Miami. I would be flying into Miami every week but the client insisted that I 'cab it' instead of getting a rental. This ultimately made sense since dealing with a car in Miami Beach is terrible. Anyhow, after a few months, I noticed that all the cabs were panthers and after chatting with the cabbies and eyeballing the odometers, I noticed that most of them had more than 250,000 miles on them. The drivers said the cars would ALWAYS hit at least 300,000 miles with zero issues, other than the the intake manifold problem and typical maintenance items. I ended up buying a Town Car for travel after that gig and would drive back and forth from Knoxville, to Washington DC every week. I was always getting 25+ MPG and loved the ride. Mom and dad borrowed my Lincoln and would not give it back, so I picked up a 2002 MGM and was getting 29+ MPG with it on the DC trips as long as I set the cruise at 73 MPH. The car is huge and I could stuff the trunk with coolers, more luggage than I needed and still had an 'empty' car for the trip. The reason people love these cars is the guarantee of 300,000 relatively troublefree miles and the awesome fuel mileage on the highway.
I own both a 2000 and 2004 marquis ,I absolutely love this vehicle there is nothing bad about it in my opinion. I'll own a 70's model next . Awesome video by the way you had me rolling! #PANTHER
Chad Douglas My grandfather owned one and gave it to his daughter. She totaled the same one 6 times and it still ran until the 6th total loss. 5th accident a deer jumped off a hill and landed on her car destroying the front end. By the time they rebuilt it, it had 4 different tire tracks. She somehow totaled the car that many times with poor driving but it persisted on.
Im currently in the market for a PANTHER Grand Marquis and found a really low mileage like new 2002 Grand Marquis....Is this a mistake to buy a pre-2003 version with the old frame design and old soft steering?
My dad bought one brand new in 1996. Everytime I see a panther body, i think of my childhood and the many roadtrips in the back of that 96 grand marquis. I miss that car. I wonder if my dad does...
I have owned many of the panthers all were brand new most were ordered. Wife was a home visiting nurse. The trunk is huge held all kind of medical equipment. She would put 40,000 miles per year with a 37 year record. She got into many accidents the car held up with no injuries. I still drive the last one. 2006 Lincoln towncar 180000 miles it is the one that is 6 inches longer I love it . I am 75 yo.I tow a small trailer to Florida every year tow great I will hate to replace it . 24 miles per gallon on the highway. My wife would sit in the patients drive way and do all of her medical charting so they had many hours of ideling keeping the air on in the summer and heat in the winter . I paid 46000.00 brand new. Very little problems.
The best built American cars. When Taxi and Livery companies buy Grand Marquis and Crown Victorias with 250000 miles...and keep them serviced to get another 250000 miles out of them...enough said. They do not handle as bad as you're saying, and are quite comfortable. Every car built has their own set of idiosycracies, yes. But to pick on a misunderstood panther platform, is absurd. in 2003 when they changed over to rack and pinion, they handled even better. Check out a Marauder and get back to me. If you know what one is...
You know I've seen people with nothing but GM and Chevy in there driveway and then they got a crown vic setting right there. Just can't deny something so iconic and built solid
You still don't understand these vehicles. They actually get good gas mileage. Cargo space like an ugly van. Room for your overweight relatives. Road presence. Get a Town Car and maybe you'll figure it out.
A year later, and I still cannot get over your complete misunderstanding of what a Mercury Grand Marquis is. It is not a sports car. This car, which stopped production in 2011, was the last of the great American full size cars. You definately drunk the cool aid, that has persuaded you that luxury, a soft ride, great engineering and just an all around pleasurable ride are wrong. But, alas, I will give you are few more years, and then when you hit around 50 years of age, perhaps then you might just think ---- "you know, those old big, smooth riding American Sedans, were pretty nice - sure wish I had that old 95 Mercury Grand Marquis".
Its a relatively cheap vehicle thats pretty modern yet can be worked on with simple hand tools parts are plentiful and it can accept quite a few modifications because due to having the same engine as the mustang it can take most of its mods. Also dead reliable WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THAT DAMN INTAKE MANIFOLD!!
You don't exactly sound like you are a fan of the Mercury Grand Marquis lol. I own a 1998 model Merc. Grand Marquis and yep, she is a giant boat with a huge trunk. Rides great and easy to work on. It's been a great car so far and I have no plans of getting rid of it. It's my second vehicle as I usually drive a 05 Chevy Silverado 1500 ext. cab long bed 5.3 Vortec. Sometimes it's just fun to drive the old Merc. Very smooth ride and easy to work on.
look I own a 1993 mercury grand Marquis Gs. and they are not slow actually it's quite fast for something that weights 3500 pounds. and you calling it slow is just shameful I haven't put my car to the floor yet. but I have timed my car and I can bury 85 mph in my speedometer in 9 seconds and I have reached 136 mph not full on the floor and with little room to do so. this car is amazing in every aspect. not slow not mid priced or junky they are amazing cars. so if you are going to talk about ones car make sure that you have the right info. and no it doesn't steer like crap it grips great
Jacob Dial your comment is a joke I owned one (1992) it was slow and steering was awful my 2001 crown vic has 30 more hp due to Ford using the pi motot and even it isn't fast. Big heavy slow cars.
those 90's panthers had tire rod issues, there was even a recall on some models. my dad has a 90 something crown vic lx and his tire rod busted just the other day, I'm looking for a later year grand marquis.
Great Video.These cars are fully loaded. Yea 1995 was a good while back but can you believe all the high tech stuff these cars had then? I love the digital dashboard it sure does remind me of Knight Rider. Not the mention the automatic on off head lights and keyless entry keypad plus the remote entry phobe. This is really a high end car. My family had one just like yours we had a 1996 model and then later on we got the 2000 Grand Marquis. Both cars were excellent were fun and very comfortable rides. Both our 1996 and 2000 models lasted us over 200,000 miles. I wish Ford still made these cars I think these are the most reliable ever. Sure Miss the Grand Marquis, Town Car and Vics
Why all the hate in the comments? he's absolutely right about these cars. I've owned crown vics throughout the 90's, and 2000's. I currently have an 07 sitting in my driveway. None of them were great quality cars. They can take abuse and they're reliable, but they're certainly not comfortable or put together with care and precision. Before the end of their production, both the grand marquis and crown vic were getting better in comfortability. But that's about it. They are not fast or nimble. For their size they're alright, but nothing special. Good beater cars though.
Your review is lacking, you should use the 2003-2011 panther for this test. The last generation of these cars are great! Rack and pinion steering, hydro-formed stiff frame, engine is just 250 hp but with the torque it has very little trouble with todays Prius like transportation appliances in passing or just meandering your way to the front to leave the lurky lews in the past. These cars are easy to fix, cheap to fix, reliable to the point of being bullet proof. Panther was one of the most successful cars ever built as well as refined each generation. Only 30+ million built from 1979 so yeah people liked em. Today your stuck with turbo 4 bangers that in no ones fantasy will last remotely close to one of these. Ford should have just given an update, tweaked the fuel mpg and hp boost, then ford would've had another winner. Oh and I get 22 city and 34ish hwy at 70 mph with a good ride and safety.
Ed Biliski I have a 97, the last of the "Aero" body style. It gets better mileage than my brothers 2008. I get between 21 and 23 around town and 25 to 28 on the highway with high fuel mileage tires. The older cars had 190 HP, not 250 and they were lighter at 3700 lbs as well as more aerodynamic. I don't baby it at all but highway driving with cruise control is highway driving with cruise control. I have 2.73 rear end gears, the tallest ratio ever offered. I doubt that the car could get 34ish on any highway, even going downhill with a tail wind.
Here in England I have several big V8s. I have a 2000 Cadillac STS which I have to say rides like a magic carpet and is actually really good around twisty, bendy roads. I think the air suspension probably has a lot to do with that. It is front wheel drive but makes up for that with the roadholding. It has the 4.6 Northstar 32 valve V8 which puts out about 305 bhp so it's quick and comfortable. However the plastic is exactly the same as your Marquis which is a shame as it find what is otherwise a pretty nice car. I also have a 1997 Audi S8 4.2 V8. That has 4WD and about 380 bhp. That is designed to rocket away from the lights and it does. It also hugs the roads. The plastic trim is thick and soft, it is very high quality and doesn't creak or squeak at all. It also acts as sound deadening and works well. It completely destroys both STS and my 4.0 litre V8 Jaguar in a drag race. The Jag is very comparable to the STS in both performance and comfort and handling but even that can't match the Audi for trim quality, although it is better than the Caddy.
'00 GM w/male pattern baldness 1/2 Landau top, (ya can't unsee it,) 94k miles, paid $900. Very comfortable, quick enough for daily use, I enjoy driving it. With a tight front end you can do some impressive cornering. I fit 3 toilets in it, new in box, 2 in the rear seat, 1 in the trunk. Matching paint for it is on the shelf at the auto parts store. What more could you ask for?
The car does what it was designed to do VERY well. Using the "Net" horsepower rating, 190HP isn't bad for this type of car..Ford's old solid lifter 289 Hi-Po was rated at 271hp, but made an actual 190 net horsepower.
I once had a 1968 LTD with the 390 V8.Back then a local apple orchard was selling firewood by the 15 bushel bin.I could put a whole bin's worth in the trunk,with the spare tire in it,and still close the lid! Try doing that in today's cars!
I have a 1993. The 5.0l that the 4.6 replaced had 150hp. Its 190hp and 265lb-ft. HP is just a number people use to talk shit about cars.....its plenty adequate for this car's intended purpose. I think the brakes work just fine. Very strong brakes (4 wheel disc) Yeah the feel isnt thr best but its not supposed to be sporty. I love it for my 60 mile one way commute. I prefer the cloth interior my car has. Same issue with doors but i dont care. Most of them has analog gauges. Why do you need a tachometer with an automatic anyway? You could get automatic climate control in a 1968 cadillac and in panther cars in the 1980s. The trunk is one of the things i love about the car. You can fit 5 wheels and tires in that trunk (including spare). Rear legroom is only really bad when front seats are all the way back which means most people wont reach the pedals...and if you want a panther car with legroom you can always get a town car (6 inches longer wheelbase). BTW why knock the RWD? This boat is hands down the best handling car in snow i have ever owned. Very well balanced and i live in a very hilly area. I have driven this car in blizzards With snow tires and it goes anywhere. A set of chains and you could probably plow snow with a Panther car. If weather conditions are too bad for this car, you shouldn't be driving no matter what you have.
I have 2 97 crown lx’s one bought with 38,000 miles now 51,000 miles for $1400 bucks mint. Just got one about 21/2 months ago for $2000 with 17,089 miles on it. True gems and I love them more than my 2010 Escalade! 😂
This guy's Grand Marquis must've been in bad shape. I own a 2002 and the handling and performance is great. I took it around an on ramp curve at 50 MPH. The recommended speed was 35 MPH. It flew down the exit. I couldn't feel a thing. It was glued to the road. This on ramp basically straightens out about 100 feet before merging onto a busy highway with cars all wanting to go 70. Right at the end of the curve, I gave it half throttle and it went right up to 70 MPH. The little 4 cylinder Fusion that had been tailgating me started falling behind on the curve. Then he fell behind even more when I gave it half throttle. He almost got hit by a semi while merging. Embarrassed, he flew by me doing almost 80 after I let off at 70. The speed limit is 65 and the state troopers are dense around this area. But the point is, a well maintained Grand Marquis will handle and drive better than any car of it's class. Any panther car will. Don't compare it to a sports car. It weighs way more. Compare it to other sedans.
Anyone who has one of these cars, do yourself a favor and get a set of Monroe HD shocks (police spec Crown Vic). Brakes can be improved also. I had 15x7 wheels on my '97, handled great.
The secret of the Panther Platform for myself is the full chassis and RWD. No cars really have this design anymore. My family has never owned a FWD car.
I have a 2003 grand marq and it's in mint condition and I win a lot of races with it even around corners so I don't know what kind of second hand winter beater you picked up but obviously you got it from a scrap yard
You can make these go around corners but no way will one of these cars keep up with a modern car in corners provided the drivers are equally skilled. I know, i have a grand marquis. I have to work to maintain corner speeds that are effortless in my Focus. Handling is simply not what these cars are about. That said, just like everything else, these cars adequately serve thier purpose. Acceleration and cornering are adequate. But the tradeoff is the ride. These cars are about simulating a magic carpet ride and thats why people love them. Modern cars all ride like skateboards in the name of being "sporty". The panther was the last gasp of traditional American cross country capable comfort.
I absolutely love my 1999 Crown Vic LX model. I have had the car since June 2019. The ODO had 89050 when I bought it and has about 108400 now. Will not part with it👍🙂☑️. I will buy a Grand Marquis, if I come across one in very good condition, as a 2nd car. Superb vehicles.
If you really want to describe the Panther platform, how about road testing a 1991-1997 Lincoln Towncar. THEN, road test the 1998-2011 Lincoln Towncar. The last 13 years of Towncars really handle very well. Your Grand Marquis doesn’t even come close in handling. No offense intended, but I’ve owned a lot of Panther platform cars.
Im currently in the market for a PANTHER Grand Marquis and found a really low mileage like new 2002 Grand Marquis....Is this a mistake to buy a pre-2003 version with the old frame design and old soft steering?
Your complaint about the breaks was odd mine had great breaks with the primitive by today’s standard ABS even with 200k it would out stop most any thing in the family sedan class even my dad’s 2005 Impala. So what’s wrong with a smooth quiet car. The squeaky panels how old is that car? There were several generations of chassis under that same body, my 03 is quite different than the 95. I must have been born old as I’ve had many barges and cute quick cars at the same time, Road Trip give me my barge.
welcome to RUclips and congrats on the video. you stated some good points my sister owns a Lincoln town car from 1993. the car phone module as mentioned at 2:43 came at the beginning of the 2nd generation town car, in 1990. I absolutely love these cars I just have a hard time getting in them and out of them. the pedal is very soft in these cars which I hate. most of the power and torque from the 4.6 is bottom end and it takes off well when the pedal is floored. panther body cars are city cars so that first gear is home most of the time. I also have to disagree with the door switches for the seat. It's a PITA to fix and get to. Our town car has received many words that most people shouldn't hear.
I'm 57, I'm a drag racer ('68 Camaro) a sports car enthusiast (Corvette C5) those are my fun cars. But I also have a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. I cannot say enough things about this car. It is the ideal transportation/long distance touring car. I'm 240 pounds, and I actually fit in it comfortably. I love the soft cushy ride, and the soft cushy leather seats. I like the smooth quiet ride, like floating on air. No, it's handling is not great, but it doesn't need to be. That's not what it's designed for. There are other cars for that. It does have power. I have easily hit 100 mph down a freeway on ramp. Merging into traffic is effortless. And if you need to get ahead of somebody that is blocking the lane you need to be in to make the next exit, just step on it and show them your tail lights. It's much faster than all the little 4 cylinder and V6 cars on the road today. There is a reason they use the Panther cars for police cars. They are fast, tough, and comfortable. They are easy to get in and out of. My '06 has rack and pinion steering so it probably does handle better than a '90s car. Properly taken care of, these cars will pass 300,000 miles, all the while getting high 20's mpg on the highway. Not bad for a 2 ton car. They are also very simple cars. They have a V8 engine that is easy to work on for a late model car, they have rear wheel drive, they have a solid rear axle, mine has rear discs, and they have body on frame construction. The front end on the 2003 and up cars is built like a tank. Beefier than many trucks. The body is solid as a rock, no squeaks or rattles after 120,000 miles. Yes the interior is a bit flimsy, but show me an American car that doesn't have that problem. Part of the reason for that is that this is a very outdated car for it's model year, and that is what I love about it the most. It feels and drives like a big '70s sedan. And it has a nice flat dash that you sit some distance from, not like new models where the dash wraps around you. The top of the dash is also very narrow, like a '70s car. It doesn't stick out very far from the base of the windshield. Both the windshield and rear window are very upright and easy to see through. The wide upright C pillar looks great. The styling is very conservative, again very '70s like. I may keep this car forever, even if I have to replace the engine or transmission. It is the last of the big American land yachts, nothing like it will ever be built again. To me, all that adds up to a very special car indeed. Now if I can just find a hood ornament for it.
Yeah !!
vulcan1753 my dad has a 2010 with 77k my 2005 Scion tC with 157k 5 speed is much faster
Ive had a 05 and 04 crown vic. The 04, I got my from grandfather who bought it new, 256,000 miles on it when I got it and had never had anything replaced. going to get a 2007 Grand Marquis tomorrow. Im 28, so not many of my friends appreciate the car since its an "old man car" but its one of the best sedans ever made. LOVE EM!
Last Monday i finally got my 2001 grand marquis on the road a week i had bought it(long story with dmv) but my mom's got a 99 and my friends got a 00 marquis. all of them are amazing cars. Such a great car to own. I wish they still made them. btw my friend & i are both 25, both of our cars are still stock and just love the way they are
yeah I got an 04 Grand over 130K? Still ones great but I still want a LS. I'm looking for an 09.
If loving the Ford Panther cars is wrong then I don't want to be right
My first time seeing Robert's first Aging Wheels video. Wow, I can see so much of your current stuff in this first one. I like the AW channel very much. I have a 2008 CVPI and love it. It's my only vehicle and my favorite of all vehicles I've owned. The Panthers are indeed outstanding: easy to drive, durable, reliable, comfortable, roomy, V8, RWD, full frame...etc. Mine is a keeper for sure. Cheers!👍😎
The panther platform is amazing because its tough. I got rear ended by a semi that was doing 100kmh. My crown vic was still working... The semi was not. The car was a total loss, but still ran and went into gear and everything still worked. I slid 200 feet sideways and slammed into a ditch... But I still walked away and my car still ran just fine.
A Panther car LITERALLY KILLING OFF a semi?! A SEMI?! The world needs to see the evidence!!!
Quick question
Did the gas tank get crumpled at all
@@schwenda3727 Makes sense if its a modern semi, they put crumple zones in them too nowadays but still the mass difference is shocking.
The 4.6 found in the Panther is severely detuned in the name of mpg, durability, and low end torque only. These cars are very adequate around town and don't forget that 4.6 is pulling around a heavy safe body and churning out 16mpg city 25hwy. Not bad for a big heavy boat. You can easily bolt on Mustang performance parts to jump hp to 300, but why?
Did I mention by 1994ish these cars could easily see 250-300,000 miles with out much more than a blend door actuator, an intake manifold 96+, and carbon cleanings of the EGR 91-95, although the 4.6 up to 98 could use oil once the valve seals shrunk. The 4R70W is a very robust transmission that occasionally shuddered in the early years, but just add some friction modifier and you'd be good to go. The 4.6 engine often out lives the rest of the car with no know issues such as head gaskets or the such, not even oil leaks are know to this engine.
These bodies held up extremely well to salt and age. The interiors are far more durable than what GM was putting out at the time. For the money, you just can't do better. No $$$ CV joints , no timing belt $$$, stainless steel exhaust, stainless steel/aluminum brake/fuel lines 98+, impeccable safety records in crash test. Crazy cheap parts cost and easy to work on bodies and drive trains.
I currently own several of these cars and have since 1996. I couldn't imagine a better deal for the $$$.
Ditto, very well said. :-)
If you want to get performance out of a panther body car buy a p71 or a marauder if you can afford and be lucky enough to find one
These engines are well known for breaking timing chain guides and premature alternator failure. Other than that, they are extremely robust.
Lol I get 11 in town in my crown vic
@@tassonscomedy1826 Do you ever drive on the highway?
Been watching your channel since the 944 days, and I just watched this. Never in my life did i think that a video about a 90s panther body would have essays and insults in the comment section. Nobody wrote essays about the 944, the Supra, the Saab, the Trabant. Apparently the most passionate community is that of the grand marquis.
I love my grand Marquis, there's something about owning the last of something.
SukkaPunch321 I have a 2006 Grand Marquis love it very last Generation of those cars to bad too
Yep. Take good care of em.
I Had a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis LS . Best car I ever owned . ;_;
@@Xenamare1 I got a 94 and it’s the best thing I got
The 2003-2011 variants still have all the pothole taming qualities these older ones did, but with vastly improved handling.
In fact, its a very capable platform and can be made to handle extremely well.
The weight distribution is actually a near neutral 52/48 and they are very enjoyable to drive in bad weather.
Add in the legendary toughness and they are pretty hard to beat.
Yeah, the interiors are a bit cheap feeling at times, but they are also extremely durable.
People tend to forget you could get these new for around the same price as a mid level Altima or Accord and these have way more character than those cars do, with fullsize car practicality to boot .
Now that they are old and depreciation has bottomed out prices, they are a no brainer, because they are so durable and cheap to repair when they DO break.
My 2004 Grand Marquis now has a manual gearbox swap and that makes it very fun to drive! Its even more fun in snow, due to the good weight distribution and RWD.
The front end is so tough that roads blocked by snowdrifts are absolutely no problem. This car will effortlessly explode snowbanks that would total out most other cars.....its literally a tank.
The fact that there are still so many on the road yet is testament to how durable they are. Nobody is really easy on these cars (especially now that nice ones can be had for under $5 grand) and they just take a lickin and keep on tickin.
Oh yeah, to the OP....the seat switch on the door was actually Mercedes inspired....i read somewhere that Mercedes actually made Ford change the shape of the switch because it looked too similar to the ( at the time copyrighted) mercedes seat switch back in 1992.
It truly is a shame that Ford just let this thing languish, it was actually pretty contemporary and advanced when it came out in 1992. Keep in mind the same basic body shell lasted all the way to 2011.
If Ford would have re done the body/ interior and added ecoboost drivetrains and possibly even hybrid and full electric options, I have no doubt this platform could still be relevant today.
I have owned a 96 town car, a 96 thunderbird, and now an 05 grand marquis among several other vehicles. I purchased my MGM because it is RWD, comfortable, and super dependable. It's not for drag racing, and it is cheap, but it's a great commuter car in the under-crowded area in which I live. My car is rated at 224 hp and 275 lb/ft. It's quicker than an economy car and gets great highway MPG all while hauling whatever I need in the trunk no problem.
The rear leg room is not bad at all unless you have the front seats all the way back. I am 6 foot 1 and don't need the seats nearly all the way back to be comfortable. I really wonder why you failed to mention reliability once in your review of a platform and engine known for reliability....
0:00 The Legend was born !
You've come a long way since this video. That being said, I now miss my 1995 Crown Vic.
My 1994 Town Car has 260,000 flawless miles. Love driving it every day.
What is the secret to the panther platform?
Good design, ergonomic, well built, not fast but fast enough, and extremely utilitarian. I cant think of a car that can crush 600 miles so easily. Ive traveled 600km at 125mph and returned 18 mpg. If you can afford the gas, get one. I loved it and so will you.
In 2001 I bought a '99 Grand Marquis and loved it, and when the suspension was still fresh (under 200,000 miles) you could throw it around pretty good. I once got 26mpg on a tank of gas going through Oklahoma with 4 people, a dog and a load of Christmas presents and luggage in the back. I had so much nostalgia for that slow cruiser with a good presence, that I bought a 2002 at auction last week for cheap, even though it had over 200,000 miles - not many folks would do that with modern cars. Easy to work on, no less reliable than most anything else on the road, and parts are cheaper than most. A good old car to have IMHO. Power is sufficient, silky smooth transmission, basic features without being overly complicated or potentially troublesome. I expect these to be semi collectible in the future, just because of the whole frame rear drive layout/last of an era.
Not as reliable as a lexus
@@ToyotaNutjob I would argue its more reliable, less to go wrong as its less bleeding edge.
@@dkruitz wdym less to go wrong lol? They are both ohc v8s. Toyota just makes a more reliable v8 and overall car. Plus a lexus transmission will always last the entire time of the engine all the way up to 500k!!! Have some respect and don't even mention Toyota and Ford in a reliability comparison
@@ToyotaNutjobusted está operado del cerebro es mejor la plataforma panter
I love the Panther Platform and everything about them, i grew up with them all my life throughout the mid to latter 1970s, 80s, 90s and right to the end of production in 2011. We had 2 door, 4 door and station wagons. I grew up with every model that was produced and we had one of each and i love the 4.6 liter V8 and the 5.0 liter V8. They are soo easy to work on and the parts dont cost a fortune. My first car was an 86 LTD Crown Victoria Country Squire Station Wagon and that car lasted well over 300,000 miles. I currently have an 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis, which is the last generation and was vastly improved in many areas and soo far 130,000 miles and still going strong. Ill keep buying the Panther Platform as long as i can find them. I cant tell you how many i find on dealers lots for low prices and they also have low miles.
Had an 01 Grand Marquis, sold it because I needed some cash and regretted it right away! Have a 95 Town Car, and I love it but I actually think I preferred to Marquis. Can't go wrong with a panther platform. Friend of mine has an 02 Buick Park Avenue and he tells me it feels way less roomy after riding in my Panther!
Huh, so this is the start of my favorite RUclips channel.
Hearing you insult this car is akin to insulting my mother. Im getting defensive. I love the panther platform more then anything ever made. My dream is to one day pick up a Mercury Marauder. BTW your grand marquis has 190 now but can be 235 with a couple cheap mods.
A LOT of people like us love panther platform cars. This guy just had a bad day or something. Oh, yeah...get an early 2000s Marauder and it has DOHC, 302 horsepower! Not too shabby for a 15-year-old engine design...
@@ohhhwolfy2536
Absolutely, I'm a Chevy guy since my mid 20s, my dad always loved, and drove his Ford's.
I still loved my dad even though I felt he had poor taste in vehicle manufacturers ...
When he passed I inherited his 2001 Grand Marquis.
I've been driving that car for three years now, high 20s Hwy. Mpg. Replaced the idler arm at 198,000 ish miles, its still going strong at 2004,000 miles.
I LOVE that car, I now understand my dad's love of Crown Vic's and Grand Marquis.
Scott Witkowski What about 600 bhp.
This is an older post but I just acquired a Grand Marquis. Can you please share?
@@ohhhwolfy2536 Yeah, quite nice. At least the DOHC 4.6 has some respect, unlike a certain Nissan V8 nobody knows about, which has more power than the DOHC 4.6 and came out in 1989.
The Nissan VH45DE In My opinion is the engine Ford reverse Engineered to make the Coyote V8 the Coyote looks almost identical. Remember, the VH45 probably began development in the MID 1980s.
Best car i ever owned. Strong. Smooth. Fast. Spacious. Low maintenance. Good fuel efficiency for its size.
For MPG, my Grand Marquis isn't much different than my wife's CR-V. We use an app for tracking all our fillups, we've been using it for the past three years, it gives easy statistics and graphs to view. Her CR-V has a 1 MPG edge in city driving 19.5MPG, but mine has a 1-2 MPG edge on the highway 26.8MPG.
I worship my 2000 grand marquis, but you aren't really wrong about any of this. They're odd yet amazing in many ways. I like it because I can work on it myself, I hate paying people to do things
I did get the air suspension out, all springs now.
I love this car i have a 2000 I always get compliments on the looks it's simple to fix decent mpg feeling like a boss when I drive it
I have at last found what i have been looking for. A video guaranteed to.make me sleep.
The kmart in the background really adds to this experience
Your review shouldn't have been called "The Secret of the Panther Platform" since it is very clear that you just don't have any understanding about what makes these cars so fantastic and why they have a large loyal following.
I am a 53 year old gear head and have owned many different performance cars over my lifetime. I have restored several cars and currently have a car dealer's license which has allowed me the opportunity to buy, own, drive and sell many different types of cars. I have previously owned a 1995 Crown Victoria LX HPP and a 1997 Grand Marquis LS HPP. Currently, I own a 1996 Crown Victoria LX HPP, a 1999 Grand Marquis GS HPP and a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria LX Sport.
Additionally, I was a CHP Officer for 27 years and personally drove many different police cars including the Panther platform cars from the late 1980s until just recently. I drove these cars extremely hard over the years and my life often depended on their capabilities. They always took the beating, hung in there and never let me down.
In my humble opinion, the Ford Panther platform cars are easily one of the best overall vehicles ever built, PERIOD. They may not be the best in any one area, but they do so many things very very well. They are RWD V8 cars that ride and handle extremely well, get reasonably good fuel mileage, have good power, are very safe, they are easy to modify for improved performance, and parts are inexpensive and readily available. More importantly, they are reliable and tough as nails.
Perhaps, you just didn't get the opportunity to drive a good example long enough to appreciate their fine qualities.
Ever heard of sarcasm
Fun video. Enjoyed. I see you're in Rolla MO. Years ago use to visit my aunt and uncle there at least once a month. He ran a parts store called Hook Auto Supply. Closed years ago; but some of your elders might remember Just bought a 2009 Marquis myself, and so far love it. Good stuff. Thanks.
I have a 2006 Lincoln Continental with 195k and runs like new and its MINT
Airbags, motor, trans all like new
I'm a Ford Tech at a dealer and seen it come in on trade
85yr old man traded it in and sat for 2 yrs
New brakes and rotors and front wheel bearings
Inside is just amazingly clean, not a single thing is wrong with it
I LOVE THIS CAR, best car I have ever owned
Digital instrument clusters were optional that people could ask for when buying the car, they are otherwise always analog. Buttery smooth ride. Also gearheads love it because it is easy to work on, and modding it is not that much hard work to get higher performance out of it. Depending on the model, there was handling and performance package options for the Crown Vic and Grand Marquis, along with the LX sport and LSE respectively. The Mercury Marauder is the king of the panthers but the newer generation only saw a limited run from 03 - 04. If you have a base model, it is super easy to give it an extra 30 horsepower with dual exhaust, a larger air intake from a P71 and ported plenum. The Jmod is implemented as an easy transmission mod that prolongs its life and makes it shift faster than stock.
I have the same exact car 95 mercury grand marquis with the ford 4.6. Stock it came with 210 hp. But my dad and i gave it enough love that we got the engine the power it deserves at around 390 hp plus it sounds fantastic straight piped
Shawn what did you do to the engine? I have a 96
Your first video! This was epic to watch!
Oh gosh my grandpa had a light blue one with aluminum chrome wheels i remember him driving it growing up and evetually he got a newer one. Sadly a few years later in 2014 he passed. Tho his newer one still exsists today. And oh boy their a joy to drive.
the reason people love the panther platform so much is because it's a cruiser. when you have to drive a long distance you ride very comfortably and the seats aren't tideous to sit in, there is enough room to carry whatever you want, and the vehicle isn't too terrible on gas,(I know this because I in fact have a grand marquis myself). they are easy to fix, parts are cheap, they don't require too much maintenance other than common preventative maintenence. the car is an ideal vehicle in many aspects such as: first car, reliable daily driver, road tripping, livery service, taxi cabs, police cars and much more. the panther platform/grand marquis are great and useful vehicles for so many people and purposes and that's why people love these cars
Great cars. I have my 05' p71, 97' towncar and 86 grand marquis. lovem all!
DUDE i was laughing my ass off when you showed the dash panel and its all digital with the Knight rider music.. I have a 2000 with that dash but i do love the shit out of my 2000 i just got it i had a 89 for 9 years
This guy needs a BMW. This guy deserves a BMW. And the mountains of expensive problems that go with it. A Panther car will go 400,000 miles+ with almost no issues as long as it is properly maintained. It may look a bit rounder, but there is a lot of '70s DNA in these cars. And they are all the better for it.
Love my 02 grand marquis, this car has its own personallity!
I recently purchased a 2011 Grand Marquis LS Ultimate Edition with 103k a couple of weeks ago.
You bought a good car..l own a 06 Grand Marq and a 03 Crown Vic.. Been driving the Vic for 10yrs..and its just as good as the day l bought it.. I got it at 78K and now has 187K..runs like a top..
I have a 1999 Grand Marquis and a 1993 Town Car, and I wouldn't trade in my panthers for the world. I love those two cars. Both have the 4.6l v8 engine, but the 93 Town Car seems to have a lot more power. They are both "pillow ass rides" as my Grandpa would put it. I don't really know why I love them, but I love my landboats. Comfiest cars on the road.
It's funny to see how seriously people take these reviews even though it's a known fact how poorly American cars of the 80's and early 90' were made. Mind you, I only drive US made cars myself, but the interior quality and exterior body panel fitting is not the strong suit of these cars. Also the engines had lackluster performance when compared to, let's say, Mitsubishi 6G72 V6. Don't get me wrong, these cars have soul and character, but they definitely are not the all mighty roadwarriors people think they are.
Wrong Wrong Wrong
The Panthers were an exception just like the B bodies.
Yeah the engines were very weak for the displacement but they were adequate and they make nice noises...which is a big part of what makes a car nice to own.
v6 engines simply sound silly and they dont get any better mileage then a V8. The 4.6 was designed to be smoooooooth and reliable, which it is.
@@twoeightythreez Weak for their displacement? 235hp out of a 281 cubic inch engine isn't bad. Remember this was long before the times of 1hp per cubic inch or more like we have today.
@@outspokengenius The original Windsor 4.6 only had 190hp. I had a 1992 Grand Marquis which was very smooth and reliable. Still not much power for its displacement. Just because it was more power than the stock 5.0 Ford small block doesn't mean it wasn't low output. It was.
1hp per cube wasn't uncommon in the 1990s, just not as common as today. For example,
The Infiniti Q45 back in 1989 had a 4.5l (273ci) V8 that was rated at 276hp....and it actually put out closer to 330hp so not uncommon at all. More examples? oK.
How about one from the same time period, same manufacturer, even!
Ford Taurus SHO...222hp, 181cid
So yeah, the 4.6 is pretty low output even for its day.
Doesn't matter, still a damn good workhorse engine.
@@twoeightythreez It should be pointed out that America is a large country. When we drive somewhere on a trip, were on a multi-hour journey. Some of our cars (lets be honest here, most of our cars) are designed to make that trip less painful. Hence the "land barge" vehicles we have.
I bought a 96' MGM 2 yrs ago from the Estate of a mechanic. It had 77, 500 miles and had not been driven in the winter. The deceased man's Nephew was selling it and he wanted someone who appreciated the car like his Uncle and would take care of it. I got it for $2500. It's been a great car and since I don't have a car payment, I can afford gas.
Oh, Robert, you have come so far in six years.
Loved the video, dude. Please do a whole lot more :)
I bought a ‘95 Crown Vic new drove it for 140K mi and that car didn’t owe me a dime. Other than routine maintenance It had one repair to the EGR system in all that time. Loved it, one of the best cars I ever had.
I don’t miss it but I really enjoyed driving it at the time. I think it was a good “road rage” car. The acceleration was best above 35 mph as it got up to freeway speed quickly once it got moving. Oh and it had a loud multi-note horn.(but never used it)
i own a 99 LTC , it's a super dependable , great ride quality looks nice also , if I want to drive something with power I take my 1980 t/a out , with 540 cubic inches of pure pontiac power it rocks , back to the lincoln , its a great car.
re: t/a = stands for Pontiac Trans Am ... writer too lazy to spell out an odd abbreviation.
I just got a 2004 Grand Marquis GS for my first car. I do quite enjoy it, but unlike the model shown in the video, I have a more traditional instrument panel(with no tachometer) and I didn't have the automatic air conditioner. Also the entertainment setup has a CD player/radio.
Update: Got the automatic air conditioner installed, along with a CD player/Cassette/radio.
I have always wanted a Grand Marquis. Now, at 30 years old, I just bought a 2009 with 33k miles from the original owner in Phoenix, AZ. I plan on keeping it forever.
Made me nostalgic for another panther body. Living in New York, you learn to appreciate them. They did have a tendency to occasionally go up in flames. A amusing quirk.
You definitely missed the entire point of these cars and it's easy to see why. You didn't live through the 50's, 60's and 70's when large sedans were still kings of the road. They are safe, they are big and have a full frame. They can take a hit better than many smaller cars. They get high marks for safety in industry testing. They can be a part of a planned defense against today's distracted drivers. I would feel that my mother, wife and children and indeed myself was a little bit safer while driving or riding in one. They are reliable, they run on and on and can suffer untold abuse. When they break down, they are do it your self easy with plenty of cheap parts available They are inexpensive to buy used, especially if you don't care how the car looks. They are comfortable & roomy, a little bit of your living room gliding down the street with you. If you want a sportier car, guess what? All the parts are available and the car is easily modified for whatever your large sedan driving needs.
Do you need cop car performance, reliability and room for a squad of colleagues and their equipment? Do you need drag racing acceleration for stop light storming with your motor head club cronies? These cars weigh as little as 3700 lbs and can handle a lot of power which is bolt on thanks to the V8 architecture. They are relatively light weight in part to some aluminum body parts. A new Ford Mustang GT weighs 400 lbs more than an old Crown Vic and a new Dodge Challenger, 600 lbs more. Do you need dependable freeway cruising in comfort with the wife to the cape? These cars are some of the smoothest, best riding and quietest ever built. Maybe you need a quiet, comfortable, soothing car pool queen for those daily, long trips to and from the office with your abused co-workers who need room to shave, eat breakfast, use their lap-tops, text and cry on each others shoulders as they commute? One trip in a Panther and you'll never take John's pick-up or Mary's Prius again.
Are you stuck with a Minivan as your DD? Yech! Maybe you would rather drive a Mustang? Done, the engine's the same and all the parts are there to let you have a similar feel and sound as a Mustang but with four doors and a back seat that will let you take all three kids and their backpacks to school in comfort and safety every day. Okay, I'm stretching things a little but you get the idea. Oh yeah, that reminds me, you can get a Panther with a 6" stretch if you need a lot of front and rear seat legroom, it's called a Lincoln and very popular too.
In fact, popularity was the real reason these vehicles stayed on and on long after the general public was re-programmed to buy different types and styles of vehicles. Most migrated to the FWD, AWD and SUV right on que as led by the industry. It seems however, that people still like riding in these cars, big Lincolns, Mercurys and Fords, limo's and taxis. The Panther was the backbone of the livery and law enforcement industries and set the standard for the future as well. The police still want them and in fact, there are stories of certain police departments ordering as many vehicles as possible, ahead of their needs, when they heard of the platform's demise. It seems that the same thing happened in the livery industry and the military motor pool. It's no wonder, have you seen what passes for a hearse these days?
So the car has a long history, back to 1955 for the Crown Victoria name. However, the Panthers platform has been around since 1978, a little over 33 years. It held up better than most during the onslaught of foreign vehicles in the new world market. If that's not being successful, what is? It represented what most of us grew up with way back when it was the type of vehicle that good and decent Americans aspired to. Large sedans with lots of room and power. This one still has both and in a refined package, the result of years of making it a little better all the time. This vehicle is still popular with service workers, people who need a large, roomy sedan for daily duties. It has to please the drivers, riders, maintainers and bean counters and all that ain't always easy. The Panther made it seem easy however, it just did what it was designed to do. Henry Ford's ideal of offering a lot of value for your money shone on in the Panther platform and it was still made and welcomed in America.
I hope that this will help you to see a little bit more of the big picture when it comes to the Panther. It can not be understood or written off with a simple test drive of a nearly 20 year old car. The legend will not die until all of the fond memories stored away in the Panther's past have expired and these days with youtube and others, those memories may never fade and indeed will help to create a legend that is larger than life. Don't believe me? Check out some of the Panthers youtube videos to get an idea of the vehicles diversity. My favorite is of the man who uses his stock Panther to climb the huge rocks at Moab. He and his dog became famous after sightings and then videos by the off road set proved him more miraculous than mirage. Moab was probably the last place I expected to see a Panther showing off it's prowess. But then again, by it's history, the Panther has often surprised and seldom disappointed when pushed beyond expectation. Long live the Panther and other American icons if for no other reason than nostalgia. 20 years from now, it will be good to spot one out on the highway now and then so we can point it out while bragging to our grandchildren about how much we miss our big cars and how much better things were in the good old days.
Don Hart Couple of things. First off, that is one heck of a speech you wrote there. I can clearly see why you love the panther.
Secondly, they didn't actually get stellar marks in crash tests. Side impact ratings are marginal to poor on the last generation cars. I can only imagine the older generations did worse, but that's only speculation.
Lastly, I may not have articulated it very well, but I said nostalgia was the reason people loved these things. I think I said something like it's "the last big american boat". Granted, I probably didn't go into any more depth than that.
It doesn't really matter what I say. I'm glad to see you have so much passion for these cars.
Thank you and yes, I am a very passionate person who always looks for what suits me best. I do love these cars and I beg to differ with you, the late model Panthers have great crash ratings, five star frontal, both sides, five star roll over and five star rear side with four star front side. The older models were just as good. Here is a link to their ratings: www.internetautoguide.com/7-9-28-475/ford-crown-victoria-crash-tests.html -
A 2000 V8 Camaro ran into the back of my 2006 GM several years ago and was towed away totaled. I drove the GM home and it seemed okay. It was a hard hit and I sold the GM for parts and bought a very well cared for 1997 CV, the last of the Aero models and the lightest of the Panthers. It is quite not as fast as the GM in stock trim but still holds it's own in stoplight battles.
You claim that yours was slow, mine is quicker than most cars on the road today and still averages 23-25 MPG with 2.73 differential gears. I read somewhere that in 1997 Ford lowered the 1st and 2nd gear ratios in the trans for better low end acceleration and this car has it. No racer by any means but with quick reflexes, I can beat lots of drivers who think that their cars are faster than mine. It's always fun to see their surprised faces and determined looks. I cut the bottom of the air box out and also the bottom of the well it sits in in order to get more cold air to the engine. It works great and is protected from water and road debris. I also installed a K&N air filter and while there seems to be a little more power, the sound alone is enough to turn heads when I floor the accelerator. Just fun!
There is something about these cars and it's much more than nostalgia. There is a lack of pretentiousness that leads to a feeling of satisfaction for the driver. The car just seems to do everything better than expected. It is light enough to toss around with abandonment yet heavy enough to give a stellar ride. It gets better fuel mileage than expected and requires lower maintenance than many cars. It's one of those things that hits you after owning one of these cars for a while.
There is something else in these cars that's missing in most of today's soul less imports. Some cars are just dripping with personality while others are mere appliances. You won't catch me driving an appliance if I can help it. There's another aspect that I can't quite put my finger on it but while my wife's Sable is much more fun and rewarding to drive, we prefer the CV most of the time, winter excepted.
I have owned a Prius and it was good on fuel but soul less, I own an F350 diesel dually and it is a fun beast to drive but not practical unless we are hauling heavy stuff or towing our fifth wheel TT or boat around. I have an Aerostar cargo van that we use for camping and it is comfortable and capable and a great camping machine that holds everything including our bicycles and inflatable kayaks and keeps everything clean and dry but not really what I want to drive every day.
I'll keep the CV for now, it is a classy vehicle and always comfortable and safe IMO. We like the room, the visibility for sight seeing, the ride, the comfort and the overall experience. These cars are definitely classics and they will live on in infamy for an indefinite time, IMO. Your mileage may vary.
+Don Hart Very good points sir!
+Don Hart I'm only 39 and I loved the Grand Marquis I got to use a 1988 LS one back in 1996. Loved it. The Grandparents had a 1994, and later a 1997, and the last one was a 2000 I believe. The 2000 was nice, i drove it out to AZ for them and did 110mph (limited) the whole way. I never had a issue with the handling, or the brakes but this was a NEW car. Ford did add more HP, they called it the Marauder and it had something like 300HP if I recall. Actually the test mule had a lot more they had to tone it down for production (an Uncle worked at the Wixom plant).
They were very reliable vehicles my Grandparents never had an issue with them. In fact the 1988 one bounced back and forth for fun to my mother and me till for $500 she gave it to a friend. (We all had new vehicles but kept it because it ran just fine). Yes, $500 was giving it away as it rode and drove just fine heck the power antenna still worked.
There is a reason why rental companies used them, putting 200,000 even 300,000 on the motors was doable and common for Taxi's and Police to do. Very reliable vehicles, did I say that? They carried 4 adults with plenty of room, they had soft rides, they had a real trunk that you could put a body or two in.
I wish they would have kept producing them, and just put in a new power plant. I would probably buy one if they still made them. Very nice vehicles indeed.
+Don Hart i can attest to the statement about taking a hit better. i was involved in front end collision in September 2015 in a 1997 grand marquis. i thought it was only the hood and front right quarter panel that we're affected. i later found out it was also the rack and pinion, so i had to scrap it. long story short it literally felt like i hit nothing and because i was wearing my seat belt nothing bad. i can report that now i have 2001 Grand Marquis
I owned a Crown Vic back in the 90’s into the 2000’s and loved it. I still have a Town Car and it’s a great vehicle.
Wow...revisiting this 6 years later and the contrast is stark.
I own one very similar to the one in the video but its a 97. Pros easy and cheap to fix, good safety ratings, large interior/trunk. Auto climate control works well. Brakes are excellent. The digital dash is unique and I like it. The engine is very quiet. The car is very reliable and durable. Keypad entry is great. The parts from many years are interchangeable. Cons styling is bland, fuel mileage in town stinks, cup holders stink, stock radio is basic and useless, steering is a bit twitchy and car handles poorly with the soft springs. The 2 piece wiper cowl warps and the wipers that park themselves stink in winter. It is a very relaxing car to drive because its so quiet comfortable and soaks up bumps so well. It will not tire you out on a long trip. The cars are excellent value for your money if your on a tight budget.
I just picked up an '08 Crown victoria former sheriffs department police model. If you want to see just how good the panther platform and 4.6 engine can be, go find and test one. The car is pretty amazing handling and driving wise. No sag or squishiness at all, steering is amazing for an american boat class car. The Mercury of this generation would be easy to mod with cop suspension parts. Now for being the kind of fleet sale car it is, it's shockingly solid and tight even after hard police and cab use. Transmission tune for these is firm shifting, downshifts quick and the cars power is pretty effortless. This is why people like the panther platform.
You know I would take one of these Mercury's any day over all the CRAP and foreign cars out there now. These are so much better than all the new stuff. Keep fixing these cars and keep them going. These were very good years for Ford in general. I prefer the Lincoln's myself, but these are just as good. Your review was mediocre. American's use to like everything BIG. Now many American's are getting brainwashed into getting rid of their good older american cars for this new foreign crap! So sad while these cars go to waste. No more pride for American quality and support for US anymore.
+AMCNorthstar 93 I agree. I've driven my share of foreign cars whose main purpose for existing is a few bucks saved in gas. These old cars are about comfort. Also, everybody hammers the low power output for such a substantial engine but, I always thought these cars moved pretty well. I mean, it's no sports car but it accelerates a lot better than my girlfriend's accord or any other foreign car that makes that horrible whining noise when it accelerates as opposed to the warm, dignified rumbly growl of the 4.6 in my 2008. It's just a different mindset. These were the common cars back then and when you compare them to the common cars of today, they're a lot better.
Dominick Foster EXACTLY!!!!! I glad I'm not the only one to say the same thing. These cars are so much better in every way possible than any new car and especially foreign cars. Even foreign people in other countries like big American cars more than their own cars which is why you see more and more american cars being shipped overseas. This country has so many foolish people getting sucked into these new cars. These cars have a nice sound going down the road and sounds a whole lot better than those stupid loud rice burner cars that only get you a few more miles and lot less comfort and safety. I would take one of these big Fords or GM cars over any new car hands down!! I have mainly GM cars now. I drive a 2005 Deville as my daily driver and Iove it!! I have been around Cadillac's my entire life but I always loved the Ford's and Lincoln's just as much. My favorite two auto makers are Ford and GM. What's nice about both the Lincoln town Car and the Cadillac's is that they are built right in Michigan by proud auto workers!
These cars are not going to waste. They are literally the cheapest and easiest cars to keep on the road now....very durable and plentiful enough that you basically can buy another when yours breaks amd use your old one for parts.
I have an '03 base model that doesn't even have as much inside the car as this one. I love the color!
The instrument panel looks awesome.. You are crazy
Remi
He has a point though. It has everything you don’t want but it has no tachometer that you want.
It kind of doesn't make sense in that car though. Even by the 90s, the American land yacht was kind of a grandma car. It's a dashboard that should have dials with needles on them, rather than some overly-complicated and over-computerized system for a buyer who probably didn't even have a computer at home.
@@cameronlingo2969 slap some mustang gt heads on it, computer, intake and dual exhaust and they move
Can't wait to get back into my manual swapped Marquis!
I think you missed the boat on this vid... I was a panther skeptic myself till I got a gig in Miami. I would be flying into Miami every week but the client insisted that I 'cab it' instead of getting a rental. This ultimately made sense since dealing with a car in Miami Beach is terrible. Anyhow, after a few months, I noticed that all the cabs were panthers and after chatting with the cabbies and eyeballing the odometers, I noticed that most of them had more than 250,000 miles on them. The drivers said the cars would ALWAYS hit at least 300,000 miles with zero issues, other than the the intake manifold problem and typical maintenance items. I ended up buying a Town Car for travel after that gig and would drive back and forth from Knoxville, to Washington DC every week. I was always getting 25+ MPG and loved the ride. Mom and dad borrowed my Lincoln and would not give it back, so I picked up a 2002 MGM and was getting 29+ MPG with it on the DC trips as long as I set the cruise at 73 MPH. The car is huge and I could stuff the trunk with coolers, more luggage than I needed and still had an 'empty' car for the trip. The reason people love these cars is the guarantee of 300,000 relatively troublefree miles and the awesome fuel mileage on the highway.
The classic "split bench" seat.
Your commentary and editing are gold!
I own both a 2000 and 2004 marquis ,I absolutely love this vehicle there is nothing bad about it in my opinion. I'll own a 70's model next . Awesome video by the way you had me rolling! #PANTHER
Chad Douglas My grandfather owned one and gave it to his daughter. She totaled the same one 6 times and it still ran until the 6th total loss. 5th accident a deer jumped off a hill and landed on her car destroying the front end. By the time they rebuilt it, it had 4 different tire tracks. She somehow totaled the car that many times with poor driving but it persisted on.
Im currently in the market for a PANTHER Grand Marquis and found a really low mileage like new 2002 Grand Marquis....Is this a mistake to buy a pre-2003 version with the old frame design and old soft steering?
@@brownsfan6447 typical. Never give a dumb hoe a legendary car. They will always wreck it or some sh8t
That's the kind of trunk where you find out just how big it is by how many dead bodies you can put in it.
My dad bought one brand new in 1996. Everytime I see a panther body, i think of my childhood and the many roadtrips in the back of that 96 grand marquis. I miss that car. I wonder if my dad does...
I just got a 97. Had to fix some rust. But it's fixed. I love this car!
I have owned many of the panthers all were brand new most were ordered. Wife was a home visiting nurse. The trunk is huge held all kind of medical equipment. She would put 40,000 miles per year with a 37 year record. She got into many accidents the car held up with no injuries. I still drive the last one. 2006 Lincoln towncar 180000 miles it is the one that is 6 inches longer I love it . I am 75 yo.I tow a small trailer to Florida every year tow great I will hate to replace it . 24 miles per gallon on the highway. My wife would sit in the patients drive way and do all of her medical charting so they had many hours of ideling keeping the air on in the summer and heat in the winter . I paid 46000.00 brand new. Very little problems.
The best built American cars. When Taxi and Livery companies buy Grand Marquis and Crown Victorias with 250000 miles...and keep them serviced to get another 250000 miles out of them...enough said. They do not handle as bad as you're saying, and are quite comfortable. Every car built has their own set of idiosycracies, yes. But to pick on a misunderstood panther platform, is absurd. in 2003 when they changed over to rack and pinion, they handled even better. Check out a Marauder and get back to me. If you know what one is...
You know I've seen people with nothing but GM and Chevy in there driveway and then they got a crown vic setting right there. Just can't deny something so iconic and built solid
The birth of a madman started with this video
You still don't understand these vehicles. They actually get good gas mileage.
Cargo space like an ugly van. Room for your overweight relatives. Road presence.
Get a Town Car and maybe you'll figure it out.
+ahbalone Also you could toss on a hitch and haul a trailer or small camper.
I owned two P71 crown vics before I got my Model 3 rwd.
The specs are almost IDENITCAL in every regard, and it feels exactly the same to drive.
A year later, and I still cannot get over your complete misunderstanding of what a Mercury Grand Marquis is. It is not a sports car. This car, which stopped production in 2011, was the last of the great American full size cars. You definately drunk the cool aid, that has persuaded you that luxury, a soft ride, great engineering and just an all around pleasurable ride are wrong. But, alas, I will give you are few more years, and then when you hit around 50 years of age, perhaps then you might just think ---- "you know, those old big, smooth riding American Sedans, were pretty nice - sure wish I had that old 95 Mercury Grand Marquis".
Dude this is so weird to come back to the first video purely on coincidence. Looking to buy an 03.
Its a relatively cheap vehicle thats pretty modern yet can be worked on with simple hand tools parts are plentiful and it can accept quite a few modifications because due to having the same engine as the mustang it can take most of its mods. Also dead reliable WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THAT DAMN INTAKE MANIFOLD!!
You don't exactly sound like you are a fan of the Mercury Grand Marquis lol. I own a 1998 model Merc. Grand Marquis and yep, she is a giant boat with a huge trunk. Rides great and easy to work on. It's been a great car so far and I have no plans of getting rid of it. It's my second vehicle as I usually drive a 05 Chevy Silverado 1500 ext. cab long bed 5.3 Vortec. Sometimes it's just fun to drive the old Merc. Very smooth ride and easy to work on.
Funny how in this first video his voice is soo deep and serious but now he is more open and happy
look I own a 1993 mercury grand Marquis Gs. and they are not slow actually it's quite fast for something that weights 3500 pounds. and you calling it slow is just shameful I haven't put my car to the floor yet. but I have timed my car and I can bury 85 mph in my speedometer in 9 seconds and I have reached 136 mph not full on the floor and with little room to do so. this car is amazing in every aspect. not slow not mid priced or junky they are amazing cars. so if you are going to talk about ones car make sure that you have the right info. and no it doesn't steer like crap it grips great
"this car is amazing in every aspect" I have to assume you're being sarcastic. Please tell me you're being sarcastic.
I took your video as great Dry humor I kinda had a Sleprock kinda day but I came away with a smile after the video, so fuck off will ya !! 8+{0>
Jacob Dial lol my mother in law owns one and she be gone them are anything but slow
Jacob Dial your comment is a joke I owned one (1992) it was slow and steering was awful my 2001 crown vic has 30 more hp due to Ford using the pi motot and even it isn't fast. Big heavy slow cars.
Jacob Dial ~ Viagra rage?
those 90's panthers had tire rod issues, there was even a recall on some models.
my dad has a 90 something crown vic lx and his tire rod busted just the other day, I'm looking for a later year grand marquis.
Great Video.These cars are fully loaded. Yea 1995 was a good while back but can you believe all the high tech stuff these cars had then? I love the digital dashboard it sure does remind me of Knight Rider. Not the mention the automatic on off head lights and keyless entry keypad plus the remote entry phobe. This is really a high end car. My family had one just like yours we had a 1996 model and then later on we got the 2000 Grand Marquis. Both cars were excellent were fun and very comfortable rides. Both our 1996 and 2000 models lasted us over 200,000 miles. I wish Ford still made these cars I think these are the most reliable ever. Sure Miss the Grand Marquis, Town Car and Vics
Why all the hate in the comments? he's absolutely right about these cars. I've owned crown vics throughout the 90's, and 2000's. I currently have an 07 sitting in my driveway. None of them were great quality cars. They can take abuse and they're reliable, but they're certainly not comfortable or put together with care and precision. Before the end of their production, both the grand marquis and crown vic were getting better in comfortability. But that's about it. They are not fast or nimble. For their size they're alright, but nothing special. Good beater cars though.
I had a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis in this color and model . LS . I miss it dearly .
Your review is lacking, you should use the 2003-2011 panther for this test. The last generation of these cars are great! Rack and pinion steering, hydro-formed stiff frame, engine is just 250 hp but with the torque it has very little trouble with todays Prius like transportation appliances in passing or just meandering your way to the front to leave the lurky lews in the past. These cars are easy to fix, cheap to fix, reliable to the point of being bullet proof. Panther was one of the most successful cars ever built as well as refined each generation. Only 30+ million built from 1979 so yeah people liked em. Today your stuck with turbo 4 bangers that in no ones fantasy will last remotely close to one of these. Ford should have just given an update, tweaked the fuel mpg and hp boost, then ford would've had another winner. Oh and I get 22 city and 34ish hwy at 70 mph with a good ride and safety.
SRS II If you're in the St Louis are, I could give your car the review it deserves!
SRS IIHow are you getting that kind of mileage?
I have a 2010 and getting around 17 average and 20 highway
Ed Biliski It could be that this is a '95 that makes much less power than a '10 model, or it could be that the gauges are wrong
Ed Biliski I have a 97, the last of the "Aero" body style. It gets better mileage than my brothers 2008. I get between 21 and 23 around town and 25 to 28 on the highway with high fuel mileage tires. The older cars had 190 HP, not 250 and they were lighter at 3700 lbs as well as more aerodynamic. I don't baby it at all but highway driving with cruise control is highway driving with cruise control. I have 2.73 rear end gears, the tallest ratio ever offered. I doubt that the car could get 34ish on any highway, even going downhill with a tail wind.
SRS II, you sir deserve respect, I agree with everything you said.
Here in England I have several big V8s. I have a 2000 Cadillac STS which I have to say rides like a magic carpet and is actually really good around twisty, bendy roads. I think the air suspension probably has a lot to do with that. It is front wheel drive but makes up for that with the roadholding. It has the 4.6 Northstar 32 valve V8 which puts out about 305 bhp so it's quick and comfortable. However the plastic is exactly the same as your Marquis which is a shame as it find what is otherwise a pretty nice car.
I also have a 1997 Audi S8 4.2 V8. That has 4WD and about 380 bhp. That is designed to rocket away from the lights and it does. It also hugs the roads. The plastic trim is thick and soft, it is very high quality and doesn't creak or squeak at all. It also acts as sound deadening and works well. It completely destroys both STS and my 4.0 litre V8 Jaguar in a drag race.
The Jag is very comparable to the STS in both performance and comfort and handling but even that can't match the Audi for trim quality, although it is better than the Caddy.
'00 GM w/male pattern baldness 1/2 Landau top, (ya can't unsee it,) 94k miles, paid $900. Very comfortable, quick enough for daily use, I enjoy driving it. With a tight front end you can do some impressive cornering. I fit 3 toilets in it, new in box, 2 in the rear seat, 1 in the trunk. Matching paint for it is on the shelf at the auto parts store. What more could you ask for?
The car does what it was designed to do VERY well. Using the "Net" horsepower rating, 190HP isn't bad for this type of car..Ford's old solid lifter 289 Hi-Po was rated at 271hp, but made an actual 190 net horsepower.
“And this is snow”
I once had a 1968 LTD with the 390 V8.Back then a local apple orchard was selling firewood by the 15 bushel bin.I could put a whole bin's worth in the trunk,with the spare tire in it,and still close the lid! Try doing that in today's cars!
Yay first episode- your channel rocks. The ‘Grandma Keith’ and Crown Vic are awesome
I have a 1993. The 5.0l that the 4.6 replaced had 150hp.
Its 190hp and 265lb-ft. HP is just a number people use to talk shit about cars.....its plenty adequate for this car's intended purpose.
I think the brakes work just fine. Very strong brakes (4 wheel disc)
Yeah the feel isnt thr best but its not supposed to be sporty.
I love it for my 60 mile one way commute.
I prefer the cloth interior my car has. Same issue with doors but i dont care. Most of them has analog gauges.
Why do you need a tachometer with an automatic anyway?
You could get automatic climate control in a 1968 cadillac and in panther cars in the 1980s.
The trunk is one of the things i love about the car.
You can fit 5 wheels and tires in that trunk (including spare).
Rear legroom is only really bad when front seats are all the way back which means most people wont reach the pedals...and if you want a panther car with legroom you can always get a town car (6 inches longer wheelbase).
BTW why knock the RWD?
This boat is hands down the best handling car in snow i have ever owned. Very well balanced and i live in a very hilly area. I have driven this car in blizzards With snow tires and it goes anywhere. A set of chains and you could probably plow snow with a Panther car.
If weather conditions are too bad for this car, you shouldn't be driving no matter what you have.
Except that this was not "the last generation". There was a complete redeisgn for 2003-2011.
They all good... best years 03/04....specially marauder and crown vic lx with console floor shifter
The cluster part had me dying!
I have 2 97 crown lx’s one bought with 38,000 miles now 51,000 miles for $1400 bucks mint. Just got one about 21/2 months ago for $2000 with 17,089 miles on it. True gems and I love them more than my 2010 Escalade! 😂
This guy's Grand Marquis must've been in bad shape. I own a 2002 and the handling and performance is great. I took it around an on ramp curve at 50 MPH. The recommended speed was 35 MPH. It flew down the exit. I couldn't feel a thing. It was glued to the road. This on ramp basically straightens out about 100 feet before merging onto a busy highway with cars all wanting to go 70. Right at the end of the curve, I gave it half throttle and it went right up to 70 MPH. The little 4 cylinder Fusion that had been tailgating me started falling behind on the curve. Then he fell behind even more when I gave it half throttle. He almost got hit by a semi while merging. Embarrassed, he flew by me doing almost 80 after I let off at 70. The speed limit is 65 and the state troopers are dense around this area. But the point is, a well maintained Grand Marquis will handle and drive better than any car of it's class. Any panther car will. Don't compare it to a sports car. It weighs way more. Compare it to other sedans.
Anyone who has one of these cars, do yourself a favor and get a set of Monroe HD shocks (police spec Crown Vic). Brakes can be improved also. I had 15x7 wheels on my '97, handled great.
Where it all began
The secret of the Panther Platform for myself is the full chassis and RWD. No cars really have this design anymore. My family has never owned a FWD car.
I have a 2003 grand marq and it's in mint condition and I win a lot of races with it even around corners so I don't know what kind of second hand winter beater you picked up but obviously you got it from a scrap yard
You can make these go around corners but no way will one of these cars keep up with a modern car in corners provided the drivers are equally skilled. I know, i have a grand marquis. I have to work to maintain corner speeds that are effortless in my Focus. Handling is simply not what these cars are about. That said, just like everything else, these cars adequately serve thier purpose.
Acceleration and cornering are adequate. But the tradeoff is the ride.
These cars are about simulating a magic carpet ride and thats why people love them.
Modern cars all ride like skateboards in the name of being "sporty". The panther was the last gasp of traditional American cross country capable comfort.
I absolutely love my 1999 Crown Vic LX model.
I have had the car since June 2019.
The ODO had 89050 when I bought it
and has about 108400 now.
Will not part with it👍🙂☑️.
I will buy a Grand Marquis, if I come across one in very good condition, as a 2nd car.
Superb vehicles.
Seat material? Which category? Animal, vegetable, or mineral?
If you really want to describe the Panther platform, how about road testing a 1991-1997 Lincoln Towncar. THEN, road test the 1998-2011 Lincoln Towncar. The last 13 years of Towncars really handle very well. Your Grand Marquis doesn’t even come close in handling. No offense intended, but I’ve owned a lot of Panther platform cars.
Im currently in the market for a PANTHER Grand Marquis and found a really low mileage like new 2002 Grand Marquis....Is this a mistake to buy a pre-2003 version with the old frame design and old soft steering?
Your complaint about the breaks was odd mine had great breaks with the primitive by today’s standard ABS even with 200k it would out stop most any thing in the family sedan class even my dad’s 2005 Impala. So what’s wrong with a smooth quiet car. The squeaky panels how old is that car? There were several generations of chassis under that same body, my 03 is quite different than the 95. I must have been born old as I’ve had many barges and cute quick cars at the same time, Road Trip give me my barge.
welcome to RUclips and congrats on the video. you stated some good points my sister owns a Lincoln town car from 1993. the car phone module as mentioned at 2:43 came at the beginning of the 2nd generation town car, in 1990. I absolutely love these cars I just have a hard time getting in them and out of them. the pedal is very soft in these cars which I hate. most of the power and torque from the 4.6 is bottom end and it takes off well when the pedal is floored. panther body cars are city cars so that first gear is home most of the time. I also have to disagree with the door switches for the seat. It's a PITA to fix and get to. Our town car has received many words that most people shouldn't hear.