These Are Unstoppable! Most Reliable Car on the Road Today!
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- It may look like a 'grandpa' car, BUT this is one of the most reliable cars on the road today! Let me show you just what makes the Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Towncar or Ford Crown Victoria so good, and why I recommend people buy them. 🚗 Be sure to check out @euroasianbob9268 video on this car. ➡️🧙🏻 Also, don't forget to check out @MrsWizardsWays and the cool videos she's creating.
🔮🔧 AMAZON AFFILIATE STORE: www.amazon.com... 🔧🔮
🇬🇧🇬🇧 UK AMAZON STORE: www.amazon.co.... 🇬🇧🇬🇧
👕 CAR WIZARD MERCH: teespring.com/... 👕
📷 INSTAGRAM @realcarwizard / realcarwizard 📷
🧰 BENDPAK LIFTS: www.bendpak.com 🧰
🎞️🚙 CAR WIZARD SHORTS ON FB: / carwizardfb 🚙🎞️
🎸 LIFT AND OUTRO MUSIC BY CLAYTON CAGLE: / claytoncalifornia 🎸
🎶 INTRO MUSIC: Green Daze by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon... 🎶
#carrepair #carwizard #carmechanic #autorepairshop #automobile #cars #car #sedan #sedancars #grandmarquis #crownvic #towncar #lincolntowncar #fordcrownvictoria #reliablecars #bulletproofcar #bestcar #bestcars
Hey Wizard! Thanks for the professional inspection! I have a lot of out of town buyers inquiring on this car and decided to go ahead pay to do a PPI for them. I am actually doing my detailed RUclips video overview on my channel this afternoon and will upload today as well. Who will be the next owner of this special car?
Very nice Grand Marquis. The condition and miles is on the level of something Anthony and Papa Bear over at Specialty Motorcars would sell.
I don't know how you do it. That is an amazing specimen. The supercharged Park Avenue you have is nice too. I had my Dad's Olds supercharged Touring Sedan after he passed and that big old car got 34 mpg highway on 93 octane!
The Leftist Promoted Ecoboost Engines destroyed the Crown Vic. It's why Ford Discontinued them.
Hey, @euroasianbob9268.
I'd love to buy this car if the price isn't crazy. I left you an email on your website with my info.
Me
I took your advice a few years ago and purchased a 2011 Town Car. I had one incident with it when driving on the I70. The engine ran rough and check engine light started flashing. I took it to two mechanics. One just threw parts at it and didn't fix it. The other ran tests and declared that one of the cylinders had zero compression. He suggested junking the car as it wasn't worth an engine rebuild or replacement. I took it home and tore off the valve cover. One of the valve springs had broken, explaining the zero compression. I used a borescope to view the piston and saw no damage. I purchased a valve spring compression tool for just this engine and replaced the spring myself. Engine has been running fine with no codes for many thousands of miles since. All that said, you were right!
💯🤙🏻😎
Fuck yeah, a buddy of mine who is a 20+ year mechanic, and owned over 30 Lincoln Town Cars from 1990s to 2011. He said you can't get anymore reliable than a panther platform. He owned a 97 with 500k miles, had good compression in all 8 cylinders. sold for $2k because it was super nice, great condition.
Same thing happened to my Silverado, it broke a valve spring at 350,000 miles. I just replaced all 16 just in case and it’s been running perfect. Other than the valve springs and water pumps it’s all original. Had a Lincoln Town Car back when I was 19. It was great car.
Hell!,you gotta be the wizards clone!
Broken valve spring, That’s pretty much in heard of in this platform especially with the 2v engines. Glad you didn’t junk it.
I'm a cabbie, and we drive these for a reason. We had a Grand Marquis we got over 700k out of, typically these will run 4-500k, they tend to get wrecked before they wear out.
My current cab is an 09 crown Vic, it has 90k on it and drives like a brand new car. No rattles or squeaks, I put 420 miles on it tonight, no problems whatsoever.
Don't these have bad fuel economy? That's the only concern I have
@@Zaidi_227 they're also exclusively RWD. Not ideal if you live in the midwest or northern states
@@Zaidi_227 i get 17.5 mpg around town,. I got 29.4 mpg on the Interstate.
@@kevinjack1171 Yes that's true, if you are an inexperienced driver, rear drive can be tough in the winter but if you throw some snow tires on it and some weight in the trunk you can do just fine with them. Plus who doesn't like doing rear drive donuts in a snow-covered parking lot?
@@Zaidi_227 If you strictly drive around town, yes fuel economy isn't the best but on the highway they can do better than my V6 accord which gets 26 on average. It's all about the gearing, the rearend ratio is set up for highway driving, the engine is under 2k rpms at 80 mph.
I’ve got a 2011 Grand Marquis, that was my work car, before I retired. I’ve gotten 30 MPG, on long trips, and other than regular maintenance
It hasn’t cost me a dime in repairs. I’ve gotten rear ended twice, and it never even scratched the paint on the bumper. Both other cars had significant damage.
I drove mine from Maine to Florida. I had tanks where I got 30 mpg, no AC driving 60 mph.
Biggest mistake Ford did...ending production.
It was a good business decision
They quit producing the Grand Marquis sometime in January of 2011 and they quit producing the crown Victoria 8 months later sometime in September of 2011
S.O.Bs know what they are doing,you cant have cars that can last more than 5 years,they wont make enough money if that happens.
These cars were damn near perfect
@@gregorsamsa1364 BS. They could have made money on this car with baby boomers like myself.
I drove a cab from '06 to '07, and we used the Ford Panther platform exclusively. Usually used cop Crown Vic's that we'd get at auction from the various police departments in the local area, with the occasional Town Car which we'd use for airport runs. When I left, the company had TWO of these cars with over SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES on them -- still with the ORIGINAL engines and transmissions! It was *VERY* common to see these things go 350K to 400K before a major failure. In fact, it was unusual *not* to see one hit 400K before needing something big like an engine or transmission. They built the platform for so long that they had literally decades to work out all the bugs. Utterly bulletproof!
A local used car lot had one of these on the lot with 60k miles, 1999. Tried to convince all my broke college student friends to buy it and none of them were convinced. I picked it up for five grand and have been driving it for a year. I really enjoy it.
I misread this as bought it back in 1999
Try to find 03-2011!
@@stevenkleinhenz1017
Why not the 90’s?
$5k for a 1999 is a rip off.
@@Immigrantlovesamerica Depends where you live. And the trim. On bringatrailer the right TownCar could definitely bring that in
I've got a Lincoln Town Car and I can't agree more. Car is an absolute tank, reliable as ever, comfortable, and fairly easy to work on. Parts are cheap and easy to find. And if you smoke a deer on an old backroad you can 9 times out of 10 drive it home. And as an added bonus you have enough room to put the entire deer comfortably in the trunk and still have room for a spare tire.
My son hit a dear in my late model town car. It damaged the hood, bumper, and everything in front of the radiator. But still drove it for 200 miles to get it home with no problems. Insurance totaled it out. But it was so nice I purchased it for slavage value.
If you get in a serious accident though youre dead... And comfyness is relative. They are still bad cars NVH wise. You get all the outside noises that you can think of, all the damper and engine vibrations, plus the boaty drive can make a lot of people feel sick if youre going any twisty roads....
I'm gonna name mine "The Deer Hunter!"🤣
😂😂
@@an-dr6euAll of those things are true but none of them would ever stop anyone from buying one of these cars
I’ve had over 9 cars in the past 10 years. Mustangs, diesel pickups, Toyota Tacoma. Out of all of them the one I’ve kept the longest and drive every single day is my 2006 mercury grand marquis. Hands down the best car I’ve ever owned. Dead reliable is an understatement. Averages 23-25 mpg highway. Mine is approaching 200k miles. I’ll drive it until it needs to be scrapped. I can’t explain how much I love these cars. Best cars ever made.
Hello, don't scrap it, repair it if needed
That's my experince also. I'm driving my fourth one in over 30 years.
I want one so bad.
@@juanpaVlz I live in the northeast so eventually the frame will become rotted out to the point it isn’t safe to drive anymore. Until then I will surely keep repairs going as needed.
Apply fluid film everywhere underneath once a year, car will never rust!
Absolutely nothing wrong with buying a grandpa car. When I was 17 shopping for my first car with my parents, we looked at a bunch of normal cars. Audi A4, Hyundai Elantra, Chevy Impala Wagon, Nissan Sentra, and so on, but none were hitting right with me until I found and test drove an 07 Ford Five Hundred. The car you would get if a Taurus and Grand Marquis had a baby. I was 17 and WANTED the grandpa car. It was beige inside and out and other than a leaking brake caliper, it never let me down. Had it for a year and a half til I sold it for my 13 Taurus, another old man car. And a few months ago I bought a '90 Ford Country Squire (wood paneled, of course), yet another grandpa car.
you are wise for a teen... my first car age 15 before I had a licence was a 68 Chevelle inline 6 with 3 Offenhauser carbs on an aluminum intake, triple shaved heads with solid lifters, 651 lift cam and headers... the fastest stock 6 in the region... that was 1974.... it was a bad choice...
If you don't have the fastest car having the most comfortable is a great option. Even young girls appreciate comfort. We had FAST cars but one friend had a Chrysler New Yorker that could easily fit 8 + and it was never without a load of sweet or not so sweet young things.
My step brother's dad bought a '93 Grand Marquis from an old lady for about $1,500. It only had 32,000 miles on it. All Church and grocery miles. Garage kept it's entire life. Thing was the mintest Panther I have ever seen. Then he traded it for a non running RV with a broken windshield and all the mold in the world. I offered to buy it for $2,000, but he really wanted that dumb RV. And after a month of trying to get it liveable/running, code enforcement told him to get rid of it. So he sold it for like $500. You could imagine how mad I was. We don't talk no more..
Y'all don't talk over a car? Geez.
@@NoOne-y5did like to imagine there was more to it. That's as descriptive as "you don't talk over words...?" When somebody has been abused all their life by somebody
Your Father simply needs guidance. Get him drunk and talk to him about it.
@@dicarlo57 no no get him to smoke a pipe...
@@RichTexas82513 yeah I like to imagine that to but there wasn't context provided. But that is most likely.
I love these Panther Platform cars! My 2007 Town Car had 465,000 miles on it and still had 181 compression with the original nonrebuilt engine or transmission in it. The Panther Platform first came out in 1979 and went until 2010 for civilians and 2011 were for fleet services.
Wow! Does that happen to be the long wheelbase model? Those always rack up insane mileage and are extremely hard to find
I think most of the police departments grabbed up as many of the last year model they could and still use them today. I guess every one that gets wrecked can still be used for parts as well as there still being tons of available new parts to get.
I think its the single best platform Ford has ever made. It's funny, when America wants to. They can beat the Japanese on the reliability metrics. They just don't value it for most vehicles and Toyota does.
@@MegabeanToyotas aren't excused either. They had/has problems also
@@samsonCobyEvery car has troubles, I worked my early 20s at Toyota in Southwestern Ontario. I also worked for GM and a bunch of the suppliers that are spotted around that area. Toyota is better organized, higher quality machines and they treat their workers the best. Every factory I worked at except Toyota focused primarily on quotas. However Toyota focuses on the PPM defect rate. They want perfection at all costs and they shut their lines down a lot. That part is frustrating but worth it. Toyotas are built different imo. I hear really good things about Ford as well, I just don't have any experience with them. I think Toyota makes up for the inefficiencies by using more automation though. All manufactures use automation but I noticed that Toyota's seemed kinda next level.I'm not a engineer but you could tell that they were on the cutting edge.
We just bought a 2001 Grand Marquis LS after watching this video and reading about them. It was a one-owner, estate sale car with 11,400 actual miles. Always garaged, looks almost new inside, outside, and underneath. Paid $7k, and we love it! Thank you, Car Wizard!
what a steal
Got yourself a brand new Panther sheesh
I used to deliver parts to a limo company who exclusively used town cars from this era. He did all his own maintenance on a good schedule. He had a town car with original engine and trans that had over 740,000 miles on it. He even started it up to show me that it still ran, and it ran great. A bit of oil smoke on cold start, but that was it. Was literally shocking to me that they can go that long.
Yes my 09 with over 500 k and still running strong 😂
Sounds like some new valve seals would have cleared that up...and judging by some of the other DIY repairs listed here, that doesn't sound all that hard.
On a cold start, white smoke might be water vapor. The vapor will clear up once the engine is at operating temperature. If the smoke has a bluish tint to it, and persists after the engine is warm, it is oil smoke.
@@wittwittwer1043 it was blue
What gets me is people will go on and on about a ricer or German car that has that kind of longevity, but few people will extoll the virtues of truly fantastic American cars like the panther platform.
I took a lot of airport limo rides in the late 90s, early 2000s, and rode in some very high milage Mercurys and Lincolns. Highest milage one was a long wheelbase Town Car with 390,000 miles. Dulles Airport mandated retiring the limos at 400,000 miles, so that one was almost done.
How lucky you guys are to have your hands on this beauty! It’s really hard for me to fathom that today’s auto industry is progressed in any real sense! They actually went backward in my humble opinion. I simply love these rear wheel drive big ole American cars! Hands down! I am in my seventies, and lived in the US for thirty some years, my current love is Chevy Suburban!
Surprisingly, my 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis actually got me a 2nd date because she knew how beasts these cars actually are. Sure, they're Grandpa status type but gets me around with no problems. Thanks for the spotlight Wizard!
a girl that doesn't judge on your car is a keeper. plus that car has a large backseat.
I have a silver '08 GM.....the Gram'pa status goes away quickly if you don't drive it like a Gram'pa.
Hotel on wheels lol I had a grand mark and a Vic. Great cars
Love the Grand Marquis and Crown Vics! My late husband loved big "grandpa" cars and we had three of them over 25 years together. Always reliable, easy to handle, and great on long trips. I kept his last GM, a 2002 GS, for over 5 years after he passed, and I'd still have it now if it hadn't developed chronic engine problems. It had only 214K miles on it, so we must've gotten a defective one, lol. Still hope to get hold of another one if I can.
My father always drove a grand marquis when he got older. He loved the power on his road trips & tricked out a stereo system for his cd collection...
Ive had many of those during my years on the road as a sales rep. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT 👍🏻
Quiet, very strong movement, and V8 authority. I fixed a brake light sensor on the way home from buying it. Almost every part you can get at Advanced. Body on frame build makes it quick to get off the ground. Durable, feels great to drive through various conditions. Most models come without a middle console which I like for some convenience. Gigantic trunk that can fit almost anything. Cassette, CD, radio and bluetooth option(through cassette). Perfect for long drives with cushion and pushin. I could keep going. Its like having Bentley for a couple grand. I highly recommend.
And the large Ford double din stereos of the era mean if you want modern things like CarPlay it’s easy.
I have a 1999 Grand Marquis with 190,000+ miles and will do ANYTHING to keep it running. It is super reliable and very easy to work on. Fantastic car, super comfortable. I believe this is the best car ever built for the money.
They have frame rot. Have a 98 and it will be scrapped over that. Real sad. 200K runs like new.
I will also do anything to keep my '95 Crown Victoria running because car prices are absolutely ridiculous right now, I don't see what else I could buy that would offer a similar driving experience. Maybe a Roadmaster or Park Avenue but even those are creeping up in value.
Best ever for the money? Can you not think outside of America?
@@CadillacDriver If there is a Mercedes or BMW that offers similar reliability and road presence for the same price as a Grand Marquis, please let me know haha.
@@rockguitarist931 wtf
Grandpa and Grandma's car maybe, but cool as hell those old panthers are at the same time. I currently drive a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis LS with every available factory option and an original sticker price of 26k, I named her Lisa Rae, I'm not sure why but she just seems like a Lisa Rae. Has to be one of the most attractive and indestructible cars I've ever seen. She has 73k Original miles, no rust from what I can see, and two owners before me. She's served me well so far, I guess time will tell how things go overall. Ironically she's tan with a red pinstripe just about like this 98-02 is.
I drive a 2001 Grand Marquis on a rural mail route. The routes I deliver are about 150 miles long of stop-and-go driving on gravel roads. It is a comfortable ride with plenty of power. I can put a lot of mail bundles and packages in the old girl and still have room for *two full sized spare tires* and all my tools! She is a dirty beast! 189K miles and still kicking! Even the AC works! 😊
Body on frame is good for dirt roads.
Where?
@@reallyhappenings5597 Nebraska.
I bought a 2001 Grand Marquis LS back in 2010 with only 50k miles on it for 6 grand and I'm still driving it today with 126k miles later. After driving 4 wheel drive pick-ups for 36 years, this car is so quiet, comfortable and solid on the road. Other than normal maintenance, it's had only one spark plug module, a thermostat and the fuel pump replaced over the last 13 years. I'm coming up on 70 years old and it's now become a question if I outlive the car, or the car outlives me!👍👍
I bought an 04' Grand Marquis for $3000 based on your previous video. From a used car dealer, rebuilt engine yanked from a junkyard,, odometer not working, air only blows out of the dash and this car just won't quit. Multiple round trips from DFW to MPLS at 70 mph. Gotta love it.
How many miles?
@@jonathon0010He doesn’t care and neither does the car 😂
I have 2 Towncars, a 99 and a 97. The Panther platform is the most reliable car I ever had. If I just want to go from A to B without ever even thinking about what can go wrong with the car I always take one of them.
One of the best options you could check was the tow package, With the tow package you get every thing that was on the police Crown Victoria except the extra horsepower that came with the police tuned engine. That's oil and trans cooler, real dual exhaust, heavy duty radiator, heavy duty battery, bigger alternator, 11 inch rear brakes, 3.55 traction lock rear gear, and heavy duty shocks and springs.
It'd be badass to swap a 60's Galaxie onto a Panther frame (if possible).
All Panther chassis cars have the same size brakes - no difference in size between Police Intercepters, regular Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, or Town Car. The police car rear axle ratio depends on what was ordered -- not all came with 3.55.
I love my 93 Town Car. It's kinda the opposite of this car, higher mileage and not in the best condition. It has a lot of little issues but runs and drives great and has been very reliable. It's a very easy car to work on for the most part, and I only paid $500 for it almost 6 years ago.
Still rolling in a 93 Grand Marquis here!
Best way to make money in life way to Josh.😊
Way to go!
Oh boy this guy ain’t kidding. They truly are reliable. I own a 2006 Lincoln town car, which is practically the same, both cars are based on the panther platform. I bought it in 2012 after owning a Cadillac Seville which gave me nothing but nightmares. Glad I got rid of it and looked into the town car instead. I’ve had it for almost 12 years now and the only thing I’ve changed on the car are the tires and the oil.
These are actually great first cars for young drivers, especially those who have a desire to learn and do their own maintenance. You can swap pretty much any small modular Ford V8 into this platform. You can throw in power adders, bolt ons or just leave it bone stock for longevity. It rarely breaks down, but it’s like a 15-45 minute fix if does break. This is probably the best platform since the Chevy Caprice or possibly better because it’s easier to get parts and the transmission and fuel system are bulletproof.
Not to mention the dimensions, learning to drive in a big ol boat of a sedan or a large truck is Luke high altitude training for your spacial awareness
They are great first cars but I remember debating with my parents over getting a Crown Vic and at first my dad was like no because they are too long for you you're a young driver and you're gonna have trouble parking then he also said they are dangerous because they RWD you should get an FWD car as your first car it's safer (I hate FWD with a passion I believe all 2WD vehicles out there should come with RWD period even 4 cylinder nonsports cars like a Focus, Camry, civic or accord it's my OCD! They should also come standard with a limited-slip differential open differential should be long gone by now obsolete they suck ass in poor traction, especially in RWD id rather have a limited-slip rear and have a locking rear and end up sliding or fishtailing and learn how to correct it but have forward movement than not go anywhere spinning only one wheel) (BUT I DIGRESS) He also said that it's gonna be a gas guzzler with the V8 but then when he finally got me a crown vic he ended up loving it. (It turned out to have an open diff but it can still rip fire donuts off-road on sand or gravel even with an open rear from my experience RWD is not that bad in the rain and snow if you know how to drive and if you take the proper precautions like you need good tires cause with an open diff in the rain with worn out poor tires it would do one wheel peel any time you hit the gas harder likewise put a ton of weight in the trunk when driving in the snow. The 4.6 V8 isn't that bad on gas although I never owned a 4 Banger or a hybrid so IDK what having better gas mileage even looks like the fuel consumption seems average on the Crown Vic. Moreover, I learned how to parallel park really well with that long thing so when I took a smaller car out for my road test it was a piece of cake.
They use the front suspension clips off these cars to build custom pickup trucks, upgrade old Fords and other makes from the 50'S and 60's. They use the whole front suspension from the firewall forward. And the clips themselves can be upgraded very easy. With tubular A-arms and coil overs. The most versatile suspension clip there is !
The Caprice is a HORRIBLE car to buy nowadays if you just want reliable transportation. They along with their parts are EXTREMELY rare these days.
My first car was a 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis. I paid $500 at an estate sale. Side note, ALWAYS buy at estate sales. You get amazing deals from families wanting everything to simply be gone. Anyway, I drove that Grand Marquis until the engine gave out around 10 years ago. GREAT car.
Had a 1989 from wife’s grandfather , it was our travel and trip car for years
These cars and the Buick Park Ave are two gems from the old guard. That 1996 park ave is legendary. Gives you the modern power platform with the old school luxury. Pillow top seats, metal buttons, justa nostalgia bomb that is actually a great daily drive
These can also be found in the form of the mercury marauder, which looked sick and had the 300hp 32v 4.6 V8 from the new edge ford mustang mach 1. They are also very safe, partly because they rated very well in crash tests, and because if yours is white with a black grille, even without lights or a pushbar, people drive safer around you.
This particular car makes 239hp as its the lse trim with the center console, rear sway bar and dual exhaust.
"...people drive safer around you." They sure do! One of the family cars when I was first becoming a licensed driver was a 1974 Dodge Monaco. It wasn't precisely the Bluesmobile - there were two "cop" versions as Elwood described it, one with the 440 like theirs and another with the 360 but still having the cop suspension, brakes, etc., for cops who wanted a big tough car but weren't as likely to need the power. Ours was a civilian-issue one with the 360 "cop" configuration, painted a nice dark blue. The same dark blue as oodles of unmarked police cars that were around at the time, as a matter of fact.
The other family car was at first a '71 Plymouth Cricket, replaced by a '76 Dodge Aspen. There was a night and day difference in the way other people drove around me when I was in the Monaco, vs. the others, and I know it wasn't just 'cause of the size.
I can certainly testify they are safe -I survived a head on collision with a semi in one of these years ago! Mine was a 95 LS with 166K miles on it and was still going strong after 5 years that I owned it. Walked away from that accident with only bumps and bruises -was pretty spectacular really. Even the semi took on more damage than you'd think from a car hit - plus it was leaking gas all over the place too from the impact -so now the EPA had to respond to the scene which then shut down half of I94 the whole day -was a huge mess🙂
I have a marauder and I can agree they are sick lmao
This appears to be an LSE, based on the dual exhaust, floor shifter/console and air ride. Very nice 👍
Similar to the HPP!
I agree as its the same as mine except in color. I might be 60 but, I still think they are good looking cars even if I was younger. My air bags were replaced with coils before I bought it and thought about going back but, I hear they just go out again. Mine rides nice enough for me.
@@RedBud315 Yep, my daily driver is an 03 Towncar. When my airbags went out I swapped to coil springs for a permanent fix. They definitely ride better with airbags, but the springs are definitely not harsh in comparison.
@@RedBud315 yes, I know that some people think the rear air suspension is not that reliable, but I beg to differ. I have had five of these cars and I have never had any problems with the bags. You can get a remanufactured compressor, which goes in the driver side front corner of the engine bay for about $150 from Arnott.
That dual exhaust caught me off guard. Didn’t know they were in that car.
I could not agree with more on all points. I've had the 3.8 Buick in a 97 LeSabre....275,000 miles before it died. Never had the Crown Vic, but I did have a 98 F250 w/5.4L and the same air-filled coils on the rear axle as your Grand Marquis you've shown us here. Great video, you've got another subscriber.
Drove one for nearly 13 years on the police force until we went to the Explorers, and yes, the crown vic/mercury marquis were TANKS!
I have a 2007 police interceptor. Love it
I've a 2010 Grand Marquis Ultimate with the air ride suspension. I absolutely love t and just turned 40k miles. I love that it's built on a frame so it's built like a tank. HUGE trunk. And the 4.6 V8 runs like a top. Highway driving on long trips I can get 28 mpg, though typical stop and go and short highway runs I average 24 mpg. The ride is so comfortable, it's like riding your leather couch as you cruise down the road...
Thank you for this video, my husband is retiring and we wanted to get a reliable car for under $10,000 we found ourselves a 2003 Town Car with 93,000 miles on it for $7500 dollars, one owner in beautiful condition. We are in love with this car after owning it for only 3 weeks.
I visited the Ford plant that made these cars back in 2003 in St. Thomas, ON, Canada. Well done cars. The plant was closed in 2011, stayed under dismantling for several years until the area was purchased by Amazon and a distribution center was built there.
Dude!! This car is absolutely gorgeous and it honestly breaks my heart at the lack of Mercury vehicle videos in general here on the World Wide Web. They are SO underrated! I’m from Toronto and I come from a long line of Mercury cars going as far back as my mum’s ‘83 Mercury Zephyr (my father and HIS father) had the Fairmont, ALL with the inline straight 6! My mum had her ‘83 Mercury Zephyr from 1986 till 1997. I Literally grew up in that car…on the road… travelling from the East to the West of Canada.. over the hills and far away and sometimes in brutal unforgiving Canadian weather! By the time my mother FINALLY junked the Zephyr, it was rotted out and full of holes. The straight 6 had about a million CONFIRMED km’s on it and it was STILL going! That engine would NOT die! Then I grew up and I had two Mercury Topaz cars and one Ford Tempo. To this day my ‘93 Mercury Topaz LS with the Ford Vulcan V6 was the BEST car I ever had! I miss that car every day. And you know what? Try to find a Mercury Grand Marquis here in Ontario! There’s actually very few on the market and the ones that ARE on the market have at least 300,000 kms and if it has low kms, you’re gonna pay at LEAST $7,000… and that number is quite steadily going up!
98-02 are definitely the best looking
😊❤
I kinda wish you would not tell people about these, I want the prices to stay reasonable.
Driven over a million miles on these panther bodies. With regular maintenance, they will easily rack up 3-400k miles with no major repairs. I've seen some with 7-800k miles before being scrapped. The biggest issues these things have is that the intake manifold (which is plastic) tends to go bad and crack, and usually happens around 120-175k miles. Most common to happen to happen in northern climates with the fluctuating temps, and really just get a Ford performance manifold and within an afternoon, you can swap a new one in with hand tools. Coil packs also tend to go bad, and you can easily swap it out in a parking lot in 10 minutes. The engine bay is huge, so it is easy to work on. Any mechanic can work on this thing blindfolded. Parts are ready and accessible everywhere.
The only downside I've seen recently is that these actually have gone up in value on the used car market. You used to be able to get an unmolested one, driven by a granny with 80k miles for 2-4k. Nowadays, you will be lucky to pay that much for one with twice as many miles, unfortunately.
Yeh they’ve went up a lot in price. I bought one with 70k miles for 6500. Someone hit me and totaled it. Insurance gave me 9k. Spent 5k on another 1 with 97k.
@@tonycrosby913 almost tempted to get one with a salvage title. One of the last cars you could buy that you can wrench on with no issue.
Purchased my 03 Ultimate Edition with 38k miles a year and a half ago from a lady that was gong into the nursing home for $3600. I hope it runs forever!
@@micahreynolds3450 that's a steal of a deal in this day and age
My first (personal) panther was an 03 LX Vic with 22k miles, got it in 2011 for $3,500. It had a salvage title, but nothing bad about it. Put 200k miles on it, and sold it for 2k, 7yrs later.
These cars are so great because they're built on a recipe that Ford has been refining for many many years. We had a 1986 Mercury Marquis Colony Park that was a fantastic vehicle! That car was built on an earlier version of the platform and used a Ford 302 V8 that was equally reliable. Before that, we had a 1973 Colony Park (400 2bbl) and before that a 1969 Colony Park (I don't know which engine came in that car- I was 5 years old at the time, lol)! All of these were variations of a theme that became the ultra reliable panther platform and they were all fantastic vehicles!😉😎
I still own a Colony Park, a 1991.
I have a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis and it is smooth to drive and if you have to do some work on it it is fairly easy to work on. I am very impressed. I bought mine 3 years ago from a CHP officer who bought one as his personal car. They are great cars.
I forgot to mention that I had the Buick Park Ave. and it also was a nice car but the problem with it is when you had to do repairs and it was a nightmare.
Couldn’t agree with you more. I just prefer my 2003 for the rack and pinion steering, extensive use of aluminum and slightly firmer ride. I’ve owned mine nearly 21 years with 150k miles and only have replaced the fuel pump. They can also be a great deal used for all the reasons you mentioned.
Hi Wizard!
Grandpas and Grandmas are the best people - not only the're patient, but drive cool underappreciated cars and also maintain them very well! More younger people could learn o lot from them about, simpler cars and life...so respect them, because they and their cars won't stay forever.
[comment written by a 38 yo guy that appreciates and likes "grandpa" cars]
I had this car, and it is very, very popular in Saudi Arabia because of the cheap spare parts, ease of maintenance, and it can withstand the hottest weather. It does not break down easily, and even if it breaks down, it does not stop on the road.
I went shopping for cars with my son a year ago. Found a Grand Marquis and never looked back. Been spot on reliable for him and I worry just a little less knowing he has such a heavy car.
I bought a brand new 1999 Mercury Granvd Marquis LS back in 1999. Ever since, it has been my daily driver now for 25 years. It still is with 240,000 miles. It has never failed me aside from some front end bushings, shocks, rear end air suspension bags I replaced with springs and the front seat leather upholstery. Even the sound speakers still sound like new. Love my car and I need not buy any other. About 12-14 mpg city and 22 mpg Hwy. I do change both engine oil, transmission fluid and differential lubricant on a regular basis.
I’m about to buy a 2005 with 200,000 on it and I can’t wait! It’s so clean and drives like a dream. Plan on putting at least 200k more on it.
Those 4.6 engines are absolutely wonderful. I love the panther platform and especially the engine. I have that 4.6 in my work truck and it has never let me down or left me stranded at 187k miles. I’m about to be getting a marquis or a t c for my kid to drive because they are so dependable
Prices are going up on them, the word is out how good they are...
I've had my Grandmama mobile for 12 years. Such a comfy and smooth vehicle. Most parts on her are easy to replace and can tolerate all sorts of abuse (the alternator took 2 weeks of dull whining before it got loud and burned up, which was an easy swap). All the random lil memories I've made in that car will never be forgotten...
I had a 93 Crown Vic and I loved it. I also slept in it for 6 months and was very comfortable. It was very reliable but not great on gas. Had a smooth ride and it would go when the peddle hit the metal. The only problem I had with it for the 3 years as a daily driver was the ignition switch had to be replaced.
I currently own a 01 crown vic and an 04 town car. I drove 150 miles to buy the town car. It only has 108,000 miles on it. The body and underside is as nice as the one in this video. The interior is immaculate like the car in this video. I spent $4500 to buy it and I have absolutely no regrets. I've had the 01 CV for 3 or 4 yrs now , I paid $1200 for it, it just turned 200,000 miles and runs like a top. It's my daily driver for work. In the past I've owned a 91 town car, 94 town car, and a 2007 town car that was a little rough body wise but it ran perfect. These cars are so reliable and when they do break, the parts are cheap and plentiful, and they're super easy to work on. These cars are the best kept secret in the used car market.
I used to drive a 94 Grand Marquis and loved that thing to death. Super comfortable and despite the weight and the large V8, when I drove it for a few road trips, it got 26+mpg on I-10 in west Texas going 80mph. That long overdrive gear, engine that was basically idling at that speed, and the good aerodynamics shocked me. I was using the odometer to measure miles between fill-ups and divided by the gallons of gas at the next station.
Around town, it was different, but it was a reliable car.
They're a bit thirsty in town, but there's no substitute for their comfort and capacity to carry people and groceries.
A 4.6L is not a "big" V-8 it's actually on the small end...
No way you get 26 miles to gallon, I say bull shit.
@@mckessa17 My '87 Cougar had a 302. It never got less than 28 mpg on the freeway. I haven't done enough freeway driving in my '00 Marquis to know what she gets, but I got better than 22 going over the Coast Range to the Oregon Coast and back, including a lot of driving up and down Lincoln City to visit places we'd frequented on our honeymoon. That was before doing some work on it that lifted my city mileage by 3-4 mpg, depending on how I treat the Happy Pedal. 26 ain't out of sight by any means.
@@mckessa17 You are wrong. I have gotten 29.4 MPG on Interstate 71 and Interstate 65 during the summer of 2022, during night time travel with windows rolled up, doing 55-60 mph. I don't think I ever turned on the AC. Around town, no, more like 17-18mpg, with AC and lots of idling. I don't remember what gasoline I used. (premium?)
I bought a 99 Grand Marquis that sat for 7 years as my first car about 10 years ago with 100k miles on it. I still have it today with well over 300,000 miles, with lots of me abusing it and towing with it - but always maintaining it religiously. I have also made a point to maintain the air suspension, as its one of my favorite things about it.
There have been exactly three non-maintenance repairs in 10 years - all of which were well within the realm of DIY and all cost less than 50$ to fix. I fully expect 500k+ out of it. Transmission and motor both are still rock solid, especially with a good ignition overhaul and TB cleaning.
Highly recommend a front end/steering rebuild at about 180-200k, and nicer tires. Makes the steering feel VERY sharp even at high miles. Pre-03 cars are significantly lighter and feel a bit more sprightly in corners, and get better gas mileage due to gearing and the aforementioned weight difference.
Take great pride in our 21 year old Mercury Grand Marquis with 130k on the odometer and in showroom condition. Car has been in our family since new I received it ten years ago after he passed. Has the usual replacement parts, manifold, radiator, water pump, front suspension, window regulators and wiper motor we absolutely love the car the most reliable we ever owned. Still driven a few miles daily since it's semi-retired and amongst the easiest to work on for a shade tree mechanic.
Absolutely agree! My 99 Mercury Grand Marquis had 410,000 before the transmission finally went out.
Seriously it was like driving a velour couch with the best air conditioning you ever had.
The way cara should be made! So sad where the auto industry has gone
I agree these cars will go forever and drive great, smooth and comfy. I was in the car business for 25+ years, mostly wholesale. So I was driving around town all day from dealer to dealer buying trade-ins, taking trips out of town to auctions. I always kept me a Merc GM or Ford CV as a daily driver, plenty of room for drivers to pile in to pick up cars, plenty of room in the trunk for air tanks, battery jump boxes, dead bodies. My color choice was always white paint with blue or tan leather.
I'm driving my fourth Grand Marquis now and I"ve driven all of them well over 200K miles with little repair expense. All of they dripped a bit of oil from the rear main seal just before I traded them in. I always got 24+ mpg on the highway. I think they are the best value ever.
Love this!! As owner of a Lincoln TC & a Ford Expedition both with the 4.6 V8 Car Wizard is 100% right. My Expedition has 270k miles on it and doesn’t burn a drop of oil, no smoke 💨 it just runs!!!
This is exactly what I want as a beater car to take the miles off my daily driver for the past decade that I can't bear to part with. Just a big comfy American sedan with tons of parts and ease of repair if need be. Also a fan of the Buicks, drove my grandma's 2001 regal in college out of necessity and grew an appreciation for driving what felt like a couch on wheels.
My daily is a 1997 Grand Marquis with 261k miles on it and it's awesome. My grandfather bought it new and I am the third generation in my family to own it. It just keeps going and going, never any major issues, and all minor issues have been very easy and cheap to repair. Maintenance is also easy, very easy to keep up with all the fluids and service items. Tune ups are a cinch with the spark plugs being so easily accessible. Parts are still widely available and cheap. The car gets about 22 mpg in a combo of 50/50 city and highway driving, and typically gets about 27 on the highway alone. Very good for a large, comfortable V8 American car. The longevity and low cost of ownership of these cars is incredible. It's a crying shame Ford stopped making them, almost a crime. I just serviced the transmission last weekend, and recently replaced the water pump myself for less than $50. I am not a mechanic and even I can do almost all my own work on my Grand Marquis, that's how easy they are.
U aint getting 22 mpg in 1 of these go learn math. Lucky if u get 16
It's a fact dude, lol. Sorry you don't like it. I just don't drive it like I stole it, keep the tires at 35 psi, and set the cruise control at 70 mph on my highway stretch that I drive. I am actually pretty fantastic at math, btw, and I know how to calculate fuel mileage, been doing it for 20 years now. It comes out to somewhere between 21.5 mpg and 22.5 every single fill-up. @@w.e.s.
@@w.e.s. My best city was 15 and that was driving pretty conservative. Usually 13-14 and best highway at a 70 MPH pace was about 25. I do have an LSE that might have slightly different gearing.
My wife's parents had a Crown Victoria, and her grandmother had a Grand Marquis -- in this same color! Slow, comfy, and reliable rides!
This was my first car. An 01 Mercury grand Marquis LS. Bought it my sophomore year in college. Put three kegs in the Trunk. My college days are filled with memories of this car.
I personally love these cars . They’re very reliable, great on gas, and some of the most comfortable vehicles known to man . They also have a good amount of get up and go. They were used as police cars and taxis for so long for a reason. I’m willing to bet the maintenance bills for the police stations more than doubled after switching out of these cars
@Nitrodamousthat's pretty great actually? You know how big it is?
@Nitrodamousthat’s pretty damn good considering the size of the car and the engine. My WRX is a 2.5l 4 cylinder and it also gets 20mpg
Driver's seat cushioning and springs always seem shot.
@NitrodamousI get 24 on hiway
@@shanemcman3665Bruh, 20 MPG in an engine that size hasn't been "great" in over twenty years. By modern standards, you can't call gas mileage "great" until you've passed 40 MPG.
My Merc has 263k miles and runs like a top. It has the 4.6 engine and it doesn`t burn a drop of oil and parts are cheap and plentiful.
How is the fuel mileage?
I get over 20 easy. It only needs 1500rpm togo for groceries. Haaa@@thomato981
I’ve had approximately a dozen panther cars over the last 25 years. Best vehicle ever made period. I currently have a 2004 Grand Marquis GS with 205k and I wouldn’t hesitate to drive across the country at any time. Some years are better than others but overall they are ALL great vehicles. Tip for anyone currently looking 2004-2006 is the cream of the crop. I’ve noticed that over the last 10 years or so they are starting to get more rare as the demolition derby builders are buying them all up. Get them while you can folks.
Way to go, Wizard! I've owned 3 Grand Marquis, and 1 Crown Vic. They're wonderful. The headlight module is expensive to fix. Avoid air ride (go for solid springs).
Good point. Reliable cars in general, but the most reliable trim is the GS without air ride and without automatic climate control.
avoid air ride goes for any car really
There was a recall for the headlight module.
@@TomahawkAssault Agree! Simpler = reliable
@@juki6377 Agree! Are you listening, Mercedes/Airmatic??
Currently running an 04 Grand Marquis myself. I've beat this thing pretty good and she still runs great. Its been hit by a tornado and hit a deer in it. Still works great and doesn't actually look that bad.
Mine too!!!
bought a 03 grand marquis back in february, already put about 7k on it. it needed new ball joints all around, now that was settled and it’s been an absolute tank
If there was a car type capable of almost singlehandedly putting the Car Wizard out of business (nothing to fix) these cars would certainly be in the running, pun intended. Nothing like a car that gets praise from the Car Wizard for giving him nothing to do. Kudos for sharing this gem, Car Wizard.
My 99 is just about to hit 270k. It's still the original engine and transmission. The oil has been changed every 3k, for the past few years I have been running 10w-30, it seeps some oil and generally uses a little more than a quart between changes, in that time it has blown the #2 spark plug out the head, but that was fixed pretty cheaply by one of those inserts. The original plastic intake manifold has in the past year finally developed a leak, although it is still minor enough that I only need to top off the coolant every few weeks or so. The transmission has been a little less smooth than before, it sometimes shifts a little harsh, or doesn't want to come out of OD as quickly as it usually would, but for that mileage and it's never been rebuilt I can't complain it doesn't slip. I live in IL but regularly washing it out in the winter, it still has zero rust. All the electronics work, as do the all the dash lights. The air only blows out the dash vents, not the floor anymore, but that's really all I can think of that isn't working right. I am hoping to get the car to 300k, my guess is the transmission will be what goes in the car. It is ancient and worthless, but it's just such a nice car to drive. Averages 26mpg on the highway.
Check for a vacuum leak when the a/c doesn't want to blow on the floor anymore.
We're on our second Grand Marquis. We have a 2009 with 93k on it and it still glides down the road like it did when it was new. Love them. I know some say "granpa car" but I think they are beautiful.
I own 3 Panthers, a Marauder, and 2 Crown Vic Sports. Yep, one of the most reliable and easy to work on and maintain cars around. Now I have an 01 Camry with very low miles to add to my winter drivability and more reliability. Thanks for doing this video.
My Dad had a 93 Marquis. I drove it for him on a trip. I was totally amazed it got 28mpg at 75mph. He said many times it was his favorite car of his life. It was Teal outside and in. Beautiful car. He traded it cuz he got tired of putting the gear for the speedo inside the cluster.
The marquee was the best car we’ve ever owned. We got them. My wife was first pregnant and we were looking for a new crown Victoria and we came across the use grand Marquis. The issue was it was a police package grandma Marquis all the way from the blue silicone hoses to the heavy duty suspension it was an awesome car. We literally got 400,000 miles out of it and the only reason we got rid of it was the frame rusted out!
I have a 2003 Town Car. Fantastic ride, good gas mileage and very smooth. No, it's not going to win any races, but I prefer comfort, reliability over high power. A couple downsides to these are the blend door actuators, intake manifold leak and there's a water leak by the cowling that can get the back seat floor wet (but it's an easy fix).
Get that intake manifold replaced as soon as possible. It will save your engine.
I have a 6 year old Audi A5 quatro and so far nothing has broken. It has been perfect. Have not spent one dolor on repairs other than tires.
My mother in law has that exact car, but a 1999. Same color. And yes, as you said it is so simple and easy to work on. I recently changed her plugs and coils for her and was giggling to myself the whole time because of how easy it was. Those things are TANKS, they will run forever with proper maintenance
the only thing horrible about them is changing starters, they require removing both the power steering and the exhaust to gain access! good running motors, yes, easy to work on? try the starter or even try swapping valve cover gaskets, you'll see!
@gkauto1959 I already did her valve covers when I changed her intake manifold last year, It was cake work. The intake cracked around the water inlet and needed to be replaced, so I did the valve covers while I had it all apart. It just made sense. Haven't done the starter on hers as of yet but my 03 Explorer has the same engine and the starter on that was easy.
Oh, I whole-heartedly agree. Being the owner of a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria P71, it's such a pleasure to drive and it's absolutely bulletproof! And I think these are really good-looking cars, particularly the Crown Vic P71 and the Mercury Marauder. Not to mention they're also great platforms to build upon as a performance vehicle, since they share a lot of the same components as the SN-95 and New Edge Mustangs.
Last year we found and bought a 2011 Grand Marquis, with 70,000 miles on it. It needed absolutely nothing except to be driven home. It was and is still as clean as in the video, and we've never been happier with a vehicle. My wife uses it to drive 3 blocks to work, and we go on the occasional weekend drive. Everything he says about these cars are ab-solutely right on. Had to do an alternator and battery, took minutes. Added a rear sway bar. Dual exhaust is on our to-do list, followed by a Marty Tune. I think this car will outlast me!
LOVE these cars. I picked up a 2002 LTC with 110,000 miles for $600, yes $600. Had a ton of lights on the dash so it wouldn’t pass inspection and they basically had to give it away for fear of needing major repairs $$$. Narrowed it down to an ABS module (super common) and all the lights went away and everything was kosher. $200 cost/5 minute install. Most comfortable daily I’ve ever had; and as it turns out, one of the cheapest to maintain. 4.6/4R70/8.8 is an outstanding combo, there’s a reason why law enforcement Crown Vics lasted forever with years of abuse. Super easy and economical to service. And somehow that car still netted me anywhere from 19-22 mpg on the highway hand calculated and per the onboard reading. HVAC controls on the steering wheel, heated seats, PLENTY of leg room front/rear… Phenomenal cars if you don’t mind looking like a senior citizen 😂. People 100% sleep on these cars. I’d venture to say outside of fuel economy, these may be a better purchase than most newer Toyotas; especially those with direct injection, CVTs, etc. Ford hit their mark with these cars.
The Panther platform was awesome. Full frame, really good visibility from the cab. I had a 2001 Crown Vicex detective car, 139,000 miles. Fired right up with no smoke. It did need valve cover gaskets, sort of a normal thing to go bad. Interior on the ex detective car was a bit sparse with cloth seats, but still comfortable. I traded in for a 2006 Mustang GT, which was nice except for removing the spark plugs, the I went to a 2013 Caprice PPV. Out of the 3 I think the Crown Vic was the most reliable, and well designed to be user friendly.
I’ve never been a Ford fan, but having watched this video I can definitely see why you and many others love them. I also didn’t realize that it was a RWD vehicle. No wonder everything is so readily accessible! Good video! 👍
My favorite longest lasting car was a 1992 Buick Roadmaster. That car was a tank and never had any major issues. Even with 300k I was using it for 4 hour commutes every day.
I’ve got a 94 Roadmaster wagon with 210,000 miles still running strong along with my 08 Palm Beach Edition MGM. The Roadmaster is even MORE comfortable than the MGM and that’s saying something!!!
@@buckscountyautospa6008Very true. The roadmaster with the 350 was far better than all the Northstar caddy models. In fact the roadmaster of the 90s was the only car that gave a ride as quiet and smooth as a town car
4.6 is one of the best things Ford ever made. Back when things were still simple and straightforward. I've got one in my Explorer, and it moves good AND can tow 8,000lbs. In a car like this, the engine is never stressed in the least. They aren't even terrible on gas if you do lots of highway driving
My dad had a 94 Grand Marquis LS with the air suspension. Still the most comfortable car I've ever rode in, timing chain went at 190k and that was that, but I think that was because the car had been sitting for a while at that point. It wasn't a speed demon, but the torque was so nice, didn't matter if it was 1 person or the whole family in the car, it could get up and go no problem.
Watch out for the 96-01 plastic intake manifolds. Especially low mileage ones may still have the original one which is very prone to cracking and will leave you stranded. The 2002+ upgraded manifolds have cast aluminum piece up front the alternator attaches to. Ford settled a class action lawsuit but all extended warranties offered by Ford have expired by now.
Fyi all crown Vic’s 96-11 are in danger of it the whole assembly of the manifold is plastic still
my 1998 grand marquis is still riding on original ball joints and control arms and is at about 190 K miles only really major repair, who is intake manifold replacement which i did myself and found the par for around $250. most reputable shops will charge between $900- $1500 if they buy the part
I owned three Lincoln/Lincoln Mercury copies of this platform. Law enforcement people probably hand suspensions and brakes that held the road better during maneuvers. Other than that, normal maintenance kept mine running well. I did tend to trade often.
The suspension on the interceptor cars could have used stiffer springs and shocks. They wanted to wallow at say 80+ in curves. As a general patrol car, the CV was great. As a pursuit car, not so much.
I’m on my second panther platform. It’s a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Montegua. This was a dealer installed appearance package. These are amazing cars and the 2valve 4.6 although not super powerful is quite dependable. Love your videos Wizard.
I miss my '99 Town Car. 110k, sold it at 140k and 5 years with ZERO BREAK DOWNS. The most reliable car next to my '77 Granada.
I’ve got a 2008 Lincoln town car and it’s been a great vehicle. Incredibly reliable and when it actually does break, parts are cheap and it’s easy to fix.
Great cars!! Family has owned one of these for years and fantastic on every account. I also own a Buick LeSabre with only 65k. Another fantastic vehicle. Thank you for sharing these gems! You're a smart man Wizard
I am a road warrior in sales. My company only pays gas for my vehicle. I first picked up a beautiful 2001 Grand Marquis for $3K and drove that for 150,000 miles (235,000 miles when sold), I now drive a near mint 1994 Town Car that I picked up for $5900 with 62,000 miles on it. At first I caught a little flack from my customers for "grampa's car"- but then they realized, No Payments, Very Low Insurance, More Room Than Most SUVs, Decent Gas Mileage, and Awesome Comfort. These cars have saved me a fortune.
Wizard, I totally agree with you on this one. The coolest version of this car is the Mercury Marauder. They're probably hard to find and sell for more money. Keep up the great work.
$30,000....
Marauders have a duel overhead cam 4.6L not hardly as reliable but alot more powerful...
Had 2 of them. Near perfect cars. Both made 250 K miles. Zero drive line problems,
just changed oil & filled the washer tank. 2nd choice is Roadmaster with LT-1
Much quicker & better looking. 15 sec @93 mph.
LFOD !
Don't forget about the Grand Marquis variant: the Mercury Marauder. That being said, my folks ran into issues getting parts for their 2004 with the 4-Valve Cobra 4.6. My folks sold it a few years ago, wish I had bought it...
This is a Grand Marquis LSE, a fairly rare option package, which contained the handling package, which is how you got the air suspension, dual exhaust, and the buckets/console.
The air suspension, when if fails, can be expensive to fix. Most people convert it to regular springs. There are also aftermarket repair kits and upgrades if you want to keep it.
Precision-Track is the marketing name for the Watt's linkage rear suspension, basically an articulated sway bar, on 1998-2011 cars.
The climate control controller is an issue, and was for the entire 1992-2011 run of the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis, and the 1990-2011 Town Cars. There are services that rebuild them if the electronics fail (they will). The other issue with them is the O-rings on the vacuum ports dry out and stop working. It's a pain to remove the control unit, but the O-rings are a cinch job themselves. Manual A/C and climate-control cars both use an electric blend-door motor instead of vacuum-operated, and it's prone to failure, and the failure can short the climate control unit. The blend-door motor and heater core are both very unpleasant jobs best left to a professional. I would also suggest leaving the control unit R&R to a pro, too, as disassembling the dash can be a tricky, somewhat delicate operation.
The only other real weak spots on these are frame rot (avoided by keeping it clean and regularly getting a quality anti-corrosion treatment), and Ford's AOD/derivative transmissions aren't the strongest. When a rebuild is needed, specify the police or livery/limo clutch packs, and that helps eliminate the problems.
I hope that car never sees a snowflake. On principle, I'd probably be oiling the undercarriage and the inner front fenders (known rust-out spot), even if it's never driven in winter.
I might be mistaken but also the intake manifold is a weak point
So pleased you highlighted theses issues as they get older, i had a 1993 mercy grand marquis, its started to fall apart with so many issues, that wasn't even a high mileage, floor frames stated to
Shown issues rust thin rust holes, & development a vibration on the engine, car had been checked out, by dealer ships, no codes errors,
6 garages could not find issues,
But the engine vibration was felt on the steering wheel, so ya, all i eventually give in & let her go, but i had 4 years of the most beautiful car for comfort,
& smooth & beautifully quiet car, & so lovely instrument panel different from this automobile,
Ps, i so miss her 💁♀️🌸
I have done every fix on here except the intake manifold, and none of them are that hard. I did all these when i was like 19.
@@roxannaday5574 How would it have codes. It is pre obd.
@@clandestine5959 eec tests if you locate your fuse box, the check engine light flashs & reads codes fault displayed, you have to unplug & insert a clip tool, i still have my haynes manual, this system was introduced before 0bd,
If you go on utube, the DISCRIPTION of how to read problems are explained, if you look at the early comments on this,
You will see, theres still codes on Lincoln, ford mercury grand marquis crown etc,
I had a 2005 Grand Marquee I bought used with 40k on it . Drove the car till 2023 ended up with 225,000 miles on it with just regular maintenance . Best car ever .