1988 Mercury Grand Marquis GS review from North America

Alternator popped a diode. (free)

Broken sway bar link ($7)

Heater hose burst. ($20)

Serpentine belt snapped. ($15)

Power Steering hose had bad leak. ($100 repair and PS Flush)

Rough idle. ($3 Injector Cleaner gas additive)

AC needs a charge (R12 $$$$ Ouch!!)

I love this car. My '94 Intrepid had a transmission meltdown at 124,000 miles. (Chrysler 4 spd trannies SUCK!!)

Bought this car from an uncle who owns a repair shop. It was HALF the cost of a tranny rebuild for the 'Trep.

First owner bought it off the showroom floor and drove it until he died. Then it sat in his driveway for 2 years until his widow called my uncle and asked him to take it away because it was "too big" and she would never drive it (tiny Toyota Corolla driver.)

All the repairs above are directly related to the thing not moving for 2 years. The rough idle smoothed out after a bottle of injector cleaner and some highway miles. The hoses and the belt were dry and cracked. I should have replaced them right away, but I put them off because cash was tight. The AC works, but barely. I can't afford an R-12 charge, so it's windows-down all summer. I've never had a working AC anyway. The alternator failed within the first week I had it. It was just a popped diode. My uncle replaced the bridge and I was back in business. The bottoms of the door panels are all bumpy, like they are rusting from inside. But heck, it's 17 years old. I'll probably sand and bondo someday.

This is the most comfortable car I have ever driven. It's no race car, but pretty quick. It can easily shut down any ricemobile at the light. And it is SO EASY to work on - even if you have fat fingers like mine.

I use this car for Boston city driving. People see that chrome bumper coming down the street and get out of the way.

This is an awesome car. It handles New England rain and snow much better than you would expect from a RWD V8. And it's BIG!! Plenty of room for 6 adults, and the trunk is big enough for all their luggage - without removing the spare. I you can get hold of one, do it.