Wiper motor got stuck in upper position. Changed @ 25$.
Cracked dash not fixed.
Handles like a boat, no road feel. Not very refined.
Very simple construction, live rear axle, body on frame. Same internals as the Ford F150 truck, thus very well suited for the home mechanic. Parts are widely available and inexpensive.
Torque is adequate for a casual driver. HP should suffice for any "normal" driver.
High speed stability is poor @ 100mph+
speed governed @117 mph.
Car is built for longevity and durability and consequently heavy.
Very roomy, nice interior.
Is very comfortable on the hwy or interstate at legal cruising speeds, noise suppression is OK, there is noticeable wind noise. It's very well suited for families on a budget. Much much better than a van in terms of dependability and durability. Only cost issue is the fuel consumption.
Expect 16/17mpg around town and 24/25 mpg on hwy for a sound vehicle.
Have driven this car for 18 hours straight without any issues, it EATs the miles. Similar vehicles are known to do over 500000 miles as limo/taxis on a regular basis.
A potential buyer will have to correct a few built in "life limiters" made by Ford.
1. Change valve seals. They will start to leak @ 100k parts 22$, a very hard job to do.
2. Add a transmission cooler 50$ in parts.
3. Possibly change the air suspension (if so equipped) along with the compressor. Aftermarket parts are available @ 300-500 $ total.
Also expect/budget faults to occur in:
Windows, inexpensive if you fix it yourself.
Plastic mouldings will deteriorate, chrome might peel, especially in sunkissed areas.
It's that air suspension that made these cars ride so smoothly. I would invest in a new air suspension if I had one of these old Grand Marquis.
Mine actually doesn't have the rear suspension, still rides smooth though...
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