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Thinking of getting a Gran Marquis

2K views 33 replies 10 participants last post by  CrystalPistol 
#1 · (Edited)
#2 ·
The 4.6 is a very solid motor if taken care of. There are many of them that make it well past 300,000 miles (482,000 km).
 
#3 ·
I thought that might be the case. In my 'Bird, unless I'm late for work or something, the engine hardly ever goes over 2500rpm so its not exactly worked hard.
 
#4 ·
Can't tell if it is an HPP car or not (it has the wheels, and rear air suspension, but there are two different rear air suspension setups), but 235 hp is the rating for dual exhaust.

If it is an HPP car than it has the better torque converter and 3.27 rear gears instead of 2.73, it is an 01 so it is a PI engine car, only thing to watch is the plastic intake, just like the 96/97 mn12s.

I have a 2000 Grand Marquis, I have 135,000 miles on mine, and other than a leaking intake and the COP/sparkplug boots are cracks and I have a misfire, it has been a great family vacation and daily driver.
 
#5 ·
I've heard a bit about these plastic intakes causing problems. Is it only if they're disturbed or if the engine overheats, or are they a potential problem that could happen at any time?
 
#6 ·
They weaken over time because of heat. At least that was the case for mine to break. I ran it a lot in the summer and then the following spring it blew up. Other than that the car is one tough sonofabich. They are meant to be work horses. Great cars I owned a slow 97 but I still loved it, a comfy pimp ride.
 
#7 ·
So after it breaks is there an aluminium version you can change it to, or do you have to fit replacement plastic ones?

I notice that you're in Arizona, are they more prone to breaking in the hot states or doesn't that make any difference?
 
#8 ·
I actually blew this intake up in IL weather, something not unlike the UK. And yes I can see these intake not lasting long at all in hotter states but then its all in the way you drive. And yes there is a replacement with an aluminum crossover this will solve your problem. There 2 kinds of intakes PI and Non-PI. Not sure which one you want.
 
#9 ·
Ok, well at least there's a fix. I may have a look at the car next weekend so I'll have to see if I can tell what its got.
 
#10 ·
One other thing, I just got sent some pictures of the Mercury I'm interested in, and the plug wires look like thin grade wire. Would I be correct in thinking that this would be because its coil-on-plug, and the only wires running to the plugs are Low Tension, so thinner that normal plug wires??
 
#11 ·
Just curious ... are these (Bird & Marquis) right-hand drive cars for the UK? If they are standard left-hand drive US cars, what if any restrictions do you face in driving them there? I seem to remember a Car & Driver magazine article about a 'Vette trip across Australia, where the standard left-hand drive car was required to display a "Lefthand Driver" bumper sticker whilst being operated Down Under.

If you have right-hand drive Fords there, I for one would be interested in seeing some photos of them.

Regards,

Larry W7LES in Cheyenne Wyoming
 
#13 ·
Sorry to disappoint you Larry, but the T-Birds, Mercurys and 99% of all American cars in the UK are left hand drive.

I actually own an 87 Firebird as well as the T-Bird, and both of my cars came over with American servicemen (who can apparently bring their own cars over to the UK if they're stationed here). You ocasionaly come accross a RH drive American car, but they've normally originated from South Africa, or been specially converted. The only exception to this are some Cadillac STS's and Fourth Gen Camaros/Firebirds, as I think I'm correct in saying that they were sold as RH drive over here for a while in the 90's by GM. The majority of American cars in the UK have been brought across as personal imports, or shipped in from Japan. In fact I found out the other day that the Mercury I'm interested in originated from Dubai

I saw a magazine article a few years ago promoting a UK firm that bought US trucks (Rams and F150's) and did their own specialised conversions to convert them to RH drive. I'm not sure if they're still in business.

There are a few people over here who have a desire to own a real car, rather than the ridiculous number of Asian/European "cars" that are forced down our necks (2 litre engines are considered prety big!). Most UK people that own American cars tend to keep them mainly for weekend use due to the cost of fuel (currently the equivalent of approx $5.75/ UK gallon). I think I'm in the minority as I use my T-Bird as a daily driver. The dealer I bought my two from won't buy RH drive versions of American cars in the UK, as most people who look for American cars in the UK want "real" American cars, not American cars that someone has tried to make British.

Once an American car has been imported, we have to modify the lights to make them dip to the left, fit amber turn signals, rear fog lights, and fit UK style reflective numberplates. Once that's been done we can get an MoT test, (not sure what the equivalent is in the US - its a roadworthyness test thats done anually like other UK cars) and we're good to go. No LH drive bumper stickers etc. Just the ocassional weird look from pedestrians wondering why you're sat on the wrong side of the car.
 
#12 ·
Just to let you know, I had a 94 crown vic that no matter how hard I tried, I simply could not kill this car. The odometer stopped working at 285K miles, and the car is still going strong. When I bough my MarkVIII, I didn't have any room to keep it, so I gave the car to my cousin, and it is still going strong. So don't worry about the miles; for that car, 160K is nothing, and there is no reason you shouldn't be able to get another 160K out of it.
 
#14 ·
98+ Crown Vics/Grand Marquis got COP, Coil On Plug, so yes, each cylinder has a coil, and it is only 12 volts and ground trigger to each one.
 
#16 ·
OK, update on the Mercury - turns out that the 262000 on the listing IS miles not km. Had a pic of the speedo, and it clearly shows 421000km. Hmmmm
 
#18 ·
It prob won't mean much to you as were talking UK £'s but £2500 was mentioned, although its on an auction so we'll see. Its up to about 1300 at the mo.

I bet you could get 2 of them in the US for the equivalent $'s, say $3500 (at $1.4 to the £)!
 
#20 ·
I think it works out at about $1500 to ship across, its not too bad getting them registered, just takes a bit of time obviously for the shipping and then messing around sorting out the changes to the lights, turn signals etc.
 
#22 ·
I think I'll have a look at this one over here just to see what its like, (I've never come across a car thats done so many miles before!)and then if I decide that I definitely want to get one, and want to get it shipped over, I'll let you know.

Thankyou very much for the offer though!:zbeer:
 
#23 ·
hey man, i own a 97 grand marquis. i've had it since it had 30k (now has 90k)on it and its been a great car. i would love to hod rod it out but i've got my bird for that, so why not keep it ultra reliable?

the intake didn't go until about 81k, and i bought a used updated aluminum crossover intake off ebay for less than 200 bucks(costs more like 450 new from ford) and changed it myself. my buddy is a service advisor at ford dealer, said it was about a 1200-1400 dollar job parts and labor! youch!!!!

anyways, excellent cars. i've known several 4.6 and 5.0 grand marquis and crown vics that have over 200k on them and still would reliably cross the usa coast to coast.
 
#24 ·
I didn't get the one I originally saw in the end, however, Monday this one was listed:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....1965&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab=Watching
I'm going to have a look at the weekend, but it does sound very promising.

Glad to hear that you're happy with yours. I could see them going coast to coast no prob (that's only about 100m over here if you pick the right part of the country though!).
 
#25 ·
Well, besides buying from the devil, looks nice, digital dash, looks like dual exhaust, the lacy HPP wheels, rear air suspension, but doesn't look like it has a leather steering wheel, I don't specifically see the trailer hitch (or the dual exhaust).

Other one went for around double what this one is at currently, but this one has a lot few miles.
 
#26 ·
My dad has a 97 Grand Marquis and it has been way more reliable than the cougar. It has the smoothest running engine I have ever felt. When I am in the car I feel absolutely no vibrations, and it has over 175k on the original engine (without all that many highway miles). . .

Stephen
 
#27 ·
i know a guy with a mark 8 with a blown tranny for sale. the engine only has 50k miles on it. i'm fighting and fighting....and still fighting the urge to buy that thing and drop that 4valve 280hp engine in my Marquis... its very tempting!
 
#28 ·
We bought our '01 in Dec '01, only have 60,000 + miles on it, it's our road trip car mostly though when purchased we got it for the size and my MIL was living withus so it was easy for her to get in and out of. Cross country three times, it'll knock down 27-28 mpg out across the plains at 75, but overall it's about 24-26 mpg. Ours has the 2.76 rear, I addded the duals from a new wrecked CV HPP as well as the wheels. Have added Addco bars and Bilsteins, might would go with the softer Bilsteins if I had it to do over, but they aren't bad now.

Huge trunk!

I'll upgrade the intake one of these days to one with the aluminum water crossover.

We love it.
 
#29 ·
dont the 01s have all the PI stuff? if so, its not a problem. its the pre-PI intakes (on the mustangs its 96-98 4.6s that have the problem) that have the cracking problem. they used better plastic after that, with no aluminum crossover and no problems. i'm pretty sure the 01 Marquis would be PI.
 
#30 ·
Yeah, it's PI stuff already .... I know we had a lot of police cars have the problem, but now that you mention it .... they were 2000 and older it seems.

Now you have me wondering? It does have the plastic water cross over though, my '06 CVPI has aluminum.

:confused:
 
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