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Comments
We have had our 2008 Sable Premier FWD for 3 months now w/ 7000 miles. We made the change from Grand Marquis's (4 used LS's) over the past 22 years to the new revised Sable in order to get a lot of good technology that was not offered in the G.M. cars (such as ESC, in-dash GPS, Satellite radio, Voice Sync, etc) The car rides good, but not like the last 2000 Grand Marquis LS w/ 131K on it (our first really new car we bought). I think Ford did the best they could with FWD and torque steer is minimal. I miss RWD, but my wife wanted a bit smaller car so here we are. Most other FWD drives have poor back seat room such as Camry, Nisson, and others. I would have to buy a BMW 740i or Mercedes S series to get a RWD vehicle close to this car’s interior room. The seats are 3" higher off the ground which make entry much more ergonomic for us 57 year olds and much better for my wife's folks_ 84.
Power is quite good for a V-6, 260 HP and it shifts very smooth with the 6 speed Automatic. The oil filter is located in a pretty good spot and I use my drive up ramps using 5W-20 oil every 7500 miles. I changed at 2500 the first time to get factory grit out of the engine as I tend to keep cars quite a long time. This car starts every time and never misses no matter what temperature__4-8 degree mornings for us.
The only problem, I had was an out of adjustment cruise control switch on the brake pedal that would kick out the cruise occasionally. I took it to a nearby Ford dealer for a quick fix and that was it. I did buy the extended 6 year/100K mile warranty since I still remember the $1800.00 Sun visors that went bad with Home-Link/Visor lights wiring shorts that wiped out the Digital Dash (which I miss). I had the mechanic wire around for $80 each time on each visor instead, to bypass the visors. I will know more about this car in about 100K miles.
The room in this car is phenomenal, especially in the rear seats and the trunk is large, though space is awkward, but still handles large suit cases for international travel quite well. The courtesy lights on this car are great and the interior controls grow on you after awhile. The plug-ins are plentiful for our Radar Detector, phone charger Fr/Rr, ipod, etc.
This is the car Ford/Mercury is pushing as they neglect the Grand Marquis design. The price was quite good with $3000 rebates and trade. We ordered and waited 2 months to get the Sage color we wanted w/ Camel interior and light plastic wood.
I feel this car is the precursor for the upcoming Lincoln MKS, which has a better looking C pillar, dished out chrome wheels, and a few more gadgets. My wife did not like the front end of that car on the websites we viewed. Our car had every option except the rear DVD player and it has plenty of toys to play with. We get quite a few compliments on the color and look of the car as they tried to make it look closer to the smaller Milan (mileage is not much better on the Milan than with the larger Sable).
Overall, I would recommend this car to anyone who drives a lot of miles and hauls 3-4 people often, as well as drives it to work daily. I regret buying the extended warranty, but for the overall price I feel good about the purchase as this car goes to Chicago quite often (600 mile trips)
Our mileage: We normally drive on Interstates about 65-75+ MPH regularly and do some town driving. I select regular gas w/o ethanol to avoid the 2-3 mpg loss, which I have tested. The weather is now cold in Southern Illinois which also cost about 1-2 MPG. If I keep my foot out of it, mileage does go up about 1-2 MPG.
We get about 23-26 MPG on trips and 18-20 MPG going to work__5 miles away. (not much better than what we got on the 2000 Grand Marquis)
Good Luck to all.
How does the factory get its grit into the engine?
I sure hope the wait was worth it and I love the car like I hope I will.
I too will be ordering my next Grand Marquis - wish I could get the exterior and interior color combination I desire (Norsea blue with black leather interior), but Ford won't allow it.
I notice you can't get the black interior with the Norsea blue. Do you know why? What does one manufacturing process have to do with the other?
Have you had a Grand Marquis before? This is my first time having a car like this and I think I'll wish I had gotten one a long time ago.
Are you familiar with the 6-CD Audiophile option? I'm getting it, but I have never heard it, because the model the dealer had did not have that option and I cannot find any reviews of it, or even information about it, such as who builds it and the speakers, etc.
I've been waiting almost 4 months now for mine and SHOULD have it in about another week.
If the car doesn't have dual exhausts I put them on plus use a K and N air filter.
The 2004 had the factory dual exhaust and the handing suspension...a faster machine but the air suspension is problematic thats why I traded it in because to fix the air suspension can be expensive.
Real life mileage 12-15 in city and 25 -27 on highway with the k and n filter the computer says 32 ??? It is a quiet dependable car only 2 dislikes the leg room in the rear seats are a joke....the new Nissan versa has better leg room.....the 4.6 is ok with factory dual exhaust...did a deal with my ford part man!!! The 4.6 that was in the maurauder should be the standard engine.
BUY USED there are many now in the system because the rental companies use them...check the car with the automobile club 100.00 usually it will be worth your while
As a real car nut and a reader of car and driver , motor trend automobile and road and track ...I think this is one of the best cars on the market period !!!!
Yes this machine needs a serious update....maybe the Ford interceptor concept car??? I really can't say but it is a very dependable car and if treated properly will give years of trouble free ownership
I have a 1996 Marquis, was already the same engine etc, wonderful (and safe) car and the milage is about average I would say! If you drive it easy with the cruise on the highway, 24-25 is no problem! I drive it in Germany also in heavy stop and go citytraffic often, this way, I occasionally get 12-14 mpg! But I love to see the faces of all those Volkswagens and Smarts when I smoke them with my big boat ;o)! My Parents have a 2006, their average is about 17-19 with a lighter food ;o)! By the way, they are happy it is able to use E85 (ethanol), as the price of gas in Germany is around 6 $ a gallon and the ethanol gallon is around 4 $ ( High german taxes)!
Be happy to live in the still free USA!! Have fun!
About an hour - building the car isn't where the time is. Queueing into production with special orders does, and shipping does. But once they decide to build it, it's done in one day.
The assembly line is a heck of a lot cleaner than the machine room of a paper factory.
Having taken factory drive away a couple of times since 1950, I'd like to do it one more time, but in Coventry/Birmingham, U.K.
Ooooh, nice thought - but better hurry. TATA may soon move that process to New Dehli. Also, it's a LONG drive home from there.....
#1 - the A4OD transmission in that Ford is built like Fort Knox - it's made for livery and police use, and even with neglect, will go 100,000 before needing any work. Properly lubricated, nobody knows how long it will run before breaking down. So there's no reason NOT to use it.
#2 - Your mileage will improve a lot if you use it.
Now, if you want to talk engineering or architecture... that's a different story.
-VIC
What is causing the groaning or swooshing noise, the slow creeping, and the pulsating feel of the brake pedal? Air in system? Booster push rod too short? Booster leak?
Check this out and hope the control valve is the problem.
Good luck.
Rod 73