Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis

johnclineii · June 2002

http://money.excite.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_ge.jsp?news_id=cmt-169w0658&feed=cmt&date=20020618

pluto5 · June 2002

One would think the govmint would mandate fuel cells instead of fuel tanks, at least for emergency vehicles to lesson the chance of fires; fuel cells have greatly reduced the chance of fire in auto racing collisions.

wgr · June 2002

Can anyone recommend a Chicagoland Ford dealer, preferably in the Western suburbs ?

dpeerson1 · June 2002

I am thinking about purchasing a 1999 GM - LS
Does anyone have any negatives on this year, or any positives? PLEASE HELP SOON!! Would like to make my decision today.

kinley · June 2002

Many have gone bad since 1996 on most 4.6L engines. The problem may have been corrected by 1999, but check it out first.

felixc1976 · June 2002

I'm planning on buying a CV or GM sometimes next year and doing my homework now. While looking at the pictures of dozens of CV and GM I found that none of them have a tachometer. How come? Not that you can't drive a car without it, but it seems to be a necessary feature on a powerfull car like this. Is it available on some high-end CV or GM? Thanks

iusecad · June 2002

sergeis · June 2002

And what do you need a tach for on any automatic transmission car? Just use a simple rule - if your car runs then your engine still spins.

kinley · June 2002

Why one on the more economical Ford w/o one on the more expensive ride? Who knows??

iusecad · June 2002

"sporty" thing: T-Bird="sporty" Town Car=not "sporty".

'course that don't explain why Tauruses have them...

rea98d · June 2002

Actually, I was surprised at all the high-tech standard equipment that generation of Thunderbird comes with for the price. A fuel injected, overhead cam V-8, Independent rear suspension, variable assist power steering, a full set of instruments (My newest acquisition, an '82 Grand Marquis I picked up tuesday, has only a speedometer and fuel guage, and a bunch of idiot lights). Of course, if you move up to a Mark VIII, you get a lighter suspension & driveshaft, a quad cam V-8 good for nearly 300 horsepower in some trim levels, and a few other goodies the lesser T-Birds and Cougars don't have. All in all, very nice cars. It's a shame they got the ax, but considering what Ford replaced the T-Bird with, I'll forgive them for killing the MN-12.

iusecad · June 2002

I think there are four cars 20 years or older left in Minnesota...

What was an MN-12?

rea98d · June 2002

MN-12 = Midsize North Amercan Project # 12. It's the engineering moniker Ford gave to the basic platform the 89-97 T-Birds, Cougars, and Mark VIII's were built on. The Older T-Birds, Cougars, and Mark VII's were built on a platform called Fox, the Mustang is on a variation of the Fox platform called SN-95, the Panther is the Crwon Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car platform from '79 on.....
You get the picture.

felixc1976 · July 2002

Do any CV or GM have rear split-folding seat? Or the trunk is large enough to transport all sorts of bulky stuff, i.e. skis?

iusecad · July 2002

skis might be kind of tight... might have to get a roof rack or a receiver hitch w/ski holder attachment... of course with the roof rack you might be confused with an officer of the law. From a distance anyway...

felixc1976 · July 2002

So, what's the straight length of the trunk from the end to the back seat?

kinley · July 2002

The one time I mounted a rack on the roof, scratches were very evident and difficult to polish away. Now a ski sock is placed over each tip and tail & bundled in pairs. Two pair of skis wrapped as such fit between lowered armrests with their tails resting on the package shelf & tips below the dash. The longest pair are seventy seven inches, but the other pair will fit in the trunk diagonally.

wgr · July 2002

I have not gotten my next Automobile magazine, but I have been told that they report the 2003 Crown Vic LX Sport will have 265 hp ! CAn anyone verify this ?

wgr · July 2002

Page 76 of the August issue of Automobile - 265 hp and 276 pound-feet torque. It's not a Marauder, but for $5,000 - $7,000 less, it's fine with me.

pennsykid · July 2002

Just a clarification of an earlier posting. Yes the CV & GM gas tank is located behind & above the rear axle, BUT still has the full depth of the trunk as a buffer zone and is protected on the side by the heavy frame. Unlike some other newer cars & SUVs (Chrysler & some Japanese products come to mind) that still hang the tank just behind the rear bumper, like back in the 50s & 60s.

jerrym3 · July 2002

You can now "build" a 2003 LX Sport with buckets on the fordvehicles.com web site. Guess they fixed that wheel problem.

Don't get surprised when you see the 285 HP typo; should have been torque, not HP.

Waiting to hear what my Z plan price will be to see if the car should be considered as a cheaper, not as fast, better looking car than the Marauder.

And, you can get black whereas you cannot get a black Mercury LSE.

peeete · July 2002

The Ford web site says the car has 239 HP I believe, not 265 (wish it did). I saw the 265 figure in Automobile as well. wishful thinking on their part.

THe article also said that the LX Sport does not handle nearly as well as the Marauder. Is it significantly different than the base suspension? The base model is too floaty in my opinion.

I would buy a Marauder now, but there is no traction control at present, which I think is a must in the snowbelt. Maybe Ill wait for the fall, and the likely price increase

dragonman · July 2002

I just purchased a 2002 MGM Ultima at the end of May.While in Buffalo,(350 miles from home) the transmission went out of the car and was replaced with a remanufactured transmission. I am now getting 3 miles to the gallon less than when the car was new and five miles to the gallon less than when the transmission went out. I feel that I should have been given a new transmission, not one that was remanufactured with who knows how miles were on it. The service manager had told me I was getting a new transmission. It was only after the transmission was installed and I looked at the invoice that I discovered it was a remanufactured transmission. Of course, calls to Ford have been fruitless. This was our first new car purchase in 12 years. Needless to say, I am not a happy camper. Is this the way all of the other car companies treat their "valued customers".

peeete · July 2002

it is common that they only give you a remanufactured tranny. I checked into Acura and they do the same thing. The TL-S tranny breaks down a lot - so you only get remanufactured. I think it stinks - but its common

iusecad · July 2002

they replaced it with a rebuilt. I too was a little miffed but the service manager explained it by saying: "Would you rather we put another new one in that has the same problem?"

52k miles later it still shifts like it oughta...

kinley · July 2002

Interesting -Ford/Mercury's attitude and policy. When your car is involved in a crash and the insurance company specifies non factory generic parts, the auto manufacturers scream; claiming substandard and unsafe parts should not be used. But,when the auto company is paying the bill a cheaper and questionable used 'rebuilt' transmission is their remedy.

iusecad · July 2002

who's to say the used one won't go 200k?

but it is a shame it had to be changed at all.

peeete · July 2002

Ok, here is the big question: Is there ANY difference between the Vic and Marquis, other than the grill, stc. Ive had Mercury dealers tell me there is more insulation in the car, but Ford dealers tell me thats not true. Obviusly there is a price difference, so is it just the nameplate. Does it also hold true for the LX Sport vs. LSE?

cuesew · July 2002

Help.... In the next 2 days I have a offer on a Grand Marquise LS Its a 1999 with 11000 miles on it... It still smells new... The person who I want to buy it from husband died... The car is mint and the price is $10,000 ... I have a problem because of the rear wheel drive... I live in the east and we get some snow... The car has all the goodies... If someone can help me out with there view I would grateful...

rsteph · July 2002

Anyone heard anything about engine trouble caused by a master flow sensor of some kind? Specifically, something like "the sensor gets plugged, changes engine timing or other things and eventually causes holes in pistons"? This might apply to 1995 and newer (or older) Crown Vics with the 4.6 engine.

johnclineii · July 2002

Does the car have traction control? If so, worry not....the car will be little worse in snow than any front wheel drive. If it doesn't, you may want to look into chains, if they are legal in your state.

TIP: Look around. Police drive Crown Vics. It snows. Feel better?

ron35 · July 2002

rsteph - What you are referring to is the mass airflow sensor which is in the air inlet housing. There are numerous posts on this at the www.crownvic.net site under the 4.6 litre forum and in the arhives. Basically the procedure recommended is very simple and that is to spray the sensor with electric contact cleaner and the many simptons of poor performance disappear. From the many posts I've seen there on this it seems to work very well.

Ron35

jerrym3 · July 2002

My mass airflow sensor went bad on my 94 TBird 4.6. Check Engine Light went on, but no major damage even after driving quite a few miles before repair.

But, I did hear a slight pinging under load which went away after the sensor was changed.

Car runs like a clock now.

kinley · July 2002

427435 · July 2002

If you're really worried, spend another $600 (at the price for the car, you sure could afford to) for a set of steel wheels and winter tires. They make a huge difference in the snow and ice. Either that or sell me the car for $10,100!!!!

cuesew · July 2002

I would like to thank everyone for helping me buy this wonderful car (Grand Marquis LS) I lied to you all the car had 11087 mile for the $10000... The car has been garaged since first bought...

Today is my anniversary and my wife bought it for me.... I have a wonderful gal

Ryan

rea98d · July 2002

There's no reason to go for a Mercury over a Ford. Cosmetic differences, basically.

kinley · July 2002

there's not much difference between the CV & GM, but how would you describe the difference between the GM and the TC? In other words what is there about the TC that justifies another 10 grand?

johnclineii · July 2002

Ford needs the money?

alender · July 2002

My beep warning sounds are not working when I back up the vehicle. With two little kids, it is a useful feature that I need. Could it be related to a burned out light bulb from the reverse light or other reasons. Initially it used to malfunction when it was rainy, but now it just stoped working. Any suggestions will be welcome.

kinley · July 2002

are you attacted to the Mercury Marauder? If so, why, and if not, why?

e_gillman · July 2002

Yes, BIG TIME. But, I'd wait at least 1 year to acquire one since Ford will probably make many improvements after year one including offering color choices and more power. My current ride is a 2001 LX-S. Love it!

melmo · July 2002

I'd like to install a tachometer in my '00 GM/HPP.
However, when I read the instructions on the aftermarket tach. it said, "attach the green wire (that would be the one that receives the signal)to some undetermined location known only to the car's service manual." I don't really want to spend a lot of money for a service manual that may or may not have the answer I need. So, anyone know where to attach the "green wire" from the electronic tach? For that matter, where the heck are the ignition wires - I can't even find them.

rea98d · July 2002

Don't know as much about the Town Car. Engine, transmission, and mechanical stuff are pretty much the same, much better looking (at least the '98-'02's), nicer bits & pieces on the interior, gadgets and what nots you probably won't find on the Crown Vic. The biggest difference is a "stretched" version that's 6" longer. all of that going to rear seat legroom (something lacking in all cars these days, even full sized Lincolns). Load a Grand Marquis to the hilt, and you'd most likely have a car just as nice as a Town Car, although you might not be getting the best radio money can buy, ect ect, but you'd have a lot nice car at a lot cheaper price. Or find a good, clean, low mileage '00 or '01 Town Car someone else just turned in off a lease.

R92688 · July 2002

Having watch the CNN Investigation of police officers dying from fires in police CVs, after their parked cars were rear ended at high speed causing the fuel tank to rupture and explode. It peaked my interest and I found a TSB Bulletin no. 01-21-14 from the autosafety website that describes a modification to 92-01 Crown Victorias. I have a 95 CV LX that I thought was safe for my family. Has anyone heard about this and what are your thoughts?

pennsykid · July 2002

According to TSB 01-21-14, Ford tests for rear end crashes at speeds 20 mph above government guidelines. The TSB describes very minor modifications that can be made where rear end collisions are expected above 80 mph, such as police work. In normal situations, I really don't think you have to worry about gas tanks exploding on these cars. (If you want to worry, look at where the gas tank is located on certain Jeep models.)

rea98d · July 2002

CNN is just stirring up a bunch of sensationalism for the sake of ratings. Some of the stories they cite have cars getting hit at 70, 80, even 100 miles an hour! Those are obscene rates of speed. If you get rear ended by a guy going 100 MPH and you're in a Civic, the resuce crews are going to need a mop and a water hose to collect what will be left of you. There is absolutely no car on the planet that is safe getting hit at such high speeds. If that happens, you're gonna be in a mess no matter what you drive.

harmar · July 2002

It's often instructive to look at the people who hop into the media spotlight when bad things happen. The only ones I've seen complain in my area were politicians, Nader-like auto haters, and "journalists." Our local TV interviewed the police chief. He was quite calm about the matter, saying they were checking it out and would make any modifications suggested. There must be a place we can check online that tallies these fires, then match that figure with the number of CV/GMs out there on the road.

One thing I haven't seen anyone complain about is the police using Impalas. The owner of the frame shop I use tells me the police here hate them, because in high speed chases they tend to spin out on quick maneuvers. But no one on the city council thought about that when they forced the police to buy Impalas, for more money than they could have gotten CVs, because GM has a plant there.

A pox on all politicians, auto haters and many "journalists."

kinley · July 2002

can come in contact with the gas tank. The modifications include cutting and filing off the ends of large bolts that can penetrate the tanks. Other potential sharp objects are being altered as well. Thus, it is not the tank per se, but the available sharp objects near it in a collision.

rea98d · July 2002

Just a bit of advice, but there's at least one common courtesy I learned by watching truckers. If you see a cop has someone pulled over on the shoulder of the interstate, move over into the passing lane, even if the cop car is completely in the shoulder. Same thing goes for breakdowns. Giving the guys too much room is better than not giving them enough. The cops will appreciate someone looking out for their safety, and being in a cop's good graces is never a bad thing.

Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis

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