2010 Mercury Grand Marquis LS Ultimate Edition Full Test LOL
#46
Lexus Fanatic
Some rare exceptions to this rule may have been the few Mercury Marauders built in the late 1990's. They were high-performance competitiors to the Chevy Impala SS....essentially a civilian Grand Marquis with all-black trim/paint /interior and the Ford Police-Spec drivetrain/chassis installed at the factory.
#47
Lexus Champion
The Marauder came with the DOHC 4.6L... more like what the naturally aspirated late 90s/early 00s Mustang Cobra had.
Even still, I test drove a Marauder once out of curiosity and found it to still feel pretty slow. Seat of the pants told me it was a low 15 second car in the quarter mile. Not sure what it really did.
#48
Lexus Fanatic
A lot of people think police spec Crown Vics have some sort of high power engine. I've even heard police themselves perpetuate the myth. The very large majority of them (95+%) have the same lethargic 4.6L SOHC V8 as the Grand Marquis in the article, although they have upgrades to their oil coolers, trans cooler, etc. Basically not power enhancements, just durability enhancements.
The Marauder came with the DOHC 4.6L... more like what the naturally aspirated late 90s/early 00s Mustang Cobra had.
Even still, I test drove a Marauder once out of curiosity and found it to still feel pretty slow. Seat of the pants told me it was a low 15 second car in the quarter mile. Not sure what it really did.
The Marauder came with the DOHC 4.6L... more like what the naturally aspirated late 90s/early 00s Mustang Cobra had.
Even still, I test drove a Marauder once out of curiosity and found it to still feel pretty slow. Seat of the pants told me it was a low 15 second car in the quarter mile. Not sure what it really did.
I test-drove a 4.6L Marauder when they first came out, and I agree, though it was running some 300 HP (303, I think, was the exact figure) its torque was clearly not the equal of the 5.7L Impala SS. But the Marauder's 4.6L V8, still, was clearly a step above that of the bread-and-butter Grand Marquis (which I also drove). But, I agree with you...the Marauder was marketed as more of a performance-car than it actually was. Its looks, though, were nothing short of dynamite...one of the few all-black cars I've seen whose looks I could really dig. (black is not one of my favorite automotive colors)
Last edited by mmarshall; 08-29-10 at 03:41 PM.
#50
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (2)
I know this is old but i just drove a 2000 grand marquis with 18000 for about an hour, i love that car. Now i know why they have such a following, there are sweet. One of the most comfortable cars in the world. It has light fixtures and seatbelts that belong in cars from the 90's a motor that just makes noise, a suspension that never settles, and one of the biggest trunks of all time
#53
Lexus Fanatic
In addition to that, the Grand Marquis (and its Ford Crown Vic and Lincoln Town Car cousins) are the last remaining full-size, ladder-frame cars in the American market. That also bodes well for tow ratings......usually better then those of equivalent unibody-cars.
To be honest, though, IMO, the power-steering on these cars s**ks. On the non-Police versions, it is sluggish, almost totally devoid of road-feel, and feels like the front wheels are tracking over glare-ice. I suspect, but can't prove, that Ford purposely over-boosts the power steering in these cars because of the large number of senior-citizens driving them with weak/painful arthritic shoulders, hands, and arms.
#54
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (3)
To be honest, though, IMO, the power-steering on these cars s**ks. On the non-Police versions, it is sluggish, almost totally devoid of road-feel, and feels like the front wheels are tracking over glare-ice. I suspect, but can't prove, that Ford purposely over-boosts the power steering in these cars because of the large number of senior-citizens driving them with weak/painful arthritic shoulders, hands, and arms.
With that being said, there are people that just love Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Towncars steering, and these people are not necessary old.
#55
Lexus Fanatic
With that being said, there are people that just love Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Towncars steering, and these people are not necessary old.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-11-10 at 07:25 PM.
#56
Lexus Fanatic
I've driven plenty of this kind of car back in the day, not missing anything.
When auto divisions have antiquated cars like this, it drags down the entire division (in this case for good).
When auto divisions have antiquated cars like this, it drags down the entire division (in this case for good).
Last edited by IS-SV; 11-11-10 at 09:05 PM.
#58
Lexus Champion
Agreed. I've driven plenty of them too. Cars like this have had their day and now time has moved on. Times change.
#59
Pole Position
I will miss em when they are gone.