1989 Mercury Grand Marquis LS 5.0

Summary:

Cheap parts, easy to fix, good power, and a comfortable ride

Faults:

The bottom half of the engine went at around 105000 miles. Replaced it with another 5.0, but out of a Town Car. Strangely enough, it came with headers.

Lost overdrive at around 110000 miles. Had a rebuilt tranny installed for under $500. That's probably why it still shifts rough.

Speedometer is 5mph off.

Rear passenger window doesn't work.

A lot of problems with the idle/stalling out. I up'd the idle two turns. Ran great, but continues to stall on occasion while at lights. Stalls continuously while backing up. Plan on replacing the idle air control valve to see if this helps. I've also been told that it could be a common vacuum problem.

General Comments:

This car has been great. Upon buying the car it was only used for long distance trips due to its comfort factor. Now it is used as my daily driver. It had great power, even from a stand still. Most parts are cheap to replace and readily available. I do not regret buying this car. In the next few weeks I am thinking about getting rid of it for a 1988 Grand Marquis. Why you ask.?. Well, it only has 18,300 original miles and is in great condition. Plus the wife won't let me bring in another car until one is removed. My others include a 1974 Cougar with a 351C, a 1976 Cougar with a 351W, and a junked 87 Firebird.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th October, 2005

1989 Mercury Grand Marquis LS 5.0 EFI

Summary:

Lots of bang for the buck!!

Faults:

The Air Conditioning does not work.

The Cruise Control does not work.

The Parking Lights do not work.

General Comments:

I paid $500 for this vehicle and aside from the problems listed above, am VERY satisfied with it's performance.

It has plenty of power for it's size.

It is VERY quiet and offers a smooth ride.

So far the gas mileage really does not seem to awful for a V-8... 20 MPG give or take.

Very comfortable seating.

Tons of room for whatever you want to haul.

Bottom line... This is the first Large car I have ever owned. I am very pleased with it's overall performance and hope to drive it for many years to come.

I HIGHLY recommend this vehicle to anyone.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd August, 2005

1989 Mercury Grand Marquis GS 5.0 liter V8

Summary:

The definitive land yacht

Faults:

When I purchased the car, the passenger side door didn't lock (it still doesn't -- I've yet to get it fixed). Also, the left rear window won't go down.

The interior of my car is starting to fall apart: the backseat isn't bolted down entirely, the paneling underneath the steering column is starting to fall off, the plastic around the driver's side seat belt buckle is cracked and broken, the dashboard is cracked right above where the clock is, and the front arm rests are loose.

I've had a lot of issues with my car stalling. Although once it's been running for awhile it does fine, sometimes when I first start it, it'll stall continuously, to the point where I need to gently rest my foot on the accelerator while the car's in park in order to prevent it from stalling. Also, it tends to stall when I shift into reverse, or when I'm trying to back up.

My power steering seems to be on its way out, too. Most of the time it's fine, but I've had instances lately while trying to park that I'll find myself wrenching the steering wheel in one direction or the other. I've actually pulled muscles in my arms from doing this.

General Comments:

Despite its faults, I love my Grand Marquis. This is my first car, and I only paid $500 for it. It handles incredibly well for a car of its size, and delivers a very comfortable ride.

While it tends to be somewhat "poky" as my boyfriend termed it, this car has a tremendous amount of power. It's very loud (the sound reminds me of a school bus) and the wind resistance just adds to the noise.

One of my main issues with the Grand Marquis is its gas mileage. I find myself needing to fill up once every week, and with gas prices on the rise, it's beginning to take a toll on my wallet. I get about maybe 15 miles to the gallon. Not so great.

For someone living in New England, this isn't the most practical car. Rear-wheel drive combined with a lack of traction control has made for some very...interesting...winter driving expeditions. I slip all over the snow-covered roads, and I find myself peeling out almost constantly.

A few gripes: why is the glove box so tiny? I can hardly fit my registration folder in it, let alone the New Hampshire Drivers Manual and a packet of Kleenex. Also, why no cup holders? And the seat belts in the backseat consist only of lap belts, not shoulder belts too.

All in all, though, this is a great car. Sure, it's given me my share of issues, but what am I supposed to expect from a car that's only a year younger than I am? I definitely received a great bargain on this car, and I love driving it. Despite all its faults, I don't regret purchasing it one bit.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th March, 2005

3rd May 2007, 20:05

I'm 22 years old and have a '89 Mercury Grand Marquis. Overall, it's a great car. Although mine gets about 18-20 miles-per-gallon. It's a very smooth riding car to be that old. I can't complain!

9th May 2007, 19:34

I have a lot of problems with my locks also. I have a 1990 and the drivers side door lock will only lock with the key and the passangers won't unlock unless you open it from the inside. The windows suck too. All of my friend have learn the quirks of my car. I love my car though I named him "Big Mo".