Faults:

The only issue I've had with the car is the volume control on the factory radio would increase the volume, even when turning volume counter clockwise. A friend of mine fixed this using contact cleaner on the internal volume switch. Works like a champ now.

Routine oil changes and tire rotations. No mechanical failures whatsoever.

General Comments:

Well what can I say, this is without doubt the most trouble free car I have ever owned. My last car was a Volvo S80, which I loved dearly, but in the end, had to let go due to re-occurring problems with the drive train and air conditioning.

My job requires vast amounts of highway driving. My Volvo was a great highway drive, and handled very well. When the time came to replace it, I was in the market for a long distance driver that was roomy and reliable. After many many hours of reading used car reviews, my choice was severely limited. One quiet afternoon, I was with a friend and explained my quest to find a comfortable highway car. He tossed me his keys to his 01 Grand Marquis, and told me to go out for an hour. I must confess I was not at all excited at the prospect of driving this car, and had almost a hatred for it before I even drove it. Boy, did I soon change my mind! So much so, I drove to my local Lincoln dealership and found an insanely great deal on a 2002 Grand Marquis GS.

The Grand Marquis is a dated, basic car that on paper, sounds incredibly boring and unappealing. Drive one however, and you will find it to be probably one of the most overlooked cars on the road. This car is big, but after a few miles of driving, feels like a typical mid sized car. The seats are like sitting on a finely appointed living room couch. The visibility in this car is superb, with very few blind spots.

The car retains a traditional column mounted shifter, which frees up the space where you would normally find a center console. This on long distance trips has its advantages, as you don't feel cramped, especially if you're over 6ft tall like me. The interior is much like one would expect of a domestic car; lots of plastic and not much imagination in the dashboard department. I did notice that after a while, you begin to appreciate the simplicity of the controls and lack of over-complication.

The air conditioning in this car is probably the best I have ever experienced in any car I have ever driven. I live in Florida, and even on the hottest days, I find myself turning it down, because it will freeze you out.

The trunk is HUGE! 21 cubic feet according to the owners manual. I was surprised to find a full size spare wheel/tire instead of the usual doughnut sized.

My vehicle is considered the basic model, but still came with remote locks and keypad on drivers door, power windows/mirrors, cruise, ABS, traction control, premium audio (which sounds great for factory), fancy chrome wheel covers and auto-lamps.

I guess two things that really annoy me about the interior of this car are the design of the cup holders, which block adjustment of the A/C controls, and for such a large car, the rear seat legroom is a joke. When carrying passengers, I have to adjust my seat, making my driving position uncomfortable. This however is a minor inconvenience.

It's highway driving where this car reigns supreme. If I could sum up how comfortable this car is on long driving into one word, it would be 'effortless'. I can drive for hours and not feel the slightest bit fatigued. The road/wind noise is very minimal. The 4.6L is smooth, but delivers a punch when you need it.

The MPG in this car had me questioning my own mathematical skills. I consistently found this car achieved better MPG than the EPA rated it on highway driving. I averaged about 27MPG on long distance drives. From a V8, this is better than good.

I have put 32,000 miles on this car, and not had a single problem. Despite its mileage, this car feels new, and I feel with care, it has many more years of life left.

Faults:

Problem free.

General Comments:

This car belonged to my great grandmother. When my 1999 Escort went on me, she asked me if I would like to have her car. I gladly said yes, and man did I hit the jackpot!! My great grandmother could not have timed it any better. She was about to go into a nursing home, and saw that her great grandson needed a car real badly.

The car had only 11000 miles on it when I got it. It still smelled like new, and was never, ever smoked in. Basically, it was almost getting a new car! There's not one dent or scratch on it at all. It has a black exterior.

The grey interior is huge!! The seats are so comfortable that you feel like you are sitting on your favorite couch.

The trunk on this car is huge. The spare tire has never been used, and the trunk itself is spotless.

This baby rides beautifully on the highway! I use it as my second vehicle. Plus, it is kept in a climate controlled garage when not in use.

My friends really like this car, but it is still not smoked in. Even my wife loves it, too!! I definitely love this car. I plan on keeping it for a good long time.

I would definitely recommend this car to anyone who is looking for a spacious family sedan. If you are looking for a Grand Marquis, look for a low mileage example. You will be happy with it like I am. They are very roomy, very safe, and very dependable family vehicles.

I recently paid a visit to my great grandmother at the nursing home and showed her the car. She was ever so happy that her great grandson got a gem of a car.