1996 Mercury Grand Marquis LS 4.6 liter 16v from North America
Summary:
A truly wonderful American automobile
Faults:
Absolutely nothing. I'm waiting to see if the "blister-pack" plastic intake manifold fails. It hasn't yet.
General Comments:
This has been the most reliable car I've ever had. I had the brakes replaced with heavier duty brakes, as the old ones were getting marginal. Also had the radiator and heater hoses replaced.
The ride quality is amazingly good, especially since it has air suspension, which I thought might be firmer than standard coil spring systems. It is very quiet, even at highway speeds. There are no rattles or irritating noises at all.
The leather seats are wonderfully comfortable and show almost no wear. I use Lexol leather conditioner at least once every two weeks, applied heavily and just the excess amount removed. I let it sit overnight, and as a result, there are no cracks in the leather at all, just a little stretching from years of use. The previous owner strongly suggested it.
I purchased it from a retired couple who bought it to travel in full time. They traded it in for a Town Car. They needed more trunk space and wanted the "Town Car" status. They said it is their first truly luxury car.
With over 162,000 miles on it now, I use Castrol GTX motor oil with a quart of DuraLube at every oil change as recommended by the shop that services it for me. It does not lose any oil, and there are no drips on the garage floor under it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd January, 2011