23rd May 2010, 04:52
Yeah, you can hope these "never go extinct"-- but the Crown Vic has been for fleet sales only since 2008, the Grand Marquis is now available by special order only, and the St. Thomas plant where both are built is slated to close next year.
What do you think?
23rd May 2010, 22:07
- I don't know what the renter usually drives, but as for me, I'd much rather have a Honda or Subaru instead of that elephant!!!
25th May 2010, 00:14
If you are used to be surrounded by plastic in lightweight front wheel drive, this car would be a change that would take more than a day to appreciate!
These cars are built tough, strong, reliable, quiet and just plain comfortable to drive. The 2010 keeps that classic American iron feel with some modern enhancements! I can't believe anyone would rate it a 1 out of 10!
I traded my new import for a 16 year old Grand Marquis last year and couldn't be happier (except for the mileage around town LOL!). I guess it isn't for everyone!
25th May 2010, 00:17
The "elephant" is out-dated, but replacement parts for it will always be cheaper than foreign cars :)
25th May 2010, 09:13
Is that why I am up to $1,200 in parts on my AMERICAN car at less than 90K miles? This is another one of those automotive myths. American cars are usually more expensive for parts in my experience. I had an Olds I was into about $6K in parts and repairs by the time it hit 98K miles. Never have I come close to those kinds of costs for an import... not even 1/3 of that cost... Oh, of course my imports have generally been trouble free, so I guess that isn't a fair comparison is it?
25th May 2010, 16:14
I am not a big fan of these cars, however I do like traditional large cars. But I don't think you can give an accurate review of any car based on 50 miles of experience with it.
25th May 2010, 16:19
My family has driven Fords and Lincolns for decades. Mom has always preferred Lincoln because she is rich and snobby. Since 1984 she has owned 4 Lincoln Town Cars, a Volvo (total disaster, got rid of it after two years) and an MKZ. To call the big Mercury (a cheaper Lincoln) an "Antiquated fossil" indicates a total lack of appreciation for one of the world's finest cars. My family has also owned several BMW 5-series and Mercedes C-class. I'd rate the Lincoln, Mercury, or even the Ford Crown Vic way ahead in terms of comfort, especially on trips. We also have found the Ford products far less expensive to maintain.
25th May 2010, 22:28
I wouldn't want a Grand Marquis for my daily driver. But I always look forward to getting to drive the one my parents own when I visit them. They are kind of fun in their own way (the Grand Marquis, not the parents).
26th May 2010, 17:01
To comment 9:13.
Import parts usually do cost more. However, my personal experiences are pretty much the same as yours. My domestics cost me far more money than my imports before 100,000 miles. In fact, very few of my domestics made it to 100,000. My imports on the other hand, didn't cost me anything before 200,000, except basic maintenance of course (no Detroit fans, basic maintenance isn't a transmission every 30,000 miles and brakes every 40,000. Neither of which ever happened to me).
Imports do cost more to repair, however you'll end up spending more on a domestic in repairs because you'll need to repair it more often.
27th May 2010, 12:17
We have had three imports. None ever made 100,000 miles without massive repair bills. The repair bills for any ONE of our imports was more than for every domestic we've ever owned COMBINED.
Not a single Ford, Chrysler or GM vehicle my family has owned has ever required a repair in less than 100,000 miles. Several made over 200,000 with no repairs. In addition, our imports required brake pads at 20,000-30,000 miles. We never replace brake pads on any domestic before 70,000-110,000 miles.
Our current 8-year-old GM has 90,000 miles, and has had nothing but one battery and a set of tires. Not even brake pads yet.
27th May 2010, 20:10
The Grand Marquis is a terrific car. I have owned over 40 cars over the years. One of them was a Grand Marquis, rode better than anything on the road. My experience has been some American cars were great, others were horrible. Four years ago I switched to Toyota's and have been impressed with the reliability of all of them. My ten year old Camry has 340,000 klm on it with never a problem.
You have been very lucky with your American cars. I would say with that kind of luck, you should be buying lottery tickets.
28th May 2010, 09:01
"25th May 2010, 00:17
The "elephant" is out-dated"
- Ford has now realized that. They are cutting Mercury.
See http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/business/28mercury.html?src=busln
28th May 2010, 14:53
Boy, I wish I had your luck with GM products. I can't get one to last for even 100K miles without major issues. I do mostly highway easy miles as I travel a lot too. I am picking up my Trailblazer with yet another $700+ in repairs today and it has yet to hit 90K miles. Now I am up to about $1,500 in repairs. Oh and we've done the brakes too at around $700.
On the other hand the Subaru I had required zero repairs the whole time I had it. In fact, I have never experienced the huge repair bills you describe with any import I have owned... Maybe we just need each thers luck huh?
29th May 2010, 10:27
"Oh and we've done the brakes too at around $700."
This tells me a lot about your "problems". I very strongly suspect that you have been duped into lots of unnecessary work by an unscrupulous shop. $700 for brake pads is absolutely ludicrous. The last brake job on my GM vehicle (it's first pad replacement at 70,000 miles) cost me a whopping $17 and took me all of 15 minutes. That was for the front wheels only. The car was sold at 85,000 miles still running the original rear pads. All four wheels would have cost me $34 and taken half an hour. That means you paid someone over $1200 an hour labor to do your brake job.
One of my family members is a doctor who must be on call at all times, and it is a requirement that he MUST own a very reliable 4-wheel-drive vehicle. He chose a Trailblazer in 2002. He gave it to his son at 165,000 miles and bought another Trailblazer. Neither has ever had the first hint of a problem.
22nd May 2010, 03:13
Isn't it wonderful!? :) I hope these NEVER go extinct. That would be a sad day in American automotive history. Enjoy your Honda or Subaru or whatever it is you normally drive, renter! :)