2008 Mercury Grand Marquis

Does anyone own one, or a 2007?

I have on order (8-12 week wait) for a 2008 LS. I'm excited to be getting this nice, big car. Despite Consumer Reports and all the other experts dissing this car, I think I'm going to like it a lot more than those overpriced imports.

Is it that almost noone wants a roomy, big, rear-wheel drive sedan with bench seat anymore? Even Cadillac doesn't make a car like this anymore.

Welcome to AF!
I don't put much into Consumer Reports recommendations when it comes to vehicles. It's as if they are owned by foreign companies the way they glorify the foreign nameplates while shunning the Big 3. Look at all the issues and recalls Toyota is having now, and they were highly touted by CR as building better quality vehicles.

Well personally, I really dislike the newer Grand Marquis models. You may disagree because you're looking for something different than I (I'm 20, and yes, my friends laugh because I prefer this boat to a ricermobile like a Neon or Toyota...until they get in it). But I will give you the reasons why I actually like the older 2000 model I own now to the newer 2007/2008 models.

I bought my Grandfather's 2000 Grand Marquis in 2006 when he purchased a new 2007 model. Both he and I like the 2000 model better than the 2007 model (he tells me he wants the 2000 back every time I talk to him). I only drove in the 2007 a handful of times, but we both agree that the 2007's engine is much louder, especially when accelerating to highway speeds. The 2000 even floored isn't that loud. I get better fuel economy in the 2000 (about 24 city, 30 highway) than him (17 city, 24 highway). The digital instrument panel, automatic climate control, and stereo system are all better in the 2000, in my opnion. The handling and performance is about the same on both years.

Really, the only thing that we found better in the 2007 over the 2000 is the heated seats and side mirrors, and that just comes down to what options the car is customized with.

But good luck with your new car. After college, I'm hoping that the Grand Marquis line is built back to better specifications or I'm going with a BMW instead. I prefer the MGM since it's much bigger, though, but time will tell.

I think my 98 was a better car than my 06. I did get a little cranked about the defective intake manifolds though. By the way blue)(fusion, have you had yours replaced? The 06 is much louder for some reason. Still not much difference in price or mileage from them skateboards. The manifolds were originally warrantied only on fleet vehicles that led to a class action law suit. I traded mine in when it started leaking.

http://www.fordmanifoldsettlement.com/

Well not to be a topic hijacker, but...

The manifold was not replaced (same goes for the 1999 Crown Victoria with the same engine). Should I really get it replaced even if there's no [noticable] problems with it now? How much does the labor and all that cost about?

Don't fix it if it ain't broke. Watch for coolant leaking in the front of the manifold on the bottom of the coolant passage. The dealer wanted about $1000 to fix mine. You can get a new style manifold for about $300 if you want to tackle it yourself or know someone capable of doing it.

I've decided I'm going to do it myself. I found a great howto, I ordered the service manual for the car, and whenever I have the time for it, I found the replacement intake manifold for $190 on eBay. My friend who does his own engine stuff is going to help me out. I figure it'd be a good time for me to also clean all the sensors, fuel injectors, and spark plugs since that'll make it all easily accessible.