Mercury Grand Marquis: Long live traditional large American sedans

[P72Ford]

The answer to the pole is actually quite sample. No one wants a bench seat full size anymore because the Japanese have tricked us into wanting overpriced small cars? Its a combo of both options.

Gone are the days of a full size with a real front bench seat, and a chrome stick perched on the tunnel. Its unfortunate but true. My beef is not so much with the death of the bench seat, but rather with the existence of consoles, and console shifters. Death to the center console... the automatic shifter belongs on the column!

Can you get a "real" bench seat up front in a CV/ GM? I thought they were all split with the arm rests in the middle. My '88 P72 had a "real" power bench in the front, although it did have a center fold down armrest. The vinyl split, so I replaced it with cop buckets. I still have it stashed away. My brother talked about having it recovered abnd tossing it back in there.

[87vicFIVEO]

Ever see a Toyota Avalon with a bench front seat? It's creepy.

Indeed, we have a customer with a 1995 Avalon with a column shifter and a front bench seat.....weird.

[RideIt]

What's up.... hope you like your new Box....

[Mr. Land Yacht]

I love Panthers...but I like other cars as well.
but I think with the rise of SUVs, Minivans and gas prices, people aren't looking for a big car with a V8 anymore.
but a Panther can seat 5-6 full size adults...has a huge trunk..has good pickup power...but it isn't as versatile as say a ford explorer.
but heck, an aero or whale can get upwards of 19mpg city...I got a buddy that gets 21 city in his Aero.
price ain't too bad on them...heck, in fall was a dealership near me offering 06 MGM LS models for 14,500.

oh, and I think RWD scares a lot of people...but I see more people in FWD minivans and cars stuck in the snow than I do RWD cars.
plus, the added bonus with RWD is that you can take sharp icy turns easier.
just tonite I was driving to canton on a dirt rd and it was pretty slick...came up to a real sharp left...slowed down but mid-turn, gave it a little gas and took the turn with ease....my sis, in her 04 Grand Am, had more trouble than me.

[1987cp]

I don't have the glue for the newer cars, but I get a kick out of both my Country Squire and my Colony Park. Did ride in an '00 Crown Vic LX Sport recently, though - one heckuva nice car.

oh, and I think RWD scares a lot of people...but I see more people in FWD minivans and cars stuck in the snow than I do RWD cars.

....my sis, in her 04 Grand Am, had more trouble than me.

For sure. Even fairly intelligent people will flatly state as a fact "FWD is better in snow". Of course, most of those people of my regular acquaintance know how to drive and won't get too stuck whatever they drive. Even when I was 17, I drove 30 or 40 miles on an inch of ice in the '87 (on Touring T/As, no less!) and passed all sorts of FWD and 4WD vehicles stuck in the ditch. Today's drivers just think that driving what they're convinced is best will make them invincible on the road, when realistically what they need is a clue and an old-fashioned station wagon.

[sniper308]

Could you post pics of that 2008 Merc Grand Marq ? it has changes? ah by the way

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[Chuck Norris]

The official Sniper welcome! It's settled then, you're a member!

[Bloovic]

Greetings! I don't drive a Grand Marquis - I drive a real car - a Crown Victoria! As regards full-size cars that can seat 6, I'm not really surprised they are going extinct. My wife drives a Chrysler Voyager 4 cylinder minivan, and in all honesty it does all the practical stuff better than our cars, gets 28mpg and easily cruises at 75-80mph. Don't get me wrong though - GM's and CV's are WAY cooler and more fun.

[ionosphere]

I'm still waiting for my 2008 LS. Originally the dealer told me it would be a 8-12 wait, but it is going to be a 4 month wait! Should be here in about a week.

Anyone know why it takes 4 months to get a car from Ford nowadays?

[Mercury93]

Welcome! Congrats on the brand new Merc!! Can't wait to see pics!

[Nathan in MI]

I'm still waiting for my 2008 LS. Originally the dealer told me it would be a 8-12 wait, but it is going to be a 4 month wait! Should be here in about a week.

Anyone know why it takes 4 months to get a car from Ford nowadays?

Probably wouldn't take so long if you were ordering a brandy new Taurus, Fusion, Focus, or other FWD piece of doo-doo. Problem is, hardly any civilians ever order these things anymore, so in many instances, a Panther is considered a "special order" item.

[ionosphere]

I see from the Lincoln Town Car website that one of those cost MORE THAN TWICE what a Grand Marquis costs. The 2008 Town Car has no rebates offered, so I guess they're selling like hot cakes? Since the Grand Marquis has a $5,500 rebate and the Town Car none, compare the prices. Yup, you can get more than 2 Grand Marquis' for 1 Town Car. Isn't the Town Car almost the same thing? Is the more than double the price justified?

[Nathan in MI]

Yeah, they're essentially the same. Biggest difference is the frame since Town Cars have a wheelbase that's about 3" longer. Also, they're of course going to be a bit more heavily-optioned than a CV or GM. Add to that the fact that it's a Lincoln, and so you're paying a bit more for the name. Put it altogether and you can see that it should be a bit more expensive. But twice as much? Ehhh...I'm not seeing it.

[marquisman]

you mostly pay for the lincoln name(nothings changed) but, the town car is the ultimate couch on wheels, i find it much more luxurious, comfortable and more loaded than a grand marquis. this is cuz the town car is a bit longer and better interior quality.

[88Vic]

I'd maybe pay twice if it was beefed up everywhere and made more fun to drive with all the performance goodies you can put on a Panther, minus a blower/turbo. But then it wouldn't drive like a luckury car which defeats the purpose, so no I wouldn't pay twice as much.