Mercury Grand Marquis Used Car Buyer’s Guide

Going, as it does, all the way back to 1967, the Mercury Grand Marquis is one of the longest running model names in automotive history. Originating as a trim package for the 1967 Mercury Monterey, the Mercury Marquis became the “Grand Marquis” in 1975. By then, the Mercury Monterey had been discontinued and the Mercury Marquis was granted a model range all unto itself — complete with its own trim packages.

In 1975, Mercury’s Marquis was available in three states of trim; Marquis, Marquis Brougham, and Grand Marquis. This lineup ran unfettered until 1983, when the bottom two trim levels were dropped and the model became known solely as the Mercury Grand Marquis.

Those of us of a certain age recall a Ford model known as the “LTD”. This car eventually became known as the Crown Victoria and shared its body-on-frame, rear-drive platform with both the Lincoln Town Car and the Mercury Grand Marquis.

While the Mercury Marquis name ran for some 44 years, the Grand Marquis name ran for 36 years — fully half the lifetime of the Mercury nameplate, making it easily the longest running Mercury model (as well as one of the longest continually running model names in automotive history).

In fact, when Ford finally killed Mercury off in 2010, the last car Ford badged a Mercury to be built was the Grand Marquis. Interestingly, even though the Mercury brand was discontinued in 2010, the last Grand Marquis was actually built in January of 2011.

Another interesting fact about the Grand Marquis was how infrequently the model was redesigned over its lifetime. From 1975 to 2011, when the last Grand Marquis rolled off the assembly line, there were but four generations of the car offered.

This article picks up in the car’s third generation, with the 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis.

1998 – 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis

For many years, shoppers seeking a traditional four-dour, rear-drive, full-size V8 powered American sedan had but one choice (OK, three — but they were basically the same car). By 1998, the front-drive revolution had swept through the product lines of all American manufacturers, leaving only the Grand Marquis, Town Car and Crown Victoria (all of which were built on the same platform) as THE full-size rear-drive American offerings. This actually represented a significant turning point for American cars, as throughout history, nearly all American cars had employed front-engine, rear-drive powertrains.

For 1998, Mercury offered the Grand Marquis in two trim levels, GS (the base model) and LS. As Mercury’s full size flagship model, the Grand Marquis came equipped with all of the expected luxury features of the day. A power driver’s seat was part of the split front bench seat that permitted three abreast seating up front, giving the Grand Marquis the ability to seat six. Cruise control, a remote trunk release, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, automatic headlights, power actuated and heated outside rear-view mirrors, and an AM/FM/Cassette-based audio system were standard equipment.

Options for the 1998 Grand Marquis GS included traction control, keyless entry, ABS, a CD player, self-leveling rear suspension, and alloy wheels.

Moving up to the Grand Marquis LS made all of the GS options standard and added leather upholstery, a power-operated passenger seat, a digital instrument panel, a CD changer, an automatic climate control system, and a built-in garage door opener as optional features.

While the 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis bore a slight resemblance to the model it replaced (built from 1992 – 1997), the only exterior components shared between the two were the doors and the roof.

Mechanically, the two were virtually identical, save revised suspension and steering systems, larger brakes, and traction control. Power came from a 200-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 producing 265 ft-lbs of torque — a ten horsepower increase over the output of the 1997 Grand Marquis engines. A four-speed automatic transmission fed the engine’s output to the rear wheels.

The Grand Marquis LS was also offered with a “handling package". This added a dual exhaust system, upgraded shocks, and other performance enhancements. Handling Package equipped Grand Marquis got a 215 horsepower and 275 ft-lbs of torque version of the 4.6-liter V-8 engine.

Key safety features on both trim levels included dual front airbags, rear-door child safety locks, and dynamic side impact protection.

1999

No significant changes were made to the Grand Marquis

2000

An inside emergency release was fitted in case somebody got locked in the big-ass trunk. Child seat anchor brackets were added (also known as the LATCH system), and a 3.27 axle ratio replaced the 3.55 axle ratio on Handling Package cars — which improved their highway fuel economy.

2001

Mercury’s product planners came up with storage pouches for the leading edges of the front seat cushions. The switches for the traction control, headlights and fuel-door release were revised, and adjustable pedals were offered as an option. The 4.6-liter V8 was reworked a bit to generate 220 horsepower (240 with the handling package). Safety package additions included a crash severity sensor, safety belt pretensioners, dual-stage airbags, and seat position sensors.

2002

Remarkably, for the last year of its third generation, even with substantial revisions in the wings for the 2003 model year, Mercury reshuffled the Grand Marquis lineup considerably for 2002. Specifically, the trim lines were expanded to incorporate LSE and LS ultimate trim levels although truthfully, the LSE nomenclature was essentially little more than a formalized designation for the previous model year’s LS Handling Package.

That said, for 2002, the Mercury Grand Marquis trim nomenclature included GS, LSE and LS Ultimate. Grand Marquis GS models included air conditioning, a cassette-based stereo audio system, remote keyless entry, ABS, power windows and locks, cruise control and a tilt steering wheel. Traction control and power adjustable pedals were also standard. Leather upholstery and a CD player were offered as 2002 Grand Marquis GS options.

With LSE, the luxury and performance quotients were amplified. Right off the top, the 4.6-liter V-8 made 235 horsepower instead of 220. Handling was improved, thanks to rear air suspension, a larger rear stabilizer bar, and lighter alloy wheels with a lace-spoke pattern. To further telegraph its sporty intentions, the LSE axed the front bench seat in favor of a pair of seats divided by center console housing a floor-mounted shift lever.

On the luxury front, the LSE featured automatic climate control; steering wheel mounted audio and climate controls, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with an integrated compass, a HomeLink universal transmitter for garage doors and security gates, and illuminated mirrors in the sun visor.

For the Grand Marquis LS Ultimate, Mercury’s product people specified a unique set of alloy wheels, a power actuated passenger seat, and a digital instrument panel. The steering wheel featured wood and leather trim and a premium sound system was fitted. Buyers could choose between leather and cloth for the upholstery, with no additional charge if they went leather.

Optional kit for all 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis models included a trunk organizer and a full-size spare. A six-disc CD changer could be ordered for LSE and LS Ultimate models.

2003 – 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis

For the 2003 model year, Ford substantially reworked the platform upon which the Grand Marquis, Crown Victoria and Town Car were built. Sticking with the body on frame architecture, the company’s engineers came up with hydroformed steel sections for the front frame rails. In addition to improved crash performance, this also made the platform stiffer.

The front suspension system was redesigned to take advantage of the newfound rigidity. Handling improved considerably; furthering the improvement was a new rack and pinion steering system, as well as the adoption of monotube shock absorbers. Additionally, the specification of a dual-rate brake booster improved the stopping power of the big sedan in panic situations.

Visually however, little differentiated the ’03 model from the ’02 models. The primary changes were new headlight clusters, a larger grille, revised bumpers and a redesigned trunk fascia. The 2003 interior treatment incorporated new door panels, door handles, switchgear, and an optional overhead console. Trim lines picked up the 2002 designations, with the addition of one more — LS Premium. This made the 2003 lineup read GS, LSE, LS Premium, and LS Ultimate.

For 2003, just as in 2002, GS models included air conditioning but the cassette-based stereo audio system was replaced with a CD-based system. Remote keyless entry, ABS, power windows and door locks, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, traction control, and an eight-way adjustable seat for the driver were also standard Grand Marquis GS fare.

The power adjustable pedals migrated to the LS Premium, which also featured alloy wheels and a power passenger seat — in addition to the features designated for the GS. Then, to all of the above, Mercury added a wood and leather steering wheel and a rear air suspension system to get to the LS Ultimate level of trim. The LSE tacked on a 235-horsepower version of the 4.6-liter V-8 (all other models got the 220-horsepower V-8), a handling package, leather trim, a front center console, and a floor-mounted shifter.

The Mercury Marauder returned to the Mercury line up for the first time since 1970, this time, based on the Grand Marquis. A full-size muscle sedan along the lines of Chevrolet’s Impala SS model, which ran from 1994 to 1996, the Mercury Marauder ditched the Grand Marquis’ bench seats in favor of front bucket seats and a floor shifter with a center console.

Leather upholstery for the seats was standard. Grand Marquis’ simulated wood trim was swapped out for simulated satin aluminum trim. The instrument cluster’s satin aluminum gauges featured a 140-mph speedometer. The Marauder also featured an oil-pressure gauges and a voltmeter mounted on the center console.

The Marauder ran a 302-horsepower version of the Grand Marquis’ 4.6-liter V-8, which made 318 ft-lbs of torque. Its dual exhaust system featured unique chromed tips and the Marauder’s suspension system moved the rear shocks outboard of the frame rails. Its aluminum drive shaft was boosted from the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, along with its four-speed automatic transmission. The Marauder’s limited slip differential ran a 3.55 rear axle ratio.

2004

CD players were made standard equipment for all Grand Marquis models, laminated side windows were prescribed to reduce road noise and reduce the potential for facial lacerations in side crash situations. Heated front seats, a moonroof and side airbags debuted on the options list.

2005

Marauder was discontinued. Interior upgrades brought new wood trim, chromed interior door release handles, and (as an option on LS trimmed Grand Marquis models) an Audiophile six-disc in-dash CD changer. The addition of electronic throttle control to the engine moved the cruise control function to its main computer. With the addition of weight sensors to the front seats, the driver could disable the passenger-side front airbag. A two-spoke steering wheel and a mast antenna on the right quarter panel debuted on the ’05 Grand Marquis.

2006

Model year 2006 brought another power increase, to 224 horsepower and 275 ft-lbs of torque for standard models (239 for Handling Package models, along with 287 ft-lbs of torque). The LS-trimmed Grand Marquis got a new sixteen-inch alloy wheel set, and an overhead console with a compass. The exterior styling was revised a bit with the addition of a new grille, new headlights and a revised trunk treatment. Fog lights were offered as an option for the first time. The mast antenna was kicked to the curb, the radio antenna was embedded in the rear window instead. Other interior enhancements included a new instrumentation set, which added a tachometer and a digital odometer.

2007

The LSE, LS Premium and LS Ultimate trim lines were killed for 2007; returning the Grand Marquis to its traditional GS and LS designations. However, there was a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis Palm Beach Edition LS package, which featured chrome wheels, cashmere (a golden shade of tan) leather seats, satin-finish faux aluminum interior trim, side airbags, and heated side mirrors.

While the trim lines reverted to the two basic designations, the Grand Marquis did not retreat from its luxurious equipment offerings. For 2007, GS models rolled on sixteen-inch steel wheels (albeit with pseudo-chrome wheel covers), air-conditioning, a CD player, a front bench seat with power adjustments for the driver, cruise control, full power accessories, and keypad entry.

Grand Marquis LS got alloy wheels, foglights, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, power seat adjustments for the front passenger, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rear-seat fold-down armrest, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated side mirrors, and an overhead console with a compass and Homelink.

The 2007 Grand Marquis LS options list contained a moonroof, seat heaters and an upgraded audio system with a CD changer. The Handling Package returned, along with its 239-horsepower engine and upgraded suspension system.

2008

Handling package didn’t make the cut for 2008, but the rear air suspension system was revised. The 2008 model year was significant to the Grand Marquis due to the fact that the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car were only sold as fleet-only vehicles which meant that from this point until the final cars were built, the Mercury Grand Marquis stood as Ford Motor Company's only rear-wheel drive sedan available to retail consumers.

2009

The GS trim package was discontinued, leaving the LS as the sole Grand Marquis offering. Its feature set included seventeen-inch alloy wheels, rear air suspension, keyless entry, as well as entry via exterior keypad, auto on/off headlamps, foglamps, cruise control, full power windows, mirrors and door locks, automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power actuated split front bench seat, leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a CD player.

Chromed wheels, heated front seats, a leather and wood steering wheel with audio and climate controls, power-adjustable pedals, and a "dual media" stereo with a cassette and CD player were options.

2010-2011

No changes from 2009. The final Grand Marquis (which was also the final Mercury model ever built) rolled off the assembly line on Jan. 4, 2011.

Mercury Grand Marquis 2004

CD players were made standard equipment for all Grand Marquis models, laminated side windows were prescribed to reduce road noise and reduce the potential for facial lacerations in side crash situations. Heated front seats, a moonroof and side airbags debuted on the options list.

2005

Marauder was discontinued. Interior upgrades brought new wood trim, chromed interior door release handles, and (as an option on LS trimmed Grand Marquis models) an Audiophile six-disc in-dash CD changer. The addition of electronic throttle control to the engine moved the cruise control function to its main computer. With the addition of weight sensors to the front seats, the driver could disable the passenger-side front airbag. A two-spoke steering wheel and a mast antenna on the right quarter panel debuted on the ’05 Grand Marquis.

Mercury Grand Marquis 2006

Model year 2006 brought another power increase, to 224 horsepower and 275 ft-lbs of torque for standard models (239 for Handling Package models, along with 287 ft-lbs of torque). The LS-trimmed Grand Marquis got a new sixteen-inch alloy wheel set, and an overhead console with a compass. The exterior styling was revised a bit with the addition of a new grille, new headlights and a revised trunk treatment. Fog lights were offered as an option for the first time. The mast antenna was kicked to the curb, the radio antenna was embedded in the rear window instead. Other interior enhancements included a new instrumentation set, which added a tachometer and a digital odometer.

Mercury Grand Marquis 2007

The LSE, LS Premium and LS Ultimate trim lines were killed for 2007; returning the Grand Marquis to its traditional GS and LS designations. However, there was a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis Palm Beach Edition LS package, which featured chrome wheels, cashmere (a golden shade of tan) leather seats, satin-finish faux aluminum interior trim, side airbags, and heated side mirrors. While the trim lines reverted to the two basic designations, the Grand Marquis did not retreat from its luxurious equipment offerings. For 2007, GS models rolled on sixteen-inch steel wheels (albeit with pseudo-chrome wheel covers), air-conditioning, a CD player, a front bench seat with power adjustments for the driver, cruise control, full power accessories, and keypad entry. Grand Marquis LS got alloy wheels, foglights, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, power seat adjustments for the front passenger, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rear-seat fold-down armrest, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated side mirrors, and an overhead console with a compass and Homelink. The 2007 Grand Marquis LS options list contained a moonroof, seat heaters and an upgraded audio system with a CD changer. The Handling Package returned, along with its 239-horsepower engine and upgraded suspension system.

2008 Mercury Grand Marquis

Handling package didn’t make the cut for 2008, but the rear air suspension system was revised. The 2008 model year was significant to the Grand Marquis due to the fact that the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car were only sold as fleet-only vehicles which meant that from this point until the final cars were built, the Mercury Grand Marquis stood as Ford Motor Company's only rear-wheel drive sedan available to retail consumers.

2009 Mercury Grand Marquis

The GS trim package was discontinued, leaving the LS as the sole Grand Marquis offering. Its feature set included seventeen-inch alloy wheels, rear air suspension, keyless entry, as well as entry via exterior keypad, auto on/off headlamps, foglamps, cruise control, full power windows, mirrors and door locks, automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power actuated split front bench seat, leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a CD player. Chromed wheels, heated front seats, a leather and wood steering wheel with audio and climate controls, power-adjustable pedals, and a "dual media" stereo with a cassette and CD player were options.

2010-2011 Mercury Grand Marquis

No changes from 2009. The final Grand Marquis (which was also the final Mercury model ever built) rolled off the assembly line on Jan. 4, 2011.

Used Mercury Grand Marquis Summary

By the end of its run, the Mercury Grand Marquis was something of an anachronism. Even though time and technology had passed it by, the car still held a certain appeal for individuals with memories of the good old days of American motoring. This is perhaps why Florida was the best selling state for the Grand Marquis by the end of its lifetime—a state where much of the population is also near the end of its lifetime. This also explains why Ford never bothered to equip the Grand Marquis with navigation, Bluetooth, Satellite radio, or any of the other techno-wonders considered de rigeur these days.

The car’s target market simply had no use for those items.

That said, if you’re looking for a big reliable car with proven technology, robust mechanicals, outstanding comfort, and a quiet and smooth ride; the Grand Marquis is the way to go. Plus, you’ll have the added advantage of everybody getting out of your way as you cruise the interstate since it looks so much like the cars used by the Highway Patrol.

Owned as they were by an older demographic, most examples of the Grand Marquis you’ll come across on the secondary market should be in pretty good shape. That said, there were a few Grand Marquis recalls over the years, so you’ll want to run an Internet search for “Mercury Grand Marquis recalls” to make sure any updates prescribed for your particular model year have been carried out.

Similarly, a vehicle history report against the car’s VIN would be an excellent idea to ensure the Mercury Grand Marquis you’re looking at has a clean title history. And, as always, a very thorough pre-purchase inspection by a trusted professional Ford mechanic is a must.