2009 Mercury Grand Marquis

[jhs914]

(I'm not a newbie here, had been off for a while and had to make a new account)

I recently bought my official old man car (will be 78 in a couple of months.) I found a two owner '09 Grand Marquis with 83,000 miles, Florida car all it's life. The interior is perfect (egg shell leather) and the paint is good except for some sap stains on the hood from being parked under a tree. Not a rattle in it and rides and handles surprisingly well. The rear air bags are holding air, the compressor only comes on at start up occasionally. I'm going through it changing all of the fluids and putting on new rotors and pads (it stops well but the rotors are grooved). Had to put a new oil drain plug on it because some fast lube monkey used an impact to tighten it. Put a transmission pan with a drain plug on it and will do a couple of spill and fills.

It needs new TPMS sensors, the driver's power door lock doesn't work (bought a new actuator to install), A/C blows cold but can't adjust the temp up and heat doesn't work, that may wait until fall to fix. From research it could be the blend door or the small o rings in the climate control module. I ran the self test on the climate controls and did not get any codes for the blend door though. I'm installing a touch screen radio with a backup camera since I have gotten spoiled having one in my other vehicles.

I have been averaging 24 mpg in my rural/suburban driving. The 4.6 V8 and 4 speed transmission will not overwhelm you but are smooth.

My other cars have been trouble free so this one will give me something to work on for a while to get it up to snuff. I don't have any pics yet but will post later.

 

[TmanP]

I love a big ol' American boat, and the Grand Marquis is definitely near the top of the list.
Growing up, one set of grandparents had a Town Car and the other had a LeSabre, so I developed a taste for old man cars early in life, in my teens. (My first car was a Buick LaCrosse with the 3.8 so I got to scratch the itch early on.)

I find it sad how fast cars with soft suspensions/big bench seats/column shifters fell out of favor.

For what it's worth, I'd take a rust-free southern car with a few assorted smaller issues like you mentioned over a midwest-driven one any day of the week. Smart money is on you enjoying this for many, many miles. I'd love to see some pics!

 

[jhs914]

My other two possible choices were a 3.8 LeSabre or LaCrosse and I had my eye on a 2010 Town Car with 120,000 miles before I found the Grand Marquis. The 3.8 and 4.6 are both bullet proof if taken care of. My mother always drove Buick Electra 225's back in the '60's and '70's. Now that was a boat.

This is basically what I have, just as clean of an interior, same color paint and interior but mine has the top half of the steering wheel in wood grain.

 

[Kira]

Can you say, "garaged"?

A 2000 and a 2003, both available from the OOs, came my way when I could not buy an additional vehicle.
I hope they both are in good homes today.

 

[meep]

(I'm not a newbie here, had been off for a while and had to make a new account)

I recently bought my official old man car (will be 78 in a couple of months.) I found a two owner '09 Grand Marquis with 83,000 miles, Florida car all it's life. The interior is perfect (egg shell leather) and the paint is good except for some sap stains on the hood from being parked under a tree. Not a rattle in it and rides and handles surprisingly well. The rear air bags are holding air, the compressor only comes on at start up occasionally. I'm going through it changing all of the fluids and putting on new rotors and pads (it stops well but the rotors are grooved). Had to put a new oil drain plug on it because some fast lube monkey used an impact to tighten it. Put a transmission pan with a drain plug on it and will do a couple of spill and fills.

It needs new TPMS sensors, the driver's power door lock doesn't work (bought a new actuator to install), A/C blows cold but can't adjust the temp up and heat doesn't work, that may wait until fall to fix. From research it could be the blend door or the small o rings in the climate control module. I ran the self test on the climate controls and did not get any codes for the blend door though. I'm installing a touch screen radio with a backup camera since I have gotten spoiled having one in my other vehicles.

I have been averaging 24 mpg in my rural/suburban driving. The 4.6 V8 and 4 speed transmission will not overwhelm you but are smooth.

My other cars have been trouble free so this one will give me something to work on for a while to get it up to snuff. I don't have any pics yet but will post later.

You’re doing all that work at age 77?? Hats off sir, thats amazing. I find your post inspiring!

 

[4wd]

Sister had a 2010 in that burgundy. Smooth road car!

 

[dwcopple]

what were you driving prior to the Merc, and why did you replace it?

 

[jhs914]

what were you driving prior to the Merc, and why did you replace it?

The Grand Marquis was an add on to the fleet. My wife drives an Acura RDX and I have a GMC pickup, both with 160,000 miles. I kept both but wanted a comfortable highway car that was reliable and will probably outlive me. I still enjoy doing my own maintenance (I am slower getting up off the ground than I used to be!) and this one gives me something to keep me busy for a while. It is ironic that the 2009 Mercury has half the miles of the other vehicles which are 2016 and 2017.