Most reliable old man car: Grand Marquis or Buick Lucerne?

[blueglide88]

I love this website. Really good info on a lot of cars. Here is their list of the best vehicles. Of course, not everyone's favorite car is on the list, but it seems pretty comprehensive.
The oldest vehicle on the list goes back to 1999
https://www.carcomplaints.com/best_vehicles/

 

[michaelluscher]

Inherited from my father after he passed away at 93 in 2019. His baby at 48,000 miles back then. Today at 63,000 miles and the family long distance highway cruiser. All work has been done regarding the minor 3800 Series II issues starting from coolant elbows, to intake gaskets, to intake this past summer by me. Great mpg on the highway at around 32 mpg. quiet, smooth riding, handles well after strut change, and comfortable. I am always looking to add to the stable from pre-75 or 2000-10. The 00-10 range would be Buick Park Avenue or Grand Marquis and I can find both.

View attachment 191630

Is that a celebration edition?

Looks sharp

 

[tbm3fan]

Is that a celebration edition?

Looks sharp

Yes, it is

 

[dishdude]

Is that a celebration edition?

Looks sharp

How do you know all this stuff? You really amaze me with your knowledge sometimes.

 

[Elkins45]

Inherited from my father after he passed away at 93 in 2019. His baby at 48,000 miles back then. Today at 63,000 miles and the family long distance highway cruiser. All work has been done regarding the minor 3800 Series II issues starting from coolant elbows, to intake gaskets, to intake this past summer by me. Great mpg on the highway at around 32 mpg. quiet, smooth riding, handles well after strut change, and comfortable. I am always looking to add to the stable from pre-75 or 2000-10. The 00-10 range would be Buick Park Avenue or Grand Marquis and I can find both.

View attachment 191630

I would love to find a good deal on a nice one like that!

 

[meep]

Imma post again and take a different tact.

crown Vic.

1. When I open the hood and see the engine pointing the right way, I get a little excited.

2. There’s an axle in the rear. Being careful with my wording, it is driven by the correct tires.

3. Soft bushings on the 3800 FWD. The moment the vehicle transitions from barely-moving, to stopped, the wheels stop while the chassis rocks forward into the bushings. Then it shudders a little to settle. likewise, upon acceleration, the FWD unit rotates some against the soft engine mounts. All that wiggly bothers me. It’s pronounced in the Lucerne.

4. the look. I like the look of that long-body crown Vic, especially if you ditch the oem wheels and install something with a touch more muscle. The CV can wear a look that the Buick simply cannot, if you’re into that kind of thing.

 

[macarose]

The Long-Term Quality Index says it's the Grand Marquis.

Dashboard-light.com

 

[michaelluscher]

How do you know all this stuff? You really amaze me with your knowledge sometimes.

I've always had an eye for special editions
A co worker was recently shopping that vintage Buick
Since the resale value isn't much of a difference, I told him to look for Celebration Edition/Ultra/GS models
If you're gonna drive a 20 year old GM product, might as well go all out

It also may have starred in some of the GM training videos I've seen
In fact, if you ask GM for a comparison of the G platform vs a Panther body, well you can guess the outcome

... because those platinum plugs, Dexcool, and 100k service intervals on the 4T60 really aged well

 

[tbm3fan]

I would love to find a good deal on a nice one like that!

I have never seen another one out where I live which isn't known for a plethora of American cars although Panthers and LeSabres are fairly well represented. However, a person on my C Body Forum does have one. All Lesbares I have seen have been usually that light brown/tan color which is very boring. This car has already had the intake manifold issue and related dealt with. Have also done the modification on the transmissions valve body. So the car is good to for another 20 years.

 

[Elkins45]

The Long-Term Quality Index says it's the Grand Marquis.

Dashboard-light.com

There’s a mom and pop lot fairly close that has a really good deal on a 2002 Lincoln Continental. Same engine but FWD. Your website shows it being only slightly less reliable than the GM. I might go check it out tomorrow.

 

[Torrid]

The Panther platform is legendary. I don't know that I can vote against it.

 

[clinebarger]

There’s a mom and pop lot fairly close that has a really good deal on a 2002 Lincoln Continental. Same engine but FWD. Your website shows it being only slightly less reliable than the GM. I might go check it out tomorrow.

Not the same engine, Continentals have a "Intech" 32 Valve DOHC 4.6L vs a 16 Valve SOHC 4.6L in the Panther (With the exception of the Marauder)

At the end of the day, A Continental is just a V8 powered Taurus with Leather & Air Ride.

 

[Elkins45]

Not the same engine, Continentals have a "Intech" 32 Valve DOHC 4.6L vs a 16 Valve SOHC 4.6L in the Panther (With the exception of the Marauder)

At the end of the day, A Continental is just a V8 powered Taurus with Leather & Air Ride.

Thank you for correcting my error. Saves me a trip.

I’m seeing a lot more Buicks than panthers for sale around here.

 

[macarose]

There’s a mom and pop lot fairly close that has a really good deal on a 2002 Lincoln Continental. Same engine but FWD. Your website shows it being only slightly less reliable than the GM. I might go check it out tomorrow.

The engine and transmission are pretty good. It's everything else you have to stay on top of. If your roads are smooth and you're an easy going driver they can endure quite well. But if you're not able to fit in that unique square hole you should just get a Panther and be done with it.

 

[panthermike]

Not the same engine, Continentals have a "Intech" 32 Valve DOHC 4.6L vs a 16 Valve SOHC 4.6L in the Panther (With the exception of the Marauder)

At the end of the day, A Continental is just a V8 powered Taurus with Leather & Air Ride.

Yes exactly. Although I think they're a decent motor, parts can be an issue. For example, the IMRC's can be troublesome and they don't make them anymore. I owned 2 Lincoln Mark 8's and loved them but now I wouldn't own one because of that.

 

[Fredxt]

The Long-Term Quality Index says it's the Grand Marquis.

Dashboard-light.com

What a great website, thanks!

 

[RAR]

I turned down a free Lincoln Continental from a friend recently.

While it was probably nice, he uses, and I mean USES his cars until they are all done. It needed engine work, and last time I rode in it (years ago), it needed all new struts and probably control arms.

It was a big bill for me to fix, and I didn’t see any parts I could sell given the engine being on its last legs. He sold it to a scrapper.

My Grand Marquis with new Goodyear tires from the Walmart Black Friday sale is ready for its new owner. I’m suspecting my nephew with the 2010 Crown Vic has his eye on it. Seems like those stay in the family.

I’ve had a 3800 powered Buick once upon a time. Very nice ride also, but I’m still going to say the Panther is a rugged beast.

 

[ESP9935]

What chronic flaws are those? The crossover coolant hose failure on some of the 4.6L engines and the rare, but annoying timing chain guide issue? LIM's on the 3.8

The coolant crossover issues are isolated to the few model years (late '90s - early '00s) and applications where the coolant crossover was molded in plastic. That was fairly quickly revised by incorporating an aluminum coolant crossover into the intake manifold and the vast majority of the 4.6s are not and were never prone to this easily resolved issue.

I would put up a 4.6 2-valve up against a 1MZ for longevity any day.

 

[emmett442]

The coolant crossover issues are isolated to the few model years (late '90s - early '00s) and applications where the coolant crossover was molded in plastic. That was fairly quickly revised by incorporating an aluminum coolant crossover into the intake manifold and the vast majority of the 4.6s are not and were never prone to this easily resolved issue.

A common misconception.

The aluminum crossover intakes still leak. That's because the aluminum crossover simply bolts onto the still-plastic manifold and the plastic area still is leak prone.

Also, the heater hose nipple is molded into the plastic manifold and is just as leak prone.

On top of all of this, Ford has stopped support for this engine and, outside of new-old-stock, OE intake manifolds are no longer available. Aftermarket Dorman-esque intakes are your only option now.

 

[ESP9935]

A common misconception.

The aluminum crossover intakes still leak. That's because the aluminum crossover simply bolts onto the still-plastic manifold and the plastic area still is leak prone.

Also, the heater hose nipple is molded into the plastic manifold and is just as leak prone.

On top of all of this, Ford has stopped support for this engine and, outside of new-old-stock, OE intake manifolds are no longer available. Aftermarket Dorman-esque intakes are your only option now.

They can leak but the common failure point of the intake manifold with the plastic coolant crossover was at the center of the crossover behind the alternator which the aluminum crossover totally corrects.

The 4.6 2V is probably the easiest intake manifold R&R job I can think of.