Back in Ford's arms

[Vankor]

Hello there,
Just bought an '04 Grand Marquis LS Ultimate to replace a Pontiac G8 GT that I'm selling because I don't feel like paying for it anymore. Done with big monthly car notes. Got the Mercury for $6700 and found this site to check on things and do my research. Car seems in good shape, but needs new rear shocks and the rack is beginning to leak. 110,000 miles. Any other things I should look out for? I'll post pics soon.

I owned an '05 Stang GT before I got the Pontiac but got the Pontiac cuz my kid came along (convinced myself I needed 4 doors). Should've kept the Stang. Pontiacs been good but didn't need the extra expense-and the 2 speeding tickets that came with it. So now I'm favoring some cushion for the pushin in my car.

[79lincolnlover]

Welcome to the party

[sly]

for the most part... just wear items like bushings and suspension stuffs. the 04+ is pretty bulletproof. Definitely want to make sure all the fluids are fresh. The only thing of concern is the plastic section of the intake. Sometimes they crack and cause vacuum leaks (the coolant crossover should be metal and not have that issue). It's not something that will happen though. Just something to look for if it starts to idle/run stupid.

[Vankor]

Thanks for the warning signs, I'll definitely keep an eye out for the intake. Ordered some KYB shocks for the rear, I'll be putting those on when they arrive. It's amazing what car detailers miss though. I should be one, because the dealership ones suck. When I did my usual thorough car cleaning I found a pair of sunglasses, a sheet of paper with directions, a Wisconsin Dells card, a bottle of lotion...

[miamibob]

Didn't they "revert" back to the full metal intake after '01? I thought the issues were between '96/97 and '01

[SVT98t]

Welcome to the Party!!

-ryan s.

[sly]

Didn't they "revert" back to the full metal intake after '01? I thought the issues were between '96/97 and '01

not that I know of. I only know of the coolant crossover being metal... the rest was still plastic.

[1987cp]

Funky, I've not infrequently contemplated replacing my Fords with a G8! But my Fords are almost-ancient and cheap enough that I can whine about $20 for wheel cylinders or $15 for a master cylinder or water pump.

[Vankor]

Yeah the G8 is nice and I haven't had any major problems with it, but there's something to be said for a cheaper car. The payments are just getting too much combined with gas and everything else.

[sly]

+ infinity - no car payments

[88grandmarq]

Hello there,
Just bought an '04 Grand Marquis LS Ultimate to replace a Pontiac G8 GT that I'm selling because I don't feel like paying for it anymore. Done with big monthly car notes. Got the Mercury for $6700 and found this site to check on things and do my research. Car seems in good shape, but needs new rear shocks and the rack is beginning to leak. 110,000 miles. Any other things I should look out for? I'll post pics soon.

I owned an '05 Stang GT before I got the Pontiac but got the Pontiac cuz my kid came along (convinced myself I needed 4 doors). Should've kept the Stang. Pontiacs been good but didn't need the extra expense-and the 2 speeding tickets that came with it. So now I'm favoring some cushion for the pushin in my car.

HA, I had a 2009 G8 GT for a short time last year. great car, but very expensive to own and maintain. like you, I got too many speeding tickets in that thing.

[1987cp]

HA, I had a 2009 G8 GT for a short time last year. great car, but very expensive to own and maintain. like you, I got too many speeding tickets in that thing.

Expensive to maintain? How so?

[88grandmarq]

mine was a V8 model (6.0L gas engine), it got 19 mpg on the highway, and it required 9 qts of oil for an oil change. GM recommended Mobil 1 synthetic, but it was not required. Insurance was higher and it had an odd ball 18" tires on it that were expensive to replace.

[1987cp]

Well, of course it was a V8.

19mpg sounds pretty good to me! I can see where the other things would get annoying, though. And 19 is way down from the alleged 31mpg a stick-shift GTO could manage even without the variable displacement complicatedness.

[88grandmarq]

Well, of course it was a V8.

19mpg sounds pretty good to me! I can see where the other things would get annoying, though. And 19 is way down from the alleged 31mpg a stick-shift GTO could manage even without the variable displacement complicatedness.

19 mpg not so good for me... considering the G8 had a modern 6sp auto and variable displacement. Conversely, my wife's 2010 Dodge Charger with a 5spd auto regularly gets 25-26 mpg. even my 7500 lb 4wd diesel truck gets 21mpg.