I'm about to look at two Mercury Grand Marquis. One is a '94 112,00 mile super clean vehicle. The other is a 2006 71,000 mile super clean car. Both old lady owned literally. Is there any significant difference between the two model years that should be considered? They are both asking $5000.
Both are good cars, but the 2003 and up models had a revised chassis on the Ford Panther cars. I’ll insert the link: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Grand_Marquis
If you look under the 4th generation Grand Marquis and look under the chassis section, it’ll explain.
5K is too much money for a 1994, but the market is insane right now with COVID, low supply and high demand, and the chip shortage. I would say that the 2005 is a slightly better deal than the 94. As with all used cars, have it checked out by a good mechanic before purchase.
Outside of knowing if one is a GS or LS and what features you want and the condition of paint (paint from 1998-2011 is known to separate and peel off in the lighter colors) and body/frame damage/rust....
Go for the newer one. The 2003+ models have:
- The performance improved intake so it has more HP and torque.
- Fully boxed frame.
- Rack/pinion steering
- Coil on plug, drive by wire.
- Larger 17" wheels with larger brake rotors
- Oil pan 20% larger
- Rear shocks moved outboard of the frame and more positive offset on the wheels to improve handling.
- Watts link and four control arm rear end.
- 2006 has the better 4R75E transmission as opposed to the AODE.
- Parts more available for the 1998-2011 models; especially at salvage yards.
As the model years went on Ford de-contented many features off these cars. So there are big differences between a lower trim GS and the upper trim LS and as you got closer to the end of the production run they were really pulling off a lot of the little nice touches that you found on the earlier 90s cars.
