2003 Mercury Grand Marquis Review
The Mercury Grand Marquis has been re-engineered for 2003. The new model comes with a brand-new frame, a new suspension, new steering, a new interior, and new exterior styling. And those are just the highlights.
The Grand Marquis offers almost all the comfort and convenience of the Lincoln Town Car, and it's priced lower than many luxury mid-size cars. That's a big part of the reason why Mercury has sold 2.7 million Grand Marquis since 1975 when the car was first introduced as a premium American sedan.
If performance is your game, step over to the Marauder, a 300-horsepower version with a floor-mounted shifter, extra gauges, sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch high-performance tires.
As a result of a stiff new structure, the 2003 Grand Marquis rides more quietly and offers sharper handling. It's a much better car than last year's model, more poised. The Grand Marquis frame is brand new for 2003, the third frame design since 1990, and the first with hydroformed front and rear extensions and new crossmembers. Also new for 2003: speed-sensitive variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering; a redesigned independent short- and long-arm front suspension, optional dual side air bags, new headlamps, side markers, grille, front fascia and decklid applique, new seat styles and materials, new instrument panel woodgrains, new wheels on all models, and a new overhead console design. For 2003, Grand Marquis has standard antilock brakes and traction control; fold-away, power-adjustable and heated outside mirrors, and a storage pouch in the driver's seat. A dual-media radio with AM/FM cassette and single CD player is now available on all models. A trunk cargo organizer is optional on all models as well.
The 2003 Grand Marquis comes in three trim levels: GS, LS, and the new LSE.
GS ($24,070) has a 220-horsepower, 4.6-liter V8 engine, automatic transmission, seating for six and all of the normal and standard comfort features. The GS Convenience version ($24,020) adds power adjustable pedals for the driver and remote keyless entry.
LS Premium ($27,800) adds automatic climate control, HomeLink garage door opener, rear reading lights, automatic-dimming mirrors, body side moldings, dual front seats with 8-way power for the driver and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. LS Ultimate ($28,980) comes with a rear air suspension, electronic instrumentation, an upgraded audio system, and controls for speed, audio, and climate on the steering wheel.
Mercury's Grand Marquis a big, roomy sedan with big doors. It boasts a curb weight of more than 3900 pounds. Riding on a 114-inch wheelbase, it stretches to an overall length of 212 inches.
Buyers concerned about safety will appreciate the heft, as bigger cars tend to be safer in collisions than smaller cars. The size of the Grand Marquis, as well as the new frame design that is part of the 2003 model year overhaul, helped it earn a five-star rating in government front and rear crash tests.
The Grand Marquis was restyled recently, with a new and more vertical grille, new complex-reflector headlamps and new tail lamps.
Sit in the Grand Marquis and you'll be treated to huge, thick seats that are as comfortable as an old pair of shoes. Fit and finish inside the car are superb, and the choice of materials is excellent. All controls and instruments are arrayed in a logical, intuitive, and spacious manner; nothing seems out of place.
The Grand Marquis retains that big-car feel many of us grew up with. The interior is spacious, with plenty of room for long legs, broad shoulders and gangly arms, and it will comfortably seat six adults. The Grand Marquis provides more headroom than a Buick LeSabre does.
Despite the car's size, there's enough fore-aft seat adjustment to accommodate the petite. This is true even without the adjustable pedals. With the optional power-adjustable pedals, smaller drivers can find an even greater range of comfort.
Like many bench seats, the units in the Grand Marquis are made for cruising cross country, and won't hold you in place in sharp corners. One minor annoyance: The hump running down the center of the floor for the driveshaft reduces foot space for anyone sitting in the center. It is the single largest drawback in the Grand Marquis' rear-drive design.
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