We’ve heard for decades that the average person drives around 12,000 miles a year, give or take. It’s supposedly up to about 13,500 miles a year now, on average. No wonder the roads seem so crowded. Some of us drive three or more that amount and some much less, such as the owner of this 2,258-mile 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis GS. Thanks to Tony P. for the tip!
Having snuck onto the market in 1974 as an interior trim package for the Marquis Brougham, or Bro-Ham as we grew up calling them, the Grand Marquis became its own model within the Mercury family for the 1979 model year. The first-generation Grand Marquis was made until the end of the 1991 model year at which point they were redesigned into an almost unrecognizable, sleek sedan compared to the bolt-upright cars as seen here.
The exterior photos in the listing are long and low and they didn’t fit the format so I made the composite images seen here, my apologies for the weird look of the exterior photos. The seller says this was “grandma’s grocery car” and it’s been parked for years. We don’t know if “grandma” was a young woman when she bought this car or any other history. On an odd side note, I went to architecture college with a 30-year-old woman who had a child at age 15 and her daughter had a child at age 15 so she was already a “grandma” at age 30.
How many expected to see velour seats here? I did, too. These need a good cleaning as do the carpets and almost everything else inside, and there’s a crack on top of the dash, and the ubiquitous steering wheel cover. Otherwise, I don’t see anything alarming inside. The back seat looks good in the photos and the GS was the base trim level car below the LS.
The engine is Ford’s 302-cu.in. OHV V8 with 150 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. It sends power through a four-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels and the seller says the registration is up to date and it was recently smogged. They have it posted here on craigslist and it’s listed as being located in downtown Oakland, California. They’re asking $8,800 or offer (“cash talks”), and here is the original listing. Any thoughts on this Grand Marquis?
Oakland, Calif is a very high crime area…day or night. Buyer beware.
The ad may say Oakland, the map shows Chico which is about 150 miles north.
Steve R
Beware of what? Being mugged by a Grand Marquis?
Just don’t count out your cash in the driveway.
Looks more like 102,258 miles. Hard to tell from the pics but the rocker panels look odd and the interior doesn’t support the ultra low mileage claims. Pass.
Wow really?
I agree, just not clean enough for 2K miles, however, for 102K, it’s still a really nice car. With police car guts, this car is just getting broken in. There’s an older couple I meet at Walmart every week, and they have a similar car, not as nice, but still gets them around. It’s refreshing to see that. These cars aren’t rare, and like I say, grace places like Walmart or the hospital, and if timing is right, I’d have to think a couple grand, tops. It’s nothing special, except, just a good old car. Shame someone, who did nothing to the car, because it doesn’t need anything, wants to turn what I figure a hefty profit here, and certainly not unusual today. Regardless, I drive a similar vintage vehicle, and hopefully folks that have had it with their “info screens”, will buy this and see how simple life used to be. It was good enough.
You know… Howard touched on a point that I was thinking about the other day. The information screen that is so prevalent on cars today. How many people are staring at the screen instead of the road. How many people take their eyes off the road when looking for a radio station or what have you on that screen. Heres what I was thinking. Remember when most car radios, whether Am or AM and FM had 5 simple preset buttons? I NEVER had to take my eyes off the road to change stations. I did it by feel, I knew which button was for which preset. I kind of miss that. But, I will say that Google maps , or whatever map program you may use IS a huge help on the screen if you dont know where you’re going. I will admit to holding a map and rowing through a 10 speed driving a tractor trailer through Queens or Manhattan or Staten Island and trying to follow along or find a street.
Anyway, just my .02. I do beleive technology is a help in many areas, but sometimes we have a little too much information going on on those screens.
Spot on Drive 🎯 the screens are a joke, and it ain’t funny. Been driving rig for last 20yrs, and the number of rear enders i see is unreal. We all know why 📺 🖥 😵💫
I quit driving trucks right around the time technology jolted forward, and I will admit too, GPS would have made my job a lot easier. It’s just at the time, it wasn’t required. We still went on the saying, “we’ll get there when we get there”. Today, our society is geared for info screens, and would be at a loss without one. Instant gratification has overtaken common sense.
Rear end collisions are by far the highest in accidents. On a trip cross country last summer, in 3 separate construction zones, all 3 had an accident, all were rear enders. I’m not sure info screens are to blame for that, as many of the functions won’t work while moving. I think it’s still the good old cell phone causing the biggest distraction today.
Info what??? I love this Merc. It’s to far for me to go get it so I will pass on it. Driveinstile I am a retired trucker and I agree with you about watching the gps while rowing through the gears in many city’s. I pulled a flatbed and hauled steel lumber machinery and anything else you could haul on a flatbed. GLWTS
I’m leaning more towards this old gal having 102k instead of 2k on the odometer. It’s a nice looking car and all but the upholstery sure looks like that odometer may have rolled over…most important question is….is there evidence (receipts) to verify that mileage? Even if so, maybe 4500.
Mercury put the GRAND in Marquis since it’s debut. Having owned several GRAND MARQUIS and TOWN CARS, for 89, My 89 Crown Victoria LX with optional formal roof owtshown the 89 GRAND MARQUIS. Though similar, the Crown Vic used Chrome side trim on the rockers instead of the (higher) colored side trim. The Crown Vic somehow came across as a more formal looking car. Whatever the mileage this looks like a GRAND buy for the price. These cars will easily go 300,000 mi or more, with proper care.
No way this has low mileage. You have to understand some people are stupid and as a result they think everybody is stupid cause their brain doesn’t have the capacity to understand that.
On a lighter note my cousin bought a brand new Grand Marquis brougham in 83’ and I was very impressed when I drove it.
😉 How do you TOP a car? Tep on the brake, TUPID!😁 🤣 .On a serious note as previously mentioned, Grand Marquis along with Crown Victoria and Town Cars were some of the best 👌
I drive a 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis with 384,000 actual miles — and my interior looks as good as (or actually better than) this. I don’t believe the low mileage claim — sorry: this car isn’t “showroom-fresh”. One red flag: who removed the black insulation under the hood: did you notice? You see, as the mileage clocks-up on these, that insulation begins to fall apart, become ragged and unsightly. On a 2K car, that insulation would be perfect and crisp. At about 180,000 miles, mine began to deteriorate — but at 102K, it still looked almost new. If mine is any testimony, these cars age particularly well — they look far less “used” than they actually are. Trying to pass-off a well-used car as almost “new”, and removing a dilapidated liner to avoid showing how used the car actually is, speaks of deliberate deception: too risky. When a seller isn’t honest, then what ELSE is hidden, here? NO THANKS. At 384,000+ miles, my Grand Marquis still looks good and runs fine as wine. But I would not try to get more than $1,500 for it, if I didn’t want to keep it.