Last of the big old traditional American old style, US body on frame, V8, RWD cars, a lightly used 24,000 mile example. Traded in straight across, + $825 + my "old" Subaru Outback with 22k in mint condition for it.

I just retrieved the window sticker, and it's definately a fleet order car (decontented for Hertz) but still with ABS, airbags, Traction Control on it. these are being phased out, last ones new are being sold this year, I believe. The body style is from the Clinton administration!!! Lifetime Cali car, clean carfax.

The MSRP on this car, when new was $28,425 + $875 transportation = $29,300

But I paid $15,993 for it a year old, two days ago, and with 24k on it.


That's over $13,300 in depreciation for the first year!!!!

For that hit, pretty near 50% of its value lost,the first year, if those figures work, I'll take 24k of rental mileage and missing floor mats.

Not worth it to buy one new, is my opinion...

I waxed it and touched it up, yesterday, and it really DOES look new...

Nothing WRONG with the Outback, which was a great car, for the VERY occasional snow and big loads, but honestly, I never warmed to it, perhaps because of the Japanese heritage, I don't know why, exactly.

I hope there won't be much snow around here, and there was only 3-4 days of it each year the past few years, and these old American style big cars, have always been favorites of mine, this is the last one I'd be able to get new.


But buying a 1 year nearly new Grand Marquis feels like I have come home ---at long last. I have owned an '88 and an '82 Crovwn Vic, and off all the cars I ever owned, these are by far the cheapest, dollar per mile, to run. Even the taxi and police variants, with hard use, last 250,00-300,000 miles and more.

I already got new floormats today at the dealer and put them in, and got a bottle of touch up paint so it looks brand new now, I waxed the unit yesterday.

Both sets of keys and remotes were given me...


Now I need to figure out how to put in extra power points, and wire it for an ipod, and buy a weighted floor cupholder unit at Autozone; the factory cupholders are a waste - the first night I had the car, I went around a corner and a tall cup of Hawaiian Punch fell out and soaked the carpet (at night).

I love driving this car though. I am happy with it, but after all the cars of the last 15 years it feels real big, though. I need to get used to it.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I'm glad to hear you like it, Jim.

From a number of your previous posts, it was clear that you had a thing for the Panther platform cars!

Typical mid-life-crisis mobile.

The Crown Vic / Grand Marquis motto: "Don't overexcite."

I'm still tempted when I see a really clean, low-miles example in the $7000-$8000 range.

Sedate.

But not sedated.


YET !!

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Those are great cars. And as you state, probably the most bang for the buck out there. Nice color too!

BWWAAA!!!!

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

That fits in better at the Golden Corral 4 p.m. early bird seniors special, than the Outback did anyway.

I think thats what makes me sad to see Jim get this car... not that is not a good car, I know he likes it, but I see it as admitting he's old... and thats not the Jim I know.

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It is much like my well cared for always garaged and hardly ever out in the snow 94 Town Car. Love it and we take care of it and it has been extremely low cost of operation. I bought it in 96 with 14000 miles and very slight evidence of some light bodywork on the left rear for $9250.00. Brakes, ball joints, plugs and wires, base of the power drivers seat broke and I replaced that from the P & P and new rear air suspension bags and shocks, battery and third seat of new rubber and I am at 199,500 miles. Gets 21 mpg at 70 but it has always used oil, about a qt every 800 miles.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

I think it would be a great daily driver, safe and comfortable too. What appeals to me about them is their rear wheel drive. I've never owned a car with FWD, and I probably never will - with any luck. The wheels are sharp looking too.

Would a Crown Victoria suit you better?

Yeah thats the Jim I know!!!

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I am slightly jealous now.

When I was 23, I bought a used Lincoln Town Car for $1600. I sold it five years and 60,000 miles later for $500. After I sold it I totalled up the expenses and concluded that the car cost me all of about 11 cents a mile over those five years.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I'd hit it. My Caddillac has been a good boy for the last 1000 miles.

300HP going to the front wheels took some getting used to.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!