The 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis proves that it’s not all about how many cylinders you’re packing under the hood. The V8-powered Grand Marquis comes up dozens of horses shy of comparable V6 cars, like the Acura TL, let alone more powerful V8s, like the Cadillac DTS. It’s not a bad deal at $6,000 to $7,000, but there are better cars out there for the price.
Is the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 7/10 – There’s nothing really wrong with a Mercury Grand Marquis, it just feels like a whole lot of wasted potential when you compare it to other cars in its class.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – The Grand Marquis feels like the big Ford and Cadillac land yachts you may remember cruising in with your grandparents.
- Reliability 8/10 – Early breakdown is rare and repair costs are modest.
- Safety 7/10 – Crash test ratings are good, but onboard safety tech is merely adequate.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – 15/23 isn’t bad for a 2008 model V8.
- Value 7/10 – The Grand Marquis is priced fairly, there are just better cars out there for the same price, like the Acura TL and the Cadillac DTS.
Positive Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis?
Consumer Reports found the 2008 Grand Marquis/Crown Victoria’s handling a bit wide, the ride too stiff, the engine noisy, and the overall package just outdated in more ways than not. They did like the optional traction control and the spacious trunk, but that was about as far as their praises went.
Kelley Blue Book users report that the Grand Marquis/Crown Vic is fun to drive, with one stating it “takes off like a rocket and handles like a go kart.” Weak fuel economy and some structural issues, like paint chipping, earned some red marks from KBB users.
Edmunds users praised the 2008 Grand Marquis as an excellent luxury car at a fair price. Drivers found it to “handle like a dream” while accelerating quickly enough to merge in and out of traffic without worry. The sole negative review on the website points to dated design and frequent breakdowns.
What Common Problems Does the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Have?
The 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis has generated a scant 76 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Steering issues take the lead at 25 complaints, with drivers reporting the power steering going out while in motion. A 2013 recall addressed steering column detachment.
A small handful of electrical complaints see drivers reporting a range of mostly minor issues. One driver reports the visor light staying on when the visor is closed, burning a hole into the visor itself.
At least one driver reports the car failing to disengage cruise control until they hit the brake.
The 2008 Grand Marquis has only been recalled once. All told, the car is one of the least problematic on the road today.
How Long Will the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Last?
Drivers typically report a minimum life expectancy of around 200,000 miles in a 2008 Grand Marquis. It’s not unusual to see these cars hitting 250,000 miles and up, especially since they tend to attract older drivers who take better care of their cars, but bet on 200,000 when determining whether it’s worth the sticker price.
Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $472 for the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. This is typical for the size class. New catalytic converters account for the most expensive common fix, starting at around $1,771.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology in the Grand Marquis is pretty basic. A CD player is pretty much all you’re going to be getting here.
Safety technology is decent, featuring anti-lock brakes as a standard feature and traction control in the high-end model.
Is the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis a Good Value?
The 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis is a decent value. The entry level model sells for around $6,010, and the high-end LS usually goes for about $7,062. There are better cars at this price, but this is one of the best deals you’re going to find on a V8 with under 150,000 miles on the odometer.
The car is cheap to maintain, and while it is a 2008 model V8, it’s more fuel efficient than many other cars in its category, so cost of ownership is nice and low.
What are the Different Models of the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis?
The 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis is offered in just two trim levels, being the base GS and the high-end LS.
Standard features in the entry-level GS include:
- Premium cloths seating
- 8-way power adjust driver seat
- CD player Cruise control
- Manual air conditioning
- Remote keyless entry
- Anti-lock brakes
The top-of-the-line LS adds:
- Fog lights
- Automatic air conditioning
- Leather seating
- Heated mirrors
- Traction control
What Engines Come In the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis?
- The 2008 Grand Marquis packs a 4.6L V8 engine delivering 224 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission in rear wheel drive, and it averages 15/23 miles to the gallon, city/highway. The engine is pure muscle, but a hefty curb weight means it takes 8.4 seconds to go from zero sixty.
What Colors Does the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis?
The 2008 Grand Marquis is very comfortable. Seating stretches a generous 56 inches across, you’ve got plenty of head and leg room, and the suspension is supportive without being overly firm. This is simply one of the more comfortable cars in its class.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Have?
The 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis packs 20 cubic feet of cargo in the trunk. This puts it at the larger end of the full size sedan market when it comes to storage. You don’t have folding seats or anything like that to expand the trunk space, but you shouldn’t need to.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
2008 was the sixth model year in the Mercury Grand Marquis’ 4th Generation, which ran from 2003 to 2011.
2006: The 4th Gen Grand Marquis was, in more ways than not, just a restyled 3rd Gen model.
2007: Some new exterior colors were the only big change for 2007.
2008: Mercury made tire pressure monitors standard in 2008.
2009: The GS trim level was removed from the lineup.
2010: No big changes for 2010.
How Does the 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Compare to the Competition?
While the 2008 Grand Marquis is attractive as an affordable V8 with a luxurious interior, the fact is that the car’s heavy curb weight puts it behind some V6s, like the Acura TL, which only packs six cylinders, but outperforms the Grand Marquis by 24 horses.
If it’s absolutely gotta be an American-made eight-cylinder cruiser, the Cadillac DTS prices in the same range and delivers an extra 51 horsepower.
The 2008 Grand Marquis isn’t exactly a lemon. But it’s fairly mediocre when you compare it to other cars in the same category at the same price.
