Found a 00 grand marquis while driving around. Had 140k on the dash and the owners claim its one family owned [will verify this with a vin check]. The main thing that concerns me is that there seems to be a leak going on i also noticed I leak on the bottom and the brake fluid reservoir was dry. Power steering was also going in and out when i test drove it. They're asking 4k but I don't think its worth that much especially with the issues it has. Should i spring for it? Im currently driving a 76k mile Avalon that i added 20k to and it treated me well.
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>the brake fluid reservoir was dry. Power steering was also going in and out
neglected car
not worth 4k
Yea wanna negotiate closer to 2700k maybe pay 3k if they take care some of the issues. Claimed to be a grandfather car then sit a while after he passed. Gonna haggle like a gyspy but wanna make the justifications for when i do so
power steering - best case scenario - add fluid
worst case scenario - replace steering rack
Yea it was leaking on to the rack after i drove it. How much could i negotiate off the price?
my suggestion is walk away, look for another car
dry brake fluid reservoir is a sign of extreme neglect. You can imagine how many oil changes they skipped.
these cars have a recirculating ball box, not a rack and pinion
it's worth 1500 max in its current state
This.
Highest I'd go would be 2k, especially considering it's been sitting for so long.
Don't have them do anything to it OP, you clearly can't trust them to take care of a car and you'd be better off doing the work yourself anyway.
It technically wouldn't be them doing the work. The cars original owner the grandfather was a well known and liked boss/worker at a local Firestone and the daughter claims they take care of her there. Ill put that to the test.
Paying a diferrence of 300-500$ if they fix it still wouldn't be worth just doing the job yourself.
God knows how much other shit you're gonna have to do to it anyway. Less than 2k or walk away
>sitting for so long
as soon as OP starts driving it every day the rear main seal is gonna fricking go. always happens to sitting ducks.
No. I love Panthers, I drive a Town Car; but there are a ton of them out there and you can do better, there's no need to buy one that has issues. If you're going to get a Panther I suggest a 2003 or later since they upgraded the suspension that year.
The Avalon is a good if dull car, I'd keep it.
Early 00s Panther cars have several design flaws that at this point are beat to just stay away from unless they're literally free. 2003+ is a better idea.
The 2003s and up are better; but the earlier ones are still good cars and don't have major problems. The only real design flaw was the plastic intake manifold and most of those have probably been replaced at this point. If OP found one in great shape at a good price it would be worth considering; but with 140K miles and signs of neglect he can do better for $4K.
Would it still be worth it at 2800k? If not what kind of condition grand marquis or crown vic should i expect to get for my budget (2500-3k)?
It varies because used car prices spiked idiotically during the dealer shortages like a year ago. Anyone who has not looked for cars in a bit would remember inspection-passing panther cars as reliably ~$1500-2500. Those days have since passed.
>Anyone who has not looked for cars in a bit would remember inspection-passing panther cars as reliably ~$1500-2500
The only panthers you'd get in that price range are clapped out pieces of shit on their last legs, covered in rust.
The issue is that if its neglected then you're probably going to have to spend a ton of money on repairs. So is it really a bargain?
>my budget (2500-3k)?
I'd try to push it to $4K if you can.
I found a good one near me for $3800K. 2004, 116,000 miles, clean title. Good condition. This is the kind of car you should be looking for.
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/710235044
That is clean but im aiming for around 2002 or older since ny state annual inspections cease at 25 yrs old
Its only 2 years away from that and it should pass inspection. The newer Panthers were designed to conform to all the emissions bullshit.
I'd really suggest getting a 2003 or newer. They upgraded the suspension that year and they'd fixed the plastic intake manifold problem by then so all the issues the car had were sorted by 2003. Parts will also be a little more common since they kept making the 2003 model up to 2011.
>ny state annual inspections cease at 25 yrs old
Hahaha, no they don't. Only computerized emissions inspections. Safety inspections and bi-yearly registration renewal (which requires an active inspection) are still a thing.
Safety is easy just don’t run your car like a Gypsy. Finding codes is what would kill me
Being replaced means nothing. The updated intakes just crack where the plastic meets the aluminum crossover. Only way to fix that permanently is with an edelbrock efi manifold.
>The updated intakes just crack where the plastic meets the aluminum crossover
Or at the back nipple to the rear coolant hose, which is still a fragile little plastic pillar.
If they're neglecting the fricking brake fluid then the rest of the car has been neglected as others have stated ITT. That in addition to the 140k miles does NOT make this worth 4k.
OP here, the owners also mentioned its been sitting for the better part of a year.
take it to a mechanic, pay him cash under the table.
t. Wrenchlet
It's hard to say, but that's a pretty old car. Who knows? I drive a 2003 Park Avenue that has about 30K miles on it and runs and looks way younger than it is, and just a few days ago I took it up to 90mph, and it felt fantastic. The Panther platform is nice too, but to be honest I don't like the ride so much. Both are pretty worth it, in terms of durability if you can find one in good shape. It depends on what you like. There's something kind of perfect about the ergonomics of what I've got, except for its passing power above 60. which is shit.
U lucky basturd how much did u get that 3800 for?
Op here. Friend from a dealer ran a vin check for me the car is actually one family owned. The milage problems and leaks are scaring me a lil bit but a one family car is enticing.
A one family car is always a red flag to me.
That means it's probably been through every one of the kids and the wife at some point. With each one being equally reckless/irresponsible with it
(Not saying multiple owners is any better btw)
HELL YEAH
>you will never own a Typhoon intake
The few left are going for- as in actually selling, not just listing as- well over a grand and creeping closer to 2K on eBay now, and already over 2 for ones that aren't rusted and pitted to hell, and it's like one guy hoarding them along with the Trickflow 2V heads. I am disgustipated.
>dry brake fluid reservoir
why are people so lazy? all it takes is an afternoon and the right tools to keep your brake fluid in check
>an afternoon