Oppo Sedan Shootout: 2000 LeSabre VS 2002 Marquis

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
08/11/2014 at 23:09 • Filed to: oppopinion

Today I rode in a Marquis and I had some interesting comparisons between it and my LeSabre.

Both of these cars are full-sized American sedans, on the "sort-of-but-not-quite" point on the luxury spectrum. Interestingly, I've noticed non-car-nerds often look at my car and immediately associate it with the Panther platform, assuming it's body-on-frame and rear-wheel-drive, which it isn't. Hmm.

Comfort/luxury

I'll start this out by saying I have no idea what the trim levels are for the Grand Marquis, but I do know my LeSabre is moderately-equipped, with some of the fancier things like heated seats, HUD, CD changer, etc. missing.

The LeSabre has a failing A/C compressor, the Marquis could probably create ice. Even when the LeSabre's A/C was working perfectly it wasn't that cold. Damn.

The Marquis had more rear leg room.

The LeSabre had far comfier seats. They were leather in both cars, but the Buick just seemed more warm and friendly. Especially the back seat.

The LeSabre had far superior speakers, though I'm not sure if "high-end" speakers were installed on the Marquis.

Result: Tie.

Performance

They're both horribly slow. Despite its much larger V8, the Marquis was slowed down by its heavier body-on-frame construction.

Result: Both powered by anemic hampsters

Ride quality

The heavier Marquis was more floaty. No contest.

Result: Marquis

Handling

The heavier Marquis didn't go 'round corners. At least the LeSabre was controllably understeering

Result: LeSabre

Conclusion: Tie.

Neither car is really better than the other. Both are large, slow, comfy cruisers with a slew of aftermarket modification options due to their platforms/engines, and they both look... whatever.

Personally I think the Buick makes more sense. It gets 30mpg highway vs the Mercury's 25mpg (both get 17 city), the 4.6L V8 only makes 30hp more than the 3.8L Buick (235 vs 205) and 60ftlb of torque, the car weighs 600-700 pounds more.

The only situation where the Mercury makes sense is if you have mods in mind that require body-on-frame, want to do donuts because RWD, or if you're just a purist that insists body goes on frame with an engine in front and drive wheels in the back spinning uselessly because there's hardly any weight on them.

I'm slightly biased.

I'm not sorry :>

DISCUSSION (16)

GeorgeyBoy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/11/2014 at 23:13

I'm not sure why but the Lesabre looks like something I could spend days in. The Marquis not so much. Not even sure how to explain it. Cozier?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > GeorgeyBoy
08/11/2014 at 23:14

Honestly everything about the LeSabre seemed more inviting to me, interior and exterior, but I wasn't sure if that was just bias or the fact the Marquis looks vaguely like its Police Interceptor brother which screams "POLICE" and do not want :(

deekster_caddy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/11/2014 at 23:15

the Grand Marquis was Mercury's flagship car though - so compare it to Buick's PA or PAU. The PAU wins hands down. They are hard to kill.

Also, '04 LeSabre - ought to blow cold ice cubes too. I know an '04 LeSabre and '98 Riv that have never been recharged and still blow ice cubes.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/11/2014 at 23:15

If you can't make a Grand Marq go around corners, then you're doing it wrong.

GeorgeyBoy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/11/2014 at 23:17

You're not the only one. I like the panthers, but I can never find them attractive.

For Sweden > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/11/2014 at 23:21

Right feet, how do they work?

Milky > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/11/2014 at 23:22

I would like to challenge your performance/handling conclusions ….

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > deekster_caddy
08/11/2014 at 23:23

Hm. Maybe my compressor has just always been a lemon. Yeah, a PAU would absolutely curbstomp a Grand Marquis at just about everything. Same power in a lighter package? Yep yep. Not as big of a fan of the looks, but that's subjective. Then again, most things are subjective when you're shopping for boaty cruisers.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/11/2014 at 23:26

You are about 100hp optimistic on both of those.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/11/2014 at 23:27

KEYBOARDS HOW DO THEY WORK?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/11/2014 at 23:30

O FPMY LMPE!

offroadkarter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/11/2014 at 23:35

I have no idea what trim you drove so that can change a lot, a 2.73 geared single exhaust GS is going to float down the road and be slower than a speeding school bus. A 3.27 geared dual exhaust handling and performance pack car is going to have a little more kick to it and handle rather well. Something tells me you didn't drive an HPP car

Also the build quality in the lesabre, as well as most 90's and 00's GM cars, is appalling. I'm not saying the panther is the epitome of excellent build quality but holy crap is it way better. My grandmothers 2000 lesabre which she got with 63,000 miles has a lumpy seat and the door switch panels come out just by gently lifting on them. The hydraulic trans mount is shot so the car shakes every time it changes a gear, and I wouldn't exactly say that car inspires confidence in the corners either.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > offroadkarter
08/11/2014 at 23:39

Why would I compare a performance pack car to a run-of-the-mill LeSabre?

Eh, the build quality in both was plastic fantastic. Both had typical rattles and broken bits, but mechanically they seemed sound.

offroadkarter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/11/2014 at 23:41

well do you even know what trim car you drove?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > offroadkarter
08/11/2014 at 23:44

I believe it was an LS.

deekster_caddy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/12/2014 at 06:27

PAU also had the supercharged motor!