2003 Mercury Grand Marquis LSE, very hard to find! in Portsmouth, New Hampshire For Sale

xxxx Mercury Grand Marquis LSE
The LSE was a rare model as most Grand Marquis buyers wanted 6-passenger seating. As a result, only a few thousand were ever built over several model years. I have only ever seen ONE in real life - this one. I have only seen two others in photos or on the internet.
The LSE was introduced as a sort of Grand Touring model to give a sporty European feel to the full-size sedan buyer. It is almost the same as Ford's Crown Victoria Sport in the area of handling and driving feel, but with the somewhat more luxurious Grand Marquis touch. The equipment that makes up an LSE includes all of the LS standard equipment, PLUS:
3.27 Rear Axle Ratio (standard is 2.73) for faster acceleration
sports suspension
dual exhaust (horsepower is up to 239 with this system)
rear air suspension (it will self-level up to a 700 pound load)
bucket seats with power lumbar support
full leather interior
center console with floor shifter
extended-length overhead storage console with compass display
16" "Snowflake" wheel design with dark argent painted inner sections
Chrome mirror caps (Mercury calls them "skullcaps")
Carpeted front floormats
The Aspen Green Metallic Clearcoat color is very dark, and sometimes looks like a black metallic. It's a very subtle and classy color. Note: the first photo shows the headlamps BEFORE they were polished. They look new now.
Being a xxxx, this car has the same-as-xxxx redesigned frame, brakes, revised offset wheels, revised suspension and aluminum engine & suspension cradle as every last generation Panther platform car, which were sold from xxxx to xxxx. These major changes under the skin make for a HUGE improvement in ride quality, cornering and overall precision feel. A note about the so-called high mileage: these cars are legendary in the taxi and especially the livery industry for their ability to rack up extremely high mileages relative to other brands. It is not uncommon at all for a livery operator to be looking at a used car to add to his young fleet with 300,000 miles or more. The highest-mileage example of a Panther car I have seen without major work was 589,000 miles, when the transmission finally needed to be overhauled.
This car has a really super-nice window tinting job from Tint King in Billerica, Massachusetts. I chose the most expensive film you can buy. They do all of the local detective cars, so they know how to do a great job on this body style. And I did install a Class III trailer hitch, which I needed for a bike rack. You are also getting a professionally-installed waterproof trailer wiring harness (4-pin), which sits in the trunk until you need it.
It has had a recent overhauled transmission and new torque converter, a new intake manifold, alternator, serpentine belt, (8) ignition coils, front wheel hub, brakes, HVAC controller, LCM (Lighting Control Module), Mass Airflow Sensor, IAC (Idle Air Control) valve, rear air suspension compressor, and a few other routine wear items replaced. Being an FAA-licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, I do most work myself, and I take good care of my machines. And from the start of the first day I drove it back from Chicago, it has had Mobil 1 full-synthetic oil.
And it has just had a fresh change of the differential oil, with Mobil 1 gear oil (full synthetic).
If I were to keep this car, I would repaint the roof at some point, but it's not an urgent task. Everything else is in excellent condition. Of course it is not a concours quality paint job, as it does have the usual nicks and scrapes, but it was just detailed and it looks fabulous. There is NO rust underneath - I periodically get under there with a rust conversion coating and keep it at bay. The vast majority of what you will see underneath is shiny black paint.
It's an excellent winter car too - I installed a really good, OEM quality heated seat system into the driver's seat. The car now has (4) really excellent winter tires on it. They can be studded if you prefer them that way. I have actually passed SUVs on Route 95 in a snowstorm. The tire choice makes a huge difference.
Please forgive my wordiness, but this is a special car and it has a story that deserves to be told accurately. Thanks!
NOTE: If you are flying in, we will split the cost of a modest hotel or bed & breakfast for you, and give you a $50 fuel allowance in cash to help you on your way. There is a great B&B within walking distance of here. We will also pick you up at Logan or Manchester Airport (preferably).
*Panther platform cars were made in (4) frame lengths:
1. Ford Crown Victoria & Mercury Grand Marquis, wheelbase 114.7 inches (including all station wagons)
2. Lincoln Town Car, wheelbase 117.7 inches (3 inches longer)
3. Ford Crown Victoria Long Wheelbase, wheelbase 120.7 inches (6 inches longer). This now-rare car was only sold to taxi fleets and to a lesser extent, some police departments. Most of them were sold to New York City taxi companies. As they are taken out of New York service, they are currently being bought by a company that ships them to Chicago to refurbish them, where they will have a second and third life in taxi and sometimes livery service. Unless you have spent a great deal of time in New York City, AND you knew what to look for (the obviously longer rear door glass), you have most likely never seen one of these.
4. Lincoln Town Car L, wheelbase 123.7 inches (9 inches longer than the shortest Panther platform car)
In all cases, the rear doors are where you can spot the difference in length. This was all about rear seat legroom.