Fans of full-size rear-drive sedans are now down to just one model to choose from, since Ford of Canada has dropped the Ford Crown Victoria from its retail list for the 2000 model year and plans to service these buyers with the Mercury Grand Marquis.
Over the last few years, such rear-drive behemoths as Buick Roadmaster, the Cadillac Fleetwood and the Chevrolet Caprice followed legions of big, full-sized models into the automobile graveyard. Now, about the only other rear-drive cars left on the market are luxury marques from BMW and Mercedes.
Ford of Canada will continue to sell the Crown Victoria, it must be noted, but only as police cars, rental vehicles, and taxicabs.
In previous years, the Grand Marquis was a notably more expensive car than the Crown Victoria, but Ford of Canada has decided to offer the 2000 Grand Marquis for $31,995, which is only about $100 more than last year's Crown Victoria.
Ford of Canada spokesman Ron Dennis says the Grand Marquis is "aggressively priced for a very well-equipped vehicle. Standard equipment includes ABS, traction control and all the luxury and comfort features Canadians have come to expect from this full-size sedan."
Except for a few safety upgrades like a glow-in-the-dark trunk release handle and a buzzer that sounds if you haven't done up your seatbelts, there's nothing new in the Grand Marquis for 2000.