The transmission delivers smooth, precise, quick shifts. Like many transmissions on the market today, it requires no maintenance for the life of the car.

Grand Marquis offers a smooth, quiet ride. It is stable at high speeds and in crosswinds. Better yet, with the frame, suspension and steering alterations, this is the best-handling big Mercury we've ever driven. Mercury engineers have produced a car that rides and handles much better than its predecessor. The car does float over undulating pavement, though not at uncomfortable levels. The steering is a bit light at higher speeds, but the power assist makes it easy to maneuver the big car in crowded parking lots.

Technical stuff: For 2003, the rear trailing arms were redesigned and relocated to provide better control of vertical wheel motions. A three-piece Watts link was added; it provides more precise lateral location than would be possible with the single-piece Panhard rod or track bar usually used in live-axle setups.

Braking performance is surprisingly good for such a large car. The brakes were enlarged and upgraded recently, with larger, thicker rotors and dual-piston calipers on the front discs. Those changes improved braking performance and reduced the chance of brake fade when descending steep mountain grades. Steel 16-inch wheels are standard, while aluminum alloy wheels are optional. Standard tires are P225/60R-16 all-season Michelins.

We found our 2003 Grand Marquis Ultimate a pleasure to drive on a winding road. The rear air suspension and 16-inch alloy wheels with Goodyear high-performance tires contributed a fair measure of stability.

With its strong V8, rear-wheel drive, and body-on-frame construction, the Grand Marquis is rated to tow 2000 pounds.