I have completely done an about-face regarding the Vette's.
now, their owners...that's a different story. lol...J/K
But yea...after spending week after week at the track and seeing what some of these guys are capable of in a street-drivern Vette(10.80's @ 131) and the like, plus like you said about the MPG...
anyway...I had my fingers on a 2004 CV LS w/ 68k on it last summer. dark charcoal gray with dark charcoal leather, tinted, ready to go. I was trading in the HHR, eating the neg. equity, and the dealer (Novato Ford) played me like a fiddle so I walked...VERY angry. I wanted the car LESS than I didn't want to do business with them, if you understand what that means.
Bottom line is this:
I have a 2001 S-10 with the ZQ8 package, but NOT a "Xtreme", dark blue extra cab, the ubber-rare ZQ8 wheels, dealer's have offered $3500 on trade in, so I know it'll fetch close to $5k private...I'm trying to just hand the title to a Crown Vic owner who's done with their 4 door luxo-barge and wants a cool truck instead. I'd go as high as 130k on the miles for a $3500-$5000 valued CV, but prefer a 2002-newer.
anyway...as far as Grand Marquis' go...I dont worry about parts/body parts. But I do know what you mean. CV = countless out there so parts are abundant. Grand marquis...an oddity...a cousin if you will...same platform, different parts.