Sell my MM for an Aviator?

[MercuryZephyrZ7]

Heres my problem. Me and my wife just had our 2nd baby and that's fine. But I was given a vintage travel trailer that I plan to use for camping in the summer. I own a 2004 MM, but it doesn't quite fit the bill anymore.

I ski in the winters as often as I can but I can't use my marauder to go to the mountains (let alone even hold my skis with no fold down rear seat). I also own an 87 F250 extended cab...which is a huge PITA to put car seats in. So I'm considering selling my truck and marauder and buying an Aviator which would tow the trailer, take me skiing, and still be somewhat interesting.

From anyone who has done it...Will I regret selling the marauder? I think it's logical...But I've spent so many years pining for a marauder and now that I have it I can't seem to rationalize selling it in my head. Bring me back down to reality lol let me know your opinions.

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[RF Overlord]

One one hand, you may regret selling it...any durn fool can own an Aviator.

OTOH, you have to do what's best for your family and lifestyle.

Do you need to sell the truck AND the MM to buy something else that will do what you want? Maybe keep the MM, sell the truck, and buy something "less" than an Aviator to go skiing and tow the camper.

[Ms. Denmark]

I retired my MM as a DD and bought an 03 Aviator which I did love.....however it's an out of production vehicle, as old as a MM. It bit the dust at around 155,000 miles. Of course it wasn't quite as much to drive as my MM, but I enjoyed it while it lasted.

[justbob]

One one hand, you may regret selling it...any durn fool can own an Aviator.



OTOH, you have to do what's best for your family and lifestyle.



Do you need to sell the truck AND the MM to buy something else that will do what you want? Maybe keep the MM, sell the truck, and buy something "less" than an Aviator to go skiing and tow the camper.


^This^

I ended up buying a VERY cheap '04 F150 Lariat Supercrew 4x4 with all the bells and whistles. The Marauder now gets used when I want to play and the Supercrew hauls my family of five with more interior room than the Rauder! Multi car insurance discount and a bed with cap are easy selling points. Add in my heavy diamond plate car hauler and I can take both cars anywhere I want with the whole family safely, quickly, and more comfortably than the car ANYDAY. This truck is the most versatile vehicle I've ever owned.


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[Mebot]

That's a tough question to answer. I think ultimately the decision is yours. If the Marauder still has the spark and makes you enjoy driving it, keep it. If it doesn't, If it's just another vehicle that costs time & money, maybe time to move on

There is still love for these cars from folks on this board but there are other folks who have moved on to other projects or have decided a Marauder doesn't for the lifestyle anymore.

Tough decision but I think you'll find common ground

Can't stop the signal...

[Marauderjack]

Keep the Marauder and quit skiing!!:beer:

Skiing will HURT you sooner or later!!:(

Problem solved!!:D

[MercuryZephyrZ7]

^ haha yeah I know it's only a matter of time before I blow out a knee huh?

I did consider just selling the truck and buying something not quite as nice (expedition, f150 supercrew, explorer) and may still do that because it just feels wrong to think about selling the marauder. In the end I'm 90% sure the marauder will stick around, but the thought of narrowing down my fleet and combining vehicle duties is kind of enticing.



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[GoldPanther]

My honest opinion, do not get an aviator!!! You will cry blood looking for any parts and getting it fixed. I am telling you this because if thought it was hard finding parts for a marauder, we'll it is worse finding good parts for an aviator.
You should consider something newer and more reliable or at least something that still has warranty. Get a Ford Edge with ecoboost.

[CRUZTAKER]

My honest opinion, do not get an aviator!!! You will cry blood looking for any parts and getting it fixed. I am telling you this because if thought it was hard finding parts for a marauder, we'll it is worse finding good parts for an aviator.
You should consider something newer and more reliable or at least something that still has warranty. Get a Ford Edge with ecoboost.

I have no input on selling the MM.
I sold mine for my ex's kitchen expansion lol

However, we did buy an '04 Aviator, new, and by '11 it was falling apart by the seams. I'd pass....

[Spectragod]

Get a late model f150 super crew with a 5.0, plenty of room, power and hauling ability. Keep the marauder, always see people on the board looking to replace the one that they sold.

[daddyusmaximus]

I dearly miss the utility of my crew cab truck I had before I got the Marauder. If I could afford it I would have both the truck and the car. My decision was easier as I only really needed the truck a few times out of the year, so for 95% of the time (for me) the Marauder can do the job, while being much more comfortable and fun to drive. If you can swing it, go for both the Marauder and a decent crew cab truck. Biggest thing I miss is having a 4x4. I really enjoy off roading.

Congrats on the 2nd child.

[lifespeed]

I don't know how heavy your "small" travel trailer is, but I tow a 1,700 lb. tent trailer regularly with the Marauder. It can tow 3,500lbs to 4,000lbs safely. I take it to the snow also, just stop at the car wash on the way down out of the Sierras and carry tire chains. I have two kids and their car seats fit just fine when they were younger.

I have been able to avoid the expense of a truck by renting a utility trailer a couple times a year and/or borrowing a friends truck. That $$ goes into Marauder upgrades and maintenance.

But you have to do what is right for you.

[Vortech347]

You will miss it. I replaced mine with what was supposed to be better in all ways. But its not. The AWD system it has pisses me off 95% of the time and the engine sounds like a knocking diesel with zero personality. Sure it would completely kick the **** out of my Marauder in turns, braking, and acceleration but I do miss my 04'. Marauders were just built so right.... Maybe It just grew on me after driving one for 10 years so I'm not adapting to change well.

But, gotta do whats right for your family/needs first. Cars are just hunks of metal.

[MercuryZephyrZ7]

A supercrew is what I will probably end up with, but it'd have to be an older one with a 4.6/5.4.

After I sell the truck I don't want much of a car payment so it'd have to be older

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[justbob]

5.4 FTW


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[MercuryZephyrZ7]

Driving this car to the mountains is a risk I'm not willing to take, as I would hate to wreck it knowing how hard the bumpers and other pieces are to find. Plus the fact that my skis won't fit since the rear seat won't fold down and I'm definitely not putting a roof rack on it!

The car is perfect for hauling the kids and doing everything. In fact my wife's aunt just informed me that they maybe selling their truck -- a 92 F350 4x4 crew cab 7.3 for a couple grand to me if I wanted it. It's way more truck than I need but it would allow me to keep both and not accrue an extra loan so that's a definite possibility. Plus it would easily handle the jobs I'll do with it.

I feel like I'll miss it too much as well. I can't do it. I need to keep it around and get a tune and some 4.10s. If I had done those mods already I'm fairly certain I would not even consider selling it.

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[RubberCtyRauder]

A tune alone will make it feel like a new car, well worth it plug and play

[daddyusmaximus]

Hell yeah. Go for the F-350. The 7.3 is a solid engine.

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[Spectragod]

A supercrew is what I will probably end up with, but it'd have to be an older one with a 4.6/5.4.

After I sell the truck I don't want much of a car payment so it'd have to be older

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You would be surprised how these trucks hold their value, you may be better off buying new, or last years model off the lot. I was going to buy a used F350 last year, it was less money to buy a new one with -0- miles on it, negotiating a better price is your friend.

I have a F150 as well, with a 5.0. After owning many Fords with the 4.6 and 5.4, the 5.0 coyote is light years past those motors, just an FYI.

[MercuryZephyrZ7]

Yeah..I know the coyote is a great motor...But again I just had my 2nd child and am not looking to get into a bunch more debt. If going out and buying a new truck was an option I wouldn't have had this dilemma, I would've just done it.

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[BUCKWHEAT]

Aviator no, its too small. From my experience, buy the Navigator/Expedition. It's got the 5.4 and lots of room plus tow capacity. We prefer the 8 passenger, not the 7 passenger. Wife has a baby seat in it all the time. Lots of room for it and other people. I used to tow my Baja ski boat behind it and didn't even know it was there.

Good luck.

[1Marauder]

^This^

I ended up buying a VERY cheap '04 F150 Lariat Supercrew 4x4 with all the bells and whistles. The Marauder now gets used when I want to play and the Supercrew hauls my family of five with more interior room than the Rauder! Multi car insurance discount and a bed with cap are easy selling points. Add in my heavy diamond plate car hauler and I can take both cars anywhere I want with the whole family safely, quickly, and more comfortably than the car ANYDAY. This truck is the most versatile vehicle I've ever owned.


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This AND...

I Aslo but the bullet and bought more car seats and /or car seat bases that were all the same. That way I could leave the base(s) in the truck and simply swap the baby seats around.

[1Marauder]

I don't know how heavy your "small" travel trailer is, but I tow a 1,700 lb. tent trailer regularly with the Marauder. It can tow 3,500lbs to 4,000lbs safely. I take it to the snow also, just stop at the car wash on the way down out of the Sierras and carry tire chains. I have two kids and their car seats fit just fine when they were younger.

I have been able to avoid the expense of a truck by renting a utility trailer a couple times a year and/or borrowing a friends truck. That $$ goes into Marauder upgrades and maintenance.

But you have to do what is right for you.



Folks, I think this answers the "why" some have constant brake issues...

[daddyusmaximus]

Not necessarily. I grew up in the day when a lot of people towed their camping trailers with cars and station wagons. The Panther platform is a vehicle with a full frame and an American made v8. There is no reason why it can't tow a decent trailer, not a 30 footer but something good enough for a family. The Panther platform is the old design similar to those American cars of the sixties and seventies, a time when pickup trucks were not as popular or numerous. My dad took us on many vacations where we towed a 21-foot Layton trailer with a Buick Electra 225. Yes the trailer has electric brakes.

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[guspech750]

Sell the Marauder. It's just a POS cop car.


Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.

[justbob]

You would be surprised how these trucks hold their value, you may be better off buying new, or last years model off the lot. I was going to buy a used F350 last year, it was less money to buy a new one with -0- miles on it, negotiating a better price is your friend.

I have a F150 as well, with a 5.0. After owning many Fords with the 4.6 and 5.4, the 5.0 coyote is light years past those motors, just an FYI.


I wholeheartedly agree. [emoji106]🏻 But budget dictated my last beater.. Definitely stay away from a 4.6 in a Supercrew 4X4! My 5.4 is hardly enough, and my old work van with a 4.6 was Sooo underpowered.... [emoji107]🏻


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[lifespeed]

Folks, I think this answers the "why" some have constant brake issues...

Hahahaaa! Talk about making assumptions without any experience! I had brake troubles long before the trailer was ever hitched up. And I'm not the only one who had trouble with the small Wilwood calipers. :rolleyes:

Edit: I don't have brake issues anymore. All it took was some decent-sized calipers, pads, and "standard" 1.25" thick rotors instead of the TCE skinnies. Not exactly a mystery what was going on there.

[Mr. Man]

Keep the MM and buy a 4 or 5 year old Subaru Outback wagon, they go just about anywhere. Skis on the rack, kids in the back, good gas mileage, relatively reliable, done!

[Todd TCE]

I had brake troubles long before the trailer was ever hitched up. .


Trailer?

Don't believe I heard of that aspect of it before...:P

Glad to hear you're happy with the larger parts. For the record; what did you settle on for wheels in case someone should ask?

[lifespeed]

Trailer?

Don't believe I heard of that aspect of it before...:P

That's because the trailer had nothing to do with it. I bought the trailer last year, but I've had the Wilwoods for 4 years and burned through three sets of pads and a couple sets of rotors without towing a trailer.


Glad to hear you're happy with the larger parts. For the record; what did you settle on for wheels in case someone should ask?

I used American Racing AR883 (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=95872), widened both front and rear. Without widening, the front would not have been the correct 50mm offset.

[Todd TCE]

Ahh, those do look nice. Well played.

[Motorhead350]

For the original post it sounds like you want encouragement to not sell the Marauder.

DON'T SELL IT.

Buy an Econoline. They are cheap, tow and plenty of room for family.

[71cyclone]

For the original post it sounds like you want encouragement to not sell the Marauder.

DON'T SELL IT.

Buy an Econoline. They are cheap, tow and plenty of room for family.

JD Powers top 5 trucks for reliability [ JD powers has had a 2003 Black Marauder since new ]