Finally pulled the trigger...

[rayjay]

On some mods I have wanted to do for a long time. Last week I had to take the car in for repairs to the axle and front end. Handles like it should again. The axle seal going and the left axle being toast was a surprise as was the total bill. OUCH... :mad2: The Mrs will not even consider letting me part with it. So I decided it was now or never on the mods I have wanted for years. I have never been able to justify the cost of forced induction. Out of the question when SC MMs are selling for peanuts today.

I got in contact with Marty O and his shop will be doing the work & providing the parts. Stainless works headers and what ever exhaust work it also needs. A PTC 3000 stall torque converter and dyno tune when done. I hope all this really rekindles my interest in the car.

FWIW, I am really, really interested in the new Focus RS that is coming later this year. I sold my fully modded 00 ZX3 to get into the Marauder. I should have kept it. My friends up north called it the fire breathing roller skate. Still miss it 12 yrs later.... :depress:

[daddyusmaximus]

Interesting to see how things work out. The Focus may be a fun little car to drive, but speaking on behalf of fat cripples everywhere, the bigger more comfy Marauder has captured my heart like no other car has.

[lifespeed]

Small over-powered FWD roller skates may be capable of some surprising things, but nothing can compare to the ride, handling and confidence that a full-frame Marauder inspires.

[Turbov6Bryan]

Interesting to see how things work out. The Focus may be a fun little car to drive, but speaking on behalf of fat cripples everywhere, the bigger more comfy Marauder has captured my heart like no other car has.

LOL. You crack me up :)

I hear ya. Driven my 2011 mustang once since I bought my marauder

[rayjay]

Small over-powered FWD roller skates may be capable of some surprising things, but nothing can compare to the ride, handling and confidence that a full-frame Marauder inspires.

The RS will be AWD. Conservatively rated at 325HP. It is going to be a rocket. The Focus community here has been waiting many years for this car to be brought over from Europe. It should handle fantastic as is with no mods. I'm sure the aftermarket will kick in for it anyway. The aftermarket for the Focus went from zero to 100 very quickly back then. Seemed like every week a new part was coming out. Many options for every part, just not one company making a part. I was rather disappointed at the very limited aftermarket for the MM at 1st. The parts came along, but quite pricey...

As far as handling, even with the mods I've done to my Marauder it can not hold a candle to my ZX3. They just do not compare. The ZX3 was on rails, flat through the curves, zero body roll. I did make extensive mods to the car to make it that way. Someone got themselves a really special car at a good price. I took off what I could and sold those parts separately. I told the dealer if the new owner wanted the parts to contact me, but never heard from them. Their loss. Some other folks got good deals on high sought after parts.

Very much looking forward to my new MM. :banana:

[Ambitious1]

You know what they say... Once you go Big Car, you don't go back... :)

[rayjay]

You know what they say... Once you go Big Car, you don't go back... :)

It would be difficult to give up the size and overall comfort of the boat. So much so that last week I bought a 09 MGM Ultimate edition for my daughter to get back and forth from university with. As tempted as I am, I will leave it stock so as not to hurt the MPGs. :D It is getting 22.5mpg around town here, that makes me happy. I am one that does not believe these great gas prices are going to hold. Seen it too many times before.

[lifespeed]

As far as handling, even with the mods I've done to my Marauder it can not hold a candle to my ZX3. They just do not compare. The ZX3 was on rails, flat through the curves, zero body roll. I did make extensive mods to the car to make it that way. Someone got themselves a really special car at a good price. I took off what I could and sold those parts separately. I told the dealer if the new owner wanted the parts to contact me, but never heard from them. Their loss. Some other folks got good deals on high sought after parts.

The Marauder can be modified to handle amazing, although most here don't make this a priority. I'm sure your ZX was cool.

[ctrlraven]

I had to give up my 2000 ZX3 turbo by choice (drunk driver hit me and totaled it) and that's what led me to the Marauder.

Wait until the 2017 Focus RS comes out, it will have a few more options and colors available.

Most dealers are only getting one MAYBE two RS units. My local dealer is only getting one and a service advisor already snagged it up.

[rayjay]

I had to give up my 2000 ZX3 turbo by choice (drunk driver hit me and totaled it) and that's what led me to the Marauder.

Wait until the 2017 Focus RS comes out, it will have a few more options and colors available.

Most dealers are only getting one MAYBE two RS units. My local dealer is only getting one and a service advisor already snagged it up.

I forgot that you had a firebreathing ZX3 also. I miss that tossabilty and the ability to use that to run away and hide from whoever wanted to play. It was a great little car for the price. Half the fun was doing the mods. Putting headers on in the driveway with work lights. :D

If they even get one and like the Mustang I wanted when I bought the MM, I am sure they will be $5-$7.5k over MSRP... :(

The dealer I bought the MGM at had two identical STs. Liked the color, but I don't need 4 drs which detracted from the look IMHO.