WTB Trilogy Supercharged Marauder San Gabriel Valley

[JVD]

UPDATED ---- Still Looking for a Trilogy Supercharged Marauder, I have updated my list of requirements for the car below.

Things I am looking for:
-car must have stock exhaust manifolds and all 4 catalytic converters, cat back mods are ok
-Must have no rust issues on or underneath the car (frame/body must be pretty clean)
-I prefer no sun roof (but it's not a deal breaker)
-higher mileage is ok too

[RubberCtyRauder]

Trilogy won't pass CA emissions as info.
There is one in Bring A Trailer auction site. Low miles, price is rising

[marauderrocks51]

04 , silver . roof , addco , metco , ss complete , trilogy , wide wheels nittos .new chains , w pump , belts , engine powderecoated battery,radiator new. 14 inch rotors , drilled all four corners,stainless hoses hawk pads and much more , all done , dynoed 440 rwhp , 521 engine . 65k miles . im 3 owner . all work is fresh . less than 500 miles . fyi .30k. car is pristine cond . dark flint int , like i said FYI

[JVD]

I am interested in the CA emissions situation as well. I know of at least three trilogy marauders in my area. One sold recently on ebay whereby I was just one step too late and the other's listing has since disappeared. I know the third will never be sold since it's the owner's daily. However, all three have been in CA for a long time (at least 14 years?) and all have passed emissions surprisingly.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Trilogy did not get CARB certification...could be a gamble, just pointing it out

[Mebot]

Trilogy did not get CARB certification...could be a gamble, just pointing it outThis is correct. Actually I'm not sure any supercharger kit meets California CARB requirements without serious modification. You can check with ADTR whose Vortech SC kit is for sale, and they're based in California...

But silver lining is... In 3 years these cars will be "antique" and able to be driven in most states despite Emission and Safety inspections

[JVD]

From what my research has told me there are a couple of kits (from both Procharger and Vortech-including the ADTR kit) that are CARB compliant, but I just have a soft spot for roots-style blowers (love their look, sound, and low-end performance). Unfortunately for California, antique status is reserved for cars that are 25 years old or more and I believe we also need a special license plate too now for that status (not absolutely certain on this since the law changed again this year and now new gas cars will be outlawed in this state come 2035 so things might change again). If I can't find one in CA with the trilogy blower then I might just opt for a n/a one in SoCal.

[marauderrocks51]

what is the difference between california emmissions and illinois emmissions . my trilogy passes illinois testing. currious

[JVD]

California has the strictest emissions standards in the country. When it comes to aftermarket modifications (such as blowers and cold air intakes), all need to be approved by the CARB (California Air Resources Board). Things such as long tube headers with high flow cats are also a no-go in this state, which is why the trilogy marauder currently on Bring-A-Trailer would instantly fail emissions here. As for the Trilogy supercharger kit, the company never got CARB's approval so technically speaking it should not be able to pass emissions here. However, three cars with it are able to pass emissions in this state (granted the one I have the carfax on has failed once, but passed it all other times). I would love to know how they did it.

[marauderrocks51]

is it a possibility they turned off the 02s in the progam , thus no lite at all ever . does calif. stick the sniffer in the exhaust or just plug in and see no codes ?

[JVD]

If the vehicle is 2000 or newer I do not believe they use sniffers in the tail pipe. However, a Trilogy Marauder would fail the moment they pop the hood (the visual portion of the test).

[marauderrocks51]

damm !!!!!!! i thought they were tough here . mine are off . there is no visual here . good luck with your hunt

[JVD]

Thanks, it is crazy here with how strict things are (the whole state is one big crazy mess haha).

[88LTDCV351]

Vortech is the only one that has EO numbers. Here is one of them.

https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/d-213-27.pdf

[gpfarrell]

Have you seen the one currently on BaT?

[JVD]

@LTDCV351 Thank you for the link.

@gpfarrell Yes I have seen the one on BAT, however it has long tube headers with the high flow cats. Three cars in this state have passed smog with a Trilogy but none would ever pass with those exhaust modifications (removing the stock style cats is an instant fail in CA).

Does anyone know if you can talk to autotrader to get the contact information of a person whose listing expired? I have the VIN, license plate, and CarFax of one of the cars I wanted to buy and the listing just expired not that long ago.

[gpfarrell]

@gpfarrell Yes I have seen the one on BAT, however it has long tube headers with the high flow cats. Three cars in this state have passed smog with a Trilogy but none would ever pass with those exhaust modifications (removing the stock style cats is an instant fail in CA).


Wow, it sold for $21,500 and only had like 10,000 miles? It would have worth sourcing a stock exhaust system to pass the test!

[z man]

Wow, it sold for $21,500 and only had like 10,000 miles? It would have worth sourcing a stock exhaust system to pass the test!

I saw that as well. A Trilogy Marauder with 16K miles at $21.5K is a great deal, IMHO. Also has 4.10s and SW headers. Swap out the custom COP covers, remove the fake caliper covers, and call it a day. Couldn’t buy a low mileage Marauder and install a s/c’er for that price.

[z man]

Link to BaT Marauder that sold for $21.5K: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-mercury-marauder-12/

[JVD]

@gpfarrell and @z man- I was tempted to put in a bid but I was waiting for the trilogy owner local to me to respond first. Nonetheless, to transport that car to my location and to redo the exhaust to make it california legal it would be at least another four grand plus on top of the auction price (whatever it will end up at if I entered the bidding). I was ultimately able to get through to the local trilogy owner (have to thank autotrader for working with me on this one) but found out that he ultimately decided to keep it. If I had emailed him first instead of looking at the carfax I could have gotten a CA smogged trilogy for less than thirteen grand. Granted it had a lot of miles on it but I was planning to refurbish it anyways. Oh wells. Will update main page soon with what I am looking for now.

[1Marauder]

Vortech is the only one that has EO numbers. Here is one of them.

https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/d-213-27.pdf



This his is correct, as I have done much research, and begged ADTR to make the legal version for CA.

Further, bringing an "out of state" car into California, requires a little more work, and unfortunately a little more scrutiny on the car itself (depending on your county). Doesn't mean it can't be done... But is a risk. While you can always find a shop that may look the other way after opening hood, they sometimes sell thier business or "your guy" moves on, and then what?

My regular place sold, and honest to gosh, my approved CAI was rejected (I hate all underhood stickers) as I keep my Carb sticker in envelope in glove box. A$$-bite demanded I "stick the CARB Sticker on unit in plain site," so I asked for a break, backed car out, and re-installed stock CAI in parking lot just to pass smog.

Again, just sharing, as the smog check is every two years.

[JVD]

@1Marauder
Yeah, that is pretty much how the people around me were able to have theirs in California. At this point, I am probably just going to opt for a N/A marauder (preferably not black). I will either create a new thread or just revise this one soon.

[z man]

Link to BaT Marauder that sold for $21.5K: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-mercury-marauder-12/

Latest installment of “Flip This Marauder”

Low mileage Trilogy that sold on BAT for $21.5K is now for sale on eBay for $30K: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-Mercury-Marauder-S-Supercharged-Sedan/114583285057?hash=item1aadb22d 41:g:Jb0AAOSwDHtfth18

[JVD]

Wow, the stereo system they put in is a huge turn off for me lol. Thanks for posting an update on that car though, I was always curious as to who bought it. On another note, I am still looking for a trilogy supercharged marauder, and I have updated my original posting to reflect what I am looking for now (no longer picky about location).

[Peace2Peep]

There's no value in the stock head unit. The stereo system they installed is actually great equipment. I'd go for a bit smaller sub box size in my trunk, since i use my trunk often. But you'd think that for $30K they at least clean the engine compartment, sheesh!

[JVD]

@peace2peep
I totally agree with you, they definitely could have detailed the engine compartment and their sub box is way too large for me, not to mention it is located in a bad spot (I need all the trunk space I can get).