Better by the day!

[gpfarrell]

We're packing up the Maruader tonight and heading for South Carolina... about 750 miles each way. We adopted the car in late March, and I've put about 5,000 miles on it so far... and driving the Maruader just gets better by the day.

This time last year I was thrilled to make the same trip in our BMW... had you told me I'd leave the 5-speed Bimmer at home next year to drive a Mercury I'd have laughed at you.

Shame on me, but thanks to this website I've seen the light.

While I think we generally understand why Mercury didn't sell more Marauders, I'd encourage anybody who enjoys distinctive performance to get off the fence and get behind the wheel of one. Slow sales weren't the car's fault... blame the geriatric marketing department.

I still like our BMW and - as we know - the Marauders aren't quite perfect.

Ford seems a bit to focused on de-contenting cars... the automatic headlights in my '91 & '95 SHOs worked much better than the MM's which seem to activate themselves on shady stretches of road. I wish I had the auto-parking brake release, and will probably re-content it.

The valve covers really should be chrome... everybody wants to see the engine... including a half-dozen employees of the local BMW shop when we were picking our's up from the service department.

The trunklid's design is assinine... opening it on rainy days soaks everything inside... surely Ford could have done better there.

And, the cars should have more off-the-line punch.

All-in-all though, I'm really impressed by the package and this website makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable.

If you're already an owner, thanks for your help.

If you're not... what are you waiting for... these big fast cars really do get better every day.

Happy trails,
Greg

[TAF]

nicely said Greg...enjoy your trip to the Palmetto state....

[jgc61sr2002]

Greg - Have a safe enjoyable trip. :D

[buckyboy]

i enjoyed reading your post, safe trip, have fun
We're packing up the Maruader tonight and heading for South Carolina... about 750 miles each way. We adopted the car in late March, and I've put about 5,000 miles on it so far... and driving the Maruader just gets better by the day.

This time last year I was thrilled to make the same trip in our BMW... had you told me I'd leave the 5-speed Bimmer at home next year to drive a Mercury I'd have laughed at you.

Shame on me, but thanks to this website I've seen the light.

While I think we generally understand why Mercury didn't sell more Marauders, I'd encourage anybody who enjoys distinctive performance to get off the fence and get behind the wheel of one. Slow sales weren't the car's fault... blame the geriatric marketing department.

I still like our BMW and - as we know - the Marauders aren't quite perfect.

Ford seems a bit to focused on de-contenting cars... the automatic headlights in my '91 & '95 SHOs worked much better than the MM's which seem to activate themselves on shady stretches of road. I wish I had the auto-parking brake release, and will probably re-content it.

The valve covers really should be chrome... everybody wants to see the engine... including a half-dozen employees of the local BMW shop when we were picking our's up from the service department.

The trunklid's design is assinine... opening it on rainy days soaks everything inside... surely Ford could have done better there.

And, the cars should have more off-the-line punch.

All-in-all though, I'm really impressed by the package and this website makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable.

If you're already an owner, thanks for your help.

If you're not... what are you waiting for... these big fast cars really do get better every day.

Happy trails,
Greg

[04MEMA]

Hey Greg,
After drooling over the Marauder for a year and a half, I finally went and bought an 04 MM, DTR/Black. The car really is cool. It's big and heavy yet handles great. Last weekend I took a Saab driving buddy for a ride and he couldn't get over how fast I was taking turns and the car made no notion of drama, except for the exhaust tone that is. Great seats, it has - Like Lazy boys! Stereo is not great, but certainly good for OEM. The engine provides adequate power but lets face it - in todays world this car is not fast enough to be a street terror, in stock form that is. But where Mercury got it right was that they captured the "feel" of a muscle car. I knew the first time I drove it that the car had something special. The feel and look of the interior. The green lit, silver faced gauges. The exhaust note is a thing of beauty. I drive around with the windows down as much as possible to hear that sweet sound. The wheels rock and the feel of the suspension is a great mix of comfort and handling. And those tires love to hold on. Also you get all the practicality that a big car allows - I brought home some 4 foot wide shelving unit kits the other day from Costco and they easily fit in the trunk. Used to have to take my GMC Jimmy to the store for something that large. Also the car is totally comfortable for long drives and is quiet at cruising speed.

Yes, the vehicle has it's short comings. I've come to believe that 1/2 the employees at Ford spend 75% of their time relentlessly trying to squeeze every available penny out of the cost to build a car/truck. Someone once told me that you should always buy a Ford the 2nd year it's out. The first year they work out most of the bugs, the second year it's just about right and the third year they decontent and figure how to make the car for as little $ as is humanly possible. Then for the following years they go back to the drawing board and try to find more ways of eliminating cost. And all the while they pressure their suppliers to help them take out money. And Ford got around to decontenting early on our MM's! It leads one to wonder if they stopped spending money trying to take out cost if they'd save money! I'm sure they'll never know. Brings to mind the saying "some people know the cost of everything and the value of nothing".

All Ford bashing aside, I'm thrilled to have this car. I've put 1,200 miles on it so far. It's been far too long since a car company had a clue and started making big, powerful, and most importantly cool rides again. I mean anyone could buy a used Roadmaster for $6k or so and have big and quick, but it's uncool. And the Impala SS was good looking but the interior sucked and it retained it's value insanely - I hope our cars do that too :bunny2: I've mostly been a GM guy up until I bought the Marauder. Although I usually liked GM's the most, I always kept an open mind about all other types because I know horsepower and attitude are sweet no matter what the name plate - it's universally cool. But for the longest time the only sweet cars that Ford had was the Mustang, and what good is a Mustang when want a fast daily driver and you have to transport people and haul stuff around? So year after year we got sweet rides paraded in front of us by the big Three (scratch that big two) and all of them were small and or completely impractical as daily drivers and/or too much $. Mustang Cobra, Corvette Z06's, Dodge Vipers, Plymouth Prowlers, Trans Ams, even the sweet hot rod pickups were friggin 2 seaters with 2 wheel drive! Or the over priced CTS V. Chrylser builds a cool 300C but it has a major flaw our Marauders will never have - over-popularity. Also let's be honest - 300C's and Magnums are German cars (and in a patriotic way buying American still feels good to me :flag: :flag: :flag: ). So the Marauder is so overlooked that I got mine, which stickered at $35,700 for around $25,000 after $7k in rebates. Imagine getting an extra grand off a hot rod for having a Park Avenue in the household! Do you think I would have paid that little if this car had the cobra S/C motor from the factory? No way - I would have paid sticker price or more for it! And it would have stickered for $40k! Hey, the fools in the media who bash our cars really are doing us a favor. So what if the don't get what is abso-friggin-lutely crystal to clear to all of us about what makes this car ROCK! :sing: Yes our cars may be hard to resell in the future because it is lesser known, but we get all the benefits that being a best kept secret affords. Being one of less than 12,000 total cars for the two years the car is rare (less than 900 DTR : ) ). And for me, coming out a Grand Prix GTP, a car that is omni present in the Detroit area, I see about one Marauder a week on the streets - a nice change. It's awesome any way you look at it.

In closing (I know, I know - :blah: :snoopy: :sleepy: ) I agree about the stupid trunk - you'd think after building this car from the dawn of time - they could figure out how to keep water from drenching the trunk. And certainly using the 5 speed auto that backs this engine in the Lincoln Aviator with a larger numerical overdrive combined with a 4.11 gear would have helped acceleration tremendously at little cost to fuel economy. But Mercury got the critical things right on this car. The way it makes you feel. I get a little of the kid on christmas morning anticipation everytime I'm about to take it for a ride. I love it that much. It's the way the car makes me feel that made me stop bashing it when comparing it to the Impala SS that was faster and more fuel efficient on 87 octane. And also it's a useful everyday vehicle, with few shortcomings. And with all the discounts it's a bargain. Finally the fact that it's underpowered spurred all sorts of hop up items from the after market, so the Maruder owners get to have as much fun modding their cars as do Mustang owners! Hey - Ford may never understand why they missed the boat sales volume wise on this one, but again it's our benefit, so thanks Ford! :P If you're thinking about buying an MM go test drive one - heck test drive 10 of them - I did. And like you said Greg, I just keep getting more enjoyment with every mile!

Happy 'Raudering to all!

[jgc61sr2002]

Congrats enjoy your new ride. :D :up:

[Bradley G]

that's all I was told by my buddies at work (Ford Dealership) "Just Wait"they said,After a few months, "You'll see" "buyers remorse will take hold" I feel as passionate (maybe more) toward this car as ever! They just don't get it??:dunno:Welcome,and enjoy the Baddest ride I've ever had.

[Marauderman]

.........Dang!!!! If I ever heard a story that sounded like the BEST sales pitch ever--This is truely the One and Only!!

Very nice protrayal of what we are all about--I would love to see this played out on a TV commercial--don't everyone agree!!

Very Well done==- And welcome aboard.....Damn----gotta go re-read all he said again--it's that good!!!!!!!!!..............Tom