newbie

[earlystroke]

Hi guys just wanted to say hi, as I just joined. My user name comes from the powerstroke forum, and I wanted to keep it the same for ease of my short memory.My story is this, I'm a Ford nut always have been.The car I currently own is non Ford.This is only going to be untill I get the terrible noise fixed so I can trade it in.The new car will be a Marauder.I have 3 black ones spotted.I should have known not to veer from Ford products as this VW Passat is a pile of crap! Can't wait to get the Marauder. I'm waiting to hear from VW if they are going to fix this Passat or I have to or this car would have been GONE.My stable currently is a '99 Crew Cab Stroke, '94 Explorer, '73 F-250.I sold my beloved '94 Mark VIII to get the stroke.So I know what the Marauder motor is all about.I sold my Mark VIII to a friend at work with 125K HARD miles on the clock.All she had was a set of plugs and an altenator.This motor saw redline EVERY tank at least twice.That Mark currently has somewhere in the nieghborhood of 160K on it now with no other parts replaced.I remember Dennis from the Lincolns of Distinction. Anyway hi guys.

Matt

[2003DOHC]

Hi and welcome to the board.

[Joe Walsh]

Welcome aboard!! Good luck finding your MM. By the way, several members have been posting to sell their Marauders...so definitely check out their posts. (There are even some SWEET S/C Marauders available!!!) :D :burn:

[BillyGman]

Welcome aboard Matt. I don't know what state you're from since you haven't listed it, but last I checked, there are some Ford dealers in certain states who have a dozen or more 04 Marauders still on their lots, and people who purchase Marauders from such dealers have reportedly obtained them for as little as $24K. But I definately wouldn't suggest that you pay more than $26K (after rebates). BTW, Black is my favorite too. ;)

[earlystroke]

Welcome aboard Matt. I don't know what state you're from since you haven't listed it, but last I checked, there are some Ford dealers in certain states who have a dozen or more 04 Marauders still on their lots, and people who purchase Marauders from such dealers have reportedly obtained them for as little as $24K. But I definately wouldn't suggest that you pay more than $26K (after rebates). BTW, Black is my favorite too. ;)

Thank's Billy.I'm in Northern California.The cars I have been looking at I was going to offer 28K out the door.That puts the car right about 26K.I figure I might be a grand too high but that might offset the trade in.I should be okay on my trade anyway. Is there anything I should be aware of or look for on an '04.What is a DTR anyway??:dunno: One dealership up my way had 5 at $25,999.Three red and two silver.There's not that many black Marauders around here according to the dealer inventories.I've only found the three in about a 100 mile radius.

Matt

[MM03MOK]

What is a DTR anyway??:dunno: Dark Toreador Red

[earlystroke]

Dark Toreador Red

Duh!!! That makes sense! Thank's.

Matt

[Joe Walsh]

Dark Toreador Red

I thought that it meant; Destroy Teenagers in Ricers
:D :D :D :D

[BillyGman]

Thank's Billy.I'm in Northern California.The cars I have been looking at I was going to offer 28K out the door.That puts the car right about 26K.Yeah, that sounds like a pretty decent deal to me, as long as that figure really is "out the door". Some salesmen will often try to slip some charges in at the last minute that they allegedly "forgot to mention". If that happens, then I'd get up and walk out. They have your phone number I'm sure. So they can call you if they really mean business. Is there anything I should be aware of or look for on an '04. The only thing I can think of is to take a real good look at the paint on the day you go to pick up the car, and wait for a sunny day to go get it, and make sure the car is not in the shade. There have been some paint issues w/some Marauders, and once you drive it off the lot, the problem is yours, and it might very well have to come out of your pocket once you drive it off the lot if it has to do w/damaged paint. Although I've heard that the paint job on the 04's tends to be better.One dealership up my way had 5 at $25,999.Three red and two silver.There's not that many black Marauders around here according to the dealer inventories.I've only found the three in about a 100 mile radius.

MattYep, BLACK is the most popular color for Marauders. Let me know how things work out for you.

[earlystroke]

Yep, BLACK is the most popular color for Marauders. Let me know how things work out for you.
Thank's Billy. I will let ya know.;)

Matt

[SergntMac]

Yep, BLACK is the most popular color for Marauders. Let me know how things work out for you.
I wonder how it would have worked out if all four colors were available at the same time?

[BillyGman]

I wonder how it would have worked out if all four colors were available at the same time?
Yep, and if there were as many Marauders produced w/those other colors too. However, I also wonder if part of the original allure of the Marauder was that Black menacing look of a "Green Hornet" type car. But we may never know.....:dunno:

[Silver_04]

*cough* Silver *cough*

[BillyGman]

LOL........ "Less filling!!!!"....."Tastes great!!".......

[Dan]

If you are going for an 04 take a good close look at the DTR color. It is beautiful.

While I like black cars I think that the paint is a little too challenging to keep clean. I, personally, prefer to go with the more rare color over the most popular color but that's just me. :) If you look into 03 cars look at the blue on. Ohhh, that is a pretty color.

Say, is black a color? :lol: (Just teasing you black car owners. :))

No matter what color you get you are sure to love this car. No doubt about it.

-Dan

[BillyGman]

I agree that Black is exceptionally difficult to keep clean, and it seems that every little scratch in the clearcoat shows up all the more on a black car, but as far as any color being rare, that doesn't concern me since all Marauders are pretty rare cars anyway. So no matter what color you get, there won't be a whole lot of cars that you'll see on the road like yours.

[Dan]

:up:

I agree with the G-man. (Although I like to go with the rare among the rare. :))

-Dan

[earlystroke]

If you are going for an 04 take a good close look at the DTR color. It is beautiful.

While I like black cars I think that the paint is a little too challenging to keep clean. I, personally, prefer to go with the more rare color over the most popular color but that's just me. :) If you look into 03 cars look at the blue on. Ohhh, that is a pretty color.

Say, is black a color? :lol: (Just teasing you black car owners. :))

No matter what color you get you are sure to love this car. No doubt about it.

-Dan

If I could find an'03 on the lot still I would LOVE the blue.I just don't think
that is in the cards. The red is out for me. They do look the meanest in black! I drove a silver and could live with that but still prefer the black. I'm trying to go with the 0 % financing or else I would look for a blue '03.

Matt

[BillyGman]

I was told that it all works out the same financially whether you go w/the 0% financing or not since the $4K rebate is NOT available w/the 0% financing. And ofcourse the rebate can simply be applied to the price of the car to knock it down. So therefore you would be financing about $4K less if you take the rebate instead of the 0% financing. (I think they still have a $4K rebate on the Marauders, right?).

[earlystroke]

I was told that it all works out the same financially whether you go w/the 0% financing or not since the $4K rabte is NOT available w/the 0% financing. And ofcourse the rebate can simply be applied to the price of the car to knock it down. So therefore you would be financing about $4K less if you take the rebate instead of the 0% financing. (I think they still have a $4K rebate on the Marauders, right?).
Thank's Billy.You're right, I remember looking at all the rebate options and must have gottten it turned around. Yes as far as I could tell the rebate does apply to the Marauder still.Man I want this VW fixed so I can dump it!! Hopefully next week sometime.I want to go get this Black beauty.It's even sitting on thier showroom floor! Am I correct in that there is only 4 options on a Marauder? As far as I know it's the 6 disk changer, trunk org.,heated seats,moonroof.

Matt

[Silver_04]

Am I correct in that there is only 4 options on a Marauder? As far as I know it's the 6 disk changer, trunk org.,heated seats,moonroof.


There's a fifth...COLOR! Bwaaaahahaha.

[BillyGman]

Am I correct in that there is only 4 options on a Marauder? As far as I know it's the 6 disk changer, trunk org.,heated seats,moonroof.

Matt
I think that's correct. That's the only ones that i remember. They used to be offered w/automatic button release gas cap doors, and a dashboard digital clock, as well as w/out traction control(that's how mine is) but that was only for the first 03's (the "300A"").

[earlystroke]

I think that's correct. That's the only ones that i remember. They used to be offered w/automatic button release gas cap doors, and a dashboard digital clock, as well as w/out traction control(that's how mine is) but that was only for the first 03's (the "300A"").

That leads me to my next question.What is the difference between the 300A and 300B? If I had to guess I would say production dates, but not sure. The traction control delete would be cool. Can you still bypass the TC by jumping pins by the glove box.I know on a Crown Vic you could. My brother is a State Trooper and a gearhead and was told how to do this by thier Ford dealer.

Matt

[Dan]

If I could find an'03 on the lot still I would LOVE the blue.I just don't think
that is in the cards. The red is out for me. They do look the meanest in black! I drove a silver and could live with that but still prefer the black. I'm trying to go with the 0 % financing or else I would look for a blue '03.

Matt

Have the dealer do a search. He should find one.

If you can go private look here...

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12610

As far as the traction control, when they put it in the cars they also put a switch in for turning it off and on.

-Dan

[earlystroke]

Have the dealer do a search. He should find one.

If you can go private look here...

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12610

As far as the traction control, when they put it in the cars they also put a switch in for turning it off and on.

-Dan
Thank's Dan. I was unaware that the Marauder had the switch. I think I will have the dealer do a search.What about the rear axle issue with the 03's?

Matt

[Dan]

I haven't heard anything about rear axle issues. There were a lot of issues with the 300A cars. It was almost like Ford was sorting everything out. Maybe that was what you heard about.

I can tell you that the 8.8 is a strong, proven axle but then I am sure that you knew that. :)

Does anyohe else have more info on this?

-Dan

[earlystroke]

I haven't heard anything about rear axle issues. There were a lot of issues with the 300A cars. It was almost like Ford was sorting everything out. Maybe that was what you heard about.

I can tell you that the 8.8 is a strong, proven axle but then I am sure that you knew that. :)

Does anyohe else have more info on this?

-Dan
What were the 300A cars? I thank all you guys for the help with all my newbie questions. Yea the 8.8 is pretty stout.

Matt

[BlackHole]

What were the 300A cars? I thank all you guys for the help with all my newbie questions. Yea the 8.8 is pretty stout.

Matt

The real main differances is
300A Clock is stand alone between the Radio and enviro controls
No Traction control No Moonroof No heated seats. Only 2 options I know of
6 disk CD changer and trunk organizer. Has full size spare but only front in size and on a CV LX sport rim. And all are black.

The 300B's with exception of the first 100 or less has Traction control/heated seats clock is in radio. only a temp spare. And has 6 disk CD and organizer as options as well as a moonroof option. 300B has 3 color options Pearl Blue/Silver Birch/Black

[SergntMac]

The TSB on the rear axle bearing defect was 03-5-5. It addressed defective bearings installed in the 8.8 rear end on CV, CV/PI, and GMs It did not specifically identify the Marauder, but they were covered.

The problem is escessive and premature wear. Some owners identified noise, i.e. "howl," others did not. But, the bearings ground away silently, and the axles are damaged. The TSB repair kit includes new bearings, new axles, and new seals.

Simply due to the dates this defect became a known problem, and production dates of the MM, I would not expect this TSB to be applied to '03 300B, or '04 MMs. Of course, if you develop a rear end noise, your warranty should cover that as an individual repair, and your dealer may push through a TSB repair on your behalf, just for the additional new parts.

[earlystroke]

The real main differances is
300A Clock is stand alone between the Radio and enviro controls
No Traction control No Moonroof No heated seats. Only 2 options I know of
6 disk CD changer and trunk organizer. Has full size spare but only front in size and on a CV LX sport rim. And all are black.

The 300B's with exception of the first 100 or less has Traction control/heated seats clock is in radio. only a temp spare. And has 6 disk CD and organizer as options as well as a moonroof option. 300B has 3 color options Pearl Blue/Silver Birch/Black
Interesting, thank you.

[Bluerauder]

However, I also wonder if part of the original allure of the Marauder was that Black menacing look of a "Green Hornet" type car. But we may never know.....:dunno:
It definitely was for me. Went looking for a Black MM and came home with a Blue ...........

Welcome to the MM.Net, Matt. :welcome:

[BillyGman]

BTW, not that it makes much difference now, but just for some minor clarification, the wheel on the full sized spare that came w/my car is NOT a CV LX rim. It's an unpolished Marauder mag. The CV LX rims are 16" and 17", w/the Marauder wheels being 18". Also the locking gas cap door w/the automatic release button that the 300A's came with were done away with also on the 300B's, and on the 04's too as far as I know.

[2003DOHC]

QUOTEHas full size spare but only front in size and on a CV LX sport rim.QUOTE Wheel is the Marauder 18X8 just not polished!

[BillyGman]

actually I don't know how the Crown Vic wheels even entered into this conversation. They're an entirely different wheel than that of a Marauder wheel, and they're also a different diamater as well.

[Joe Walsh]

I remember waiting until late in the year hoping for the 'heated seat' option to become available, then gave up and bought a 300A late in '02. I'm glad now because I didn't really want the sunroof and definitely did not want the 'traction control' (I think that the traction control deleted the limited slip rear... didn't it?) Having found this website in early '04 I learned from everyone the differences between the 300A* & 300B (decontented). I really like black vehicles but if the blue was available when I bought mine....who knows?!
*I like my clock, fuel door button, and automatic parking brake release

[BillyGman]

I didn't really want the sunroof Me either. Just something that can eventually be prone to leaks as far as I'm concerned. and definitely did not want the 'traction control' Same here. I DUN NID NO STINKIN TRACTION CONTROL. Just let me have those great Michelin Arctic Alpine snow tires, and my Marauder and I will get through up to one foot of un-plowed snow even up hills. (I think that the traction control deleted the limited slip rear... didn't it?)No, the traction control option has nothing to do w/the rear end. And BTW, traction control is easily turned off w/the switch that's located just inches away from the steering column to the driver's side. but as soon as you start the car again, it automatically comes back on, so if you don't want it, then you have to remember to turn it off every time you start the car. However, I heard that the dealer can program that feature to be off all the time. *I like my clock, fuel door button, and automatic parking brake releaseYep, me too. And the other colors were already available when I bought my car, but I still chose BLACK.

[BlackHole]

My fault I just checked and it is a Machined Finished MM rim. Even us Geniuses have our moments. :lol: :lol:

[Joe Walsh]

That's cool that they kept the limited slip even with the traction control...My brother has a CV with traction control and an open differential...he spent the $$$ to get an Eaton 'Posi'...NOW it lays down TWO nice black stripes!!!

[BillyGman]

Even us Geniuses have our moments. :lol: :lol:
Yeah, especially when you have to admit you're wrong. :rofl: :flamer:

Just kidding. It was really no biggie I guess.

[BillyGman]

That's cool that they kept the limited slip even with the traction control...My brother has a CV with traction control and an open differential...he spent the $$$ to get an Eaton 'Posi'...NOW it lays down TWO nice black stripes!!!
As far as I know, Eaton's are the best posi units, but ofcourse that being an aftermarket part, I suppose that's a topic for another thread. I believe that the only Crown Vics that come w/posi are the ones w/the performance package which also includes the dual exhaust (but w/out those great 3.5" diameter Marauder tailpipe tips ofcourse) and the 3.27:1 ratio ring & Pinion gears in the rear, and the 17" mag wheels that try to look as good as our Marauder wheels, but just don't. :banana2:

[Joe Walsh]

"Hmmmmm.....Wiley Coyote.....GENIUS" :rofl:

[BillyGman]

"Hmmmmm.....Wiley Coyote.....GENIUS" :rofl:
LOL...u mean "Wile E. Coyote........SUPER Genius" :director:

[Joe Walsh]

LOL...u mean "Wile E. Coyote........SUPER Genius" :director:


YUP....BEEP! BEEP!

[BlackHole]

As far as I know, Eaton's are the best posi units, but ofcourse that being an aftermarket part, I suppose that's a topic for another thread. I believe that the only Crown Vics that come w/posi are the ones w/the performance package which also includes the dual exhaust (but w/out those great 3.5" diameter Marauder tailpipe tips ofcourse) and the 3.27:1 ratio ring & Pinion gears in the rear, and the 17" mag wheels that try to look as good as our Marauder wheels, but just don't. :banana2:

All the PI CV's have a limited slip I don't know the exact year they came standard though but it was on the old LTD's of the late 70's as an option.

[jgc61sr2002]

Matt - Welcome aboard. Good luck with your purchase. Yes, they are the 4 options available on the 2004 Marauder. :welcome: :D

[BillyGman]

All the PI CV's have a limited slip
Yes, the police interceptor Crown Vics, but not the standard Crown vics. I wouldn't want to buy a P.I. Crown Vic though. Those cars are driven like they stole them on a daily basis when the police department owns them for no other reason but the fact that they won't get pulled over, and the driver's don't own the car in question. And I'd be the same way if I was in their place I'm sure. So the mileage on those cars are all real hard miles.

[2003DOHC]

Yes, the police interceptor Crown Vics, but not the standard Crown vics. I wouldn't want to buy a P.I. Crown Vic though. Those cars are driven like they stole them on a daily basis when the police department owns them for no other reason but the fact that they won't get pulled over, and the driver's don't own the car in question. And I'd be the same way if I was in their place I'm sure. So the mileage on those cars are all real hard miles.

My 1994 CV with the towing package came standard with traction-lok.

[BillyGman]

My 1994 CV with the towing package came standard with traction-lok.
Intersting. So that must be because of the towing package, right? Because the 94 Mercury Grand Marquis that I drove for two years did NOT have trak-Loc (AKA "Posi" traction).

[2003DOHC]

Intersting. So that must be because of the towing package, right? Because the 94 Mercury Grand Marquis that I drove for two years did NOT have trak-Loc (AKA "Posi" traction).

Yes it was included in the towing package option!