America's Most Loved New Vehicles

[marauderbug]

MSN Autos posted the results of JD Power's 2004 APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) Awards on their homepage today and I thought you all might like to see which cars and trucks Americans love the most.

Among the 18 winners for 2004 was your very own Mercury Marauder :banana:

I've attached the link so you can check it out for yourselves. Once on the page, scroll down about half way and click on the words Mercury Marauder to read the entire write-up.

www.autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=2879&src=msn&GT1=5472

You see MartyO your vote did count!

[SergntMac]

Thanks, 'Bug...It may be an epitath, but it's nice to see.

[Bigdogjim]

Way to go Ford!

Car is a hit two years in a row with JD Powers:)

So cancel it?

[jgc61sr2002]

Way to go Ford!

Car is a hit two years in a row with JD Powers:)

So cancel it?


Still trying to figure out why FMC built the Marauder and let it fend for itself with very little advertizing.

[GordonB]

marauderbug,
You done goood to find this!
Best part is that the EXPERTS rate our cara 6.0, but consumers like us rate it an 8.2, based on 10 pt scale. Obviously, we know best!!!
GordonB

[HotrodMerc]

It may be an epitath, but maybe a resurrection could happen, as the '03-'04 cars were for the '60's models, but hopefully not with that much delay.
Ford did advertise them, maybe not enough and/or in the right places. I've heard several instances of people riding in them and asking about them, and being rightfully impressed. Maybe it was just not a great time for them to be introduced, and maybe the GM image prevailed over the image Ford was trying to convey to the general public, rather than more specific marketing to car nuts.

[SilverStreak]

Hoorah for the "Squadracab". I forgot to send in my JD survey.:)
I felt bad but turns out that I didn't need to anyway.:banana2:

[Patrick]

Still trying to figure out why FMC built the Marauder and let it fend for itself with very little advertizing.

I gave up trying to figure that one out!!

[Mike Poore]

[QUOTE=marauderbug]
I've attached the link so you can check it out for yourselves.QUOTE]

Thanks Bug, good work. There's lots of reasons why the MM was a marketing failure, but ...I got mine! :)

Did a search on my zip and came up with the following:

50mi = 0
100mi = 3
250mi = 14
500mi = 35

one guy in NJ wants $24,895 for one with 26,643mi on it. That's more than mine was, new. :beer:

[martyo]

You see MartyO your vote did count!

Blah, blah, blah...... :P

[Bluerauder]

Best part is that the EXPERTS rate our cara 6.0, but consumers like us rate it an 8.2, based on 10 pt scale.
Yeah, I noticed that 6 of 10 also. But he did recommend a supercharger option. :up: Can't argue with that!!!

The article notes that Mercury hoped to sell 18,000 per year. :confused: And just how did the marketing executives figure that .... I guess it was based on their excellent advertizing campaign. :rolleyes:

[Bradley G]

thanks Marauderbug good reading.A few observations "Chevy Impala SS was a hit" ??? Not till GM announced they were not going to produce them anymore."Mercury plans on building 18,000 anually"?? Since when??"Turning diameter large??"They obviously haven't driven in any chevy, car or truck."hard to reach audio controls??" I have a seven foot reach, but I still use the redundant steering wheel controls."Noisy tires?" More like, shi11y tires. Makes you wonder if they really tested the car at all:confused:

[mcb26]

Guy must not have any thumbs for the radio controls on the steering wheel.Spare tire takes up too much trunk room? What is he trying to put back there, his Honda?