Newbie MM owner

[Mard]

Great website folks. I think I've learned more about my car in last few hours than in last several days of web surfing. Just purchased an 03 (born 11/02) last Tuesday with 8,500 miles. Car details: Black with charcoal, front seat pockets, traction control, cd changer, interior fuel door release and appears to be full size spare (still trying to get a grasp on the 300A/300B packages) and is completely stock. I'm very excited about this car as I remember being in awe of the "Men in Black" car when I swung into my local LM dealer in late 02, but couldn't swing 33K. I had to settle on a new Focus ZTS sedan (nicknamed Fecal). I live in the Seattle area and would be interested in knowing if any MM clubs or knowledgable shops are located in the northwest. I have many questions I'll save for later.
Thanks Mark.

[Marauder8]

Hi Mark,
Welcome aboard. How much did the car cost.
Ron

[BruteForce]

Welcome Mard! Good to see another local MM owner coming on board. Us Seattle/Everett folks are still ferreting out a true MM local shop. Most of my mods I had the dealer install.

[Mard]

I picked it up for 21K. I feel I got good deal. There aren't too many around in these parts. I drove 150 miles one way to pick it up. There's new red 04 at the local LM dealer and he said he would let it go for 28K. Still a little rich for my blood plus I really had to have black.

[Bluerauder]

Just purchased an 03 (born 11/02) last Tuesday with 8,500 miles. Car details: Black with charcoal, front seat pockets, traction control, cd changer, interior fuel door release and appears to be full size spare (still trying to get a grasp on the 300A/300B packages) and is completely stock.
Welcome to the MM.Net, Mark :welcome: You may have a transition Marauder because you have some elements of 300A (map pockets, full sized spare, and fuel release button) and the 300B (Traction Control). You could be a "tweener". :D

[Mard]

Welcome Mard! Good to see another local MM owner coming on board. Us Seattle/Everett folks are still ferreting out a true MM local shop. Most of my mods I had the dealer install.
Thanks BruteForce.
How many other members are you aware of in our area? Did you have any of your mods installed while under warranty. I'd like to keep it simple for now. Chip and gears, but I'd like to find out from other members how the overdrive holds up to 4:10's. I also have an AOD 5.0 1989 Mustang and the Ford magizines don't recommend going beyond 3:73. Driven fairly sane will the MM tranny hold up? Any advice or experiences?

[BruteForce]

I am still under warranty. In fact I have an extended warranty. That's another reason to have the dealer install any mods. That way they know what's going on as well as the mutually beneficial relationship you build with the service manager (while giving them plenty of dough for the installs). There's a handful of us MMs here. 6 or 7 on this site by my last count.

As far as gears go, the consensus is 4.10 gears for a daily driver. Taller gears if you're going to race more than street. Contact Dennis Reinhart (of Reinhart Automotive; a supporting vendor on this site) for recommendations for "stage 1" upgrades.

One peice of advice, plan your mod strategy carefully (as opposed to my own "git er done" method) so you don't end up paying twice for the same labor. For example, you may want to spring for the TA Rear Girdle & stud kit to have installed at the same time as your gears. Or the rear head cooling mod at the same time as a better torque converter, etc.

[jgc61sr2002]

Mark - Welcome aboard. :welcome: Enjoy your new ride. :D

[2003DOHC]

Welcome!!!

[Cobra25]

Welcome to the site & have fun the the New Marauder.!

[Patrick]

Welcome!!!!!!! :wave: :wave:

[martyo]

Welcome a Broad!!!

[FiveO]

Welcome a Broad!!!


Uh...I think his name is Mark...which wouldn't make him a "broad"... ;) :D :P



BTW: Welcome Mark!

[Mattsmerc]

Welcome Mark, you will love the new parts as you go along. Read my sig at the bottom and see what I have. What a difference from stock to now.

[DEFYANT]

Welcome to the best MM site on the net!

[teamrope]

Great website folks. I think I've learned more about my car in last few hours than in last several days of web surfing. Just purchased an 03 (born 11/02) last Tuesday with 8,500 miles. Car details: Black with charcoal, front seat pockets, traction control, cd changer, interior fuel door release and appears to be full size spare (still trying to get a grasp on the 300A/300B packages) and is completely stock. I'm very excited about this car as I remember being in awe of the "Men in Black" car when I swung into my local LM dealer in late 02, but couldn't swing 33K. I had to settle on a new Focus ZTS sedan (nicknamed Fecal). I live in the Seattle area and would be interested in knowing if any MM clubs or knowledgable shops are located in the northwest. I have many questions I'll save for later.
Thanks Mark.Yes there are. We try to get together every 2 or 3 months. There are 11 (12 counting yours) MMs in western WA. I'll go ahead and add you to my buddy list so it will be easier to PM you for the next meet.

It sounds like you've got one of the rare transitional models, known as a pre-decontented 300B. The best of boath worlds.

Welcome to the club, and let the grins begin!

[Haggis]

Thanks BruteForce.
How many other members are you aware of in our area? Did you have any of your mods installed while under warranty. I'd like to keep it simple for now. Chip and gears, but I'd like to find out from other members how the overdrive holds up to 4:10's. I also have an AOD 5.0 1989 Mustang and the Ford magizines don't recommend going beyond 3:73. Driven fairly sane will the MM tranny hold up? Any advice or experiences?


Welcome to the Collective, resistance to modding is futile you will be assimilated.

The 4.10 gears do not affect the overdrive one bit. I've had them since day one and never, ever had a problem.

[Blue03]

Hi Mard,
Another local (Everett) MM checking in to say Hi and Welcome! We don't have anything formal in this area but we have gotten together with some of the local CV/Panther guys at the XXX Root Beer Drive In out in Issaquah a few times and at other events. You might check out some of the past posts in the West Coast Marauders forum. I believe there's at least 9 MM's in Western Washington on this site. There's others to the north and into Oregon too!
Cheers

[Bigdogjim]

Welcome from the East Coast!

Have fun, enjoy:):):)

[Zim Hosein]

Welcome Mard :beer:

[RF Overlord]

Thanks BruteForce.
I'd like to find out from other members how the overdrive holds up to 4:10's. I also have an AOD 5.0 1989 Mustang and the Ford magizines don't recommend going beyond 3:73.

Mard, that would be right...for a 5.0 Mustang. You're comparing a 2-valve OHV engine in a 3500 lb car with, what, 15" wheels? The MM has a 4-valve OHC motor that is a little shy on power down low, but loves to rev, weighs 4200 lbs and has 18" wheels.

Steve Babcock told me at Indy that they originally spec'd the MM with 3.73s or 4.10s from the factory, but had to drop to the 3.55 ratio to help stay under the gas-guzzler tax limits.

Install the 4.10s. You will NOT be disappointed...the only members who didn't like the 4.10s replaced them with 4.30s or 4.56s... :rock:

The only drawback is that you'll probably need to replace the driveshaft as well, with one of the AMMC units. I say "probably" as there are some on the board who have not replaced theirs and had no problems, but it's taking a risk, especially if you do a lot of highway driving at *ahem* spirited speeds...if all your time is spent at the stoplight drags, then you can probably get away with the stock unit.

[RoyLPita]

Welcome aboard, Mard.

[CRUZTAKER]

Welcome Mard!

I was hoping Teamrope would see you post. He's a local to you as well, and is quite active in the group.

Nice country out your way, all-season Marauder country!:D
I lived in Tacoma for awhile, it snowed once for 20 minutes or so, didn't really stick, and everyone thought it was an occasion to partaaaay.

Lot's of ricers to crush that way as well, with Seattle being the port to Asia.

May I suggest you update your personal profile in the preferences area to indicate your location. That way, as you continue to post, others may find you local as well. :up:

Now the fun begins.

[Mard]

Thanks for all the tips and info everyone:) . It's almost overwhelming :bigcry: . Sorry I couldn't help myself. I look forward to many hours (days) of reading ahead. Before I get serious about laying down cash on mods I must part ways with my 89 Mustang 5.0. That was the deal with the wife...fair enough I say. 4:10's, chip and possibly a drive shaft sound more than tempting.

[Patrick]

Thanks for all the tips and info everyone:) . It's almost overwhelming :bigcry: . Sorry I couldn't help myself. I look forward to many hours (days) of reading ahead. Before I get serious about laying down cash on mods I must part ways with my 89 Mustang 5.0. That was the deal with the wife...fair enough I say. 4:10's, chip and possibly a drive shaft sound more than tempting.

Your forgetting the Mod that doesnt cost alot and its permanant.............Grinning from ear to ear!!!!!!

[Bradley G]

Welcome Mard, and congrats on the Marauder! that Mustang is in bigh demand around Chicago area. The Problem is that all who want to buy it have spent all available funds on acne meds.:D

Bradley G


Thanks for all the tips and info everyone:) . It's almost overwhelming :bigcry: . Sorry I couldn't help myself. I look forward to many hours (days) of reading ahead. Before I get serious about laying down cash on mods I must part ways with my 89 Mustang 5.0. That was the deal with the wife...fair enough I say. 4:10's, chip and possibly a drive shaft sound more than tempting.

[Patrick]

Welcome Mard, and congrats on the Marauder! that Mustang is in bigh demand around Chicago area. The Problem is that all who want to buy it have spent all available funds on acne meds.:D

Bradley G
:rofl: :rofl: :high5:

[TechHeavy]

Welcome to the Collective, resistance to modding is futile you will be assimilated.:lol: Tell me about it! LOL!


Welcome Mark!

[Marauder386]

Haggis, I sense that a Tee shirt with your quote is in order....Hmmmmm...might have to figure one out...


386 :cool:

[cruzer]

Mard, you have a rare transition model--they were only produced during the first part of Nov,'02--Marty has one and there are others. it's kinda like you have a 300A with traction control--mine has a small spare---yours could have been replaced by the previous owner. Traction control was listed as Standard Equipment on my window sticker--it was not listed under "300B" equipment--welcome to the site and enjoy your new ride---I have 35,000 miles on mine and every day I find something new ---you have a great group up your way--spent MV II with Mr and Mrs Teamrope---great folks--stay active on this site and you can find out anything you want to know. Maury