Marauder performance

[Tom Kuznicki]

Well, well, I guess it doesn't take too much to push buttons on this site. Maybe some are a bit more sensitive about our cars than they let on. For the record, I work at Ford, read the propoganda, and even drove a MM prototype. What that car did was to convince me to purchase one in June of 02. What I got didn't even come close to the PP1 prototype I drove. And while we're at it, what dealership in their right mind would let a "possible" customer beat the daylights out of a vehicle that " THEY "themselves paid for. Facts are facts, when SVT announces a performance car is coming, they mean every word they say ( with the exception of the 98 Cobra ). I own a 99 Lightning that runs in the 12's with very few options. How much would we have to put out to get a MM to run 13's? More than likely a whole lot more than a SVT product. Don't get me wrong, I do like my MM but honestly feel cheated by the lack of performance.

[prchrman]

Do you know what they did between PP1 and production, gears, chargers, etc. that dropped the performance and was it handling also.

[Tom Kuznicki]

I really could'nt tell you but whatever It was, was alot.

[LincMercLover]

Low tolerance site, you can ask Logan. Keep it on the subject of this PP1, and everything will be fine.

[SergntMac]

If the "PP1" had been released in the form you tested it, Tom, sales could have been worse than they are today.

Let's all remember, it was quite a different world when the MM was on the drafting table, from where it came to rest by close of business, 2002. Sales are not impressive, I agree, but I can't blame the MM, or LM, solely for all of that. I think the designers did a crack job of giving us all they could, within literally thousands of 11th hour limitations.

It's up to us "2 percenters" to build on that, and refine the Lady as we see fit. I'm getting a real charge out of exploring my MM, investigating the many options for mods, picking and choosing as I go along. Arguing here (respectfully) what a torque converter does, what tires to buy, brakes, cold air packages, headlight bulbs and so on, not to mention it's value as a "hot line" for shared problems. It's only half the pleasure of ownership, and owners anywhere never had it so good as us. There is only one MM, I imagine a lot of others are really jealouse about that.

Had LM packaged all the goodies in one car for the POS, it could have easilly fallen flat on its face by 01 Jun 02, if not killed outright by some traffic safety-minded tree hugger.

"It's got to be the going, not the getting there, that's good"--Harry Chapin.

[smith5365]

Sarge: You hit it on the head. The concerns I see here are very much the same ones I heard when I was hanging around a group of guys in Northern Illinois that ran flat heads on dirt tracks in the early '50's. I wanted to be more active, but engineering school kept me well occupied. Over the years, Mercury has always giving us the basic platform to work with at a price that most of us must have in order to get the vehicle. Then we get to spruce it up as the coin becomes available. That's what makes it great. We get to go different routes, find out what works, and share with others. You can't improve the breed in a faster, better way, and at a lower cost. Love that car!!

[Billatpro]

Do any of you remember what a box stock HEMI Charger ran in the 1/4 mile, Does anyone remember mid 14's?

This car along with a 66 HEMI RT from Grand Spalding Dodge accounts my two Mopars in between Mustangs.

These cars were gods in there time and I have tell you, after about 50% of their purchase price in mods they unbeatable.

The thing I remeber the most about these cars were the dismal response when the right foot laid the pedal on the floor and how when that 8 cylinder monster under the hood caught a big breath of air, all hell broke loose!

Well the MM reminds very much of those cars except the MM will go around corners on all fours and is a lot smoother and a lot quiter and just all around a better car.

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by Billatpro
Do any of you remember what a box stock HEMI Charger ran in the 1/4 mile? Does anyone remember mid 14's? This car along with a 66 HEMI RT from Grand Spalding Dodge accounts my two Mopars in between Mustangs. These cars were gods in there time and I have tell you, after about 50% of their purchase price in mods they unbeatable.

The thing I remeber the most about these cars were the dismal response when the right foot laid the pedal on the floor and how when that 8 cylinder monster under the hood caught a big breath of air, all hell broke loose!

Well the MM reminds very much of those cars except the MM will go around corners on all fours and is a lot smoother and a lot quiter and just all around a better car.

Right there with ya Bill, and I worked for Norm at GS Dodge. My earliest recall is of the '66 Charger, 426 HEMI, single quad, and lots of refinements in the cabin, like fold down back seats and so on. Lots of neat hardware on board, that had more to do with "surfer" styling than performance. It was fast, but also heavy with trim. I recall it as 385 HP then, but by the time I drove a '70 Challenger, with dual quads, a lot had changed inside the motor. Low 14's was hot (cool?) in '66, and boring by '70., the Charger came to undergo many changes in style and design content, even down to rubber mats replacing carpeting.

Before we stroll too far down memory lane, also remember that the 426 HEMI in it's full dress street attire, was a b**ch to beat, but a b**ch to keep in tune as well. Don't remember much consistency there.

Yes, my MM brings back those memories, even when I just check my oil...That's a lot of motor under my hood, size-wise anyway, and I'd love to see some "Happy Days" match racing this spring.

[Billatpro]

Oh you do remember well Mac, I did the tune thing almost monthly. It wasent until I discovered UJ12Y Champions that I could keep the plugs clean for more then a week! My car came from Norms with 2 4's, crane cam, Mallory Ing. Hookers and a 4:10 gear! that raised the price by nearly 50% but that Fat Lady would sing like a lion!! until her tune went away!

Be lookin for ya at them "happy days" match races!

[cyclone03]

Sgt,Billat,
Thats it,put this car in it's context and it really is a good car.
Compere it to a Mustang,Vette,Import apples and oranges.
I've got 5800 on mine and IMHO it's the most "complete"vehicle I've owned.
I sold a 2000F150 HD which was very nice too,but I like my big car better.
We've become jaded lately,Think about the old 289 pushing a 4200lb car around.Look at what our little 4.6 (281) is doing.
Hell my 85 Mustang LX 5.0 only ran 15.3 stock!That is how far we've come.I have a car that everybody in my family fits in and it runs like my old Mustang.Thats it for me.

[cyled]

Hey Tom...

Check your messages

Cyle

[RCSignals]

Here is an interesting Marauder discussion on another board. Notice how at least one of them admits he gets his opinion of the car only from the magazines, He admits he's never even taken the time to look at or drive one

http://warnerrobert.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f =26;t=000315

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by RCSignals
Here is an interesting Marauder discussion on another board. Notice how at least one of them admits he gets his opinion of the car only from the magazines, He admits he's never even taken the time to look at or drive one

Thanks, RC, for representing us in a fair light. It's obvious that the argument won't be settled among them, and you're right to point out that one reads more than he drives, so why bother?

lifted;

Consider these magazine numbers:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Car 0-60 1/4 Mile
2003 Marauder 7.5 15.5
2003 Altima SE 6.3 14.8
2003 Accord EX 7.0 15.5
1998 Camry V6 7.0 15.6
2002 Acura RSX 6.8 15.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've got a real world 0-60 of 6.03 in .06 mile, on paper. Seems I ought to do rather well up against his favorites, eh?

"Put 'em up, put 'em up, puutt 'emmm uuupppp"--Cowardly Lion/Wizard of Oz.

[mtnh]

Sarge,

does that real world 0-60 off the dyno take into account wind drag of the car?

Mike (jes checkin')

[LincMercLover]

Yah... cause we're all DIEING to race a Toyota Camry... PLEASE!

[Billatpro]

Hey guy's was that not one great impersonation by Mac? I could actually hear the Lions voice!! wow what a guy, MM owner, Law man and impersonator!!! can you guy's believe he wears a skirt??? :lol: