The Way I See It!!!

[slamnmm]

The 2003 early Marauder was built with a little more pride, it was fully equiped.



The 2004 Marauder was built to finish off what the factory had

too much of.






2003 had everything minus the Knock sensor and the Updated Transmission.
& Heated seats, Traction control.
2004 doesn't have,

You know about......................... ... Some Don't Know.

1,No full size spare. . ................7,No painted Valve cover and sticker.
2,No speaker grills. . .................8,No under dash cover/kick panel.
3,No electric fuel door. . ............9,No Marauder logo and pic on jack
4,No stand alone clock. ............... instructions.
5,No auto brake release. . .........10,No cargo net (standard).
6,No map pouch. . ...................11,No sunglasses compartment or extra
.............................. ...................Light. (long overhead console)
.............................. ............. 12, No hood light.
I'm still looking ......

[HwyCruiser]

2003 300 eh's also didn't have bun warmers or traction control, not that I'm complaining.

Also, I've got some "built with pride" ticks that I'd gladly give away. :banghead:

[jgc61sr2002]

IMO in order to defer the cost of the traction control FMC deleted the above items. :( That is :bs:

[slamnmm]

IMO in order to defer the cost of the traction control FMC deleted the above items. :( That is :bs:I guess thats a good way of seeing it .

[CBT]

When we got a foot of snow the other day I had my traction control OFF all the time, makes for better do-nuts. Or, snow-nuts if you will, har har har. Anyway, my 3 daughters thought it was great clowning around in the Marauder. The streets here are really wide, it was great. With the traction control ON, you can definatly tell the car is trying to correct itself, so I guess I'm glad it has the option on rainy days and such. I didn't realize there were so many little differences between the 2 years until reading about them on this site. Which is why I love it. :bows:

[Patrick]

[indent]

[left]11,No sunglasses compartment or extra
.............................. ...................Light. (long overhead console)


I dont think this was that much money to delete!

[slamnmm]

I dont think this was that much money to delete! I think they kept it small for the sunroof option.

[CRUZTAKER]

When we got a foot of snow the other day I had my traction control OFF all the time, makes for better do-nuts.
I was never able to do donuts with studded snows....is it fun?:D

BTW: T/C is for pu**ies!:P

[Fourth Horseman]

BTW: T/C is for pu**ies!:P

Well said!

You know, on the T/C issue... if they really were deleting features to pay for an added option (which I personally doubt, but just for the sake of argument) it would have been nice to get a full stability management system, not just T/C. Personally, I'm with Cruztaker, I'd just turn it all off anyway, but if they're wiping out features then why not add something that matches the technical sophistication of our power plant?

[hitchhiker]

The 2003 early Marauder was built with a little more pride, it was fully equiped.


The 2004 Marauder was built to finish off what the factory had

too much of.








2003 had everything minus the Knock sensor and the Updated Transmission.
& Heated seats, Traction control.
2004 doesn't have,

You know about......................... ... Some Don't Know.

1,No full size spare. . ................7,No painted Valve cover and sticker.
2,No speaker grills. . .................8,No under dash cover/kick panel.
3,No electric fuel door. . ............9,No Marauder logo and pic on jack
4,No stand alone clock. ............... instructions.
5,No auto brake release. . .........10,No cargo net (standard).
6,No map pouch. . ...................11,No sunglasses compartment or extra
.............................. ...................Light. (long overhead console)
.............................. ............. 12, No hood light.
I'm still looking ......
Pride had nothing to do with it. Ford builds cars at STAP because in Canada they can pay wages based in the inferior Canadian dollar and that they do not have to provide health benefits in Canada. It's all about money.

The build quality coming out of STAP is very poor due to 'CUAW' attitude of their workers.

Look at the paint issues on many of our cars and other assembly related problems.

:D

Regards,

David

[stevengerard]

Also the center console of the 03 is vinyl convered the 04 is plastic
04s have the moonroof

oh yeah and the 04s have the 5.4 liter engine - ha gotcha!

[QWK SVT]

IMO in order to defer the cost of the traction control FMC deleted the above items. :( That is :bs:
My 300A came with traction control, but not the full size spare... :shake:

[Drives03Maraude]

Really? it has a 5.4?
-Dennis Stiles

[teamrope]

Really? it has a 5.4?
-Dennis Stiles
GOTCHA! (Stevengaurd was joking :) )

[89VERT]

I think that most ( if not all ) Canadian MM's came with Traction control and not with heated seats.

As far as CUAW workers not having health care, well , that's strange because universal health care is one of our country's biggest consumers of our tax dollars.

If most of you who live in the U.S. , only knew how much we pay in taxes in Canada , you'd shudder.
Because I shudder everytime that I get a paycheque .

And if you follow the currency market, you'd also realize that our Canadian dollar is advancing quite dramatically against the U.S. dollar .In fact, about 18 months ago , it cost us in Canada about $1.55 Canadian to buy one U.S. dollar.

Today , it's about $ 1.20 .

This is great for Canadian consumers who are buying goods from the U.S. , but not so great for our manufacturing operations who are selling into the U.S.

[Drives03Maraude]

I was gonna say... man, I would be blown!
Well, all I can say now is how much I love my full spare and electric fuel door... :neener:

-Dennis Stiles

[slamnmm]

Also the center console of the 03 is vinyl convered the 04 is plastic
04s have the moonroof

oh yeah and the 04s have the 5.4 liter engine - ha gotcha!
Hey! you know, i noticed that to.

[rayjay]

The only thing I wish came on my 04 DTR is the shroud under the dash. I only use the TC once I'm moving. It saved my butt on the night of the 26th when RT 490 in Rochester, NY was a skating rink. Others were less fortunate. The heated seats are great, especially when its 15 below and I don't have to put my boney butt on those leather covered ice cubes.

[AzMarauder]

The only thing I wish came on my 04 DTR is the shroud under the dash. I only use the TC once I'm moving. It saved my butt on the night of the 26th when RT 490 in Rochester, NY was a skating rink. Others were less fortunate. The heated seats are great, especially when its 15 below and I don't have to put my boney butt on those leather covered ice cubes.
Speaking of heated seats... is there away to retro fit them into the car? Meaning, can the elements be purchased thru Ford and put into the seats?

[wchain]

Speaking of heated seats... is there away to retro fit them into the car? Meaning, can the elements be purchased thru Ford and put into the seats?


Yes, my buddy Matt has done it, Here is his site (http://www.p71interceptor.com/heatedseats/)
for info on how to fit it to a panther.

[CBT]

Sno-nuts are awsome in this car! I still have the original tires on it with about 22,000 miles on them. The car is heavy enough in the back end to do just fine in the snow/ice, and if you want to play, just blip the throttle and cut the wheel. I don't have the cabbage to mod the engine like some of you have done, so for now I have to settle for cutting ziggys in the snow, and as of today it is all gone. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted...:o

[Bradley G]

BTW: T/C is for pu**ies!:P Quote:
MeoW
Bradley G

[jgc61sr2002]

My 300A came with traction control, but not the full size spare... :shake:


All Marauders made for the Canadian market were equipped with traction control and the mini spare.

[jakdad]

S'OK, I'd rather have the trans & TC....................

[Vortex]

Yeah, Ill keep the T/C and new tranny as well. Plus with all the cash I saved over the 03 I can buy a vinyl covered console or whatever!:banana2:

[Patrick]

I would have not got T/C if was an option when I bought it over 2 yrs ago. I like the things on the 03 and hard to belive they had to delete so much to get the cost down. Another LM fowl up!!

[mpearce]

The 03's came with a slower 1/4 mile ET, than the 04's.

:D

-Mat

[Dan]

I cannot believe that someone would say that the TC is for pu**ies.

Give me an option that I can turn off and I will take it any day. Again, it's like having your cake and eating it, too.

Dan

[teamrope]

The 03's came with a slower 1/4 mile ET, than the 04's.

:D

-Mat
There are exceptions. :D

[Bluerauder]

There are exceptions. :D
Yes there are ..... :rofl:

[Patrick]

The 03's came with a slower 1/4 mile ET, than the 04's.

:D

-Mat

That would explain what happened at Commerce!!!
:laugh: :laugh:

[TripleTransAm]

The 03's came with a slower 1/4 mile ET, than the 04's.

:D

-Mat


Still waiting to be dethroned... ;)

[QWK SVT]

All Marauders made for the Canadian market were equipped with traction control and the mini spare.
Traction control, yes... I've seen another 300A with the full size spare. I've debated going to the dealer, to see if I couldn't get one, but figured I'd rather keep them on friendly terms... It's not like I ever plan the use the spare, anyway (knock on wood)...

[QWK SVT]

Still waiting to be dethroned... ;)
You just keep rubbing it in... Early spring is only a few short months away... I'm purposely holding off on modding the car, until I have another chance to take a run at the record ;)

[SouLRioT]

Traction control, yes... I've seen another 300A with the full size spare. I've debated going to the dealer, to see if I couldn't get one, but figured I'd rather keep them on friendly terms... It's not like I ever plan the use the spare, anyway (knock on wood)...


300a US or Canadian? Because it was my understanding that the minispare was put in so the the TC would work and not show a code.

[jgc61sr2002]

300a US or Canadian? Because it was my understanding that the minispare was put in so the the TC would work and not show a code.



That's also what I thought.

[Two Hawks]

Well, its interesting to find out additional stuff, I wasn’t aware of, that I didn’t get on my '04, but after looking at the list they mostly seem to be what I would call “frills”, and I didn’t buy my MARAUDER for the “frills”, I bought it for the “thrills” :burnout:and haven’t been disappointed yet. Thats my :twocents:

[stevengerard]

Well, its interesting to find out additional stuff, I wasn’t aware of, that I didn’t get on my '04, but after looking at the list they mostly seem to be what I would call “frills”, and I didn’t buy my MARAUDER for the “frills”, I bought it for the “thrills” :burnout:and haven’t been disappointed yet. Thats my :twocents:

yeah man - well said

[TripleTransAm]

You just keep rubbing it in... Early spring is only a few short months away... I'm purposely holding off on modding the car, until I have another chance to take a run at the record ;)

Just being playful... I'm really hoping someone will crack that time one of these days on a completely factory stock setup. It'll just be more ammunition against the nay-sayers who claim this car is a stone. Honda Accord owners, be afraid! Be very afraid! (you, too, Car & Driver!).

[QWK SVT]

300a US or Canadian? Because it was my understanding that the minispare was put in so the the TC would work and not show a code.
Canadian 300A - hence the traction control. I would think the T/C would flip, any time a tire was attached the did'nt allow for the 1:1.05 front:back ratio... Then again, how fast would you really push it, with that dinky little spare attached. Wonder if anyone has ever used the spare, with T/C on? :confused:

[QWK SVT]

Just being playful... I'm really hoping someone will crack that time one of these days on a completely factory stock setup. It'll just be more ammunition against the nay-sayers who claim this car is a stone. Honda Accord owners, be afraid! Be very afraid! (you, too, Car & Driver!).
Yeah, me too ;) I've already dropped 4-tenths and seen my speed pick up by almost 2 full mph, from my first trip to the track. I don't think I'll be able to run too much better, unless I hit it lucky and there's some really great track prep. 3 more tenths is a long way to go, but at least it's something to aim for :cool:

[TripleTransAm]

I've already dropped 4-tenths and seen my speed pick up by almost 2 full mph, from my first trip to the track.

Who says these cars don't enjoy a good break-in? ;)

What track you running at?

[QWK SVT]

Who says these cars don't enjoy a good break-in? ;)

What track you running at?
Oh, they definitely do! To be honest, it was gradual improvement. It wasn't like one day I started it up and wnet "Whoa! Where'd this come from?" My father has driven the car twice - the very first day I bought it in May, and a couple of weeks ago. He was very surprised in the difference, from what he remembered about the car.

I've made a few trips to St. Thomas, but I find track prep to be much more lacking, there. Most of the time, I go to Toronto Motorsports Park (http://www.torontomotorsportspark.com/) (which is actuall about 125km away, in Cayuga). It's barely Jan, and I'm already thinking about when the track first opens up...:alone:

[423REED]

The 2003 early Marauder was built with a little more pride, it was fully equiped.


The 2004 Marauder was built to finish off what the factory had

too much of.








2003 had everything minus the Knock sensor and the Updated Transmission.
& Heated seats, Traction control.
2004 doesn't have,

You know about......................... ... Some Don't Know.

1,No full size spare. . ................7,No painted Valve cover and sticker.
2,No speaker grills. . .................8,No under dash cover/kick panel.
3,No electric fuel door. . ............9,No Marauder logo and pic on jack
4,No stand alone clock. ............... instructions.
5,No auto brake release. . .........10,No cargo net (standard).
6,No map pouch. . ...................11,No sunglasses compartment or extra
.............................. ...................Light. (long overhead console)
.............................. ............. 12, No hood light.
I'm still looking ......Some information for you...

6) My 2004 Marauder does have the front seat back map pockets.

7) No painted valve covers. - That's true, but I kinda like the natural aluminum valve cover look. But I would have really liked some kind of cool FORD coil covers. These 2004 covers are so plain. It wouldn't have been that big a deal for FORD to have put a different coil cover on the engine as they have several types in their parts bin. I'll probably add some cool aftermarket coil covers in the future.

10) The trunk cargo net is automatically deleted by the factory when the Marauder is factory equipped with the truck cargo organizer.

11) When your Marauder is equipped with the factory sunroof, by necessity they have to install the shorter overhead console, which does not have a provision for sunglass storage.

Another thing that I noticed about my Marauder that is very strange. It came without rear door mounted ashtrays. It only has the original punch-outs in place. I thought this is odd. This is usually a smokers delete package on most cars. I like them for rear seat passengers to put small trash. I don't know if you can retro-fit them from parts (probably Grand Marquis ashtrays anyway).

I also have the Dark Toreador Red paint, with the Light Flynt interior trim, which I liked alot. But, with this interior trim color, you get black carpeting! The medium gray interiors have a matching carpet color. It's just another oddity for collectors of the future to discuss.
______________________________ ____
2004 MARAUDER 300A - DTR (BUILT 04/19/04)
1994 TAURUS SHO - DK GREEN

[Bigdogjim]

Speaking of heated seats... is there away to retro fit them into the car? Meaning, can the elements be purchased thru Ford and put into the seats?
First thing I did to my Marauder along with remote start:):):)
Pm me if need a part #.

[SouLRioT]

6) My 2004 Marauder does have the front seat back map pockets.

REED, FYI '03s have map pockets in the front aswell. This is what was deleted.

[Merc-O-matic]

Slamin'
Don't forget about the crappie matrix dot tint
on the windshield of the 04 and 2003 (300B), instead
of the full dark blue tint on the early 300A's.
Anything to cut cost! Bill Ford can kiss a dark spot....
but he's laughing all the way to the bank.

Gotta Love It! :(

[B.C. Bake]

The 2003 early Marauder was built with a little more pride, it was fully equiped.


The 2004 Marauder was built to finish off what the factory had

too much of.







2003 had everything minus the Knock sensor and the Updated Transmission.
& Heated seats, Traction control.
2004 doesn't have,

You know about......................... ... Some Don't Know.

1,No full size spare. . ................7,No painted Valve cover and sticker.
2,No speaker grills. . .................8,No under dash cover/kick panel.
3,No electric fuel door. . ............9,No Marauder logo and pic on jack
4,No stand alone clock. ............... instructions.
5,No auto brake release. . .........10,No cargo net (standard).
6,No map pouch. . ...................11,No sunglasses compartment or extra
.............................. ...................Light. (long overhead console)
.............................. ............. 12, No hood light.
I'm still looking ......


Well, after reading this thread I'm glad I bought the 04 MM............:coolman:

[QWK SVT]

With my WS6, there 'appeared' to be a slight jump in oomph around 4000 km, but I can't say with total certainty. Eventually, over the years the car got quicker as the miles poured on.

It was all I could do to get into the high high high 13s at around 100 mph when the car had some 10000 km on it. This was at St.Thomas Dragway on a day where a 1998 LS1 Camaro Z28 (non-SS) automatic pulled a 12.98 or something by just dropping the exhaust at the cats and applying a few free mods like porting the MAF (artificially leans out the pig-rich '98 LS1s, although I'd personally have done it in a less permanent fashion!), etc.

Same at my "home" track in the spring at 14000 km. A handful of 14s (mostly mid and some low).

Fast forward to my honeymoon which started out with a visit to Cayuga in late 1999 and with a full trunk of luggage and some 24000 km under its belt, the car laid down, on its only pass of the day, a 13.67 @ 104-ish. Wow.

One year and another 10000 km later, 13.4s were effortless at my home track.

I felt a similar jump in performance with my MM along the first year. At 53000 km, I don't think I'll be seeing any further increase in performance... I ran my dozen or so mid 14s shortly after my head replacement as a test to see if I gained or lost performance with that warranty work, at 24000 km or something around there.

I hear Cayuga's become quite the ricer's haven on opening day lately... :(
My Lightning ran 14.1 @ 98 my first time to the track (warm day with less than 5,000km on the clock). A little after 10,000km, it had come down to 13.6 @ 102. I probably picked up a little bit more, but couldn't stay stock, after that :cool:

Wow - you get around to the Ontario tracks, huh? Maybe you'll come back this way sometime... It seems like a few more MM's are coming out of the woodworks, around here.

Yes, Cayuga has become infested with fart-can-tipped Honda's :rolleyes: I don't even bother on the Friday Test'n'Tunes - advertised as Fast and Furious Fridays... There's so very few quick ones, that you basically have to assume they all are, until proven otherwise.

On the upside, it's easy pickin's, because they can't seem to get it through their thick skulls, that a truck, or "cop car" could possibly be as fast as their pimped out ride running mid-15's (and up). Newsflash: Big rims, massive spoilers and peel'n'stick body kits, do not make a slow car faster :puke:

The best was I lined up against a turbo charged Civic (no interior, slicks up front, "fully race prepped" with a pit crew and everything). Lining up I was worried I'd be looking at taillights, pretty quickly... My truck ran 12.8, to the Civic's 13.0.:D

By the time the track opens up, I should have another 3,000 - 4,000 km on it, so I'll see what she can do. After that, once the Truck goes quicker than 12.5, mod money starts getting directed this way :burnout:

[David Morton]

I'm happy overall with my '04.

1) I installed the remote fuel door myself, thanks to VegasMarauder. No big deal for me. Automatic Parking Brake release coming soon. Thanks again VM.
2)I don't want a full size spare. It's heavier and takes up room that I use for a road service kit. (plugger, cables, big flashlight, shop rags, towel, 200 MPH tape, tow strap, and octane booster)
3)Traction Control is a technological advance, and is therefore a good thing. Same thing goes for the dual O2 senors. and,
4)The 4R75W is worth it to me.

[slamnmm]

Some information for you...

6) My 2004 Marauder does have the front seat back map pockets.

7) No painted valve covers. - That's true, but I kinda like the natural aluminum valve cover look. But I would have really liked some kind of cool FORD coil covers. These 2004 covers are so plain. It wouldn't have been that big a deal for FORD to have put a different coil cover on the engine as they have several types in their parts bin. I'll probably add some cool aftermarket coil covers in the future.

10) The trunk cargo net is automatically deleted by the factory when the Marauder is factory equipped with the truck cargo organizer.

11) When your Marauder is equipped with the factory sunroof, by necessity they have to install the shorter overhead console, which does not have a provision for sunglass storage.

Another thing that I noticed about my Marauder that is very strange. It came without rear door mounted ashtrays. It only has the original punch-outs in place. I thought this is odd. This is usually a smokers delete package on most cars. I like them for rear seat passengers to put small trash. I don't know if you can retro-fit them from parts (probably Grand Marquis ashtrays anyway).

I also have the Dark Toreador Red paint, with the Light Flynt interior trim, which I liked alot. But, with this interior trim color, you get black carpeting! The medium gray interiors have a matching carpet color. It's just another oddity for collectors of the future to discuss.
______________________________ ____
2004 MARAUDER 300A - DTR (BUILT 04/19/04)
1994 TAURUS SHO - DK GREENThe map pockets is what i missed the most,You are lucky mine was born on 05/04.