New Marauder

[jjaguda]

May have found a new 04 MM with all the options sun roof, heated seats, etc.

As this site has proven to be friendly, honest and upfront, I thought I would ask for the group's opinion on the following:
I've grown to like my '03 so much that I'm thinking of trading my '04 Mach 1 and the '03 MM in on the new '04. I planned on keeping the Mach 1 as a wekend car, but with a 4 year old and another little one on the way, I'm slowly forcing myself to realize that it will be years before I have the time to play with the Mach 1. Also, the extra insurance, even with the reduced mileage rates, and the extra car payment for a car I don't have alot of time for, do not help either.

So I invite everyone's opinion.

Also, I understand that there is still a 5k incentive on '04s. With that what do you all think would be a fair price?

[Directedby]

May have found a new 04 MM with all the options sun roof, heated seats, etc.

As this site has proven to be friendly, honest and upfront, I thought I would ask for the group's opinion on the following:
I've grown to like my '03 so much that I'm thinking of trading my '04 Mach 1 and the '03 MM in on the new '04. I planned on keeping the Mach 1 as a wekend car, but with a 4 year old and another little one on the way, I'm slowly forcing myself to realize that it will be years before I have the time to play with the Mach 1. Also, the extra insurance, even with the reduced mileage rates, and the extra car payment for a car I don't have alot of time for, do not help either.

So I invite everyone's opinion.

Also, I understand that there is still a 5k incentive on '04s. With that what do you all think would be a fair price?

Go to kbb.com and find out invoice price. Offer dealer Invoice less the $5k. That should be around $24k. Maybe pay 500 above invoice if dealer tries to beat you up.

[drj02]

Didn't buy mine brand new but paid $25k flat for 2,200 miles and all stock. Purchased 1/15/05. Hope this helps. :D

[RoyLPita]

Most likely, you will take a bath on trading in the Mach 1 and the MM. You could try to sell them privately to make more for your new MM. You could even put tham into the Classifieds here.

[MarauderMark]

Go to kbb.com and find out invoice price. Offer dealer Invoice less the $5k. That should be around $24k. Maybe pay 500 above invoice if dealer tries to beat you up.


Ask Logan he seems to be very knowledgeable about Marauder prices ..:up:
Payed 22k for the 03 w/9100 miles..

[jjaguda]

Go to kbb.com and find out invoice price. Offer dealer Invoice less the $5k. That should be around $24k. Maybe pay 500 above invoice if dealer tries to beat you up.
I pulled KBB invoice. The total with options is $33,586 - invoice. Subract the 5k = $28,586. Am I missing something? How do I get to $24k?

[jdando]

I pulled KBB invoice. The total with options is $33,586 - invoice. Subract the 5k = $28,586. Am I missing something? How do I get to $24k?
I do not think you are going to get them to $24K. The local dealer said he would get me a new black 04, but the best he would do is $28k. I ended up picking up a nice 03 with 6xxx miles.

Perhaps the "best" plan is to sell the mustang and keep the 03 mm.

jeremy

[tallguy3767]

I just got my new 04 3 wks ago....$ 25,400...no moonroof...heated seats are the only option... i'm in the chicago area... I'm not sure how i did price wise.??

[wsmylie]

JJAGUDA...I wouldn't pay too much over 25k for it at this point in time; for one thing it's a year old (model year). Of course, you will want to bring up the widely known "dealer holdback" amount for this model (probably a little over a grand...most current figure should be listed at intellichoice.com). You may want to ask them what sales "step program" incentive level they are at for their particular dealership... this is cash back to the store (not the buyer) on the sale depending on how well they are doing on meeting overall sales goals... the more sales the higher the "step". You could also ask about whether this dealership is rated as an "Advantage Mercury" store (sorta the Mercury equivalent of the "Blue Oval" status awarded to selected Ford outlets); Mercury dealerships that have been granted this status receive some additional funds back on the sale from FoMoCo. Since, as I mentioned, this is money that goes to the store (not to the sales guy...he may not even know about this stuff), management isn't going to be too thrilled about sharing. You may want to think twice before bringing up these lesser known points during early negotiations as it might just pi** off the sales manager and other upper brass at the store who consider these funds to be sacred. Probably would be wise to haggle em down as far as you can including the $5,000.00 advertised incentives and as much of the well known holdback amount as you can get them to give up...then, when they are whining the loudest about how much money they would lose on a deal by selling in the 24-26K range...bring up the other, "less publicized" incentives they get. It may help you "buy it right" or it may get you tossed; you're going to have to feel them out on this. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. BILL

[Bradley G]

It is no crime to allow the dealership to make a profit,They may be motivated to help you later on,during the Marauder ownership.You know what the numbers are,what is fair?The dealership is not interested in how much lingo you know,Or how many people that you conversed with, that claim to have payed less,They just want to sell their fare share.And maybe they will sell you one if you stop and think for a second what it would be like to be treated this way.Just don't act offended or surprised if the dealership passes a deal where you have extracted allof the Motivation/profit from the offer.If you want a Marauder figure on what you are willing to pay and Good luck!
I hope you get infected..,er a new Marauder soon!
Bradley G

[Mike Poore]

[QUOTE=jjaguda]May have found a new 04 MM with all the options sun roof, heated seats, etc. ...QUOTE]

I paid 24K in August for an '04 with NO sunroof, or six disc setup that had been on the lot since Dec '03. Too bad you have to give up the Mach-1, and I wonder if the '04 is that much better than your '03 to justify the swap? The Mach-1 is a very special car, and I think, a future collectible. Now you have BOTH cars, and will end up with one, not to mention how they're gonna skin you like a cat, on the deal.:dunno:

[AzMarauder]

May have found a new 04 MM with all the options sun roof, heated seats, etc.

As this site has proven to be friendly, honest and upfront, I thought I would ask for the group's opinion on the following:
I've grown to like my '03 so much that I'm thinking of trading my '04 Mach 1 and the '03 MM in on the new '04. I planned on keeping the Mach 1 as a wekend car, but with a 4 year old and another little one on the way, I'm slowly forcing myself to realize that it will be years before I have the time to play with the Mach 1. Also, the extra insurance, even with the reduced mileage rates, and the extra car payment for a car I don't have alot of time for, do not help either.

So I invite everyone's opinion.

Also, I understand that there is still a 5k incentive on '04s. With that what do you all think would be a fair price?
I have a friend that is looking for a Mach I. I don't think he wants red tho. (sigh)

What are the details on your car.... ? (Mileage, etc.)

If you can email me or PM me the specifics and what price you would like for the car. I can forward it to him. You never know. If the money is right perhaps the color isn't that important to him.

[ADE 1000]

I don't think its fair to assume that you get a MM with a moonroof for $24K. The dealer would be taking quite a loss at that point. The holdback is about 3%. I paid $25,700 for my 2003 in November of 2003, including the spoiler it had a sticker of $36,000. I think if you could get a 2004 with a moonroof for around $26K you did pretty well.

As someone else suggested, contact Logan. I think he could give you the best idea of what a new MMs are currently going for.

[wchain]

I just got my new 04 3 wks ago....$ 25,400...no moonroof...heated seats are the only option... i'm in the chicago area... I'm not sure how i did price wise.??


I paid $22,999 for a new 04 Dec 23, 2004 with Roof, Changer, Spoiler, and Tint......

[DEFYANT]

Get the price in the 28K area and hagle the dealer to throw in extras like extended warrantes, spoiler, trunk organizer, etc.

[jakdad]

May have found a new 04 MM with all the options sun roof, heated seats, etc.

As this site has proven to be friendly, honest and upfront, I thought I would ask for the group's opinion on the following:
I've grown to like my '03 so much that I'm thinking of trading my '04 Mach 1 and the '03 MM in on the new '04. I planned on keeping the Mach 1 as a wekend car, but with a 4 year old and another little one on the way, I'm slowly forcing myself to realize that it will be years before I have the time to play with the Mach 1. Also, the extra insurance, even with the reduced mileage rates, and the extra car payment for a car I don't have alot of time for, do not help either.

So I invite everyone's opinion.

Also, I understand that there is still a 5k incentive on '04s. With that what do you all think would be a fair price? We paid 25,294.00 for ours in August,04. We don't have the options you have (only the trunk organizer). Offer them under 26k and go from there. We sold our 01 Sable outright rather than trade. Got about twice the price selling.
Good luck.

[gpfarrell]

May have found a new 04 MM with all the options sun roof, heated seats, etc.

As this site has proven to be friendly, honest and upfront, I thought I would ask for the group's opinion on the following:
I've grown to like my '03 so much that I'm thinking of trading my '04 Mach 1 and the '03 MM in on the new '04. I planned on keeping the Mach 1 as a wekend car, but with a 4 year old and another little one on the way, I'm slowly forcing myself to realize that it will be years before I have the time to play with the Mach 1. Also, the extra insurance, even with the reduced mileage rates, and the extra car payment for a car I don't have alot of time for, do not help either.

So I invite everyone's opinion.

Also, I understand that there is still a 5k incentive on '04s. With that what do you all think would be a fair price?

Our little guy only 11 months old, but I think we're sharing the same realization that just because they have back seats doesn't mean that Mustangs are family cars.

When going to a car cruise, the real choice isn't Marauder or Mustang, it's go in the Marauder or stay home. I find our Mustang stays home alot. It's old enough that depreciation isn't an issue... in fact it's really not worth much... so the cost of keeping it is pretty low.

Depreciation is an ugly thing... avoiding any more of it with the (awesome) Mach 1 would only make it easier to feed little mouths. Along that depreciation line of thought... what's it going to really cost you to move from your '03 to an '04? I know the looser converter would be nice, bun-warmers are great, and the whole hole-in-the-roof thing is fun too. But that stuff doesn't cost much to add.

My moonroof was about $1200... you could do some gentle mods for another $1000 and eliminate any 03-04 performance gap... and talk to your local dealer about getting "dealer-installed" heated seats... they likely have a trim-shop they deal with that can make them look factory... or keep your eyes open for a pair of heated seats out of wrecked Marauder... they'll turn up in time. If you "have to" have an 04, the 03 would be something to trade... but in addition to the value difference in an 03 & 04, you've got the price difference in essentially selling the 03 wholesale and paying some version of retail for an 04. Sure dealers know the Marauder is an orphan, but I think most of them realize it's an orphan that's desirable to somebody... and as said above they'll wait for that somebody rather than giving the car away.

Such a great dilemma.... "How would you like your 300 horsepower?"

Good luck,
Greg

[jgc61sr2002]

I paid $22,999 for a new 04 Dec 23, 2004 with Roof, Changer, Spoiler, and Tint......


Wes - Did you purchase your Marauder new or used?

[Pat]

My new 04 with moon roof but not heated seats or CD changer was 27.4.

The dealer had 4K rebate and FMCC had 1K incentive to finance.

I just bought a Grand Marquis, last week and LM gave me 4K rebate and 500.00 for financeing and 1.5K "certificate" for perferred customer and 1 K dealer throw in.

The very next week it was 7K incentives for any model plus anything you can get from FMCC and dealer.

Deal incentives change every month it seems. Ususally on the 1st. 27K would be the max you should pay I would think, excluding TTL.

[jjaguda]

Our little guy only 11 months old, but I think we're sharing the same realization that just because they have back seats doesn't mean that Mustangs are family cars.

When going to a car cruise, the real choice isn't Marauder or Mustang, it's go in the Marauder or stay home. I find our Mustang stays home alot. It's old enough that depreciation isn't an issue... in fact it's really not worth much... so the cost of keeping it is pretty low.

Depreciation is an ugly thing... avoiding any more of it with the (awesome) Mach 1 would only make it easier to feed little mouths. Along that depreciation line of thought... what's it going to really cost you to move from your '03 to an '04? I know the looser converter would be nice, bun-warmers are great, and the whole hole-in-the-roof thing is fun too. But that stuff doesn't cost much to add.

My moonroof was about $1200...

Such a great dilemma.... "How would you like your 300 horsepower?"

Good luck,
Greg
Thanks Greg - If I have to have a problem, I guess the "How would you like your 300 horsepower?" problem is a good one to have. Think I'll just keep both.

Thanks to everyone for all of the info/advise! I also learned a few things to keep in my back pocket about dealing with a dealership. Only knew about the 3% holdback.

Even if I got the dealer down to 26-28k, he'll just make it up on the trades. One dealer wants 30,700 and the other wants 30,000, both including having the car picked up and delivered to me from 300 miles away. The only option the car does not have is the trunk organizer which I have in my car (swap it over).

Greg's statement above kinda solves my quandary. The MACH my depreciate like a falling boulder, but selling it now with the big hype still in place with the new Mustang is not going to get much anyway. Once the hype dies down, the MACH may even increase a little.
As for the MMs I live in the south, so I don't need the heated seats. Sure I can get the sunroof aftermarket as I've already seen on this site. So, guess I'll leave everything alone for now. I only paid 15,500 for my '03. Lots of hwy mileage(52k), and some bug damage in the front, but I still love it. And now, as I stated in another thread, I have brand new valve guide seals. Since the dealer dropped the motor to work on it, all of the fluids have been changed as well (Had the converter flushed as well).

Anyone looking for a NEW Silver MM with all the goodies. I know wher they can find it. :cool4:

[mercfirst]

Just to add a some data to the discussion, last month I paid $21.5K for a technically used but effectively new '03, with but 629 mi. on the clock, from an unaffiliated, small-town dealer in Georgia.

The car was bought new by a gentleman in Alabama two years ago next month, but he passed away shortly thereafter, and it sat parked in a garage for a long while, 'til a decision was made this past December to finally sell it. I had been pricing new and very low mileage units since last summer, but since buying the car in the first place was for me an act of utter frivolity, my conscience wouldn't let me do it without at least getting a truly outstanding price, so I worked hard, stayed patient and got really lucky.

[gpfarrell]

Thanks Greg - Think I'll just keep both.

600 horsepower! What a happy ending!

[RoyLPita]

Welcome aboard, Mercfirst. Enjoy the site and your MM.

[jjaguda]

600 horsepower! What a happy ending!
Happily ever after . . . The end.

Stopped by the L/M dealer today just to see what they would give me for the MM and the MACH.

'03 MM = 16k
'04 MACH w/auto = 18k

Getting up, saying thanks but no thanks and walking out. . . priceless!

Plus, they would not come down off the 31k for the new MM. Anyone know how to locate a new car in the way the dealers do? All I know is that it is somewhere approximately 300 miles from New Orleans.

[DEFYANT]

31K????? hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

This site is the best place to locate new MMs.

[Mike Poore]

Happily ever after . . . The end.

Stopped by the L/M dealer today just to see what they would give me for the MM and the MACH.

'03 MM = 16k
'04 MACH w/auto = 18k

Getting up, saying thanks but no thanks and walking out. . . priceless!

Plus, they would not come down off the 31k for the new MM. Anyone know how to locate a new car in the way the dealers do? All I know is that it is somewhere approximately 300 miles from New Orleans.
Like I said, skinned like a cat.:D

[jjaguda]

Like I said, skinned like a cat.:D
Yeah . . . still alive, kicking, screaming and scratching. Now the new car thing is out of my system (unless I can find out where the car is on my own). :cool4:

Defyant:

Do you know how to do a "vehice locate." The above referenced dealer would not tell me anything more than the car is within 300 miles here in the southeast "region." I'd like to find the dealer holding on to the car to see what they will sell it for. L/M site only lets me search by zip code.

[RoyLPita]

Go to another LM dealer with the same vehicle that you want. They will check around and see what is out there and give a deal. If they aren't playing, move on some more.

Just my .02 and then some.

[cutt]

I just got my new 04 3 wks ago....$ 25,400...no moonroof...heated seats are the only option... i'm in the chicago area... I'm not sure how i did price wise.??
what is the name of the dealer u bought from?

[AzMarauder]

what is the name of the dealer u bought from?
I would say you got a very nice deal.... Your car probably listed nearly $10k over than brand new....


Nice Score...