Looking at a Marauder, what to look for?

[Jon01]

Hey guys, I'm seriously looking at an 03 Marauder for a daily driver. Car is very clean, somewhat higher mileage(90k), but I know the previous owner and they are mostly highway miles. He was very precocious about it, bought steel wheels for winter use, always on top of maintenance, etc...
As with all makes/models, there are problem areas. What are they with these beasts? What should be looked for?
How are the transmissions? What model are they?
Rears are 8.8's I assume?
Do they have the cast crank of an auto Mach1?
What kind of mileage do they get around town/highway?
I know mod motor Mustangs actually improve mileage wise with steeper gears, do these cars also?
How about winter usage? I do live in Iowa, and if need be I could pick up something to beat when it's really bad out, but this is going to be a daily driver. With the mileage it's not going to be highly collectible.
I know my way around cars, I have a 90 LX Mustang with a 347, TFS heads/intake, Novi 2000, T56, etc...that put down 538rwhp with stock pulleys on the old S-trim, a 68 Charger R/T, 87 Grand National, 01 V6 Mustang body with 98 Cobra drivetrain, and an 02 SS Camaro. General maintenance is no problem for me, but I don't want to get into something that is going to have serious issues.
Thanks for any help guys/gals!
Jon

[jgc61sr2002]

Hey guys, I'm seriously looking at an 03 Marauder for a daily driver. Car is very clean, somewhat higher mileage(90k), but I know the previous owner and they are mostly highway miles. He was very precocious about it, bought steel wheels for winter use, always on top of maintenance, etc...
As with all makes/models, there are problem areas. What are they with these beasts? What should be looked for?
How are the transmissions? What model are they?
Rears are 8.8's I assume?
Do they have the cast crank of an auto Mach1?
What kind of mileage do they get around town/highway?
I know mod motor Mustangs actually improve mileage wise with steeper gears, do these cars also?
How about winter usage? I do live in Iowa, and if need be I could pick up something to beat when it's really bad out, but this is going to be a daily driver. With the mileage it's not going to be highly collectible.
I know my way around cars, I have a 90 LX Mustang with a 347, TFS heads/intake, Novi 2000, T56, etc...that put down 538rwhp with stock pulleys on the old S-trim, a 68 Charger R/T, 87 Grand National, 01 V6 Mustang body with 98 Cobra drivetrain, and an 02 SS Camaro. General maintenance is no problem for me, but I don't want to get into something that is going to have serious issues.
Thanks for any help guys/gals!
Jon



Hi Jon - Welcome to the MM site. :welcome: :D


1. There was a TSB on rear axels on all Marauders built before 1/1/03

2. The average highway mileage is about 24MPG.

3. Many owners use steel wheels for winter driving.

4. If you have the VIN several members of this site can check to see what was maintenance was performed by the dealer.


Good luck. Keep us posted.

[RoyLPita]

Welcome aboard. I could run the VIN if you like. I have seen some MMs that need some interior work (steering wheel & seat leather worn out).

[tomd]

Carmax has got one for sale in the Chicago land area for $19,995 if your interested. Just saw the ad in Sundays trib 7/10/05

[Jon01]

Actually, the one I'm looking at I'll probably be able to snag for around 12-12.5. Friend at the dealership+it's been there a little while.
Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it.
I think it was built after 1/1/03, so the seals shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for mentioning that though!
Anyone have any input on the gear question?
I have a set of Ford Motorsport 4.10's laying around and have the ability to slap them in right away if they'll help mileage any.
I don't have the VIN right now, I'll try to get it from the dealer next time I go by there.
Thanks again guys!
Jon

[SouLRioT]

4.10s wont really help the mileage, but that will help with the off the line performance. MPG with 4.10s is around 22MPG or so, but that all depends on how heavy your foot is. Hopefuly at 90K most the issues were taken careof by now.

[SergntMac]

At 12-13K, it surely worth the risk, jump on it. At 90+K miles, I'm sure what ever problems the early editions had have been fixed. Jump on it. Did I say jump on it? Wel, get busy already...

[ParkRanger]

I agree w/Sgt. Mac! You should have bought that car by now!!
Give 'em a check for 12K and put in the 4:10's immediately. :D
Then call Dennis Reinhart for the other "Level 1" mods. :P

You won't be sorry. Especially when you take those beautiful fall drives around Dubuque. :beatnik:

PR :burnout:

[fastblackmerc]

I agree w/Sgt. Mac! You should have bought that car by now!!
Give 'em a check for 12K and put in the 4:10's immediately. :D
Then call Dennis Reinhart for the other "Level 1" mods. :P

You won't be sorry. Especially when you take those beautiful fall drives around Dubuque. :beatnik:

PR :burnout:
I'd do the 4.10's (do a shiney hinney & studs while in there), underdrive pulleys, colder thermostat and colder plugs, followed with a tune by one of the two vendors that support the site.

FYI... some may say the colder stat & plugs won't make a difference,,,, but they are cheap and easy to do.

[Eric91Z]

Jon,

Is that the one at Des Moines Chrysler Plymouth? I was going to look at it, but really want something with less miles since I will be doing about 25,000+ miles per year on it. Would like a lower starting point.

Would be nice to see it go to someone that would appreciate it. Someone that took the time to come here...

[JimmyXR7]

Hey guys, I'm seriously looking at an 03 Marauder for a daily driver. Car is very clean, somewhat higher mileage(90k), but I know the previous owner and they are mostly highway miles. He was very precocious about it, bought steel wheels for winter use, always on top of maintenance, etc...
As with all makes/models, there are problem areas. What are they with these beasts? What should be looked for?
JonCheck the transmission servicing records! See below for more discussion.

I just bought my 12/02 MM in April of 2005.
When I got on the freeway at Wide Open Throttle (WOT) the trans would make a clattering noise shifting from 2nd to 3rd. I found out from this site it was the "shudder". With in two months it was having trouble shifting to 3rd as it would sit at about 80 MPH in second. Another person had the same problem with bad gas. I can only get 91 octane or less here!
I addressed both problems at once. I changed the trans fluid and filter. The donut shaped magnet in the trans pan was fully loaded with metal dust to the point the dust was sticking out an inch from the magnet! Metal on magnets do that. The top of the filter was also coated with the black metal dust. the Letters 'Metric' in the pan was just starting to be coated. Anyway the Trans needed a new filter and magnet cleaned. I bought the MM at 28600 miles and of course the salesman said the car had been just serviced. I know they changed the air filter and the engine oil. But the normal maintenance (see Ford or Mercury web site) says change at 150K for normal and 30K for trailer towing.

The car now shifts great at WOT! But I do not know how much damage was done by the shudder. If you can hear the metal on metal noise above the engine and exhaust noise it must have cause some damage. I changed the trans fluid and filter at 30,030 miles and I do not know if it was pumped out or filter changed before.

The second Item (gas), I now carry a one gallon gas can when I fill up. If the person before me used other than Permium I put a half of gallon in the gas can, first, to clear out the pumps gas hose. That gas is for use in my lawn mower and not my MM!

I love the novelty of the MM and I hope you keep your other car to use when the weather is bad!

Jim