Finally getting a Marauder

[Eric91Z]

Well, something I have waited for 2 years is finally going to happen. I found the car I want - actually my wife found it - put a deposit on it this past Monday and wired the remaining balance to pay in full today. The car is in Naperville, IL and I will be flying there from Iowa a week from today.

I joined this site just over 2 years ago to find out about this cool car that I saw a commercial for. I have spent the last 2 years asking questions, providing input, and really enjoying this site. This site was a huge factor in wanting to get the Marauder instead of something else. I like spending my time on here. I appreciate all of you being patient with us non-Marauder owners who spend time on here. This is a great group of people.

Before I go any further, I owe a big thanks to Brian (RoyLPITA) and Ehrich (JustMe) for help with this. Brian of course ran the OASIS for me and answered all my questions. Ehrich took some time out of his Saturday morning to go by and take a TON of pictures and found any little flaw on the car that he could and then email those to me. Between those and the pictures the dealership sent to me, the wife and I decided this was the car.

So, now the car: 2004 Silver Birch with dark charcoal interior. 5690 miles on the car. 1 owner traded in on new Lexus. Car is bone stock with heated seats and CD changer. You all know the rest. I have already ordered a JLT CAI and going to order a Pro Gard and Bob White decals for the rear later today from Dennis. And planning on ordering the following over the next week or 2: CVPI steel wheels and trunk organizer from the dealer and XCal2 from Alternative Auto. Also planning on tinting the windows and having a remote start/alarm installed. Then I will just drive it and enjoy it for a while.

So, like I said, I will be flying out to Chicago next Friday afternoon. I get in around 6:15pm and heading to the dealership straight from the airport. If anyone in the area would like to get together for dinner or something that night, I would be up for that. Then I am getting on the road Saturday morning to head back to Iowa.

I want to thank Logan for providing a great place for us to come and BS about these great cars and I want to thank everyone else for putting up with me for the last 2 years. At least now I will be an owner. :rock:

[hitchhiker]

Well, something I have waited for 2 years is finally going to happen. I found the car I want - actually my wife found it - put a deposit on it this past Monday and wired the remaining balance to pay in full today. The car is in Naperville, IL and I will be flying there from Iowa a week from today.

I joined this site just over 2 years ago to find out about this cool car that I saw a commercial for. I have spent the last 2 years asking questions, providing input, and really enjoying this site. This site was a huge factor in wanting to get the Marauder instead of something else. I like spending my time on here. I appreciate all of you being patient with us non-Marauder owners who spend time on here. This is a great group of people.

Before I go any further, I owe a big thanks to Brian (RoyLPITA) and Ehrich (JustMe) for help with this. Brian of course ran the OASIS for me and answered all my questions. Ehrich took some time out of his Saturday morning to go by and take a TON of pictures and found any little flaw on the car that he could and then email those to me. Between those and the pictures the dealership sent to me, the wife and I decided this was the car.

So, now the car: 2004 Silver Birch with dark charcoal interior. 5690 miles on the car. 1 owner traded in on new Lexus. Car is bone stock with heated seats and CD changer. You all know the rest. I have already ordered a JLT CAI and going to order a Pro Gard and Bob White decals for the rear later today from Dennis. And planning on ordering the following over the next week or 2: CVPI steel wheels and trunk organizer from the dealer and XCal2 from Alternative Auto. Also planning on tinting the windows and having a remote start/alarm installed. Then I will just drive it and enjoy it for a while.

So, like I said, I will be flying out to Chicago next Friday afternoon. I get in around 6:15pm and heading to the dealership straight from the airport. If anyone in the area would like to get together for dinner or something that night, I would be up for that. Then I am getting on the road Saturday morning to head back to Iowa.

I want to thank Logan for providing a great place for us to come and BS about these great cars and I want to thank everyone else for putting up with me for the last 2 years. At least now I will be an owner. :rock:

Welcome to the spot for owners of this fine car!

Why anyone would trade a nice MM for a Lexus is beyond me. I have blown the doors off two Lexi recently including one on the twisties. They are not the standard of excellence they are portrayed to be. Just a Toyota with higher trim and interior levels thrown in.

Enjoy your car.

:D

[MarauderMarc]

CVPI wheels??????? I hope those are for winter use.

Congrats on your purchase. I still wouldnt have a MM if it wasnt for my accident. Nothing like working hard for what you dream....Marauder or not, youre always welcome here. happy trails:burnout:

[Eric91Z]

CVPI wheels??????? I hope those are for winter use.

Congrats on your purchase. I still wouldnt have a MM if it wasnt for my accident. Nothing like working hard for what you dream....Marauder or not, youre always welcome here. happy trails:burnout:


Nah, I really like the wheels and want to run them every day.... ;)


Guess I should have clarified better. I am ordering them for the winter to go with a set or Pirelli Snow and Ice winter tires.

[STLR FN]

Congrats on your purchase there Eric. I'm sure that silly grin you have will just bigger and more permanent with the mods you have planned.

[Fourth Horseman]

Congrats! You're going to love your new ride! :beer:

[Bradley G]

Hey Eric!,
Bout time, :P Congrats!
Give a call if you want to get together.
I am about fifty miles from Naperville.
My sister lives in Lisle(next town).
cell#224-639-2568 Good luck and safe travels!

[Eric91Z]

Hey Eric!,
Bout time, :P Congrats!
Give a call if you want to get together.
I am about fifty miles from Naperville.
My sister lives in Lisle(next town).
cell#224-639-2568 Good luck and safe travels!


What direction are you from Naperville?

[stormtroopin']

Have a safe trip!! If you're taking Hwy 20 west of Dubuque, honk as you go by Winthrop!:banana2:

[Bradley G]

North either Rt.59or 355 to 53 to lake/cook to northwest hwy (14)
What direction are you from Naperville?

[Marauderman]

From one Marauderman to another soon to be Marauderman--:lol:--

Congrats----maybe some one could pick you up at the airport --maybe another MM owner....hopefully a member can to help you out!!!

Again congrats and let the grins begin.........Tom

[2003DOHC]

Congratulations!!

[RoyLPita]

Well, something I have waited for 2 years is finally going to happen. I found the car I want - actually my wife found it - put a deposit on it this past Monday and wired the remaining balance to pay in full today. The car is in Naperville, IL and I will be flying there from Iowa a week from today.

I joined this site just over 2 years ago to find out about this cool car that I saw a commercial for. I have spent the last 2 years asking questions, providing input, and really enjoying this site. This site was a huge factor in wanting to get the Marauder instead of something else. I like spending my time on here. I appreciate all of you being patient with us non-Marauder owners who spend time on here. This is a great group of people.

Before I go any further, I owe a big thanks to Brian (RoyLPITA) and Ehrich (JustMe) for help with this. Brian of course ran the OASIS for me and answered all my questions. Ehrich took some time out of his Saturday morning to go by and take a TON of pictures and found any little flaw on the car that he could and then email those to me. Between those and the pictures the dealership sent to me, the wife and I decided this was the car.

So, now the car: 2004 Silver Birch with dark charcoal interior. 5690 miles on the car. 1 owner traded in on new Lexus. Car is bone stock with heated seats and CD changer. You all know the rest. I have already ordered a JLT CAI and going to order a Pro Gard and Bob White decals for the rear later today from Dennis. And planning on ordering the following over the next week or 2: CVPI steel wheels and trunk organizer from the dealer and XCal2 from Alternative Auto. Also planning on tinting the windows and having a remote start/alarm installed. Then I will just drive it and enjoy it for a while.

So, like I said, I will be flying out to Chicago next Friday afternoon. I get in around 6:15pm and heading to the dealership straight from the airport. If anyone in the area would like to get together for dinner or something that night, I would be up for that. Then I am getting on the road Saturday morning to head back to Iowa.

I want to thank Logan for providing a great place for us to come and BS about these great cars and I want to thank everyone else for putting up with me for the last 2 years. At least now I will be an owner. :rock:

Congrats. I'm proud to help any of our members here. BTW, I hope to see pics of your new ride soon.

[BillyGman]

Nah, I really like the wheels and want to run them every day.... ;)


. LOL......congratulations Eric. I hope that you'll still be hangin around here, cuz we need your input too!!! Atleast let us know how you like those Pirelli's in the snow.

[Eric91Z]

LOL......congratulations Eric. I hope that you'll still be hangin around here, cuz we need your input too!!! Atleast let us know how you like those Pirelli's in the snow.


No concerns about that. I will still be around. At least now I can stop posting the what about this and what about that questions of a non-owner and start providing owner related input on stuff and answer those same non-owner related questions for other new people that come along.

OK, I was going to wait until I got some pictures of the car myself and maybe some with me in there, too, but someone asked for pictures. I have uploaded some to my gallery that Ehrich took and some that the Dealership took and sent to me, but here is one with it on the lot:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/DCP_3113.JPG

[UAW 588]

Congrats, and welcome to the club. Oh by the way, that ***** eating grin that you are going to be wearing doesn't ever go away. I still have mine after 1 1/2 years later. Have fun and enjoy.

[Eric91Z]

Congrats, and welcome to the club. Oh by the way, that ***** eating grin that you are going to be wearing doesn't ever go away. I still have mine after 1 1/2 years later. Have fun and enjoy.

I can't wait!!! The '04 that I had for a 3 day test drive weekend almost 1 year ago left me grinning and giggling like a school kid every time I was driving it. I was the greatest feeling to actually giggle uncontrolably. And this is the car I will get to drive every day!!!!

And to top it off, I found a buyer for my Honda Accord and he will be taking that off my hands before I fly out to Chicago. I couldn't have asked for this to come together much better. The only part that hasn't been the greatest is the overall Dealership experience. I won't be completely happy until I get there, check the car over, finish paper work, put the keys in and drive it off that lot. Then it will be mine and I won't have to worry about another call to that Dealership again (hopefully, knock on wood, saying a prayer!!!)

[ncmm]

No concerns about that. I will still be around. At least now I can stop posting the what about this and what about that questions of a non-owner and start providing owner related input on stuff and answer those same non-owner related questions for other new people that come along.

OK, I was going to wait until I got some pictures of the car myself and maybe some with me in there, too, but someone asked for pictures. I have uploaded some to my gallery that Ehrich took and some that the Dealership took and sent to me, but here is one with it on the lot:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/DCP_3113.JPG
beautiful silver birch! :D

[DEFYANT]

Congrats on the new car!! Since you will have a car now, modding is next. You've prolly seen this...

"Resistance is futile"


We are Mercury Marauder.Net.
Lower your shields, and surrender yourself.
You will add our technological
distinctiveness to your own.
Our culture will consume and service yours.
Resistance is futile.


Freedom is to modify is yours;
Options to modify are limitless;
You must comply.

Total horsepower is irrelevant.
Chioce of power adder is irrelevant.
Your defensive capabilities
are unable to withstand us.

Resistance is futile.
Your Marauder, as it has been, will never be the same.
From this time forward, you will relentlessly modify your Marauder.

[jgc61sr2002]

Eric - Congrats and good luck with your Marauder. :D

[the_pack_rat]

I won't be completely happy until I get there, check the car over, finish paper work, put the keys in and drive it off that lot.Congrats !.

Buying a car long distance can be a bit trying at times.

Had my heart set on a new DTR - dark charcoal w/ALL options, & prefered one w/a later build date. It was Oct 04 & new MM inventory was thining fast around the country. I was searching dealer inventories online when I found the exact car I wanted w/the later build date I wanted, up in MD(I'm in Florida). Something went off in me that said it was time to act & act fast ... no more procrastinating, that was the one I wanted if they still had it, out of all the exact match cars I could find. If that one was gone, there were only @ 5 others with older build dates out there that I could find, that I would have persued.

Before I made any phone calls, I got the credit pre-approval. I call MD for my first choice & they still had it. Price was to my liking - fair allowance for my trade sight unseen ... everything seemed like it was coming together. Yet while I was very excited it was finally going to be ... I found myself stressed ... up until I was well on my way out of the parking lot, heading back home.

I hardly got any sleep before I departed for MD that Friday @ 6AM. Didn't stop really stop other than for gas & a quickie eat in the car breakfast & dinner. That & some downtime somewhere in SC where traffic was at a standstill for well over an hour. Rolled into MD within blocks of the dealership @ 11:30 PM & checked in for the night. Excited as I was to get there bright & early the next morning ... I did sleep in a bit, as I didn't get much the night before. Guess it was @ 11AM or so when I got to the dealership, & she(the MM) was waiting for me patiently out front. A quick look-over revealed a very very small ding in the RR door & a few paint swirls. Being the admitted skeptic that I am ... I was not suprised. The car had been sitting on the lot since June ... there would have HAD to be something wrong, just the same as if you left it parked outside a grocery store for (4) months ... but none of it was a deal breaker(feeling better I found no major issues). After brief intros, first thing they do is look over my trade. As the mgr goes to pull it out of the parking spot ... he nearly drives right into the side of another car driving thru the parking lot :rolleyes:. He comes back from his appraisal drive(car still in one piece) ... the sight unseen apprai$al given to me over the phone stands. Good, no last minute tricks with that, feeling better. Off in the MM me & the salesman go ... put @ 10 miles on it I guess ... & all was well. Back to the dealership to sign the obligatory 107 pieces of paper(feeling better still). We get to one of those "we owe" type forms for a free oil change. My salesman kinda chuckles & says ... "I doubt you will be driving up from FL just to get a free oil change". I said ... "yea - probably not, but I'd be more than happy to cash in on that right NOW". I figured (4) months & 66 miles of which most were probably put on in small (5) mile intervals, some of them possibly hard as well ... an oil change would be a GOOD thing.

Well let me tell you ...

That was one long & drawn out oil change. Must have been at least TWO hours to get that done. Then I spent time getting all my junk swapped over into the MM, then I even took time to Lexol the seats before I left. Long story short ... it was close to 4PM by the time I got out of there ... but then & ONLY then, was I finally at "ease". While I stopped more often on my way home, I never hit any traffic snafus & was back home in FL, in the bay of a local carwash right @ 48 hours after my Friday 6AM departure(Sunday morn @ 6AM) ... blasting @ 1000 miles worth of dead bugs off the nose of the car. Went home, then I Lexol-ed the dash & door panels. Took a much needed 6hr nap that afternoon.

My experience wasn't bad ... other than the confusion in getting someone to do the oil change(short handed that day I guess). The card for the jacket came promptly(unlike many others) - I returned it, & I think I even had the jacket by the first week of January.

[Eric91Z]

Eric,

Thanks for that story. Definitely stressful doing this sight unseen thing, especially with a seemingly less than friendly dealership. Guess I am just a little paranoid that I will fly in on Friday, get to the dealership and find something wrong with the car or they put another 100 miles on it or something.

And everyone else, thanks for the warm wishes. I do love this site and the overall attitude of those that post on here. Like I said before, this site was a big part of why the Marauder and not some Cadillac, Grand Prix/Regal, Crown Vic, and even the Impala SS ended up being my next car. Those other cars are OK, and have some OK sites behind them, but nothing like the complete package with the Marauder and this site.

Luckily next week is only a 4 day work week and holidays and weekend always seem to fly by.