Were you sold?

[Bradley G]

Were you sold on a marauder, when you aquired one?
Did a salesperson or friend introduce/land you, or was it your idea?

[Tallboy]

Sold from the minute I saw one on Rte. 38 in St.Charles.

[martyo]

Walked in and bought it. That was 237,323 dollars ago, so I don't recall too much from back then.

[whoskal]

I wanted it when I saw it........The salesperson didnt know jack...He told me it had a suped up 6 cylinder in it.....I had to argue with him that it wasn't....the car was love at first sight.

[merc]

Walked in and bought it. That was 237,323 dollars ago, so I don't recall too much from bak then.

Wow, was that U.S dollars ?

[Big House]

Just had to convience the wife we "needed" it.

[Rider90]

Went in, drove it, came back the next day with a pen :D

[hitchhiker]

Sold on having one after I saw the first commercial for an '03. I'm glad I ordered a new '04.

:D

[DEFYANT]

Sales guy was easy. DefyantWife was the hard part.

[the_pack_rat]

Strictly a "me" thing.

I had read about them & seen some pics ..... it was lust at first sight. I knew I had to have one someday ..... long before the first retail MM's were even scheduled to hit the streets.

In fact, had there been more color choices other than just black when the 03's were scheduled to start coming off the assembly line, I probably would have ordered one & traded the 2001 Mountaineer I had at the time ..... paying top dollar for one like many others did.

Black is bad azz there's no denying that ..... but I really didn't need another black car(2 is enough). I wanted other color choices, & I wanted the moonroof that was said to later become an option on the 03's, but kept getting pushed back & never actually came to be, till the 04's.

Once DTR was announced it would be a choice on the 04's ..... I figured that would be the color for me. Always loved medium - to darker reds, if fact both the 2000 & 2001 Mountaineers I bought new(ordered both - neither was a dealer stock unit) were in Toreador Red with DTR on the lower rockers & bumpers.

Once I saw my first pics of a DTR, there was no more figuring ..... DTR was what it was going to be.

It had to have the dark charcoal interior - the moonroof - heated seats & the 6 disc changer. The trunk organizer could have came later ..... but fortunately for me, I located one of the last new ones up in MD back in Oct of 04', that had all (4) things from the factory(didn't even have to worry about having Ray ship me the organizer).

The rest is history ......

[BruteForce]

My test drive consisted of checking that it fit in my garage. Safe to say I was already sold before i even went in.

[Black 04]

I knew I had to get one when I first seen it at the NY auto show.

[1stMerc]

Hmmmm, when i saw one at W Florrisant and Chambers road. It just looked so right. After searching internet and reading about it, would like to have was next thought. After test drive, it was a definite must have, and that's when the scheming started. Took a little bit, but i got what i wanted. Last car was to please a woman, this one was for me.

[O's Fan Rich]

Heck no, They could not get me the Silver CV Sport in time so I "settled" for the MM. ( Actually when they suggested it instead of the CV Sport, I said "He77 yeah I'll take a Marauder, I was told you could not get one. Gimme."
I made the deal on the road on my cell with the leasing company.
Glad it went the way it did!

[michael ward]

:burnout: I really liked the marauder when i first saw it on the dealer lot so i did some homework and it only came in black and i did not want black.. so I let it go and bought a 03 silver birch explorer sport.. went to the auto show in february there was a silver birch and a blue one.. son of a b*#@$ so i talked to my dealer and they told me about all the changes from 03 to 04 and they were going to drop blue and add dtr.. and he would have one sometime in september 03.. and september 27,2003 good bye explorer sport hello dtr marauder...:burnout:

[Ryans PI]

I was "sold" when I test drove them. Now I just need to get one. :P

[SergntMac]

Back in June of '02, neither the salesman nor I knew squat about it. I went in to look at a sneal preview of the new Aviator, walked past it on the showroom floor, and took it home.

Now I have owned three of them, and sometimes wonder what the Hell I'm doing...

[Bubba Hyde]

Drove a black '03 about mid-year, and couldn't pull it off then.

Found a used '04 DTR on a dealer lot about six months ago that had been there for a while, drove it and like it so much I "bought" it twice, thanks to a dealer screw-up with the financing. Not to worry, though - I got a better deal on the financing on my own than I got through the dealer. Salesman was the typical sleazeball - could have "worked out" the original financing had I resorted to doing something at lease immoral, and quite possibly illegal.:mad2:

My only regret so far - no spare coin for a Trilogy....

[jimlam56]

Sat in the '03 at the Jax auto show the same year.
Told my boys that this was the car for me, but too much money.
2 and a half years later...
Never drove my MM before I bought it (Or any other MM), in fact it was 1200 miles away.
Flew to Houston, paid the man and been havin' fun ever since.
So I guess the "sit" at the car show sold me!

[MarauderTJA]

I was all excited at the launch of the new GTO until I saw it..Big disapointment (Grand Am copy). I had seen and read all about the 03 Marauder and really liked it. But living here in Florida I didn't want a black car. Kept looking around, wasn't going to buy the GTO and saw an 04 Silver Marauder with a sunroof at the local Lincoln/Mercury dealership. Bought it off the showroom floor. It is the best car I have ever owned after adding the high performance mods I planned. Still doing that though.......:P

[davidholland]

I knew they were coming back in 2001,I needed a car real bad so I bought a 01 GM with the Handling Pkg. I figured I would wait until that was paid for in 06 and trade it on a Marauder. Then I found production would cease in 04. I knew I had to get one right away! I went to a huge dealer in PA,they had 8 Marauders and made me an awesome deal!

[The Big Stu]

I frequent the manufacturer websites to see whats coming and what is out and when I saw them in 03 I thought it was perfect. Enough room for the family or group of friends, great performance, enough style to stand out without being too flashy, and no trim levels. I hate all the different trim levels. I was buying a Focus at the time but I knew I would have one some day, and now I do...just have to pay for it...this will be a long 6 years.

[mcb26]

Saw it on the Merc website as a prototype. Was planning on getting an 05,when I got my wife's SUV paid for. Found out the 05 had been cancelled, stopped by to try and buy or lease an 04. The dealer had an 03 on the lot, but no 04. They let me test drive it for a couple of days, took it over to show the wife, she said get it. Went back and bought it.:)
Never regretted it. Best car I've ever driven.

[fastblackmerc]

I was interested in the MM back when it was announced as a concept. Kept tabs on it until 2004 when my daughter graduated college. The wife said we need a new car go out and get what you want........ :D The local dealer had a used black '03 on the lot, they let me test drive it for the weekend, when I returned it I knew I had to have one. Went to the dealer a week later and had them find me ablack '04 with heated seats, sunroof & CD changer. Since I work for a supplier to the automotive industry I was able to get it on the "X" plan with an extended warranty.

[superiorone]

They didnt have the time to sell me I sold them! I seen the car at the Auto show before it came out and new I had to have it, but I couldn't afford it! So I got a Impala instead, a few years went by got bored with the Impala and I was looking on the internent with my income tax check.......ha ha and seen that a Mitsubishi dealership had one, I went to the Car lot and asked the sales guy how long they had it and he said about a month, they couldnt give it away! No loser looking for a Mitsubishi is going to want a BEEFED up piece of American history!!!! Before they even knew what the car was I had the paper work drawn up and bought it, the car was prestine only 32,000 miles, and it even had the badges on the fenders????? I stole the car for $17,000...........and what can I say it is the best investment I ever made. This is my dream car, it may sound corny but I always loved the 94-96 SS Impala and when I drove this off the lot I cryed, the best thing ever that has happened to me besides the births of my twin boys. Two days after I bought the car they tried to call me in saying that they had made a mistake on selling me the car and that the old owner had wanted it back I laughed and told them to give my lawyer a call, needless to say they didnt call back.

[Mikeenh]

I heard about the Marauder in 01. November of 2001 I put a deposit on one. Had to tell the dealer what it was of course.
Paid for it before I ever even sat in it. Drove it home in June of 02. No regrets.

[Mebot]

Yes, I've always loved big cars, crown vic police interceptors, chevy caprices and impalas. I vowed I would one day own a Marauder, back in 2003 when I read about Florida Highway Patrol using the Maruader in an issue of Quicksilver.

3 years later and I have the car of my dreams

[ckadiddle]

I was doing internet research on modding CVPIs when I ran across reference to the new Marauders on a CVPI site. Had already bid on a couple CVPIs. Started reading reviews about the Marauder, expecially user written reviews. Wasn't looking for a car, had a dang nice CVLX with low miles and oodles of new car warranty left on it that I'd had for maybe a year. Took the wife to test drive a Marauder - just wanted to see what they looked like in person and if they were as awesome as I had read on the web. Made sure the wife took the first test drive. The young whippersnapper saleskid was a drag racer - he encouraged us to "let the horses out to play". We sold our souls to buy it that day.

[GarageMahal]

When I first heard that production was going to happen I went to the dealer to get more info. They never head of the Marauder... I checked back later and they knew it was coming but knew nothing about it.

Anyway, I refused to put money down on a car I never drove so I waited until they got their first two in and ran right over for a drive. I bought it the next day after teaching the sales staff a few things about the car.

jta

[rkk]

Thanks to the internet, saw the specs for the car and some pics. Then saw it at the Florida auto show and said, "You know what, that's going to be my next car".

[Lou]

Were you sold on a marauder, when you aquired one?
Did a salesperson or friend introduce/land you, or was it your idea?


I saw the reviews and was sold. I never owned a 4 door car and when it came time to buy one I figgered I could have a 4 dr and still have fun.

My '04 MM fits the bill.

BTW, the saleslady knew VERY little about the car and I wound up telling her more about it than she knew. :burnout:

[pantheroc]

Was saving pennies for something new in 1999 or 2000?. Was interested in Kenny Brown panther work. Then information started popping up on web and car shows about the Ford Crown Vic Blackhawk.

Went to the dealer and of course I had to train the dealer... Later I got invite to the dealership for the salesman training course by the factory rep. From there I got their reserved display car right off the delivery truck. They had to wait for next delivery for a display car.

[LordVader]

I know I was sold the minute I saw it in person. Went to a dealership locally and the one they had on the lot was already sold. Went on line and found one 250 miles away. Called the dealer and bought it on the telephone. Yeah...I was sold!!!

[KillJoy]

I wanted one the very first time I ever saw / heard a press release about it. Was waiting for it to be in concept, then, finally.....available.

Unfortunately, it was no option at time time ($$$), but, I finally got the chance to get one Jan 9, 2006 :D

KillJoy

[wchain]

North Point, San Antionio

[Blackened300a]

Saw a preview in Motor trend that such a vehicle was on its way, then I saw it at the 2003 NY Car show, Went to the dealer and was faced with *********s who felt the car was worth more then the sticker, Time went on and a friend sent me the infamous BillyGman burnout video.
I did a search for one and made a trek to NJ that same day where I signed after a 5 minute test drive.

No Regrets!

[Bluerauder]

Was aware of the Marauder from the concept introduction in MotorTrend magazine in 2001 or early 2002. Kept getting pushed by my son (S.O.B.) to go check one out after they started showing up at the dealers. I refused to consider one or even take a test drive 'cause I knew it could only lead to trouble. Then one Saturday morning in October 2003, the missus says let's go look at one of those Marauders the you and George have been talking about. "Its about time for you to get something that you'll enjoy". Saw the Blue MM and it was a done deal. When I heard all the incentives that were being offered, I just said "Wrap it up, I'll take it with me". :D I just couldn't take all the pressure coming from two sides at once. :rofl:

[jimlam56]

Was aware of the Marauder from the concept introduction in MotorTrend magazine in 2001 or early 2002. Kept getting pushed by my son (S.O.B.) to go check one out after they started showing up at the dealers. I refused to consider one or even take a test drive 'cause I knew it could only lead to trouble. Then one Saturday morning in October 2003, the missus says let's go look at one of those Marauders the you and George have been talking about. "Its about time for you to get something that you'll enjoy". Saw the Blue MM and it was a done deal. When I heard all the incentives that were being offered, I just said "Wrap it up, I'll take it with me". :D I just couldn't take all the pressure coming from two sides at once. :rofl:

Obviously the missus' fault.:D
Hope my Missus likes Blue as well...:bows:
We'll find out on the 18th in Pueblo CO.

[1stMerc]

Time went on and a friend sent me the infamous BillyGman burnout video.


What is the "infamous BillyGman burnout video"? Is it available any where on this site?

[AzMarauder]

Were you sold on a marauder, when you aquired one?
Did a salesperson or friend introduce/land you, or was it your idea?

I drove from Sierra Vista, Arizona (Arizona Mexican Border) in the middle of the Winter, through two large snow storms to St. Albans, Vermont (Canadian Border) in an 03 Mustang Cobra because I felt the need for a road trip. Some slick salesman stopped me in St. Albans and talked me into trading my Cobra for a Marauder so I could drive all the way back to Arizona (through a third snow storm). As Barry is my witness! :rolleyes:

[423REED]

I first saw the 2003 Mercury Marauder concept car at the Chicago Auto Show in 2002. I fell in love with it back then, but I had purchased a 2001 car, so I wasn't ready to buy a new car yet. I also was not sure that I wanted a black color Marauder. Near the end of the 2004 model year, I found out that the Marauder was now available in Silver Birch and Dark Toreador Red. Plus, they said production was about to end forever, due to the poor sales in general, and specifically, the 2004 model year.
*
I went to Elmhurst Lincoln-Mercury in Elmhurst, Illinois. They had ten Marauders in stock, nine black and one DTR (on the showroom floor). I sat in the DTR Marauder and of course I immediately liked it a lot. Then I took a black Marauder for a test ride, and that was it! The lightening bolt hit me. The sticker list price was something like $ 36,878, I think. I got a total of $ 9,600 off of the sticker price with the dealer discount and all of the other incentives that were in effect at the time. I couldn't pass up the final price. I still believe its a lot of car for the money. Mine has the trunk mounted CD changer, heated seats, trunk organizer, and the factory moonroof. I've owned my DTR Marauder now for over two years without a single warranty or quality problem. I've got 11,600 miles on it, and I still love it every time I drive it. No regrets of any kind.
Jim
______________________________ ______________________________
2004 MARAUDER 300A - DTR BORN 04/19/06
1994 TAURUS SHO - GREEN

[Blackmobile]

NO it was not my idea. A very good friend of mine (who shall be nameless) had one and kept going on about how great the car was and what it's potential could be, and this all began when he just had the Brochure of the 03 Black beast. I couldn't be swayed from my 98 Black TA vert with all it's HP and style. Well after 4 1/2 years of the TA, wear and tear started to show, and when I gave it up at 141K miles, after I put over 100K mile of my own on it, my buddy started hunting marauders down in our area. To make a long story short, he gets me to go to the dealer just to take a look see. we all know there is no such thing as a look see to a salesman, but the car did sell itself. After haggling a bit with the sales manager, he eventually gave me a deal I couldn't turn down (that's the gist of what my inside voice said to me). I did drive the TA home ( they had to put a serious shine to the slightly rock chipped nose, and it's all good because I've put a lot more chips on the nose) one last time to return the next day. I now feel as close to the MM as the black leather is to Emma Peel's Azz ( An Avengers reference for you youngins not in the know). The lesson learned here is the power of suggestion is a strong Mutha...... especially when it come to a Marauder, whatever the color is.

The story of the birth of Blackmobile! Thanks Greggash..... Opps... I mean nameless member.


Side note: And yes Marc I said member.

[jgc61sr2002]

I had a 2000 GM (Black) with the handling package. When I saw the Marauder I had to have it. My local dealer told me he had two on order and they were coming in the end of the week. He called me when the came in, I took if for a test riide and took it home.:D

[supa_carrot]

October 05', my birthday was coming up next month, and my father and I had been looking for me a vehicle. Like all other 16 year old, male, rednecks in Eastern Kentucky I of course wanted a pick-up. I was at my Papaw's one evening helping him around the house, and he suggested the Marauder, well off the bat I thought it was a cool name. He told me that a guy had one for sell locally, and said we should go look at it, and I figured why not. Half way down the road we meet my dad, so he turns around and follows us to the person's home, where he had it outside. Since the owner wasn't home we just, looked around anyhow. My inital thoughts were "Wow, just another CrownVic with nice wheels, but still a nice car." When I made it home that evening I researched the Marauder on the internet. After some looking I realized it wasn't anything close to a CrownVIC, and realized it had more HP and TQ than the pick-ups we had been looking at. A couple of days later we got to test drive it, this is when I was sold. Since I was still 15 at the time my Dad was the driver, and I was in the backseat since the owner accompanied us. We took it down the road only a couple of miles but my Dad opened it up on this long straight stretch and according to him my eyes were as big as plates. When we got home I told him, that was the car, and we made the purchase a few days later. 2003 Marauder 300B Black 3,7xx miles.

[HwyCruiser]

I bought my dealer's business mgr's Marauder. It wasn't even up for sale. It was parked in the back of the used lot, so I pulled my used car guy around and told him I wanted that one. Watch out when I go car shopping! :rolleyes:

[RedMerc04]

I remember seeing the concept on Car & Driver television. This was back when all the car programs were on TNN... I believe I was about Ten years old. At the time my mother owned a 98 Grand marquis and I really thought the Idea of the Marauder was awesome. Around 9/11 I remember reading about how they were going to produce the marauder in Hot Rod magazine and this created more interest... I wasnt totally hooked yet.. When I was about to turn 16 I fell in love with an 87 Buick GN. I would have given anything for it but my parents couldnt Justify spending money on a 17 year old car that had no warranty eventhough they are well aware of what a GN is. Anyway, the local ford dealer had a lightning that caught my eye, as I was checking it out I saw a black 03' Marauder. It caught my attention. I went home and realised they made them In DTR and i soon forgot about the GN and the Lightning. But maybe down the road Ill have a GN as a second car... :cool:

[bugsys03]

Saw the commercial and had to have one. Test drove one and REALLY had to have it. Had to wait another 6 months until the prices came down to get her for 28600:banana2:

[SID210SA]

North Point, San Antionio

Did you mean North Park Lincoln Mercury...cause thats where I got mine from!

I drove by the lot regular like on my way to just about anywhere when I saw a small herd of them sitting under the parking garage at the dealership. I took my neighbor (who I was dating at the time) as she had just bought a new Honda Accord V6 2 door about a week or so earlier, So I had the new car bug in my system and wanted her to check out the Marauder with me. Well I went the first day and I think they had 11 of them there.....the story was that they ordered several GM and got Marauders instead. So they got the ok to sell them at the GM price. Well I test drove the only one they had that had a Sun Roof and fell in love. I slept on it and came back the next day and they had sold 5 of them....My salesman was new but very nice and obliging! Needless to say I had no choice but to buy one right then as they were running out quickly and that would be the last shipment....so November 23, 2004 I purchased my SB '04 with 7 miles and have had smiles ever since.
I do not have a single regret about purchasing this car. And when it is finally paid off, I just dont know if my smile can get any bigger!!!

[TAF]

On a waitlist getting regular updates directly from Mercury from late 2000 (after I saw a story on the Ford "Blackhawk"....received regular (every 3-6 months or so updates for over a year and a half. One evening in early May of '02 received an email from a L/M dealer (who I'd purchased a '95 Grand Marquis through) that they would be receiving 2 Marauders anytime and if I wanted one of them...I needed to step up with a deposit. Two others received the same email (one has become one of the finest folks I've met here Black Terror (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/member.php?u=113) ). I was then told on Monday, June 18th that after several weeks of delays....that the dealership that I was to take delivery through was closing down that Friday, June 22nd. I spent over 2 days on the phone talking to several folks within the Ford/Lincoln-Mercury executive offices...including Elena Ford's office in Irvine, CA (at that time). They did not want to send the 2 Marauders to a dealer that was closing/liquidating and was not allowed to receive any further inventory. Needless to say they eventually relented...and I showed up at the dealership on Friday, June 22nd. Two Marauders were sitting out front....a Lincoln Blackwood (Original sticker at nearly $50K...that could have been had that day for $21)....and Black Terror (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/member.php?u=113) was in the internet sales office with "our Salesguy" finalizing paperwork. Nobody else was there...the place was a ghost town. Black Terror (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/member.php?u=113) had already picked his out....finally gets done...comes out quickly, shakes my hand and leaves quickly (only time my friend has EVER been "short", yet cordial to me). A few hours later that afternoon...I drove home in a car that would change my life.

Sorry...I don't think I've ever told this whole story on here....and from me...the one who HATES long posts.

[Smokie]

My story is very, very similar to Todd's, I followed the Blackhawk project with great interest until it fizzled out and out of the ashes emerged the MM. in June of 2002 I started to send e-mail requests for an "out the door price" from local L/M dealers, 2 of them engaged in a price war.

When I recieved the e-mail with the right price I drove to dealer and made the purchase that same day and took delivery in early July 2002...11 miles on the clock.

[BigGuyBigCar]

When I started researching used cars in late 2005 I wanted a full-size sedan. Not what the rental agencies refer to as "full-size." And not a one-foot-in-the-grave GM or CV.

I was thinking Lexus or even Mercedes S-series when I came across a website that in passing mentioned the Marauder as a US 4door with zip.

[2003 MIB]

I was unemployed for a period of time after 9/11 and was going crazy...I bought a 96 model P71 on ebay and started modding (Bilsteins, Diablo, Flowmasters)- this led me to crownvic.net I eventually sold it to a guy from Delaware but the Pather bug had bitten me. When I got the job I have now, I was X-plan. I went to the fordpartner website and started emailing dealers with Marauders in stock. I just happened to pick John Eagle Lincoln Mercury...that's where it got weird...
Turns out that this was Logan's pet dealership- Logan owned mm.net and headed up the North T exas Marauders was meeting in conjunction with the Lone Star Cougar Club every month the rest- is as they say history...

[Bluerauder]

My story is very, very similar to Todd's, I followed the Blackhawk project with great interest until it fizzled out and out of the ashes emerged the MM.
You can add me to the Blackhawk watchers list too !! I had forgotten about that.

[Hotrauder]

I was retiring in 2003 and we were moving to Florida from upstate NY to care for Penny's Dad. Had no idea what a MM was except 3K more than list on the CVLX Sport. Wanted big car as it was obvious we would making runs the length of the east coast several times a year. After the dickering was done the difference was up to 8K and that sealed that deal in favor of the CV. Did not forget the MM however and when I drove the CV past our local Ford dealer one year ago I spotted the DTR in the second row, pulled a Uey and we took a test drive. Car had been locally owned by member Al G. Spoke with him, made 3 cell phone calls, 2 to other dealers with MM listed to get best price to bargain with and one to the bank to move funds from savings to checking. Picked it up the next day. 16K on the clock with 4.10's, UDs, SCT 9100 w/ tune, rear sway bar and Flomaster 40's. Haven't looked back and have made many more calls to the bank. Dennis:beer:

[Bradley G]

Great story! , as many of them are.
I got a little misty eye'd getting mine, Too!!

They didnt have the time to sell me I sold them! I seen the car at the Auto show before it came out and new I had to have it, but I couldn't afford it! So I got a Impala instead, a few years went by got bored with the Impala and I was looking on the internent with my income tax check.......ha ha and seen that a Mitsubishi dealership had one, I went to the Car lot and asked the sales guy how long they had it and he said about a month, they couldnt give it away! No loser looking for a Mitsubishi is going to want a BEEFED up piece of American history!!!! Before they even knew what the car was I had the paper work drawn up and bought it, the car was prestine only 32,000 miles, and it even had the badges on the fenders????? I stole the car for $17,000...........and what can I say it is the best investment I ever made. This is my dream car, it may sound corny but I always loved the 94-96 SS Impala and when I drove this off the lot I cryed, the best thing ever that has happened to me besides the births of my twin boys. Two days after I bought the car they tried to call me in saying that they had made a mistake on selling me the car and that the old owner had wanted it back I laughed and told them to give my lawyer a call, needless to say they didnt call back.

[Bradley G]

Thanks to the membership for all the interesting stories, aquiring thier MM.
I turned 39K yesterday, and it's been 27 months here.
I was in the market to replace my sixteen year old Ford F-250, Looked at a supercrew f-150, That was 700-800 dollar payment.I was tired of driving a P/U anyway.
Next was an LX Sport CV.
I was delayed in purchacing the CV, due to some paint damage, that was on the hood, top & trunk.
That is when I spotted my first Marauder, Our dealership purchaced a new one, for the owners friend.
When I saw the Marauder, I was no longer interested in any other option.
I was driving one, within a week.
Special thanks, to members who broke thier "No long posts" rule.
Also; members that don't/ haven't posted much. Thanks! :bows:

[jabird56]

Saw one in a car magazine and I was "HOOKED". Looked around on the internet and saw a blue one at a L/M dealer in Grand Island, NE and road tripped out there to look at it. They wanted sticker and wouldn't play at all, so we came home. The next day me (and the soon to be Mrs.) went to our friendly local neighborhood L/M dealer and test drove a black one, made the deal, and picked it up the next day.

[STLR FN]

Make me another one who followed the 'BlackHawk' and the '99 MM prototype, you know the one with the supercharged 4.6. Then I seen the actual production vehicle at NAIAS. Knew I had to have one but it was in the cards at the time($$$). That was in '01(?) waited 3 yrs before I was able to get one. Was looking for one via the net in Jan '05. Found a Blk '03 with 10K for 23K in Wixom. Already had been talking to the salesman for a week, had the paperwork & financing ready to go but on my way up I was cruising past Jack Demmer here in Wayne, MI and seen a DTR in the used car lot. On a whim I stopped to look at it. Big mistake, half hour later went to my credit union and got the check, signed the paperwork and rest they say is history.

Since I've owned my DTR I've put 35k on it. That's how much I like this vehicle. Guess you could say the car sold itself to me.

[00 Aggie]

Was driving home from grad school in my old 2001 Mustang GT, was getting on the highway, when some black boat crown vic was keeping up with me. I punched it, he punched it and I didn't pull away. I slowed down to see what the heck it was! When time came for a new DD (the Cobra isn't much of a DD), I knew what I wanted!

[CaptRoadking]

Great post. I was on a plane from Florida to Connecticut. We were just taking off when a guy two rows up opens his newspaper and I saw a photo of the Marauder prototype. As soon as the seat belt sign went off I asked to read his paper. I had wanted an Impala SS but missed that car when it was new and could not bring myself to pay new price for a used SS as was the case at the time. A very close friend of mine was the manager of the Lincoln Mercury dealership where I bought my wifes Continental. I called him when the plane landed and I told him I wanted one. He did not even know what it was. This was in 2001 and in June of 2002 I picked up my first Marauder , last four numbers of the VIN 2004, any body here own it now? (I think it was the first one sold in Connecticut). Drove the car eight months and 27,000 miles and parted with it. I missed it so in June of 2005 I bought my current Marauder, a black 03 300b. This is a third car for me so it won't get the mileage of MM#1. Best value and fun for the $$$ car I have ever owned.
Ed

[texascorvette]

I knew about the Marauder, but I had spent six months or a year trying to lay my hands on a '96 Impala. I still think the Impala is a great car, but I finally gave up trying to get one in decent condition at what I felt was a fair price. Called a friend of mine at North Central Ford an asked what they wanted for the Marauder they had on the lot. Typical car dealer stuff: when I said I'd take it, they said they had "made a mistake" and couldn't sell it for the quoted price. Asked my buddy to see if he could find a new one, even though it was early January 2005. He said there was one left in the entire Dallas/Ft Worth area. The dealer wouldn't transfer it to him, so he gave me the name of the dealer, which was about 40 miles east of Dallas. Called them up and asked them what time they closed--it was about 8:00PM. They said 9:00PM, so I told them I would buy it and asked them to have it ready for me when I got there. The car was ready, and the salesman enthusiastically showed me all the features, etc. I said: yah, that's great, but where is the paperwork. He asked: Don't you want to drive it? I said: No, I told you on the phone I would take the car. Must have been the easiest sale he ever had because he damn near had a heart attack on the spot. Of course,all the fun BS with the credit people took another hour or two before my wife and I could finally get on the road back to the house. I've had a great many new cars in my life, but driving that car back to Richardson was more enjoyable than any other first drive I've ever had in a car--other than the Corvettes!

[tomd]

Waited 2 years for it to go into production, figured I check it out when my dealer got one in and purchase 6 month to a year later. Turned out I test drove one in the morning and came back that afternoon and bought one! :lol:

[RoyLPita]

I saw a "pre-production" MM on the showroom floor at Delray Lincoln Mercury dealer near my work. At first, I thought those 300A wipers were just part of the prototype. I guessed wrong. When I finally got a chance to drive one, I knew that I needed something to compare it to. At the time, I was driving an '89 Mustang GT convertible & a '95 GTS. So I picked up a MM relative: an early build 1992 GMLS w/HPP. It needed an engine at the time, so I found a PI one (w/PCM) on Ebay. I got it running but the left muffler had more holes than swiss cheese. This got my doors blown off by a 4.10 gear, x-piped and flowmaster equipped demo MM from Pompano Lincoln Mercury. It wasn't long after I fixed the exhaust (true dual w/Flowmaster American Thunder's) that I ended up trailing behind a demo MM from Ft Lauderdale LM. As the story goes, "He went faster. I went faster" until my dash would not go past 120. After tracking the dealer plates down and who had it, I asked him "How fast did you have it up to?" and he said "145". After that, I was looking at the Auto Trader and Ebay on a daily basis. While looking around, I picked up a late build 92 GMLSHPP and 2 1995 CVPIs (twins built one after the other by VIN). Those were sold off to help get what I wanted.

I almost had a 300A with custom scalloped paint with 14k for $17000 but was sold before I could make an offer for it.

And That is when I found her. A 300B with 7500 miles in Ft Myers. It was Ebay twice but with no real serious bidders, letalone any. After having a distinguished member of our site check it out for me and give a detailed report, I made an offer and it the rest was history.

[whd507]

I watched since blackhawk days, and got on the mailing list, got the CD,DVD and the full brochure in the mail. I was teaching High School, and pastoring at the time, so it just wasnt going to happen...

every now and then, I'd pester my wife about getting one, she killed it cold each time.

after we moved to Missouri, the finiancial pinch wasnt so bad, and I found mine on ebay with 90k miles for 10k, drove over to my wife's work to talk it over, she rolled her eyes, and said "go get it"...

hit the speed limiter on the towncar getting home to hit the "buy it now" button...

I'm told the dealer was on the phone with another bidder when I hit the button.

a week later we flew down to houston, and drove it home. the first "alone" weekend for us in almost ten years, we felt like teenagers.

I'm loving life right now...

[Bradley G]

great story.



I watched since blackhawk days, and got on the mailing list, got the CD,DVD and the full brochure in the mail. I was teaching High School, and pastoring at the time, so it just wasnt going to happen...

every now and then, I'd pester my wife about getting one, she killed it cold each time.

after we moved to Missouri, the finiancial pinch wasnt so bad, and I found mine on ebay with 90k miles for 10k, drove over to my wife's work to talk it over, she rolled her eyes, and said "go get it"...

hit the speed limiter on the towncar getting home to hit the "buy it now" button...

I'm told the dealer was on the phone with another bidder when I hit the button.

a week later we flew down to houston, and drove it home. the first "alone" weekend for us in almost ten years, we felt like teenagers.

I'm loving life right now...

[Bigdogjim]

I knew about marauder for a while. In January'02 when the word was out they were building them I went to the big L&M dealer near me and asked about one? Sales guy said he had a few people asking and was thinking about starting a list. I said great put me down now. So I got on the list for first one. In late May the dealeship called and asked me to come in to in ar arange payment. I went on Saturday and they told me $34,875 and 6.7% , I walk away and say no way not paying list and high instrest! I did get one in Sept that year of 30,000 and .9% traded a less then year old F-150 loaded, shopped 8 dealers till I found a deal:) Wife thought I was getting a Explorer? When I got home she walk out looked at it and said "it's ugly" wald back in the house. Her loss my gain. She laughs at a party when someone asks me why I drive a caddy or something else.

[finster101]

Saw the trailers on the internet in late 01. Gotta have ome if they build it! Got mine new in Jan 03. Saved 5grand going to a dealership in Ky. (where my dad has bought 3 towncars) Drove about fifty miles, hit The Bluegrass Parkway west and at 125 she was still pulling pretty strong. Dad's towncar topped at 118. He and I both were pretty impressed.

[kayzap]

In 2006 I changed jobs and the new place pays ALL car costs sooo. I decided to get a work car so I would not not use up my truck. I found a 2004 CV LX Sport. Great car with low mileage in perfect shape. While looking for that model car I found out about Marauders. Sweet car but more than I could justify. So I was happy in my CV until the wife drove it once and announced she wanted it. Now I'm no rookie at how to make a marriage work. So I said. "You should have it then dear. I'll just find me another car."
So i went hunting and found the mostperfect Marauder ever built. My beautifull SIlver Birch '04. Bought it and drive it everywhere. Only one flaw with that car. Always seems to go faster than the speed limit.