Value? 04 MM

[mnxtrik8r]

Greetings all. I am looking at an 04 MM. color,options,etc are all what I would of ordered if it was new.What does a guy do as far as offering a purchase price. Does a guy offer a dealer private party price or do most dealers hold out for retail.It's a little confusing.Any input would be appreciated......Thanx

[Dragcity]

Seems like you really like and want the car. Remember, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

You want to get the best deal, but you also want the car. ???? = Juxtaposition.

Unfortunately, with Marauders, you can't say if I don't get this one, another is just around the corner (fortunate for us owners though). Offer what you can afford. Dealers have to offer you x months warranty = $$. Private owners don't = <$.

Go low, private owner KBB. You can always go up, over the course of a couple days/weeks, if you're that patient and ballsy.

If it's really what you want, you have the $$ and don't want it sitting ina lot any more than it has, go and get it.

Too many variables and too much emotion in buying a Marauder for such a question, but I tried....

[mnxtrik8r]

Your last sentance says it all!!! My problem is I am too much of a cheap b@#!ard. I should of learned my lesson by now ( I missed out on a creampuff that will never happen again) You've kinda reinforced what I'm already experiencing.I've thought about offering p/p kbb. the dealer has had it for about 50 days,maybe I'll gamble and shoot a low price next wk. Thx for the info.

[BigGuyBigCar]

I read somewhere that dealers on average are willing to drop 8% below their initial asking. Don't know if there is any truth to it. But it doesn't hurt you to offer lower than that. Just don't get sucked into the "monthly payment" calculation.

cars.com and autotrader.com can give you and idea of the asking market.

When I was looking at 04s this spring I offered one private $17,500, then upped it a few days later to $19,000. He was asking $22,500, found another buyer at $21,500. Later found another asking $23,000 and we settled at $21,500. Both of those were under 25,000 miles and had some minor performance mods.

[SergntMac]

Yep...Working with a dealer is a poker game of offer and deal. Set you goals and remember one thing...They want to sell the car.

When I bought my '03 SB in December of '05, I walked away from the car 3X, reminding the salesman that it's been on their lot for 8 weeks, and no takers at their asking price. When he said "so make me an offer". I did, and I got what I wanted for the price I wanted to pay.

Now I'm a private seller of my #1x Marauder. I set an opening price, and I'm open to offers. Let's talk, but the goal is the same, to sell the car for a fair price, fair to both parties. My #1x is worthless until someone wants to buy it.

[Steve_NC]

Check out the autotrader.com site and see if any are for sale in your area. What are they trying to get for them? I picked up my 2003MM for 18k and 34k miles on the car. The dealer had it listed for 19900. I was happy and the dealer was happy to have it off his lot. Large cars are not selling well, and the dealers need to move thier stock. What you need to do is decide what you can afford to pay, and what you are willing to pay for the car. I love my car, and I think you love the one you get. Good luck... oh yea and get an oasis report from RoyLPita.

[jgc61sr2002]

There is one for sale in todays Newsday (NY Paper) with 54K miles for $ 17K.

[texascorvette]

it's really odd that you can pick one up that cheap. my '04 stickered for $36,600. Add about $1400 for the 100K warrantee, and you have a $38,000 list price car. didn't cost me that much, but it would be a cold day in hades when i let it go anywhere even remotely close to $20K.

[SergntMac]

Now I'm a private seller of my #1x Marauder. I set an opening price, and I'm open to offers. Let's talk, but the goal is the same, to sell the car for a fair price, fair to both parties. My #1x is worthless until someone wants to buy it. Dayum...Over 900 views of my MM.Net classified ad, and the only e-mail expressing interest, was from a dude that just bought his Crown Vic Sport, and wanted to know my asking price for my "bad boy". LOL!

So...Just how much do y'all think it's worth, eh?

[Donny Carlson]

First, my Marauder, which I was happy went for what it did, considering the thousands in mods I spent. Still, it was a kick in the pants. Fortunately, the chebby dealer was desparate to sell, and had lots of end of year dealer money, so it wound up not so bad.

Then, I decided to trade this beast in, and whoa momma, did I take a shot. You buy a new '05 for 12K under MSRP (and about 8K under invoice) and try to trade it 8 months later. Bluebook? NADA? Haahahhhahhaaa, those are there to give you false security. It ain't whether you're gonna take it in the shorts, just ... how HARD a shot. I had Chebby dealers give me INSULTING trade quotes, the bastages. At least the Ford dealer (who I bought 3 other cars from before) came up from "insulting" to "Ouch, ouch... okay, I want the Harley bad enough."

[texascorvette]

Dayum...Over 900 views of my MM.Net classified ad, and the only e-mail expressing interest, was from a dude that just bought his Crown Vic Sport, and wanted to know my asking price for my "bad boy". LOL!

So...Just how much do y'all think it's worth, eh?Trying to market a Marauder to the 99.99% of potential tire kicking idiots (excuse me, I meant average used car buyers) is like taking your Quarterhorse to a Thoroughbred auction. You would do just as well to take your horse to the dog food plant. By the same token, you can expect similar results by taking your Marauder to the scrap dealer.

[HwyCruiser]

I just ran a KBB.com estimated value on my '03. $12,800 trade-in, $15,330 private-party, $18,015 suggested retail for "excellent" condition. Wow, trade-in value would really be taking it in the shorts.

Cars in general are money pits, and the under my Marauder seems pretty deep. The only vehicles I figure I ever got my monies worth were the couple that I kept for more than 6 years. Lord continue to give me good luck with my Marauder!

[rumble]

Edmonds.com zip code 75080 Dallas TX.

2003 Mercury Marauder
Wholesale $15,000
Private party $16,731
Dealer list $18,202

2004 Mercury Marauder
Wholesale $17,000
Private party $18,763
Dealer list $20,237

Remember, these are for AVERAGE condition cars.
A nice clean MM will undoubtedly command more but
there is a very limited number of buyers for this car.
This is especially true with gas prices on the rise. If
you are trading one in a determining factor will be what
you are buying and how bad the dealer wants to move it.

[texascorvette]

Edmonds.com zip code 75080 Dallas TX.

2003 Mercury Marauder
Wholesale $15,000
Private party $16,731
Dealer list $18,202

2004 Mercury Marauder
Wholesale $17,000
Private party $18,763
Dealer list $20,237

Remember, these are for AVERAGE condition cars.
A nice clean MM will undoubtedly command more but
there is a very limited number of buyers for this car.
This is especially true with gas prices on the rise. If
you are trading one in a determining factor will be what
you are buying and how bad the dealer wants to move it.Pretty sad state of affairs!

[rumble]

Pretty sad state of affairs!


Yeah that's true. FMC Panthers have never had good resale.
Obviously if you plan on keeping it then the resale is not a factor.
Most folks though want to trade every 3 or 4 years and then as
Donny C says "ya takes it in the shorts"

Poor resale and consequently low residuals make a lease on one of
these almost out of the question. When I researched before buying
my MM I saw that leasing was almost as expensive as buying. I
knew if I bought this thing I had really better want it because I would
have to keep it or suffer the depreciation.
I did, still do.
It's a keeper.
:beer: