In the know...

[2003 MIB]

Hi Folks,
I hope this thread finds y'all well and ticket free. I've had the car for a couple of weeks and have never had more people asking me questions about any car I've owned. Mostly it's the under 25 set asking where I got the rims (the stock ones) or the chrome bumper insets (Bob White). I've owned some nice rides (Vettes and T/As) but Dallas is a town where you see a lot of nice rides- dime a dozen. The in the know folks love to talk about these cars. It's fun...Do y'all get this in other parts of the country?:cool:

[Dr Caleb]

I get it quite a bit up here. Mostly Mustangs pulling up beside me giving me the thumbs up. Other Mustangs giving me the thumbs up after I blow their doors off. Lexus owners just looking snooty with their doors dragging behind them as they catch up to me at the next light.

Most often I get comments from older FMC owners when I go out cruising. I've had guys in 60's/70's Mustang GT500's, Cougar 383's, GTO's, GTX's, all come up to me and tell me they love the car. Of course, their rides are just <b>beautiful</b>, so that comes as a high compliment!
Some know what the car is (usually the old muscle car guys) some don't know what it is, but want to know why it's so fast. "It ain't their grandad's Grand Marquis" I tell them :lol:

[2003 MIB]

I hope you don't mind if I steal the Grandpa line- it's classic...

[marauderhombre]

I have been lucky enough to drive 5 different Marauders (demo's)and all three colors, I have taken them to car shows, races wherever I can, to help advertise and make their presence known, I have put 4,500- 5,000 miles on each one and then sold them, (with the exception of the last) I have tinted, spoilered, and done every thing that can be done (including supercharged) and it blows my mind the feedback that I get!
I went to a Cobra and Shelby show and had 10- 15 people huddled around the car at all times,.... there were Cobras that were worth $100,000.00 and their owners were checking out the Marauder. .....You guys have said it over and over again, and you are all 100% correct,... Mercury's ad campaign FLAT OUT SUCKS!!!!!! Sad but true!:mad2:

[TAF]

I guess this is a good place for this instead of starting another thread...

Today I drove around Charlotte with the COO of the parent company that owns my company. He's from Dublin, Ireland. When I picked him up at the airport, he was blown away by the marauder. After driving around for a couple of hours checking out our products, we came out of the store and he says "Can I take it for a spin". Needless to say he was more than impressed. He couldn't believe the power and handling...and he's a TRUE car nut. Drives a custom Mercedes S600 (he said around $140K). He felt the Marauder handled better and had better road-feel than his S600. It was almost embarrassing how he went on and on about my car. And when I told him the price...he was floored.

Just another reason to drive around with that silly-a$$ grin!!!

[RF Overlord]

Did you "HAVE" to play golf with him, too?

:P

Or did you just find a nice pub and swill pints of Guiness all day?

:lol: :lol:

[TAF]

No golf....today at least.

And you CAN'T work for the Irish without hoisting a pint...:beer:

[Marauderman]

Whats this--your back up here and didn't inform me----that cause for being punished.....next time -I drive yours twice to mine once...

[WolfeBros]

I have owned alot of new cars over the years. I without question get more looks and comments on this car than all of the other ones combined. What is the most interesting is the comments come from people aged 18 to 80. From ricers with fart pipes to people driving cars well into the 6 digit dollar range.

The best part is......the more I drive it the more I like it too. :up:

[2003 MIB]

Hey Wolfebros- Will you be at the next North Texas Marauders meet? I'd really like to hear your exhaust...I'd like a little more rumble at parking lot idle without aural intrusion on the highway. Happy with your combo?

[JohnnyB]

I pulled into a shopping center in Ardsley, NY and a guy came out of a bar to check out the MM. Said he never saw one before. He liked the MM a lot.

[Marauderman]

I get people waiting for me to park her and wait for me to walk towards the store from way back in the lot and finnally they meet up with me as I enter the store just so they can say--"hey -man--thats a nice car there--been want'n to see one--heard a little and seen a show on TV about them( speed channel)---but never seen one--really looks nice--" I say thanks--look away and move on into the store w/o trying to show the grining from ear to ear so it isn't take'n as a smirk remark back to the gentleman's responce....it goes on and on..and on...it's the standard by which others should follow ......as adicting as it always seems to appear to us all from so many others gaughing at it--it continusually makes us vry out -why ..why..why...haven't more people been able to find this car ----gotta stop--far too long a response--can hear your wispering ...enougf....

[Marauderman]

oh those (darn) keys..................

[CRUZTAKER]

Originally posted by 2003 MIB
...Do y'all get this in other parts of the country?:cool:

Daily! Some times so often it's almost embarrassing, 'cause it's so hard not to show the outright bubbly feeling and keep a straight and serious face.

MIB: When you hear Wolfe's exhaust, you'll want it, I did.

[BlackHole]

The people that just changed my oil today could not get over the fact its all STOCK!!!! Down to the BLING BLING wheels.:P :P . But what really got them was the Engine. They where not Merc. Fans but they both said Mercury Got this car right. The car yes the word NO!!!!:alone:

[2003 MIB]

Today I took a young lady (23) from the office for a short ride and she said, "this ride gives you a strong pimp hand". I got a translation later and I guess that's a good thing to have. She's too young for me to date- I think someone would activate the Amber alert if they saw us together but it did make me feel a bit less middle-aged and bald.

[WolfeBros]

Originally posted by 2003 MIB
Hey Wolfebros- Will you be at the next North Texas Marauders meet? I'd really like to hear your exhaust...I'd like a little more rumble at parking lot idle without aural intrusion on the highway. Happy with your combo?

Yes I am planning on coming to the next meeting.
I have the 18" Magnaflows with the MEGS tips w/o resonators.
It has a good sound at idle but quiets considerably at cruising speed. I can hear a nice quiet rumble at 70-75 mph but no annoying harmonics in the cabin. So yes I am pleased with it.
Look forward to meeting you and others from DFW area.

[RCSignals]

You know, there are people who post on BON who wouldn't believe a word of anything in this thread.
A shame because it's all true

[2003 MIB]

Please forgive my ignorance...What's BON??

[RCSignals]

Blue Oval News They have forums. Stay out of the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Marauder forum, it doesn't contain discussions about the cars.
Most general discussions happen in "School of free thought"
http://warnerrobert.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php

Go at your own risk :)

[dok]

Originally posted by RCSignals
Blue Oval News They have forums. Stay out of the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Marauder forum, it doesn't contain discussions about the cars.
Most general discussions happen in "School of free thought"
http://warnerrobert.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php

Go at your own risk :)

I was reading some of your posts regarding the MM on BON. Do you enjoy beating your head against the wall? :lol: Those people just don't want to listen to a voice of reason.

[RCSignals]

Thats for sure DOK, they don't listen to reason, and they don't read well at all either

[Bigdogjim]

On Sunday the local Ford dealer had a one of those "local" car shows. I was going to enter the MM but, with driving to Marlton for the meet on Saturday in the rain I did not have time to clean it. (Shoot me later) I went over to see who's around. Anyway when I pulled in a parked guy's were leaving their show cars and comming over to check out the Marauder. They have read about it and never saw one up close? When I opened the hood they were blown away...
Advertising would have made this car a hot seller! :mad:

[rct]

I'm alone down in Atlantic County, South Jersey. Ain't another one around until you get up to Hammonton, and I haven't seen his lately. Mine looks like ****e today, but nice weather this week so I'll get it cleaned up tonight. Non-stop oogling of that thing, from the proletariat to The Man. Was out at Ikea outside Philly on the weekend, parked it right next to a pimped up Black Crown, and he was out there when I came out. Heh. That was funny. Took me half an hour to get 5 bags in the car, people just asking questions, mostly "What the EFF is THAT?".

And, the tricky part for the rice boys, IT'S FUN TO DRIVE. Any I've encountered so far don't know that, they are too far behind me to know that. Heh heh heh.

I've had it a month now, I'm 5 and 0 on the road, stock. It is a pleasure to drive.

[Mad1]

I whole-heartedly agree with everyone's experience. Heads turn, people really want to know what it is, how you tricked it out and how fast it goes.

I took mine to the beach over the weekend. We had a crowd around it and you never saw such eager faces of all ages.

When I opened the hood, turned over the engine and then reached inside with my foot to goose the throttle a few times ... jaws just dropped.

I gave a co-worker a ride yesterday and her first comment "I forgot what luxury this is."

Big A$$ Grin -- oh yeah!
Mad1

[Paul T. Casey]

People like the car, I like attention, it's a perfect fit. As far as the bashing on BON, as I've said before, you gotta have some class to own this ride!

[JGaignat]

I also get looks from all age groups here in Kansas. Mostly the rims and pipes attract the attention. People think they are looking at a Fed car at first glance........then they see my daughters car seat in the back. (it doesn't really fit with the image of the car........but what are you gonna do?)
If my 10 year old son is with me when someone asks me about the car........he always adds.........."yeah, and it's got a Mustang Cobra engine." He can't wait until he turns 14 so he can get his learners permit and get behind the wheel of Dad's Marauder.

A teenager in the neighborhood who has a 94 Grand Marquis with a spoiler and sport wheels stopped and drooled on it at the gas station the other day. I opened the hood and he drooled some more.

I'm having a great time with my "mid life crisis" car, as some people have called it. It was my 40th birthday present to myself.

[TripleTransAm]

When shopping around, I figured I'd have one of the only Marauders in town should I decide to buy.

Well I decided to buy. And now they're everywhere... well, not EVERYWHERE, but if you take the ratio of how many Ram Air Trans Ams (WS6) were produced between 1998 and 2002 (the body style I own) and see how many are around here in Montreal, and then do the same with the Marauder (consider it was only a partial model year up here in Canada and how few have been sold) ... the difference is outstanding.

Considering I know of maybe 3 or 4 other '98-'02 WS6 T/As around here, so far in 3 months of ownership I've come to know of 6 MM's on the road around here, so far. One of which happens to ironically live only 3-4 blocks away from me!

Ran across another one the other day coming back from lunch... rolled down our windows, we both 'thumbs up'ed each other, and he looks at me and says "get a chip, it's amazing". LOL!

Thankfully, I think my own MM is the one with the heaviest tint of them all, so I still can claim some uniqueness. :D

[golfnut]

Driving to the gym other day I passed one of these Mini Coopers. As I passed I glanced over and the guy was grinning from ear to ear with a big thumbs up. I waved and gave him the thumb back, after all those are kinda cool cars. I pull into the gym parking lot at and here comes this Cooper thru the parking lot at warp speed. He stops right behind me and jumps out of the car. He said he had been reading about the MM but hadnt seen one till then. He whipped me about the car for a good 30 mins, then I walked into the gym with a big a$$ grin on my face as my wife rolled her eyes...... Life is good.....

[Jay Stark]

I am in the business of leasing vehicles therefore my driveway and garage has seen it all. Other than a recent 360 Spider or the new E55 no other car has brought more interest.

It has become a game of smiles between my daughter of 13 and I to see the reactions. Trips to the store or the ball parks are more fun.

My wife laughed the first day I brought my MM home as an everyday driver. She said it was "my dad's car". I've never heard it again!

Enjoy.

[Jay Stark]

Originally posted by 2003 MIB
Today I took a young lady (23) from the office for a short ride and she said, "this ride gives you a strong pimp hand". I got a translation later and I guess that's a good thing to have. She's too young for me to date- I think someone would activate the Amber alert if they saw us together but it did make me feel a bit less middle-aged and bald.


You never told us what a pimp hand is. My imagination is running.

[2003 MIB]

I'm sorry gentlemen- I assumed I was the only one out of the loop on the hip-hop lingo. A "pimp hand" is your arsenal to appeal to the opposite sex. Maybe it's your charm, your Rolex, your looks, your dance skills or in my case the Marauder.... Don't have any of the other stuff.:rolleyes:

[EbonyMarauder03]

I work at a Ford dealer and when all the Stangsters got a chance to probe it like aliens on cattle it was a mob scene. I felt bad for one of the guys who got one of those C/V Sports. They rode him for all they could. The tech of choice there that I had fix a few minor things liked it alot, and he's got a drag Stang and brought in one of those new fangled Super Charged Cobras. So even those in the know still turn their heads. Can't wait to cruise it in Sea Side Heights, N.J.:rock:

[2003 MIB]

Triple Trans Am-
Too weird, just too weird:
1979 T/A 400- 4spd
1991 Formula 1LE 350/4 wheel disk
1996 T/A WS6
2003 Marauder 300A
You're living my life in Canada...I hope the summer's are cooler.:coolman:

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by 2003 MIB

You're living my life in Canada...I hope the summer's are cooler.


Nice stash of cars! You're a Firebird nut like I am, I take it!!! :D

Summer took a while to get here this year... but it's finally here in full bloom. 90F for the past couple of days, and looks like it'll be like this all week. Sunny all week. :cool:

[jgc61sr2002]

EbonyMarauder - Welcome to the MM site. You came to the right place. It's nice to have the insight of people who work for FMC, as members of this board.:up:

[2003 MIB]

I'm sure you share my sadness at the demise of the F-body. I really felt like the last one was one of the best cars I'd ever owned- they finally got it close to perfect. It was fast and much more balanced than any of the previous generations. I bought a '96 Crown Vic P71 on eBay looking for something to wrench on while I was unemployed last year. I sold it for more than I paid for it but was really drawn to the Ford Panther platform. I think of my new Marauder as the WS6 of its family. The strange devotion of the owners that I see on this site is nothing like I ever saw driving the Firebirds. The Birds were good but now they're gone...a moment of silence is warranted....That's long enough- My MM- well hell, all of y'all's MM's rule!

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by 2003 MIB
The strange devotion of the owners that I see on this site is nothing like I ever saw driving the Firebirds.


Well, definitely from a per capita perspective, the MM has an ardent following. However, there is a LOT of F-body enthusiasm around the 'net (I belong to a few clubs, both electronic and other). In fact, a definite reason for lack of F-production was GM's own reluctance at producing the damned thing. I know many aspiring F-LS1 owners who waited 9 months for their orders to be filled, then tired and went elsewhere (Cobra, Corvette, etc.). Lots of stories about backordered transmissions, etc... but in reality GM couldn't take the CAFE hit with so many V8s in production and such crappy non-econo like the Sunfire/Cavalier combo. Since 1993, GM has been overwhelmed at the interest in V8s on that final F-generation... they were expecting the V8s to be a small minority!!!

[2003 MIB]

Good info TTA! I like to learn things I don't know. I really thought the escalating insurance rates (even for clean record adults) at least in Texas pushed some folks away. I didn't think about CAFE but it makes a lot of sense...