marauders future legacy?

[hot-rauder]

i dont know if this has already been started, if so feel free to delete but, what do you guys believe the marauder name will be like in 20-30 years? do you guys think that it will be remembered as simply your hot rodded grandmarquis, or will it be known for its features( big motor, comfort, rarity, and "sleeper" characteristics). will it be forgotten, or will it end up as the mustang 2, good parts, good idea, non successful in the long run.

i dont think it will be placed with the older marauders in its thirst for racing, but will be mentioned seeing as though it did stick with their big power idea. i hope it will be a popular collectors item, i wish it would end up like a yenko, everyone knows about it, few have seen it, and fewer own them. i already always get asked what mine is, who makes it(im debadged), and my favorite,"is that factory?"

let us know what you guys think. should i set up a poll on this one?

[FastMerc]

I believe the name will return someday,I just hope that the car is worthy. Mercury needs some muscle,not just a bunch of suvs and grocery getters.:D

[Pat]

It will have a small niche to sustain it's legacy. One hardly hears about the Buick Grand National's today but when you see one it's immediately recognizable as a muscle machine of a bygone era.

The Marauder will be valued as a performance car especially if it's graced with a supercharger or turbo. Hidden items like chips, flash programming, stall converters and rear end gears aren't going to make the car recognizable, but lift that hood and have an S/C jump out at you on top of or in front of that DOHC engine will keep the car as an item of interest for many years and IMO get better with age. I think the stock exterior appearance will enhance it's longevity.

Pat

[whoskal]

I voted what I want to happen which is "rarest of the modern muscle"......but unfortunatley what will most likely happen is that the MM will be "lost in the pages".......But who knows, only time will tell

[Raudermaster]

I voted rarest of the modern day muscle cars, which I believe it is. It's great having 4 doors loaded up to capacity and still be whooping on 'Stangs and Camaro's and a few other selectible vehicles. Unfortunately though, I agree with whoskal and most definately think it will be forgotten. It makes you wonder though, if Mercury spiced it up a bit more, threw it out in the open way more than they did, how much it would have sold?

[ctrlraven]

Had to go with the rarest of modern muscle. I run into a person ever so often that remembers hearing about the car. I think as time goes on and power see more and more s/c ones it will set it for future memories.

[1stMerc]

I don't think it will ever be forgotten. With more and more young guns (ctrlraven, Raudermaster, Motorhead350 and others) discovering them.
As long as there are car guys and gals, who manage to avoid the rice craze, at least the name Marauder will live on as good ol American muscle.

Don't get me wrong, i like rice... properly done. A 6-7 second pass in a 4 cylinder is good in anybody's book. But there is no substitute for good ol V8 muscle.

[Aren Jay]

It will return in 20 years with no advertising and little intial interest. We few will stumble upon it in the corner of a car show and say "hey what is that?"

Research will take place and after a review or three with a pleaseantly surprised reviewer we will find ourselve seated in the new Marauder with a big smile and the astonished looks on the other drivers as we roar away from the lights.

Assuming we still have cars in 20 years and lights and ....

[hot-rauder]

I don't think it will ever be forgotten. With more and more young guns (ctrlraven, Raudermaster, Motorhead350 and others) discovering them.
As long as there are car guys and gals, who manage to avoid the rice craze, at least the name Marauder will live on as good ol American muscle.

Don't get me wrong, i like rice... properly done. A 6-7 second pass in a 4 cylinder is good in anybody's book. But there is no substitute for good ol V8 muscle.

i hear ya, im 18 and i own one. my twin is looking for a blue one and our older brother, 23, has one. we love them and all of our friends envy them... i cant believe we found them, but im will never complain that we did!

[Leadfoot281]

I rarely meet people that know what the car is. I doubt that after 20-30 years that will change.

Even at car shows, where 99.99% of the people are car enthusiasts, people will still walk by my car and say "So, that's what a cop car motor looks like.." or "where'd you get those pimped out wheels?".

I think it will go down in history as Mercurys version of Buicks Reatta. Largely forgotton except by a select few.

[1stMerc]

I rarely meet people that know what the car is. I doubt that after 20-30 years that will change.

Even at car shows, where 99.99% of the people are car enthusiasts, people will still walk by my car and say "So, that's what a cop car motor looks like.." or "where'd you get those pimped out wheels?".

I think it will go down in history as Mercurys version of Buicks Reatta. Largely forgotton except by a select few.

Leadfoot
That's the trick we're getting the word out, one curious person at a time. You know, that person tells another person, that person tells another and so forth and so on.

In my opinion, there will pretty much always be someone looking to get they're hands on one.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

LOL of course over half of the guys on this board will think this car will be remembered. People don't even know what it is now. 10 years from now people will think it is a crown vic/grand marquis that some kid put aftermarket wheels and chrome tips on. Nobody knows what they are now and time won't help that.

[Aren Jay]

Even half the guys at my private mechanic/garage don't know what a Marauder is. The other half do and ask me about it everytime I'm there.

I had one guy walk past me while I was parked at the mall. He was walking by and almost fell over when he stopped had a look a good look and watched carefully as he backed up and drove away.

One guy at the gas station, first time anyone has ever said anything about one of my cars at a gas station, was surprised to see that they made Red Marauders. (mind you DTR's are very rare in Canada)

Amazing car.

[KillJoy]

I voted "good idea, good parts, faliure to sell ". When I mention my car to folks, or they see it... they say....that was a cool car. Too bad they killed it.

If I could have voted for two.... I would have also voted "rarest of the "modern" muscle"

KillJoy

[whd507]

same here. (see above)

ford killed it, as they have with the Crown Vic by refusing to advertise it. sending DVDs to people already interested in the car, and then refusing to advertise is a crappy way to sell cars. I'm surprised to see they sold as many as they did. I have only heard ONE ad for a full size ford in the last 20 years, and it was a local radio spot.

I see folks every day that love my car, and would have bought one if they had known about them. hell I send my local dealer quite a bit of Grand Marquis business when I tell people about them. its rugged, dependable, gets great mileage and is very comfortable. why would you buy a underpowered mid-size when the GM/CV gets the same miles with some power?

it ticks me off and astounds me that ford refuses to advertise their most profitable vehicles over politically correct inferior vehicles. that why I sold my stock, that why I'm done buying new fords.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

why would you buy a underpowered mid-size when the GM/CV gets the same miles with some power

Have you looked at the HP, gas mileage, and 0-60 times new midsize cars like the Maxima are getting w/ the V6 (sub 7 second)? Technology has caught up (finally). Although advertising is part of Ford's problem, it certainly was not all of it. Most of the Marauder reviews when it came out said the car was decent, but not as fast as expected. It really is not a "fast" car stock -- it should have had a little more low end out-of-the-box to be a little more exciting. The stock 4.6 cammer 0-60 does not fare well in a 4200 lb car. The reality was that the Marauder only did 0-60 in the mid 7 second range. Compare this to GM's run of the mill 3800 series II, which with only 205 horsepower, did a high 7 second 0-60 in the old-man Buicks and Oldsmobile 4 doors of the late 1990s, running on 87 octane gas and getting mid to high 20's for gas mileage on the highway. There were several pieces to the puzzle why the car did not sell well. That's okay, that means it will have more collector value than a GM or a CV. It does provide a great platform for a modified 4 door with some power.

If Ford had put the 5.4 in the Marauder and it was really fast, it probably would have been even worse on gas, and then it wouldn't have sold well either. The market for a hot rod full size is tricky.

[lucenti]

The car is a rarity. I have owned this one for 2 years,and looking to get another one. enjoy the ride, yu ride with a chosen few.. woo profound
:cool4:

[Vortex]

I kinda think my Marauder is similar to my Harley in a lot of ways; both are very "old school" rides that technology has sorta passed by but still remain quite powerful in their own right, both look cool as hell and draw plenty of lookers, both are very AMERICAN in design, and both are very likely the last of their kind (so you'd better get one now if you want one!) My dos centavos.

[Aren Jay]

Our Marauders will be remembered as how to not advertise a car and not sell any.

and Vic's brother should know that only the 03 were slow mid seven cars. 04's are sub seven closer to the stated mid six second cars.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

only the 03 were slow mid seven cars. 04's are sub seven closer to the stated mid six second carsA 300 rpm increase in stall speed shaved a full second off the 0-60 time? I didn't think that was the case at all. If it did that is the most miraculous upgrade I have heard of, and I am going out and getting an 04 converter chop chop .

[Skp369]

I have a 2003 300b which was produced in April 03. It is pure stock. My 0-60 times are always in the upper 6 second area.

I hope the Marauder will reach collector status and be remembered with Grand Nationals, Impala SS, new Chargers, ect. However I am concerned that it will be overshadowed and forgotten. I hope it goes up in value. I hope others appreciate the car as much as we do here. It would be great to think that some day this car will be worth twice what it was when it was new but i have a sinking feeling that it will slowly drop in value.

[quota]

I believe that it will do as the X-100 and as some previous Marauder models did : it will not be a true "classic" but can become a "must have" for a restricted club of enthousiasts. This, provided that FORD or Mercury brings back the name for a new model, hopefully full of HP. That could become reality if FORD survives and if, while surviving, FORD remembers that it has a potential demand and image to satisfy. Lots of ifs...
JP

[roscoe]

I think the rarest of the modern muscle wont be our beloved marauder,instead it would be the 1987 Buick GNX which they only made 547 of.

http://www.buickgnx.com/

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Careful Roscoe, if you stick up for GM cars on this board RC signals and the gang will beat you down with a sack of oranges!!

[whd507]

the marauder didnt have to be the fastest, just awe-inspiring. it does that very well. I think the Marauder will be like the 60's muscle cars, remembered to be better and faster than they really were. drive a 65 GTO without air for a summer and it quickly loses its charm. (my 71 Mach 1 for example, had air, so not so bad, but still pretty primitive) in 40 years cars will have features we cant think of anymore than 1967 would have invisioned the new corvette with heads-up display, or even boring things like OBDII, or our steering wheel controls and heated seats.

imagine where we would be today, if NASCAR hadnt banned the SOHC 427 ford cobbled together in the 60's? Chrysler was building an OHC hemi, as was GM dabbling with OHC when it was killed stillborn.

[DeepSea117]

As bad as it sounds, more and more I'm liking the fact that there was only two model years. The power thing never was an issue for me, there are a lot faster and better handling cars that wouldn't turn my head like my Marauder does. It had a good blend of everything else like comfort, styling (moreso on the outside), reliability for me at least, power (which can always be more no matter which car you own), and just enough produced to be a tiny blip in the radar and not overly played out. I've seen our cars described as unlamented, underpowered, not the best-handling, plain-looking, over-glorified, etc, etc.... but honestly, we probably bought it for the feeling we get from the car. That and the fact that despite the Marauder's so called "flaws", it will STILL turn heads or stop traffic, makes me love the car even more. Happens to me all the time, and I'm getting about a compliment a day from random people (happened yesterday at a gas station:) ), as well as many strained necks from turning to see what the hell is growling next to their cars. It'd be cool for me if the Marauder was remembered not for the horsepower, but for what it makes the owners feel, with a good balance of everything you'd want. Rare enough, but not too rare.

That and being #3 in the top 10 stolen list made everyone who read that list say to themselves "WTF is a Marauder?"

[hot-rauder]

I think the rarest of the modern muscle wont be our beloved marauder,instead it would be the 1987 Buick GNX which they only made 547 of.

http://www.buickgnx.com/

thats smog crap... yes the gnx is a fast carbut i would never put them in the same category as the MM. it is an 80's turbo v6. since whe has a muscle car to any of us been a v6?

[roscoe]

thats smog crap... yes the gnx is a fast carbut i would never put them in the same category as the MM. it is an 80's turbo v6. since whe has a muscle car to any of us been a v6? i wouldn't take a Buick GNX over my marauder don't get me wrong. In terms of rarity the GNX is rarer.

[Skp369]

If we want our Cars to be accepted then we need to accept others. I almost purchased a brand new Grand National (couldn't find a GNX) in the spring of '88. It was a great car. It had all the properties that I love about the Marauder and it had a V-6 (although supercharged). I bought a Camaro instead and sold it a few years later. In 1996, I almost purchased an Impala SS. It too was a great car. It had all the properties that I love in the Marauder. I bought a Corvette. I sold the Corvette. I wasn't going to make the same mistake three times in row and bought a Marauder. It is the Best Car I have ever owned and in my biased opinion is better than the ones that I didn't buy....but my head still turns when I see a GN/GNX or an Impala.

[jimlam56]

As bad as it sounds, more and more I'm liking the fact that there was only two model years. The power thing never was an issue for me, there are a lot faster and better handling cars that wouldn't turn my head like my Marauder does. It had a good blend of everything else like comfort, styling (moreso on the outside), reliability for me at least, power (which can always be more no matter which car you own), and just enough produced to be a tiny blip in the radar and not overly played out. I've seen our cars described as unlamented, underpowered, not the best-handling, plain-looking, over-glorified, etc, etc.... but honestly, we probably bought it for the feeling we get from the car. That and the fact that despite the Marauder's so called "flaws", it will STILL turn heads or stop traffic, makes me love the car even more. Happens to me all the time, and I'm getting about a compliment a day from random people (happened yesterday at a gas station:) ), as well as many strained necks from turning to see what the hell is growling next to their cars. It'd be cool for me if the Marauder was remembered not for the horsepower, but for what it makes the owners feel, with a good balance of everything you'd want. Rare enough, but not too rare.

That and being #3 in the top 10 stolen list made everyone who read that list say to themselves "WTF is a Marauder?"

Good call, that's the intangible benefit of these cars.
I have met a lot of good folks that came up to me to talk about my cars.
That won't change in the future, despite the aforementioned technology advances. As long as we continue to show up at the strip or car shows, the word will spread.

[1stMerc]

I think the Marauder will be like the 60's muscle cars, remembered to be better and faster than they really were. drive a 65 GTO without air for a summer and it quickly loses its charm. (my 71 Mach 1 for example, had air, so not so bad, but still pretty primitive)


That depends on how old you are when driving that power plant and who with.

[RCSignals]

I think the rarest of the modern muscle wont be our beloved marauder,instead it would be the 1987 Buick GNX which they only made 547 of.

http://www.buickgnx.com/

they only built 547 of them? How popular.

[RCSignals]

Careful Roscoe, if you stick up for GM cars on this board RC signals and the gang will beat you down with a sack of oranges!!



Oh yes I forgot yours is the only opinion that counts for anything, and of course it's 'open minded'.

[FastMerc]

We are a select few,and there are a select few that will always remember,and a slect few that will always want one.But most of all a select few will always have them :D :D :D

[RCSignals]

We are a select few,and there are a select few that will always remember,and a slect few that will always want one.But most of all a select few will always have them :D :D :D

true about that. Even today there are only a select few who know about the '03-'04 Marauder

[SideshowBob]

First off, to those of you who suggested that power adders will help keep collector interest in these cars... WRONG! You can add a supercharger to any old car, but it won't make that car of any more interest to car enthusiasts or collectors because it isn't FACTORY. Find yourself a '65 Tempest and drop a 389 tri power into it and you will NOT have a GTO; you'll have a Tempest with a big motor and that's all. Hot rodders may take notice, but no one will pay you top GTO dollars for a hot rod Tempest.


Now, I will let you in on the secret of what IS holding back collector interest in the '03-'04 Marauders: I OWN ONE!!! I'm serious. Anyone ever see that movie The Cooler? William H. Macy play a guy who's luck is so bad that it rubs off on others. He works for a Las Vegas casino where his job is to "cool off" gamblers who are on a hot streak. Just by walking up to their table, he's able to change their luck. That's me. If I want to buy a house, the market is in a frenzy and prices are through the roof. If I'm selling a house, the economy immediately goes into a recession. Not only did Marauder prices drop appreciably shortly after I bought mine, but gas prices almost tripled! See the connection here? I buy a cool, limited production car; it quickly becomes uncollectible. I buy a big, high performance car that demands premium fuel; gas soars to over 3 bucks a gallon. This scenario has repeated itself over and over again in my life, including guns, rare vinyl LPs, family heirlooms... I could go on and on.

Now here's the good news for you Marauder lovers: You can reverse this downward spiral by simply buying my Marauder! I love my Marauder, but I am willing to make the sacrifice in order to better the lives of my Marauder brethren. I'm not even going to try to make a profit on this, I will sell the car for exactly what I paid for it. Now, is that magnanimous or what? You guys could all chip in a few dollars each and in so doing maybe double the value of your Marauders within a few months (once word that I no longer own one gets out). Not only that, but undoubtedly gas would drop back to a dollar per gallon within a year! Ford might even produce a new Marauder, once the marque is no longer connected to my name!

So here's your big chance to elevate the Marauder to the exalted position in automotive history it deserves. Face it; the faster you guys put me in a Prius, the better off you all will be. ;)

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

thats smog crap... yes the gnx is a fast carbut i would never put them in the same category as the MM. it is an 80's turbo v6. since whe has a muscle car to any of us been a v6?

Um, yeah. I wish some GN guys would read your comment there. GN's are in the 10s with stock internals. That's not in a light or aerodynamic car, either. The 60s muscle cars may not have been V6s, but their V8s in stock trim are pretty weak compared to even some of today's 4 cylinder performance cars. The times they are a changin. The 80s were a pretty dark era, when technology was lagging behind emissions, so for a car like that to have the potential it does, and be a V6 at that, certainly makes it the "muscle" of its era for me.

[hot-rauder]

Um, yeah. I wish some GN guys would read your comment there. GN's are in the 10s with stock internals. That's not in a light or aerodynamic car, either. The 60s muscle cars may not have been V6s, but their V8s in stock trim are pretty weak compared to even some of today's 4 cylinder performance cars. The times they are a changin. The 80s were a pretty dark era, when technology was lagging behind emissions, so for a car like that to have the potential it does, and be a V6 at that, certainly makes it the "muscle" of its era for me.

actually one of my best friend father owns a real GNX and he wants tosell it. although it is fast, ask any car guy what a muscle car is.... ya that 4 cylinder really sounds deep. WRONG! im not saying that they were not outstanding cars and could still run the doors off of many cars today but i cant say that they were a muscle car. a ferrari flies and so does a lambo, muscle car ferrari? no... the srt-4 in town with 21lbs of boost kicked my butt but he is still not a muscle car. they are awesome fast cars that fit at car shows and their respective fields, but they are not muscle cars. you are right, the 80's were primitive for anything of power, but i dont see the corvette lacking at all. yes the GNX was just as fast but they only made 547 of them? that makes no sense to me.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

The 80s TPI corvettes were nothing to write home about, my friends have a few. The TPI long tube intake was originally designed for the 305, and to save cost Chevy used it on the 350, which it could not feed above 4500 rpms. Plus the automatic 80s Vettes had something the the range of 2.2-2.5 rear gear ratio (LOL). I think they are high 14-low 15 second cars stock.

[hot-rauder]

The 80s TPI corvettes were nothing to write home about, my friends have a few. The TPI long tube intake was originally designed for the 305, and to save cost Chevy used it on the 350, which it could not feed above 4500 rpms. Plus the automatic 80s Vettes had something the the range of 2.2-2.5 rear gear ratio (LOL). I think they are high 14-low 15 second cars stock.

i owned an 88 iroc which i can saw was more fun to drive than the MM but nowhere near as nice and cool. i would never choose one over my MM but it was still fast. my neighbor has an 88 vette tpi 350, and yes itis fast. most of the vettes from the 80s are beat up and run down, that could attribute to the slow time of your friends. the 85 covettewas a 14.1 second car... not blistering fast and yes the GNX was faster but im not arguing that point. im saying that i dont believe in v6 muscle cars.

[Skp369]

A muscle car is:
1. An American Made Car.
2. A Full Size or Mid Size Car (Pony car's are compact muscle cars).
3. A performance oriented automobile (a.k.a. "muscle").
4. Has unique options/packages/motors that set it apart from ordinary
cars.
5. Not a Sub-compact car.
6. Not a car designed with high gas mileage as a primary concern.