Major issues?

[JHD7001]

Hello List,

I know I'm just a newbie still & don't have my MM yet (T-Minus 30 days max IF I do it) but everyone from a friend of a friend, etc down to the local Ford dealer is trying to warn me about major issues with these cars. *Nothing* specific, though.

I see nothing here in this forum but the typical FoMoCo stuff (former 65 Stang, 83 T-Bird, 88 Fox 5.0, 93 Lightning, 93 Mark VIII, current F150 owner). You guys wouldn't overlook major issues with these cars because you like them so much, would you?

What's with these people? Jealous? In denial because they want one? :confused:

Jason, cruising the LM dealers of Central Florida, so far only finding one idiot in Kissimmee who tonight said how rare they are & that I'd be lucky if he could find me one at sticker price + ADP (Additional Dealer Profit) :flamer:

*Every One* loves to buy, *No One* wants to be sold.

[prchrman]

only major issue lately is that they must have bull's eye on them...as many as are getting T boned...paint quality has been the biggest issue on this site IMHO...besides salesman that is...

[RCSignals]

No "major" issues that I know of. I wouldn't believe a friend of a friend who doesn't own one, that's for sure.
Ford dealers that aren't also Mercury dealers do tend to be kind of jealous, I've noticed that. They have nothing at all comparable to sell you.

[TAF]

The only "major issues" that I've seen/heard are from folks who just don't get it.

I challenge you to find a better all around car for the price. Post it here.

[Bigdogjim]

I stopped into a Ford dealer in Northeast Philadelphia today and the salesmen "where did you get that car from?" When I told them what is was they said they did not know Mercury had a car like that? Talk about dumb.

Anyway there have been no major issues with the car.
If you need help finding one just ask.

[WolfeBros]

Originally posted by TAF
I challenge you to find a better all around car for the price. Post it here.

I stand with Brother Todd on this one. There is nothing else out there folks that can do what this car can for the money ......plain and simple.

[JHD7001]

I concur with both of you, that's my one argument no one has been able to dispute.

I'm on the hunt.

[Marauder57]

First off the body and the engine have been workhorses for the FMC for a long, long, time.....so major problems are BS. Like any American car it will have it's problems...but it is some kind of car....and with the incentives...you will not find a better car for the money...

I got mine at Central Florida LM....last time I was there about 45 days ago they had 8 Black MM's in stock...just not moving them...just about all were builty 2002.....they would do a good deal I would think....I did pretty well with mine.

The guys in Kissimee have had the same black one for months...at least 6 and know nothing about the car....I shopped them and clearly knew more than them....

CFLM got me a blue from another dealer....ordered a Silver for someone else....the people there are not the greatest I have ever met....they are car dealers...But they want to move cars...and they will want to move those MM's....the Sales Manager there is named Michealangelo...You will be able to get him to invoice minus incentives which should put you at 28,000 ish pretty quick...then you could probably beat him down a bit more with time....

PM me if you have any questions....I have bugged him a couple of times with some stuff and he remembers me....our negotiations got pretty heated.....but I got 0% financing....so not too bad......

The smaller dealerships in the suburbs of Orlando, Eustis, Kissimmee, and others...don't get out much and they think the MM is gold......CFLM and Longwood have sold them and had them sit.....

If you go through the forum you will find out all the "bad" things that can happen....which are pretty minimal....

Good luck...you will get one.... :D

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by Marauder57
First off the body and the engine have been workhorses for the FMC for a long, long, time.....so major problems are BS.


You bring up an interesting point I've been debating with others. While it's been confirmed that most of the Marauder is a combination of existing hardware from other platforms, I think a lot of the problems come from the fact that these components have never been together on a single vehicle before.

For example, my dreaded harness situation... one would think this might have plagued CVs and Marquis for a decade, but the reality is that this is the first time the BigA$$ (tm) DOHC motor's been stuffed into that engine bay. Consequently, you have wire routing issues, etc. Same with the rear popping... all existing components in the suspension but now having to deal with huge heavy wheels with even heavier tires and different shocks, and probably different ride height too.

On my way in to work this morning, I passed a new Lincoln Town Car. I really like the styling for 2003. What I didn't like (when I test drove one in San Diego last January) was the lackluster engine and floppy/jiggly suspension. I got to thinking:

Wasn't there a time when the largest and most luxurious full-size cars were the ones to usually benefit from the manufacturer's strongest engine? Seems this was the philosophy in the 50s 60s and even the 70s. Where did we go wrong? The most successful modern European and Japanese luxury cars still seem to offer this capability... look at the high HP top-of-the-line Mercedes, etc. Seems to me it would make sense to offer a S/C Cobra engine on the Town Car... the only reason I can think of as to why it's not happening is perhaps CAFE ratings? Still, the *others* can do it...

[EbonyMarauder03]

I'll speak for dealerships since I work at one. Many people here don't keep up with what is out there. I keep up because I like to know what is out there. Sometimes our own salesmen don't know stuff about the cars they do sell. You just need to find the right people in the dealership to ask. Usually service or parts. As for recalls the media finds out before I do.

As for major issues I don't have any. I did have a shifter adjustment and going to get my crossmember looked at since I get a clunk under the car on throttle changes. I may get my guy to look into any reflashed of the processor, too. As for the previously mentioned paint I only have a spot or two on the sheet metal that I'm not thrilled with but the mouldings are another question. I may wait a little awhile and get it repainted right or change the color if they still crank them out.

I have seen listings for the Maroon grille in my catalogs but haven't seen any word that they are still making them. It's as fuzzy as most FoMoCo issues.

[tomd]

Hi JHD

Well if you buy a Marauder the Ford Salesman doesn't make any money, so he going to knock the car.

You'll always find people who will be jealous no matter what!

I love the car and would buy another if they where going to be around in 3 to 5 years, but I don't think that's going to happen.

[rumble]

"I love the car and would buy another if they where going to be around in 3 to 5 years, but I don't think that's going to happen"

That's exactly the reason I bought one now, while I can still get one! Otherwise in 2 years I will wish I hadda!

[SILVERMARAUDER]

Originally posted by EbonyMarauder03
I'll speak for dealerships since I work at one. Many people here don't keep up with what is out there. I keep up because I like to know what is out there. Sometimes our own salesmen don't know stuff about the cars they do sell. You just need to find the right people in the dealership to ask. Usually service or parts. As for recalls the media finds out before I do.

As for major issues I don't have any. I did have a shifter adjustment and going to get my crossmember looked at since I get a clunk under the car on throttle changes. I may get my guy to look into any reflashed of the processor, too. As for the previously mentioned paint I only have a spot or two on the sheet metal that I'm not thrilled with but the mouldings are another question. I may wait a little awhile and get it repainted right or change the color if they still crank them out.

I have seen listings for the Maroon grille in my catalogs but haven't seen any word that they are still making them. It's as fuzzy as most FoMoCo issues.

[RCSignals]

TTA

"huge heavy wheels "

I don't have actual weights to go on, but it seems to me our forged aluminum wheels are lighter than the 16" steel wheels used on the regular CV and GMs.

You are correct on engines. There was a time that the smallest engine in a Mercury was the largest engine in a Ford.
Lincolns usually had their own large engines.
Todays Town Car should really have had a 4.6 DOHC or 5.4 (maybe even the V10) from the start.

[jgc61sr2002]

JDH - Test drive the MM and you will be hooked. Members of this board have gotten some good prices lately. Check other threads on what members paid.

[LincMercLover]

Originally posted by RCSignals
Lincolns usually had their own large engines.
Todays Town Car should really have had a 4.6 DOHC or 5.4 (maybe even the V10) from the start.

I wish... :rolleyes: One reason why I now look at both Lincoln AND Mercury.

[SILVERMARAUDER]

i got mine under the Ford emp plan and got it for 27k a deal and they gave me 8k for my 97 PHP GRAND MARQUIS a deal i caould not pass up! Suggestion find a dealer and treat him fair and you should be treated fair and get a great deal if you are ready to deal dealers are ready to part with these!

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by RCSignals
I don't have actual weights to go on, but it seems to me our forged aluminum wheels are lighter than the 16" steel wheels used on the regular CV and GMs.


I agree I misworded it... I should have said huge heavy wheel/tire combo. That's a LOT of rubber on that wheel.

I didn't weigh them myself, to be honest, but I was going on the comments made by the race shop that balanced the wheels, looking for a cure to my 60 mph vibration. It's pretty well minimized now, but the owner of the shop suggested against pursuing any further balancing of the wheels... he claimed the weight of the assembly made it difficult to nail a good balance down when we were already that close.

The weight comments were made in relation to a 'cupping' he noticed on both the inside and outside of the front wheels. He claimed it almost looked like the car was under-sprung for the weight of the wheel/tire combo, since it was worse on the inside of the front tires.

[aaronwilmington]

Major issues?? Try 24 days at dealer for warranty repairs, since Feb 08, 2003 purchase. I am happy to say I no longer own a Mercury Marauder. I went through the Dispute Settlement Board and Ford reacquired my vehicle on Friday, July 25, 2003. I was reimbursed for all my payments and I didn't have to pay any mileage.

VIN # 2MEHM75V83X630714.

Happy ending.

[RF Overlord]

Holy crap, aaron...

If you please, can you give us a detailed list of what was wrong with your car, and what, if anything, the dealer did to it?

Sorry this happened to you... :( . What are you thinking of replacing it with?

Good luck...

[aaronwilmington]

Transmission problems - Overdrive disengaging, loss of power.
Valve body overhauled and temp sensor replaced.
Brake booster replaced.
Rear windshield replaced, streaks in between pane
Exhaust odor in car when idling - dealer couldn't problem
rear left speaker replaced - vibrating
seat cover replaced - spot on leather, also went to upholstery shop two times
right back passenger window replaced - rubber molding torn,
crack in console on driver's door, part replaced
front headlight assembly replaced (3) times due to moisture
Dealer would not fix carpet in rear, carpet loose and popping up
Windshield wiper blades replaced twice, scrapping window

[MAD-3R]

OUCH!!!

[jrzygrl]

Sounds to me like they might have sold him a "car show" vehicle, that was "pawed" to death.........??? It's possible.

[SILVERMARAUDER]

YEP!!! THOSE MITS WILL TEAR THEM UP!

[RCSignals]

In any production run there is bound to be cars with problems. Aaron just got them all.

What was the mileage on the car when it was delivered? Had it been a "demonstrator"?

[Petrograde]

Bad Luck bro! Glad you got all your $ back!

[jgc61sr2002]

AAron - Also glad to see you got your money back. By the vin # you can tell it was a 300A and probably was on the dealers lot for six months or more. Any car on the lot for that period of time gets beat up. :( :)

[JHD7001]

Yeah, I drove all the way the heck to Daytona last Sunday to take a closer look at one with a 6/02 production date, sitting on the lot since 8/02.

Beat down. Dents all down the right side, dirty, looked like someone threw multiple sets of golf bags across the trunk, flicked cigarette ashes on the rear shelf & then proceeded to clean the windows with a rump roast.

The salesman was a real Jewel, said the dents would "buff out" & they'd wash it for me, all for the low price of 'more than 30k'.

Whatever. I didn't bother making an offer.

I must say Marauder57's comments about the straight up courteous treatment afforded me by Central Florida Lincoln Mercury from Michealangelo & Butch was one of the best experiences I've ever had while shopping.

[sailsmen]

Unfortunately the problems Aron had can and do happen to all makes of vehicles regardless of price. If it did not there would not be lemon laws.

If the Marauder were a "bad" vehicle you would not have the enthusiasim you have in this club.

Is this your first new vehicle purchase or the first vehicle you have had to turn back in?

[aaronwilmington]

No this is not my first vehicle purchase. But it certainly is the first time to return a vehicle. We just bought an F150 last year and have had great success with it. This is about our 8th Ford car.

The car had about a 100 miles on it when I bought it. I returned it with 5800. I drive about 80 miles a day to work and back. For the past month and half it has been setting in my drive way.

I own a 98 Ford Taurus Wagon. It has 107,000 and I have never had any problems with it. (By the way, I am Mrs. Aaron).

[sailsmen]

We purchased a 2001 Econoline Van and we have had several mechanical failures that are surprising.

Our 97 Grand Marquis, 99 SHO and 95 SHO were trouble free.

I get the impression as a result of the cost of the Firestone debacle that Ford cut back on quality as a way to temporarily bost earnings. This always causes more damage in the long run and ends up costing several times any short term savings.

[merc]

Should I put my 2 cents in the pot. What I have to say about Mercury Marauder would not be nice for some. So I will back out of this tread like I entered.
:rasta:

[engine23ccvfd]

Single largest complain IMO is the crap paint...gonna have to get my trunck painted has yellowish flecks in it...should be fun fighting the dealer