look @ a 04 today & noticed .....

[joflewbyu2]

(1) NO underhood light, (2) NO painted valve covers, (3) NO painted spark plug covers, (4) plain bolts holding the valve covers on INSTEAD of zinc coated 9.8s, (5) No full overhead console - now a mini console without the sunglass holder, valet ticket holder and extra light, (6) NO rear speaker covers, (7) NO front of the seat map pockets, (8) NO stand alone clock, (9) NO fuel door release, (10) NO tint on top of windshield, (11) tire air pressure sticker on inside fuel door states 35 lbs. now instead of 32 lbs., (12) NO full size spare ........ I know some were obvious from 300As to 300Bs .......but the cost cutting is getting rediculous

[TAF]

How's it go again "gja"?

"I'm so glad to have an '03-A"

[Bigdogjim]

All in the name of saving money.......................

[RCSignals]

Maybe they'll sell like hotcakes now that they are lighter :)

[JohnE]

They should have a slightly different tranny and revised knock sensors too.

[yorks]

Should be a lot cheaper then, right?.....What?.....What?

[Warpath]

I've said it before and I share your frustration. But, you can't expect Ford to loose $5 billion a year and not do anything about it.

I don't see how the change of bolt coating matters. It still does its job. Its not like they were chrome then switched to something else. Also, the original coating is likely not zinc only. It doesn't last long enough. It is a big cocktail of chemicals (which may contain zinc). The new bolts would not be uncoated either. There would be galvanic corrosion between the aluminum and steel, not to mention the normal iron rust.

[LincMercLover]

Originally posted by joflewbyu2@aol.
(...(5) No full overhead console - now a mini console without the sunglass holder, valet ticket holder and extra light...

Valet ticket holder? Extra light? Huh?

[joflewbyu2]

yeah, the long overhead console is SHORTER IN THE 04s (POSSIBLY THE 300Bs too?) no divided sunglass holder, extra center roof light at the rear of the console (and i am not talking about the 2 map lights towards the front). the console stops right after the map light switches by the homelink switches. about half as long. just mad at the current trend today of making everything cheaper and more profitable THAN TRYING TO BE THE BEST BY GOING THE EXTRA MILE and separating one's self from others. i saw this same thing happen to my 2000 pontiac gtp. it had performance shift button - the 01+ did not. the 2000 gtp had digital auto climate the later ones did not.

[Johnman]

My 300B has the long upper console with the divided sunglasses holder and the dome light in the back. I'm still looking for that valet ticket-holder though(?) And no stand alone clock. But I got traction control!! And it looks like rain....

[Zack]

Yes, but red makes up for all of these flaws.
Someone should price out the parts to convert a 04 or a B into an 03 A.

[cyclone03]

Valet ticket holder is the slot in the sunglass holder cover.

Does the 04 still have the dual map lights for the back seat?

[Petrograde]

I dont have a hood light either. It's wired up for one, just no light . I assume a 300A should have it huh?

[Nathan]

I think this hood light thing is touch and go. I have a hood light in my 300B. My guess is a one armed "hood light installer" on the assembly line? :)

[LincMercLover]

I'm gunna have to look for this ticket holder thing-a-ma-jig...

[RCSignals]

Does the '04 overhead console have the compass?

The reason it is shoert is yo make instalation of a sunroof easier.

and yes, a 300A should have the underhood light. So should a 300B, not that it really provides much light

[FordNut]

35 PSI ??? No way. The centers of my rears wore out in 15k running 32 PSI. I'm running 28 in my new rears. 35 PSI may be ok for the fronts, as the inside edges seem to wear out on them.

[SergntMac]

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Lincoln-Mercury's version of new and improved for '04...

[martyo]

You know, it occurs to me that I am the youngest of four children. If my parents worked liked L/M I would be missing a lot of parts.

[LincMercLover]

Marty... I hate to be the bear of this... but you ARE missing A LOT of parts...

[martyo]

Originally posted by LincMercLover
Marty... I hate to be the bear of this... but you ARE missing A LOT of parts...

Just keep lookin' over your shoulder in Texas is all I am tryin' to tell ya Rick....

[LincMercLover]

Let's see... That would mean Todd needs to be in front of me looking over his shoulder at the buffet line, and you would need to be in-behind me so I can look over mine. Got it! :up:

[TAF]

Originally posted by LincMercLover
Let's see... That would mean Todd needs to be in front of me looking over his shoulder at the buffet line, and you would need to be in-behind me so I can look over mine. Got it! :up:

Don't E-V-E-R....follow me through a buffet line:nono:

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by TAF
Don't E-V-E-R....follow me through a buffet line:nono:

Oh yeah? Well, slide aside, Clyde...meet the new champ-een...they modelled the "Red Barclay" character on the Simpsons after ME...!

[LincMercLover]

Has ANYONE called to warned the hotel of exactly the kind of group we are yet? :lol:

[Logan]

Well that'd just be silly.

[Racerx88]

Believe me, being so close to the track and all, this hotel has plenty of experience with "this kind of group". Don't ask how I know.

[Paul T. Casey]

Tirepressure @ 35psi, is it too late to get money back on my first set. Mr. Ford nut, that is what Goodrich said to do to eliminate that center wear. Theory goes, Z rated sidewalls are soft, so at highway speeds they shrink inward sort of like a dragster doing a burnout, not as pronounced though. Thr added pressure stiffens the sidewalls enough to eliminate this problem. It kinda makes sense to me. Same info was also on this site some time ago, maybe Feb. or March.

[Thomas C Potter]

Maybe the shorter 04 over head console accomadates the sunroof, ??

Hood lite is handy!

TP Blue MM

[Dr Caleb]

With all the cost cutting on the '04, how about the paint?

Does it chip in the sunshine? Do you get scrapes and scratched from bugs?

Feel the love FLM...Feel the love...

[LincMercLover]

I'm still not seeing this valet card holder thing in my consol...

[Bobby Clobber]

I bet they replaced that stuff with those nifty hood scoops ( see "What do you think ") on the 04's.

[MSR7878]

glad that I didn't know any better and wound up with a 300A, Traction Control and red paint are for girls!!

[cyclone03]

LML it's just a slot.Looks like a vent.

[LincMercLover]

Where though?!?! :mad2:

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by Paul T. Casey
Tirepressure @ 35psi, is it too late to get money back on my first set. Mr. Ford nut, that is what Goodrich said to do to eliminate that center wear. Theory goes, Z rated sidewalls are soft, so at highway speeds they shrink inward sort of like a dragster doing a burnout, not as pronounced though. The added pressure stiffens the sidewalls enough to eliminate this problem. It kinda makes sense to me. Same info was also on this site some time ago, maybe Feb. or March.

Sorry, Paul, I'm not picking on you here, no flame, K?

I told y'all almost a year ago now, to run your tires at 35 PSI. Better adhesion in the corners, more road feed back, which to some, was also "harsh." Sure, more tire spin out of the hole, but if you're racing, that's different, and go for it. All around general improvement in performance, and tire life...35 PSI, all four corners. One or two of y'all said I must be smoking dope, but now I get vindicated, and a touch of revenge is in order.

"I told you so!" LOL...

[LincMercLover]

I've always ran 35 up front and 32 in the rear... Seemed like the right thing to do to me...

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by LincMercLover
Where though?!?! :mad2:

Look up at the sunglass/pad holder door when it's closed
there is a thin slot. It's supposedly for valet tickets, but we all know it's really for MM.net greeting cards :)

Now don't make us come over there and show you!

[SouLRioT]

you mean i can put my turnpike tickets there??? i like the under the visor anyway. that way i dont have to see it.

[LincMercLover]

THAT?!?! I thought that was just room for the latch to depress... I gotta see this in the owners manual to believe it!

[jgc61sr2002]

Originally posted by Petrograde
I dont have a hood light either. It's wired up for one, just no light . I assume a 300A should have it huh? I think the owe you and underhood light. IMHO

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by LincMercLover
THAT?!?! I thought that was just room for the latch to depress... I gotta see this in the owners manual to believe it!

You aren't looking. Maybe you should take a picture of your door and post it

[cyclone03]

No it's not on the door.
It's on the overhead sunglass holder access door.
Just a little slot,like I said it looks like a vent.

[RCSignals]

That's the door I meant. But you're right, I should have been more specific for the kid ;)

[IMAX]

please guys i'm new & typing with one hand (recovering from rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder & i'm right handed), so be patient with me.

can someone explain to me the difference in the 300a & 300b designations? so does this mean the slight improvements made on the 04 mm (beefier transmisson, throttlebody, moonroof, etc, etc) are not worth it?

please, any advice, & concerns will be greatly appreciated...
thanks in advance,
chuck...

[RCSignals]

IMAX, it does not mean the '04 is not worth it.
The 300A and 300B designations only apply to the 2003s. So far there is not an '04 300B

The 300B started with the introduction of Traction Control, and a temporary spare tire. Initially there were no other differences from the 300A.
Sometime after November '02, Ford decontented some items from the 300B. The remote fuel door release, the front seat cushion pockets, rear speaker grilles, in dash clock, and a couple of other items I'm sure I'm forgetting.

The '04 is a whole new model year, and like any new model year there are some slight differences. It does not mean it is any lesser of a car. I think the red is a great colour on the Marauder

[Mark McQuaide]

Sarge, I've been running 35 psi since your original post and my center rears wore out.

[Agent M79]

[Ahem!] Speaking from experience (this is so cool I can do this now!)...

...the '04 is a great ride. I have not fretted over the minor differences that have taken place. None change the character of the vehicle, it's performance, or the awe it will inspire in you or in everyone that sees it.

[Dennis Reinhart]

Originally posted by joflewbyu2@aol.
(1) NO underhood light, (2) NO painted valve covers,
(3) NO painted spark plug covers,

what color are they if not black



(4) plain bolts holding the valve covers on INSTEAD of zinc coated 9.8s, (5) No full overhead console - now a mini console without the sunglass holder, valet ticket holder and extra light, (6) NO rear speaker covers, (7) NO front of the seat map pockets,

This was not a option on late 03 my blue car does not have them


(8) NO stand alone clock,

this went away on late 03

(9) NO fuel door release,

same thing on 03

(10) NO tint on top of windshield, (11) tire air pressure sticker on inside fuel door states 35 lbs. now instead of 32 lbs., (12) NO full size spare same thing here this is nothing different it was the same for late 03's

........ I know some were obvious from 300As to 300Bs .......but the cost cutting is getting rediculous

Still a awsome car

[RoyLPita]

Welcome aboard Imax.

[IMAX]

...and the welcome. i guess when i'm cleared to drive again, i'll finally go test driv one. i'm one that likes all of the little extras you all have mentioned that are on the 03 mm 300a. i'm sure as i read more in this forum, i'll the minor and drastic changes some of you guys made to get more low end grunt/off the line take off. hopefully i can catch a dealership here in the atlanta area that is really anxious to sell a car.

up til now i've only owned v6's, 96 contour (great til i went through 3 tranny's in less than 18mos). 00 grandprix gt coupe (tranny went out at 32k miles and gm put a rebuilt one in it). 02 accord ex, good power, not grand prix take off but i liked it (head on collision april this year; not at fault, which cause my shoulder injury that i just had surgery on) AND NOW i'm driving a 03 mazda protege 5, WTF was i thinking. as tim "the toolman" taylor says " i need more power". i've been looking at the f150 harley davidson too. i guess i'll have to choose whether i want a truck or a car... again thanks guys...

[jgc61sr2002]

IMAX - Welcome to the MM site. You came to the right place to learn about the Marauder. Test drive the MM and you will be hooked like the rest of us. This is one fine automobile.:up:

[Glenn]

Not totally related to this thread, but I own a 12/02 300B with cloth over the rear speakers which makes replacing the speakers a little more difficult Has anyone cut out the cloth above the rear speakers and then installed 300A speaker grills - just a thought. Are the speaker grills even available from Ford?

Glenn

[TAF]

Originally posted by Glenn
Are the speakers grills even available from Ford?


I'm sure they are Glenn...but what I would do is, have a professional install a setup in the rear including the directional grills. Probably would be a LOT cheaper from them than Ford.