2003A, 2003B, or 2004...What to do?!

[DeadVic]

I've been a member over at Crownvic.net since it very first started in late 1999 or early 2000. I'd like to think many of us helped get the Marauder built. Ford took an interest in us young guys buying full size cars and trying to make them go fast, faster, fastererer.

I finally paid off my Vic and just received the title Saturday in the mail. Saturday night/Sunday morning at 2AM, some assclown hit my 99 LX HPP as it was parked in the street. See link in my signature. The car was in perfect condition mechanically and had some highway rock chips since I drive about 150 miles a day in heavy Houston traffic. At 68,500, it was just past break-in.

He was obviously going much faster than 25MPH and left the scene on foot. We tried to stop him but he was on something besides alcohol. Cops dragged him back to the scene and he admitted to taking prescription pain pills and having a couple beers. He passed field sobriety and received four citations. The cops even drove him home.


I'm leaning towards a NEW 300A since they seem to be the most available. The best price on a new one so far is $25,900. I've found one dealer with a demo for less (than $25,900) at $24,900 with 5000 miles. Depending upon condition, I might go that route since some bugs will either be already fixed or more noticable.

Speaking of bugs on 300As, is there a concise list available on this site?

What else do I need to know? Is there any chance of getting into this weekends activities if, by some miracle, I'm through all of this Friday night?

I'm in Houston, so getting there would be no biggee.

Great site! Can't wait to be in the club...

[Ross]

Hey Dead-- welcome to the board. We're getting more and more Houston MM's all the time! Even if you don't have your new car by the weekend, I hope I can speak for Logan who is coordinating this thing when I say to come on up and meet everyone. Even if they can't get an official packet and T-shirt for you at this late date, you can still meet and talk to some great folks and some vendors who have done some really good work putting together mods for this car.

[Mark McQuaide]

One thing about getting one with 5000 miles - the rear tires may not go much beyond 15,000, so they're 1/3 gone already.

[SouLRioT]

The know bugs that come to mind are:

Trans linkage when backing up
wire harness in the engine capartment getting sliced
rear axle worn prematurely

Your also going to want to look at the paint quality.

'03 300A IMO are the best for hot climates have all the things we would want.

[capt512]

You might also pay special attention to light acceleration between 30 and 60 MPH as well as hesitation stumble when cold. There are TSb's or SSm's on both of these as well as the problems already mentioned. Thin or non existant paint is a real problem for a lot of us. Check for wheel chips and deep scratches on the wheels. In other words really look the finsh over carefully and in good light.
Learn from my experience!
Another MAJOR thing is to really check into the service dept aspect of this purchase. Some of the MM owners get great service at their LM dealerships while many other dealerships are Cr**py.
The price your talking about at 25 sounds pretty good. Are you talking about 03's or 04's. If thats an 04 price it's unbelieveable.

Good luck and sorry about your Vic.

I had several before I moved UP to the Marauder. You'll love it if you heed the advice on this site. Theres a bunch of knowledgeable guys and gals on here who wish no ill to anyone and always willing to help.
Good Luck,
Mike

[67435animal]

I just bought a used (Ford Exec demo) 300A with the trunk storage compartment and CD magazine options for 23k. It has been a dream. I had the shift linkage problem and fixed it myself. Paint has afew minor problems but nothing I cannot fix myself.

Love the car. Shop around.

Bob

[TheDealer]

Just remember if you buy a 2003 left over. It's already a year old in the insurance companies eyes. If it get totaled or stolen you will get 03 price for it. When you go to trade it in, it's still a 2003 and will get 2003 price. The 4k you save now could cost you later. Just my .02. Ray

[jgc61sr2002]

DeadVic - Welcome to the MM site. You are already a member of the club. That sounds like a very good price. Go for it.:up:

[RCSignals]

That's an excellent price. Don't hesitate on the 2003, unless it's a Red 2004 you really want.

[Big_Bid]

I just picked up my '04 DTR MM tonight, after shopping around for the best deal on the '03's in the area. Best price on '03 around here was 25.6k, found the '04 DTR while I was test driving an '03 from another dealer. Drove it the next day, what a difference! With X plan price and 3500 in rebates, I paid 28.5 for the '04! Worth the 3K diff, in my opinion...tighter, more responsive low end, and DTR!!! I'm lovin' it! Does that make me #4?

Been lurking for a while, thanks for all the great info and advice, awesome site!

[UncleLar]

Go for a new one,the heck with the demo with 5000 miles of every moron and his brother beating on it.

[RCSignals]

Big_Bid
Welcome! Congrats on your new Marauder.

Tell us more about the differences in driving you noticed

[jgc61sr2002]

Big_Bid _ Welcome to the site. Enjoy your new ride. You made a good move purchasing the 2004 DTR.:up:

[Big_Bid]

Thanks for the welcome!

I had driven several '03's on the usual short test ride with a salesperson that didn't know much about the car, and would rather have been back in the showroom waiting for their next Cartier edition victim! But this past Saturday, I was strongly encouraged to take one home overnight, and put some miles on it, the more I'd drive it, the more I'd love it! Well, that part was true, I put almost 200 miles on it that afternoon, and the next morning before I brought it back!

I noticed when I drove on some nice backroads, the '03 wouldn't be up on the pipe, and was sometimes searching for the right gear. Stuck like glue in the corners, though! When I was on the highway, it was like a turbo, some lag around 55-65, then it would come on like stink if you nailed it and climbed past 70. The minute I took off in the '04, I could feel the difference, real flat torque curve, always seemed to be in the right gear, and it just felt tighter overall than the '03 I had the day before, but that part may have been purely subjective, because that red is GORGEOUS in the sun! Had to grab it before someone else did! No disrespect to the '03's, I love these cars!

Ask me again in a few thousand miles, like next Monday!!!

[FordNut]

I have a 300A and a 300B. I prefer the 300A. Haven't driven a 2004, but it's supposed to have tranny improvements.

I like the remote gas door release, standalone clock, seat storage pockets, and full size spare that only the 300A has (with some uncommon exceptions). Personally I don't like traction control, which is standard on 300B and 2004s, but the heated seats would be nice (not available on 300As).

[deerejoe]

Is the '04 DTR MM made in St. Thomas??

Has anyone looking at the '04 models (any color) noticed an improvement in the paint quality??

[bigslim]

Wecolme to the board. Sorry about your Vic. I saw the pictures. I too believe they were going faster than 25mph. Let us know what you decide. Also deerejoe, yes the MM is still made in St. Thomas.