213Cobra
10-24-2003, 01:17 AM
I joined this site well over a year ago when I was thinking about a Marauder. I thought it was cool but it just didn't quite close the deal with me. Of course, this is in the context of also owning an SVT Cobra and a Harley F150 S'Crew. I let my interest ride. Didn't see a single one on the highway here in L.A. in a year. Then I heard about the fine tuning to the '04 and a week ago I saw a Marauder at a gas station when I drive in the fuel up my Cobra. The driver was a tall blonde slender woman with plenty of topography apparent under her thin tank top and second-skin black pants. I could see she even had a little Godshead tatoo at the base of her spine. The whole effect of her presence had me paying a little more attention when I got out of my car. We exchanged a few observations about her Marauder and my Cobra and before she closed her door, she fired up the 4 cammer. It was that sound. (Well sure, I wanted the girl but her dealer network was unknown.) Yeah, I have it in my Cobra, but hearing it from a 4 door hooked me in again. I mean, half the reason I bought my Harley pickup as my 4 door was the exhaust note. Next day I drove to a dealer to look at a black Marauder. First thing the salesman said when I pointed to the Marauder was "What is it about these Marauders? Actors and professionals buy them -- I even sold one to Charlie Sheen and he was rabid for it!"
Tonight a silver Marauder took up residence in my small fleet. I went looking for black nearer to me, not expecting to even remotely like silver, but there it was, the only Marauder on the local dealer's lot. The paint looks rich and has visual depth. The metal flake sparkles in a subtle way. Cool. That's the color. With two other black cars in the fleet, I could use a break.
Folks, this is a rockin' car. Same engine and drivetrain but it feels completely different than the 2003 I drove over a year ago. My salesman is a former USAC racer. He had a 22 mile test drive circuit laid out in his mind. He drove off the lot and took off for Mulholland Highway heading out west from L.A. He was a very competent driver and we motored about 10 miles of narrow undulating Mulholland at 75 mph. Riding shotgun, to me the car felt secure in its tracks, way beyond what one would expect from a 4000 lb. Blues Machine on an old-tech platform. Then I took the helm and every impression I had as a passenger was ratified in practice of driving.
OK, you all already know this. The Harley F150 is suddenly gone and I have a new 4 door to take some of the mileage load off the aging Cobra. Wife has an SVT Contour. We like distinctive Fords. Now if only Lincoln would wake up and stuff this 4 cam mill and a handling package into a Town Car LWB.....
Some questions:
1/ Anyone know the KN filter number that fits the factory box?
2/ I figure a MM driveshat, a Torsen diff in the pumpkin and maybe a chip will crisp this beast up just fine. But what's the sweet choice in swaybars?
3/ I hear about front tires wearing on the inside front. Has anyone figured out the optimal alignment specs for the Marauder? With an SLA and coil-overs, surely this can get dialed in just right. Hell, even on my Cobra's MacPhearson strut front suspension, I can get even wear across my front tires along with sharp turn-in and road feel. Ideas? Can't rotate tires on this. Imagine, a big 4 door where I can sit behind myself (6'3") that someone has gone to the trouble of balancing handling by equipping it with different size tires front and rear!
4/ What's this stuff about "real guages"? Are they Autometer or not?
I can just see where this is headed. How many different ways can you build your own Marauder?
Phil
'04 Marauder, stock tonight
'98 SVT Contour
'96 SVT Cobra vert, modified many ways
'96 LT4 Corvette vert
Tonight a silver Marauder took up residence in my small fleet. I went looking for black nearer to me, not expecting to even remotely like silver, but there it was, the only Marauder on the local dealer's lot. The paint looks rich and has visual depth. The metal flake sparkles in a subtle way. Cool. That's the color. With two other black cars in the fleet, I could use a break.
Folks, this is a rockin' car. Same engine and drivetrain but it feels completely different than the 2003 I drove over a year ago. My salesman is a former USAC racer. He had a 22 mile test drive circuit laid out in his mind. He drove off the lot and took off for Mulholland Highway heading out west from L.A. He was a very competent driver and we motored about 10 miles of narrow undulating Mulholland at 75 mph. Riding shotgun, to me the car felt secure in its tracks, way beyond what one would expect from a 4000 lb. Blues Machine on an old-tech platform. Then I took the helm and every impression I had as a passenger was ratified in practice of driving.
OK, you all already know this. The Harley F150 is suddenly gone and I have a new 4 door to take some of the mileage load off the aging Cobra. Wife has an SVT Contour. We like distinctive Fords. Now if only Lincoln would wake up and stuff this 4 cam mill and a handling package into a Town Car LWB.....
Some questions:
1/ Anyone know the KN filter number that fits the factory box?
2/ I figure a MM driveshat, a Torsen diff in the pumpkin and maybe a chip will crisp this beast up just fine. But what's the sweet choice in swaybars?
3/ I hear about front tires wearing on the inside front. Has anyone figured out the optimal alignment specs for the Marauder? With an SLA and coil-overs, surely this can get dialed in just right. Hell, even on my Cobra's MacPhearson strut front suspension, I can get even wear across my front tires along with sharp turn-in and road feel. Ideas? Can't rotate tires on this. Imagine, a big 4 door where I can sit behind myself (6'3") that someone has gone to the trouble of balancing handling by equipping it with different size tires front and rear!
4/ What's this stuff about "real guages"? Are they Autometer or not?
I can just see where this is headed. How many different ways can you build your own Marauder?
Phil
'04 Marauder, stock tonight
'98 SVT Contour
'96 SVT Cobra vert, modified many ways
'96 LT4 Corvette vert