Ricer problems

[XxColdAzFireXx]

It’s rather interesting to me, how things can so quickly classify you as a “ricer”. Everything from underbody neon lighting to sound systems can make someone a ricer these days. We all know that the Marauder will kick the living cr@p out of any ricer. A ricer is just someone who makes their car LOOK fast when it really isn’t. That is not the case with the Marauder. It actually looks slow as hell because it’s a land barge. But in reality, it has more power than some high performance cars on the market.
It is unfair for people to classify lighting and sound accessories as ricer equipment. This stuff has gotten a bad rep because of ricers. Yes, adding a sound system can add a considerable amount of weight to a vehicle. But consider the options there are to compensate for that. Put in a new exhaust, supercharger, and chip, and you’ll still be going faster than what you were stock. I may only 17, but I drive a 2003 Mercury Marauder(it’s actually my mom’s). Since when is a nice sounding audio system associated with speed? Since when is neon lighting associated with speed? Why is it that these things are associated with speed? They are strictly visual and audible enhancements. These items add subtle excitement to a car. They are not intended to be relating to speed. People need to get off this kick of calling anyone who wants to do customizing to their vehicle that involves sound of neons a ricer. Not everyone is a ricer. Some of us just like to listen to our music with more vibration and bass than others. “If it’s to loud, you’re to old” -Pioneer. Some of us like having a car that turns heads. A stock black vehicle at night is not going to turn heads. It might if they hear the exhaust of audio system or see some sort of eye catching lighting. Otherwise, people will just thinks it’s an ordinary car. And yes, obviously, this type of stuff does attract the unwanted attention of law enforcement, but if you’re smart enough to not really drive with custom lighting on and just have it on at shows or in parking lots, then cops won’t bother you. Loud exhaust systems and flying down the road, weaving in and out of traffic is also going to catch their attention. Not every accessory on the Marauder needs to be performance related. Some of us can barely afford the gas bills as it is (and yes, I do pay for my own gas). I would love to change out the mufflers and headers and put in hi-flo cats along with a chip and supercharger, but A) I can’t afford to right now and B) I can’t afford to keep it on if the gas milage decreases. Money at my house is extremely tight, our business it barely surviving and my dad isn’t even getting paid. Not everything has to be associated with ricers. I’ve seen plenty of classic cars with systems and neons, and they weren’t ghetto cars either. Here is a picture of a Marauder with blue underbody neons, let me know what you all really thing about how it looks. And don’t just associate it with wannabe speed. BTW, this car is not mine.

[Smokie]

ColdAzFireXx My opinion: I don't associate neon and loud sound systems with ricers, to me those things are about being young and wanting to be noticed (which is something we all want to some degree) by the opposite sex. To be a ricer you must drive an Asian car that has a 4 or 6 cylinder engine thats has a muffler outlet pipe the diameter of a cantaloupe and produces a very loud whining sound similar to a food blender on steroids :D

[Petrograde]

Hmmmmm,.... well ..... ok,.. I'll say it ... It doesn't actually look that bad. I don't hate it, but, I don't love it either. I've never really liked neon, but it kinda makes that MM look like a spaceship.

BTW - who's MM?

[Bigdogjim]

XxColdAzFireXx: you make a good point! I think in the beginning when these cars were getting noticed that's all they had! Sound and light! Look at the MM in only one short year! We got mods now that were only dreamed about a year ago! I usually think of "ricers" with big exhaust tips and lots of decals!


About 6 months ago I joked around about putting a vinyl top on the Marauder! Hell I almost got death threats! lol.

For what ever reason people think strange things when it comes to their cars? I think the car looks cool parked at night with the neon lights under it. I don't think it would look "cool" going down the road. But then again that's me!!


To each his own!

Now for real fun get together with about 10-15 Marauder and cruise around town and see the LOOKS you draw!!

I have had the pleasure of doing 3 times!! Long Island, NY, Texas and Hershey, Pa.

Plus as an added bonus I travel almost 1500 miles with anywhere from 3 to 20+ Marauders behind me!!

What a blast!:) :D :cool: :P

[CRUZTAKER]

Many of us are more flexible than others in the 'flashy stuff'. And many moons before "Need for Speed" and "ricer" was common place....I was in the mix. I had several souped up RX-7'S and ate anything from mustangs to datsuns. I was young, single, and seeking young ladies. At this point, I am still crazy as ever, but no longer roll in small cars from foreign lands. I still appreciate the detail styling stuff though.

I have billet pedals and blue hoses. Somethings you never grow out of. And some things are better left in the closet! Trick is...stay young at heart, and respect the young folks interests.

PS: All that advice goes out the window when the mama's boy in the 350Z with plates of "I EAT V8S" rolls up on me at a light.

Needless to say,....He goes hungry.....:burnout:

[cruzer]

What Smokie said---the photo looks great--enjoy your youth---you grow too soon old and too late smart.

[prchrman]

coldazfire...it's your car...gussey up as you wish...seems like we are always disagreeing on how to mod our rides...chip, tuner, SC, nitro, gears, speakers, tires, oil, lights, tint, wheels, color, stroke, bore, pulleys, torque converters, exhausts, brakes, shocks, etc, etc, etc and on and on...I drive mine and like it the way it is...keep it between the ditches...willie

[bigslim]

That is a picture of my buddy's car. After seeing it in person when the sun goes all the way down it looks pretty cool. If you see it in person you will like it too.

[XxColdAzFireXx]

bigslim, any idea how he mounted them?

[BillyGman]

so here's my 2 cents:
I give credit where I think it is due. So first let me say that you must not be all bad if you're 17 yrs old(did I read that right?) and you like the style and class of the Marauder(although this is a car that seems to attract people of all ages). It also looks from that pic like you keep your Mom's car clean and well cared for(atleast on the night that pic was taken). Okay, now for the "BUT"........But, even though I wouldn't call you nor consider you a ricer, I've always thought(and still do think) that things like neon lights on the license plate frames, and underneath the car, as well as lighted brake and gas pedals are feminine. They're for girls. If that offends you than you shouldn't have asked for opinions, but instead should've asked for compliments only. I'm glad that you're a member of this board, and I for one hope that you continue to be a member here. I think it's really cool that we have members here who are MM enthusiasts of all ages. And as far as music from a car being soooo loud that it can be heard through the entire neighborhood, that's just plain annoying, and immature. Sorry, but even if you disagree w/me, I hope that you atleast respect me for being honest w/you since you have asked for opinions. I wouldn't have offered you mine if you didn't ask;)

[SergntMac]

I can't read your post, my friend, because I have to resize my screen to accomodate your post.

I often have to do, and with some regularity, because I often encounter "pics in the sig" that are too large for routines posting.

I'm not complaining, just noting that I cannot read anything you have posted right now.

I will look again in the morning, maybe then?

[RCSignals]

Ford offers an undercar ground lighting kit (for security they say), it may not be blue neon, but same idea in a sense.

[rumble]

You know it's real interesting when I see something new or maybe not new that's just not in the mainstream of rodding
and I think "man, why in the world would someone want to do that"? But then I think back to the 50's when almost everything
in "Hot Rods" were new and we got those comments from about everyone on the street. Customs? You were considered absolutely nuts to take a perfectly good car and lower it, de-chrome it and modify the engine. Remember the whole idea is personalization. Each persons car means something personal to them. That's why were called "car guys" or "car girls." Change and experimentation is what this whole scene is all about. Sure,
we can be critical or complementary of something but pushing the envelope will continue and the popular mods of today will be retro tomorrow. So the bottom line is XX, it's your car and your call and this is still a free country. Make your car yours and accept the complements and shrug off the criticisms cause you'll get some of each.

[paheff]

Something interesting that I've noticed is that >20 yr. old people seem to like my MM more than those 20-30 yr. old. My twentysomething kids call it an "old folks car" or a "pimp ride" while my teenage (just started driving) nephews will sit in it for ever saying how cool it is.
I sold my '02 SVT Focus (btw, THE best small car in the world for the money. Period) to get my MM and was tempted the whole time I had it to "rice it out". Problem was I was, way older than anyone in that community, and would not have fit in with them at events.
Then I fell for the Marauder, and I'm right in the middle of the owners demographic age wise, but I haven't forgotten some of the things I liked in the sport-compact community... like underbody neons, which are on my list of future mods.As for them being feminine, I disagree, but to each his own, unless you want to put a park bench spoiler on it...YUCK!
So, Coldazfire, I think the neons or LEDs underbody look great, and I'm leaning toward white for my own.

[Hack Goby]

The Marauder with the neon isn`t` some young gun he`s a retired Macomb County(Mich.) Motorcycle sheriff who also collects old chevys.He is with the Motor City Marauders.He has a buddy who is a electronic wiz and the neon is just one of a few other gadgets he has on his car.

[Donny Carlson]

Take a gander at this video clip of a ground lighting system that changes patterns -


http://www.gfxhalo.com/media/lightrod.wmv

[marauder307]

Shoot, I recognize that style, C.A.F.,...that neon's MIAMI STYLE!
:coolman:

Find myself feelin' nostalgic...can remember cruising in front of the Clevelander when I was stationed down there with the CG (the base is only a few blocks away!). I'd take the LX 5.0 I had at the time and go trolling for women.

Didn't actually work. That stretch of South Beach is top-dollar and WAY upscale. A sailor in a Mustang just can't compete against the decked-out male model in a Ferrari or Lambo, who's obviously got way more money and can afford those South Beach women...some of whom ain't women.

That said, ColdAzFire, you still oughta hit South Beach on a Friday night. Show 'em some Detroit heavy metal to balance out all that South Beach techno...:rock: