Dealer Experience

[Macon Marauder]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but here goes...

How many MM owners bought from L/M dealers vs. Ford-L/M dealers? I ask this to open the door for my own story.

The local L/M dealer has 5 MMs on the lot that have been there FOREVER. All identical: no options. I've never seen one on the road around here. So I stop in and they let me drive one that they say is the owner's demo. It's pretty beat up on the outside and has about 400 miles on it. Runs and drives like a dream, though.

They make an offer involving my trade (sticker for the MM, less than wholesale for my trade) and let me take a clean one home for the evening so I can think about it. I call them back the next morning and make an offer. The sales guy laughs and says "If I knew we were that far apart I wouldn't have let you take that car home last night! No hard feelings, but bring that car back now!"

So I do. Then I drive my 97 TBird LX V8 30 miles to the next town where a Ford-L/M dealer has 1 MM on his lot. It has the trunk organizer and the optional CD changer. Lists for $500 more than the ones closer to home. I buy from the Ford dealer, pay less for a more expensive car, get more for my trade, and get a 5 yr./60K mile powertrain warranty.

On top of the that, the Ford guys are friendly and professional. They don't laugh at my offer. They treat me like a CUSTOMER. They are not snobs.

My point? I wonder if some of these L/M dealers even know what they have in the MM. I worry that Ford has placed a performance car like the Marauder with a clueless division and dealer network. I think the Marauder would have been better off as a Ford.

What are your experiences with various dealers?

[MAD-3R]

I to purchased from a Ford-L/M and was treated very well. I feel that Mercury needed this car, but the deals needed a little more education.

[Dogzebra]

I had just the opposite experience at Varsity L/M. I can honestly say it was the best service all around. The difference there, however, is they did their homework on MM buyer profiles. I'm sure it also didn't hurt to have Don Walshs shop 2 miles up the road.

[LincMercLover]

I bought from a L/M dealer, but there is a Ford dealer rigth across the street. The first dealer I went to when I was actually "shopping" for a MM was another L/M dealer. Allyn Moore L/M. There were two sitting there, pretty dirty. We (Dad and I) walked up and asked if they had any MM's. Dealer said no. I'm like, WTF... there's two over there. He goes, oh, so we do, well I know the one's sold. We're like, ok... well, can we LOOK at the other? He's like yah. We glance it down, and tell him we'd be buying A-Plan. He says, well, I don't know if the owner will let it go A-Plan. I'm like, yes, he will. He says, well, that's to his discretion. I say, no... it's not, it's to detroits discretion, and this is not an SVT, so I WILL be buying it A-Plan, can we have a test drive. He says, well, let me ask. Goes inside, returns about 3 mins later. He goes, well, he'll let it go to you for A-Plan, and yes, we can test drive it. He pulls out the SOLD CAR! Litterally THROWS the temp plate on the back deck, and hops in the back. By now I'm REALLY lost. So, we took it out and did not abuse it because one the dealer was in the back and two THIS WAS SOMEONES CAR! Not to mention both cars had over 600 miles on them from coming from their other dealership, BY DRIVING. Needless to say, we did not buy from them. Funny part is, that dealership changed management not even 2 weeks after I bought my MM! Some are jackasses, soem aren't. What also helped me with where we got my MM was my family has already bought 2 other cars from there, so they like us, A LOT! :D

[Logan]

Really depends on the dealer... My dealer is a Lincoln/Mercury/Izuzu/Aston Martin dealership. They KNOW their customer service. Concierge service, tons of freebies, and generally a bend-over-backwards type attitude to their customers, whether they're buying a mini-van or a $230k super car...

[JohnnyB]

My dealer is a L/M dealer. I went to the same one where I purchased the Mark VIII. Called on Monday, had the car on Friday. Good price, no games, etc etc. I originally went to a L/M dealer that is closer to where I live and they quoted me a price that was $700 less than what I ended up paying. fact of the matter is the car they were selling was the demo that has been on the lot (and subsequently moved into the showroom) since July. Had approx 100 miles on it and 100's of people who probably sat in it. $700 for peace of mind is well worth it...
Another F/L/M dealer in Manhattan was still asking sticker price. they were sitting with 6 in inventory.......!! When I told them of the price quoted to me by the other dealers, the salesman said "That can't be right.... that's the grand marquis price"...... whatever, that's why he's still got 6 of 'em.....

[JamesHecker]

I had already purchased three vehicles and sent numerous referrals to the LM salesperson/dealership I bought my Marauder from. My salesman was enthusiastic if not wholly informed about the car. My salesman kept me informed that the car was enroute to them. I had not ordered it, but I did have it purchased within hours of it arriving. They would not let me test drive it. They sold it to me at sticker and not the $3000 over that they had it priced( man, were they optimistic!).

My service writer was initilialy negative about mods. I had it in a couple of times correcting paint and trim blemishes it had at delivery. I spoke to him several times about what I would be expecting when the vehicle was serviced and about the mods I was considering. By the time I brought it in for 5000 mile service, the service writer's attitude had completely changed. He had looked into several of the mods I had told him about and he was fairly enthusiastic about them when I came in. He also introduced me to the different techs that would be working on my car and they were all enthusiastic about mods. They started right in on their suggestions. The tranny guy was telling me he could put in a shift kit, the engine guy was mentioning chipping it, and they all told me to call them directly or stop in if I had any questions!

I'm treated as a celebrity there by both the sales staff and the service staff as mine is the only Marauder in the area. They are helping to make it fun to be a Marauder owner!

[tetsu]

My dealer in Wisconsin is still clueless and sitting on their MMs. They are used to selling L/Ms to old geezers.

I hate to imagine if Mercury really does transform into europerformance orientation how many of these substandard dealerships will cope with it.

Johnny

[Macon Marauder]

Funny thing is, the dealer that I got the crap from is one where my family and I have bought 4 vehicles from in the last several years. But, Steve, the salesman we all knew and loved left to go to work for the Ford dealer down the street.

And even though I had previously met the owner and his brother (General Mgr.) they surely didn't remember me. I guess it all comes down to a relationship: I had one with Steve - I don't have one with the dealer.

Doesn't matter. I'll just have to drive a little further now. And that ain't a bad thing in a Marauder!

[Racerx88]

I see the same thing in my area (Garland a suburb of Dallas). The dealers around here don't seem to have clue how to sell the cars. One dealer, Regency, had 10 Marauders at my last check on their internet listed inventory. Another dealer, Bankston, had 7! That dealer did'nt even have one sitting out front. When I asked to see one, they showed my all 7, lined up one beside the other, in the very back of their FENCED IN storage lot! You can't even see the things from the street! How can a dealer expect to sell cars nobody knows they have?

The dealer I bought mine from (McDavid) had my car since early July. I would go by and look every now and then, just to see if they had come down on the price any. A few weeks ago I went by and they had added an aftermarket power sunroof to one, which I ended up buying for $33k. Of course even they still have 7 others to sell!

I think between now and the end of the year is going to be a good time to get a deal on a Marauder!

[Macon Marauder]

Dean P. (Racerx88),

You've got me off on a tanget now! The TBird I traded in had a sun roof, and my wife's Sedona has one too. I didn't think I'd miss it on the 'Rauder, but I do.

Was wondering what kind of job they did on yours at the dealer? Do you have access to a digital camera? I'd love to see it! (others probably would too)

[Racerx88]

They did a very good job on the installation. Except for the trim ring on the outside of the hole, you'd think it was factory. I'll try to take some pics tonight, and get them posted.

[JamesHecker]

Racer,

I would love to see pictures of how they handled the console and controls. The only thing that has kept me from installing a moonroof yet has been the fact that I don't want to completly lose the console and I want the controls to look factory.

I had American Sunroof install a moonroof in my '97 Cougar. They did a great job. I was thinking of waiting till the moonroof option is available in the new Marauders and then ordering the OEM console.

[NYSP618]

Bought mine at the local Ford dealer, had two Ford dealers competing for my business, one was willing to deal, one wasn't. The other MM has since sold and the dealer where I got mine has has three more there for over a month. My dealer had originally tried to get me one from a Merc dealer but he wouldn't let his go. Had to wait six weeks for mine but there were no miles on it. Like the sunroof idea, had a remote starter put on mine at an aftermarket shop(cold up here in NY) and he tried to talk me into a sunroof then, maybe this spring.

[Logan]

Dean,

There will be a couple of us local Marauder owners meeting up tonight at John Eagle Lincoln/Mercury at 6200 Lemmon around 6:30pm-7pm for our monthly meeting, you should come by if you get a chance.

[Racerx88]

Originally posted by Logan
There will be a couple of us .............. meeting up tonight at John Eagle Lincoln/Mercury ............ for our monthly meeting, you should come by if you get a chance.

I've been trying all week to figure out how I can make it over to that side of town tonight, but I've just got too much going on to be able to get over there and then back to Garland and still get it all done.

However, I am planning to make that show you guys are having in December. Maybe I'll meet up with you guys there?

[Logan]

Yep... No problems... :)