Looking at maybe picking up a Marauder in the next few months, couple questions.

[Stew]

Well, 2 basically haha.

1. What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?

TIA!

[CBT]

1.) Search function

2.) Search function

Hope this helps!

[TiTo35]

Those are two of the touchiest subjects on this site!!! :lol:

[Stew]

Those are two of the touchiest subjects on this site!!! :lol:

Ignoring first reply, and why? LOL Do I even want to know? haha

[SC Cheesehead]

What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?If you gotta ask, you prolly can't afford to drive the car. ;)
:jk:

Seriously, most owners are getting between 15 and 17 mpg in town and 21 - 23 mpg on the highway. Also, you'll need to run premium fuel.

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?
Minor differences; dual knock sensors on the '04s, some transmission upgrades on the '04s. The '03s are faster, especially the blue ones...


Well, 2 basically haha.

1. What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?
TIA!

[Stew]

What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?If you gotta ask, you prolly can't afford to drive the car. ;)
:jk:

Seriously, most owners are getting between 15 and 17 mpg in town and 21 - 23 mpg on the highway. Also, you'll need to run premium fuel.

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?
Minor differences; dual knock sensors on the '04s, some transmission upgrades on the '04s. The '03s are faster, especially the blue ones...

That is basicallt what i was looking for LOL. So let's say of average of 20 for the MPG, I'd tune it anyways for 93 is no issue :) That i can handle, 10-15 average, not so much haha. I would probably go for an 04, I have a fear of transmission failure lol

[Mr. Man]

What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?If you gotta ask, you prolly can't afford to drive the car. ;)
:jk:

Seriously, most owners are getting between 15 and 17 mpg in town and 21 - 23 mpg on the highway. Also, you'll need to run premium fuel.

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?
Minor differences; dual knock sensors on the '04s, some transmission upgrades on the '04s. The '03s are faster, especially the blue ones...
People who drive blues start:beer:early.

'03 300A's have a remote fuel filler door,
not sure if '03 A's and B's have long head consoles(shortened for moonroof in 04's as an option,
03's have a map pocket on the front of the front seats.
04's have traction control
There's probably more cosmetic stuff like clock location in the 300A's stuff like that

[a_d_a_m]

I got almost 27 highway mpg on a trip from Cleveland to St. Thomas, Ontario.

[Blackened300a]

That is basicallt what i was looking for LOL. So let's say of average of 20 for the MPG, I'd tune it anyways for 93 is no issue :) That i can handle, 10-15 average, not so much haha. I would probably go for an 04, I have a fear of transmission failure lol

Keep up on the fluid changes and the 03 tranny is just as strong.

[03blackmerc]

i was going to take my MM to the dealer this week for a tranny fluid filter change. i have almost 130,000 on the clock and i think the last time it was done was 60,000. some of my "gearhead" friends keep saying not to do it, changing the fliud will only make it worse??

[Blackened300a]

i was going to take my MM to the dealer this week for a tranny fluid filter change. i have almost 130,000 on the clock and i think the last time it was done was 60,000. some of my "gearhead" friends keep saying not to do it, changing the fliud will only make it worse??

Older transmissions used to have that problem, you would leave the fluid in for over 50k miles and changing it would cause the transmission to slip. Newer tansmissions are less likely to have that happen.
Do a full trans flush and you'll be fine.
I also heard this weekend from a local tranny builder and from my mechanic that you don't need to change the trans filter. It was something sold to the public in the 60s and 70s as something that has to be done. I was told that if the clutches fall apart, the filter is there to prevent that material to go into the valve body to prevent further damage and if the clutches fall apart then you'll be pulling it all apart anyways. He said its a sealed unit and transmission fluid don't create carbon deposits that would clog the filter and that new transmissions don't even have a filter, just a pickup screen like the oil pickup tube.

Do the flush and you'll be fine. The filter swap is up to you. Im just relaying what I was told over the weekend.

[SC Cheesehead]

03 300A's have a map pocket on the front of the front seats.
'03 300B's, all Canadian Marauders, and 04's have traction control.

I've got a 300B and it has the long overhead console, my '04 had a moonroof, so it had the shorty overhead console.

Oh, and did I mention, the '03s, especially the Blue ones, are faster...;)

People who drive blues start:beer:early.

'03 300A's have a remote fuel filler door,
not sure if '03 A's and B's have long head consoles(shortened for moonroof in 04's as an option,
03's have a map pocket on the front of the front seats.
04's have traction control
There's probably more cosmetic stuff like clock location in the 300A's stuff like that

[ImpalaSlayer]

i averaged out my last tank, 15mpg overall average! i love boost :burnout:

[Bluerauder]

Well, 2 basically haha.

1. What kinda of average fuel mileage can one expect?

2. What are the differences between the 03s and 04s?

TIA!

You've been here 8 years Stew. Figured you would have picked up just a few things just by osmosis. ;)

MPG depends more on your right foot than most any other factor. I get about 15-16 around town -- but I tend to like to hear the exhaust. :D

[Marauderman]

You've been here 8 years Stew. Figured you would have picked up just a few things just by osmosis. ;)

MPG depends more on your right foot than most any other factor. I get about 15-16 around town -- but I tend to like to hear the exhaust. :D

osmosis -----------

Dang Charlie--Haven't heard that word in so long..........I laughted my AXXxxx off after reading that-----Thanks a lot------and your right on with that comment--....carry on ...........

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

12-15 in town w/ airconditioning. 20-24 Highway.
Transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles to avoid slippage.
Rear differential 100,000 miles.

[J D]

Really? No one posted the closest thing we have to a definitive answer on the differences question? Not even the man Blackend himself who made it?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31102

Although it addresses specifically the split between the two '03 models and those in between, the 300B is essentially the same as an '04 and I know of no differences besides blue was only on the 300Bs and red was only offered in '04, and how trans was (nominally upgraded).

Also the millage really depends a lot on how you drive it, if you drive slow and easy (which is not a problem in a highway-cruiser that is the Marauder) you'll be bumping right up against 30 or tearing up city asphalt at the stop light 500 you'll suck down the gas, all in all I usually see about 19 or 21 mpg on a weekly basis (I tend to have a lead foot close to home).

[Stew]

You've been here 8 years Stew. Figured you would have picked up just a few things just by osmosis. ;)

MPG depends more on your right foot than most any other factor. I get about 15-16 around town -- but I tend to like to hear the exhaust. :D

Bwahaha, been a while since I browsed here, I sold my CV hell and forever ago and been through 3 vehicles, now in a 2007 Jeep Patriot 4x4, good little SUV, but it is an SUV haha.

Anywho, one more question. When looking at a used Marauder is there any paricular things I need to look for, ie known issues to check for.

[Loco1234]

don't forget the 03's had an under hood light...
The 04's did not...

[Ozark Marauder]

looks are deceiving, listen to it, drive it, run it to redline from a 20 mph roll, have a good mechanic check it, and then enjoy it................

[SID210SA]

Watch for bad paint, a/c head unit, wacky wiper syndrome, and headlights turining on and off by themselves.

[Blackened300a]

Watch for bad paint, a/c head unit, wacky wiper syndrome, and headlights turining on and off by themselves.

Add weak axles and early 2003 300A start-up smoke.

[breeze]

Add weak axles and early 2003 300A

i honestly dnt get this one, unless ford changed the rear axels how would they consider them to be "weak". "oh lets make early 03's axles weak and later on put the stronger ones in".

[Mr. Man]

Add weak axles and early 2003 300A start-up smoke.
Our '04 has occasional start up smoke. I think it's just inherent to the car.

[SamF]

i honestly dnt get this one, unless ford changed the rear axels how would they consider them to be "weak". "oh lets make early 03's axles weak and later on put the stronger ones in".

Ford had a fairly long run of poorly hardened axles, the ends at the bearing would gall over time and eat up the bearings (throwing metal through the rear and growling) There was a TSB/Repair program that provided new axles, bearings and a cleaning of the housing. The problem affected cars across the Panther platform including early build Marauders until they identified the problem and revised their production parts.

This was one of my axles at 35K. I replaced them with new 31 spline CVPI axles and Differential (out of warranty)

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/5/0/03A35Kaxlewear2.jpg

[SamF]

Our '04 has occasional start up smoke. I think it's just inherent to the car.

Mustangs with the 4.6 sometimes have it as well, Ford calls it a "design characteristic"... My 03 does it once in a while, usually when I start the car in front of a crew of onlookers :eek: