Put the Marauder into a Guard Rail (pics)

[PurdueRifleman]

I've been driving with a license for eight years now and twelve years counting the driving I did as a kid for for grandfather's grain operation. This is the first wreck I've been in :mad:! I might need a new fender, but maybe not. Hopefully some of you can set me straight.

My friend Brendan and I decided to head out to a local restaurant for supper this evening. We were almost there when I started up the overpass across the railroad tracks that I've driven over a hundred times in worse conditions when the back end slid right out from under me, narrowly missing a Ford Explorer who spun into the oncoming lane but got traction. We spun around a little more than 360 degrees and I thought I had it straightened out, but I lost it again and spun around two more times. I'd managed to slow down some, but we hit the curb in the oncoming lane and bounced into a guard rail, doing some damage to the rear bumper. Luckily, both my friend and I escaped with no injuries.

The responding officer was very polite and quickly ascertained that I'd hit a patch of black ice. I informed him about my CCW since he would likely see my Beretta as I retrieved my registration and he acted as if it was no big deal which surprised me.

I still feel like an a** though. Don't get complacent, folks. That's when this kind of stuff happens.

Pics of damage. Basically it amounts to a cracked bumper cover plus some severe scratches. Somehow the exhaust tips escaped damage:

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/5561/fender2.th.jpg (http://img810.imageshack.us/i/fender2.jpg/)

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/2111/fender1.th.jpg (http://img825.imageshack.us/i/fender1.jpg/)

[RacerX]

Glad you're ok! You're lucky! Sometimes we need to be reminded to take things down a notch in life. You mentioned hitting the curb. The wheels seem ok and drive in a straight line? The fender can be fixed or replaced. I would worry about tweeking the tie rods, axle, etc.

[PurdueRifleman]

Glad you're ok! You're lucky! Sometimes we need to be reminded to take things down a notch in life. You mentioned hitting the curb. The wheels seem ok and drive in a straight line? The fender can be fixed or replaced. I would worry about tweeking the tie rods, axle, etc.

I didn't notice anything different about the way it handled. I'll likely take it into a shop to check alignment, etc tomorrow if they're open.

[ctrlraven]

At least it wasn't more serious and you're okay.

[fastblackmerc]

Glad you're ok! You're lucky! Sometimes we need to be reminded to take things down a notch in life. You mentioned hitting the curb. The wheels seem ok and drive in a straight line? The fender can be fixed or replaced. I would worry about tweeking the tie rods, axle, etc.


At least it wasn't more serious and you're okay.

What they said ^^^

Glad you & your friend are OK.

[LIGHTNIN1]

Glad it wasn't worse. I've done that more than once and it wakes you up for awhile.;)

[Pat]

You know there ought to be a warning sticky on how squirrelly our cars get when they lose traction. One can be going slow and the ends will swap when traction is lost. Tread wear doesn't seem to be a big factor but for some reason(s) the Marauder, not the Grand Marquis or Crown Vic will do a 360. I noted in the OP's narrative that an explorer lost traction too but regained it without crashing but the Marauder was skating all over both lanes.

I have both models and when the streets are slick, like right after a rain, the Marauder misbehaves but the GM stays on track when the tires lose grip.
Two MM owners in my town have experienced this and their cars were totaled.

Is it the torque output of the MM that's the deciding factor in whether one crashes or not or the different suspension setup vis a vis other FMC products?

New MM drivers need to be aware.

[TAKEDOWN]

Glad to hear you're okay, damages could have been a lot worse, and let's not forget lives could have been lost. I too have had some scary moments, and I must agree with Pat our cars aren't the best in bad weather, but my beater/04 CVPI is usually straight and narrow on the road. I'm sure you'll have her looking better than new, let us know how things go along!

BTW, watch out for the ice accumulation that collects in between the road and entrance ramp (ex. Gas Station) where I almost lost it... (rear end almost into the guard rail) phew that was a close one! I slow down almost to a dead stop, then roll in avoiding second gear.

[JimmyXR7]

You know there ought to be a warning sticky on how squirrelly our cars get when they lose traction. One can be going slow and the ends will swap when traction is lost. Tread wear doesn't seem to be a big factor but for some reason(s) the Marauder, not the Grand Marquis or Crown Vic will do a 360. I noted in the OP's narrative that an explorer lost traction too but regained it without crashing but the Marauder was skating all over both lanes.

I have both models and when the streets are slick, like right after a rain, the Marauder misbehaves but the GM stays on track when the tires lose grip.
Two MM owners in my town have experienced this and their cars were totaled.

Is it the torque output of the MM that's the deciding factor in whether one crashes or not or the different suspension setup vis a vis other FMC products?

New MM drivers need to be aware.

You are on the right track.
Suspension set-up
On more compliant surfaces, the suspension should be softer.
Look at the show, the dukes of hazzard.
the general lee body rolls, which allows the outside tires to grip more on the dirt roads.
For dry pavement and dry drag strips, the Marauder is set-up correctly.
I donot drive my Marauder in inclement conditions as I use another vehicle.
If you are going to drive in poor road conditions, having a different set of tires is a partial solution that is not much cost and easy to switch back.
Other posts talks about the tires.
Jim

[CBT]

:welcome1:to the 360* on a major roadway club!
Glad you are okay :beer:

[03calitejas]

Amen that you aren't hurt...I am really sorry about the damage the Marauder suffered and know how you feel. A winter beater may be a good idea next year. I was just lamenting in a message to Dom yesterday about missing driving the MM as she sits in the garage until spring. She looks lonely.

Black ice is impossible to drive on much less avoid oncoming spin outs. So many cars up here have dented fenders and lights hanging out of them in the winter....Gads how I miss living in a warm climate!

[PurdueRifleman]

Quick update:

I've gotten a couple of quotes this morning on repairs. Both sources said I would definitely need a new bumper. The Ford dealership told me they could get me a bumper for $120 plus probably $85 in labor. A trusted local body shop who we've used before for repairs said at least $500 for the bumper plus labor charges.

I'm more inclined to believe the body shop's quote because I don't trust the drunk monkeys at the dealership. The bill of sales that I got from those savages for my car last winter even called it a "Mercury Crown Victoria."

Anyway, it looks as though I'm going to be in it for a new bumper at least so I was curious if anyone could point me to one for a reasonable price.

ETA: This car will be put in my garage by this time next year. My current beater, a 4spd I6 F-250 Custom actually handles worse in inclement weather. I love the engine in that thing, but I think it may have outlived its usefulness to me.

[TAKEDOWN]

Hopefully it's the MARAUDER embossed bumper installed, there was cRazZzY talk that they were no longer available.

[babbage]

Hows the tread on the rear tires?? Most times when I've seen a wreck on here it was due to bald rear tires + rain.

[PurdueRifleman]

Tires are almost new. Bought them towards the end of November and they haven't even seen 1,000mi of use.

[Krytin]

Any time wider tires are used on similar platforms you can count on less traction w/the wider tires on anything involving rain or ice - the Tire Rack site has some good info on this.

Glad you and your friend are ok and that the car can be fixed!!!

[babbage]

Tires are almost new. Bought them towards the end of November and they haven't even seen 1,000mi of use.

Good, well you get points for not having bald tires! Sorry about your accident. Hope all goes well.

[RF Overlord]

The Ford dealership told me they could get me a bumper for $120 Tell me where this dealer is located. I will rent a 44' tractor trailer and buy as many genuine Marauder bumpers as I can fit in there for that price.

...and then I woke up.

[PurdueRifleman]

Tell me where this dealer is located. I will rent a 44' tractor trailer and buy as many genuine Marauder bumpers as I can fit in there for that price.

...and then I woke up.

Poynter Ford in Seymour, IN. Like I said, not a trustworthy bunch.

[chapel1]

I'm glad your all OK! And it sounds like it could have been much worse. As others have indicated,don't assume they know that you have a "Marauder Specific Bumper". There still are a lot of people out there that don't know about or look hard enough to know the difference between a Marauder and a Crown Vic or a Grand Marquis.

[jaywish]

[QUOTE=Krytin;998493]Any time wider tires are used on similar platforms you can count on less traction w/the wider tires on anything involving rain or ice - the Tire Rack site has some good info on this.

Many folks forget this, skinny is better in the snow and rain.

[YankeeMarauder]

Wow, glad everyone is ok and it could have been much worse.

Oddly enough, my 19 year old has been wanting to drive my 300A since I got her in August. Saturday night, I was in a giving mood and decided to let him drive the last ten miles home with me on the right, most of which is a 40 MPH zone. However....

When we came over the bridge only miniutes after he got in the drivers seat, a truck lost a large amount of oil that had not been reported or cleaned up yet. We hit it under low throttle, went hard left, hard right, gentle left and finally gentle right and back to straight. Lucky for us we didnt hit anyone either and we avoided all collision.

Scared the heck out of all of us and made him think. No ones fault, but makes you think, and it coulda happened in a Pinto as well as a Marauder in this case.

[purduecmpe]

Did all this occur crossing over the Wabash near Purdue??

[Big Black Beast]

At least the damage doesn't look that bad and you are all right. Could have been much worse. And I had a new bumper cover put on last year, price for a new one was more like a grand. Aftermarket ones are $400-500. $120?! What are they smoking? Are you sure that wasn't just to repair it?

[PurdueRifleman]

Did all this occur crossing over the Wabash near Purdue??


Haha, nope but I've seen it happen! Actually one of my friends who's still finishing up there got stuck in his S-10 going up the hill on State St back into Lafayette this afternoon.

[PurdueRifleman]

... $120?! What are they smoking? Are you sure that wasn't just to repair it?

I'm positive the dealership said it was $120 for the bumper cover. They said labor would likely be $85. But like I said previously, that's wayyyy under the quotes I've been given by four different shops now and based on what I've seen in my searches for these.

[CBT]

Tell me where this dealer is located. I will rent a 44' tractor trailer and buy as many genuine Marauder bumpers as I can fit in there for that price.

...and then I woke up and Haggis was staring at me....

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

[Haggis]

Tell me where this dealer is located. I will rent a 44' tractor trailer and buy as many genuine Marauder bumpers as I can fit in there for that price.

...and then I woke up and Haggis was staring at me....



Morning Sweetie. :lovies2:

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

I've had this condition on my Maruader for the last several months driving on cement freeways. The car is very scarry driving above 65 MPH.
The other day, I had about 100 pounds of stuff in my trunk. What a difference. The car stuck on the cement freeway much better than before. I'm thinking of adding a bag of sand or two into the trunk to aleviate this problem. I am almost at 118,000 miles.

[Horsepower]

Praise God your okay bro:bows:
I was just in an accident myself and these things happen out of nowhere. I don't think parts will be a problem.

[Peter]

I'm positive the dealership said it was $120 for the bumper cover. They said labor would likely be $85. But like I said previously, that's wayyyy under the quotes I've been given by four different shops now and based on what I've seen in my searches for these.

Are you sure it isn't a repro? MSRP for an OEM bumper is $1209, I paid $850 last year...

[PurdueRifleman]

Are you sure it isn't a repro? MSRP for an OEM bumper is $1209, I paid $850 last year...


It probably was. That's why I didn't go with them.

The body shop doing the work found one for $1250 and sent in the total estimate to my insurance today. Hopefully after they give the green light, I'll have the car back next week.

[Peter]

It probably was. That's why I didn't go with them.

The body shop doing the work found one for $1250 and sent in the total estimate to my insurance today. Hopefully after they give the green light, I'll have the car back next week.

Make sure you OEMparts!

[Horsepower]

Here it goes:
1.Rear bumper cover- $1500
2.grille-$250

These are just random part prices that may pertain to you. I hope it helps some way. Oh and the parts can be bought fromVenice Auto parts/ greenleaf auto parts or Al's auto parts. Im not sure of their location. Im reading estimates for these parts after the bill was contaminated by the auto body guys.

P.s I thru in the grille just because its there
:uzi:

[PurdueRifleman]

<snip>... Make sure you OEMparts!


Done. I explicitly requested an OEM bumper cover to the shop owner who turns out to be a big fan of our cars. He found one, looked over my car, and sent my insurance the quote yesterday. It's all waiting now.

[CBT]

Done. I explicitly requested an OEM bumper cover to the shop owner who turns out to be a big fan of our cars. He found one, looked over my car, and sent my insurance the quote yesterday. It's all waiting now.

Did they fix you up yet?

[PurdueRifleman]

Did they fix you up yet?

She goes in the 14th. Likely the best Valentines Day present I'll get!

[Vortech347]

Could have been alot worse. **** happens! Glad you're OK.

[PurdueRifleman]

I got her back from the shop today. The work was great and they replaced the SS inserts for me was well.

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/9905/bumperrepaired.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/bumperrepaired.jpg/)

My DR tune also arrived so it's kind of like having a new car!

[MOTOWN]

wow looks better than new!

[Black Dynamite]

Nice! Looks good

[TAKEDOWN]

L00kin' g00d I must say!