How do Marauders die?

[clmrt]

Besides accidents, acts of God, and the occasional vandal...not counting neglect, either, as I have no problem spending $$$ on maintenance.

I have a 300a, N/A with the usual mods - 4.10's, Lidio tune, CAI and exhaust. I know these are mucho robusto vehicles, but it seems like they were born to be abused with all the supercharging, burnouts, drag racing, etc.

That said, I tend to take it pretty easy on mine. Granted, I've had it all of 8 days, and I'm still getting used to the little noises and quirks. But I have no problem dropping my foot on an on-ramp or empty backroad and scaring the willies out of my passengers.

So what kills these cars? Anyone gone up in flames doing a N/A burnout?

[tbone]

I think most any car, including Marauders, die of neglect. And then so many things combine to make it not worth fixing up anymore. Oh, and RUST!

Unfortunately, most Marauder owners aren't as anal as we are. And a lot of people don't even know what a socket wrench is. :(

[clmrt]

Do you think it's exceptionally abusive to do the occasional burnout in an NA car?

My *ahem* Saturn was seeing WOT every chance I got. Why not, it was almost disposable. Doing that in the 'rauder seems irresponsible, so I save it for special occasions. Maybe that'll wear off, but I get the feeling I now have a car I have to be extra careful with.

[DOOM]

No replacement parts! :mad2:

[tbone]

I don't do burnouts often in my NA car because I'm cheap and don't like burning up tires. I suppose doing them too often could cause some problems like warped rear rotors.......

[clmrt]

No replacement parts! :mad2:

Good point. Any single item stand out?

Something like a particular engine component that, once worn or broken, cannot be replaced?

[Blackmobile]

Food for thought,
Do Burnout in 2nd gear.
Keeps you from bounsing off the REV limiter. I sort of heard that from some people. :rolleyes:
And it will beat up your Torque Converter.

[Odinson]

Good point. Any single item stand out?

Something like a particular engine component that, once worn or broken, cannot be replaced?

Well the bumper covers need repair almost every accident and really inflate the cost of repairs. Insurance companies are quicker to total marauders with higher part costs and lower blue book values. The rear bumper is really a $400 part not the $1200 the last one Ford sold cost.

Lots of workable marauders die in junkyards as 'wrecks.'

Several good new drop in engine options that's not the problem.

Rims are also very fragile to salt. Use high end motorcycle polish like s100 or use steel rims in the snow.

IMO, all things being equal (the currency, interest rates, gas prices, etc.) I expect the cost of serviceable Marauders in 'good' condition to sky rocket in about 18 months. If things are not equal it may be even crazier.

BTW: not that I care what the price is, I'm driving mine to it's grave, a long long time from now.

[RF Overlord]

Most Marauders die from being rolled over while drifting in Saudi Arabia, Q8, or the UAE...

[SC Cheesehead]

Do you think it's exceptionally abusive to do the occasional burnout in an NA car?

My *ahem* Saturn was seeing WOT every chance I got. Why not, it was almost disposable. Doing that in the 'rauder seems irresponsible, so I save it for special occasions. Maybe that'll wear off, but I get the feeling I now have a car I have to be extra careful with.

Nope, and nope! :D

Ask Paul Casey, 03mmmonroe, Blackened300A and others, these guys have hundreds of 1/4 passes on their cars with no major issues. IMO, clutch packs in the trak-lok (limited slip) will prolly show accelerated wear with repeated abuse, but other than that, should not be a big deal.

Like Russ (03mmmonroe) is so fond of telling my wife, "you can't break these cars running 'em stock." :up:

[justbob]

I've beaten the livin snot out of mine since Oct of '04.. I've put on 75,000 miles of which 40,000 have been S/C'd. Maintenace, I can't stress it enough. I way over maintain, and have no problem upgrading parts even though nothing has let me down. She will last me as long as I take care of her.

Anyone who has driven my car can not believe how tight it is and how it still feels new.

[TAKEDOWN]

^^^ What he said! ^^^

[Juice]

can not believe how tight it is and how it still feels new.

That's what she said!


My car is a total pain in the ass, over $5000 in mechanical repairs in the 2 years I have had her. This is by far the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned. That being said, I would still buy it again knowing what I know now. Everywhere I go it is like being a celebrity, she gets so much attention!

Mine, like most others, will probably die from not being able to replace an obsolete part like a bumper cover. You can be as careful as you want, but it only takes one moron to **** it up. Unfortunately, the longer you have it the more likely that is to happen, which is inversely proportional to the number of parts available.

[breeze]

A simple part like a coil spring, nope gotta go aftermarket.

[clmrt]

I've beaten the livin snot out of mine since Oct of '04.. I've put on 75,000 miles of which 40,000 have been S/C'd. Maintenace, I can't stress it enough. I way over maintain, and have no problem upgrading parts even though nothing has let me down. She will last me as long as I take care of her.

Anyone who has driven my car can not believe how tight it is and how it still feels new.

This makes me happy!:D

[clmrt]

That's what she said!


My car is a total pain in the ass, over $5000 in mechanical repairs in the 2 years I have had her. This is by far the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned. That being said, I would still buy it again knowing what I know now. Everywhere I go it is like being a celebrity, she gets so much attention!

Mine, like most others, will probably die from not being able to replace an obsolete part like a bumper cover. You can be as careful as you want, but it only takes one moron to **** it up. Unfortunately, the longer you have it the more likely that is to happen, which is inversely proportional to the number of parts available.

What happened, and was it related to abuse or neglect? Inherited issues from the previous owner?

[CBT]

I've beaten the livin snot out of mine since Oct of '04.. I've put on 75,000 miles of which 40,000 have been S/C'd. Maintenace, I can't stress it enough. I way over maintain, and have no problem upgrading parts even though nothing has let me down. She will last me as long as I take care of her.

Anyone who has driven my car can not believe how tight it is and how it still feels new.


This makes me happy!:D

The first time I actually talked to Bob was after he filled MY Marauder with HIS tire smoke, lol!! We knew each other from .net but hadn't really talked until that happened. I had my window down and we were side by side at a light and he blazed them up. Well, the wind was blowing just right and it filled my interior. My daughter was yelling "EEEEWWWwwwww, what the hell?!" and trying like crazy to find the window button on her side. Funny stuff!!

[Juice]

A lot of little things, but the biggest was the transmission committing suicide at 70k miles. They guy who rebuilt it said it had been rebuilt already once before and it was poorly done. I think the previous owner(s) didn't know what the hell they were doing. However, some of the things are due to poor design. Anything that can go wrong with the climate control has gone wrong in this car (EATC O-rings, blend door actuator, BCM, etc). I have also had freak-incidents like the radiator fan separating from the fan motor so the car thinks the fan was on, but it really wasn't in June in South Carolina. It has been an interesting adventure so far.

The car is in great physical shape though. Nothing more than minor dings and no rust anywhere, so I can be happy for that. I figure I will have eventually swapped out every part on this car for a new one. Building a brand new Marauder, one part at a time.

[4drcbra]

Besides replacing air compressor and wiper motors, mine has been perfect. The occasional WOT, but mostly just cruising around. Im careful bc I fear the rogue idiot that could total my car at any stop

[justbob]

The first time I actually talked to Bob was after he filled MY Marauder with HIS tire smoke, lol!! We knew each other from .net but hadn't really talked until that happened. I had my window down and we were side by side at a light and he blazed them up. Well, the wind was blowing just right and it filled my interior. My daughter was yelling "EEEEWWWwwwww, what the hell?!" and trying like crazy to find the window button on her side. Funny stuff!!

Really? Sorry :D I normally get to know people before I fog them! I remember that day, you were laughin so hard at lil Case!

[drobin]

My MM garage queen in it's pristene condition and barring any accident, should last many, many years with only 20K on the odometer, and all the other goodies Iv'e done to her.

drobin (Donald)

[stryker]

No replacement parts! :mad2: Why we unit and make a class lawsuit against Ford/Mercury for this and claim them to keep making parts for the Marauders and Grandmarquises and Crownvics that still running ? I hve problems with my 2000 CVLX-HPP with much parts are discontinued right now I need to get a new cluster and for my year is discotinued untill 2003 which are available digital but it cost $800.00 ( no way) but I don't know if i can use the ones fron police interceptors.

[mrjones]

I think there's another more common and insidious reason for deaths of Marauders:

24s, pink interiors, and headrest monitors! Just kills their spirit and will to live.

[BODYMAN]

Nope, and nope! :D

Ask Paul Casey, 03mmmonroe, Blackened300A and others, these guys have hundreds of 1/4 passes on their cars with no major issues. IMO, clutch packs in the trak-lok (limited slip) will prolly show accelerated wear with repeated abuse, but other than that, should not be a big deal.

Like Russ (03mmmonroe) is so fond of telling my wife, "you can't break these cars running 'em stock." :up:

Uh' Iam with you Rex these rear ends dont like much abuse. Iam imploded my stock one three weeks ago. Took diff cover of and all that was left was chunks of metal LOL. I wasnt happy but being what I saw I couldnt help but laugh.

[88LTDCV351]

No major mechanical problems here. I imagine most if taken care of have not had major engine or trans problems yet with 0 to even 150,000 miles would be my guess. Of course there will always be some statistical numbers with issues for the rare individuals that had immediate or later problems even out of the showroom floor. Maybe quality control at the factory wasn't paying attention here and there? Its bound to happen. And imperfections in materials are statistacally possible (1 out of every so many parts are destined to go bad, etc.) All in all, these cars from my experience take a beating and keep on ticking.

[SC Cheesehead]

Uh' Iam with you Rex these rear ends dont like much abuse. Iam imploded my stock one three weeks ago. Took diff cover of and all that was left was chunks of metal LOL. I wasnt happy but being what I saw I couldnt help but laugh.

Gotta look on the positive side, prolly wasn't too tough to tear down that way... ;)

You upgrading to a 31 spline or rebuilding the stocker? Or maybe going to something more "robust" than the 8.8?