First small car show

[Curless]

Last night we went to a small weekly cruise in at our local Big Boy. I was driving our 96 SS and the wifey had the 03 MM, the young girl at the gate said for us to park out back with the non - show cars......she had no idea what either car was! Another working saw us discussing the issue and explained to her what mistake she had just made. She felt badly, and was embarrassed but to me I though....she's really that young????

Lots of compliments on having the pair of them at the place, lots of "what is a Marauder"! Funny, your at a car show, they were built ten years ago and you don't know what they are...

[SC Cheesehead]

Last night we went to a small weekly cruise in at our local Big Boy. I was driving our 96 SS and the wifey had the 03 MM, the young girl at the gate said for us to park out back with the non - show cars......she had no idea what either car was! Another working saw us discussing the issue and explained to her what mistake she had just made. She felt badly, and was embarrassed but to me I though....she's really that young????

Lots of compliments on having the pair of them at the place, lots of "what is a Marauder"! Funny, your at a car show, they were built ten years ago and you don't know what they are...


VERY common.

I often get, "I didn't even know they made a car like that." Or if the person has heard of the cars, it's "they only made them in back, why did you repaint yours?" :rolleyes:

Actually, that was one of the big problems with the car, Ford did a really crummy job of marketing it; lotsa folks have no idea what a Marauder is.

[Ms. Denmark]

We like to get out to local car shows on the weekends and Eric (Mr. Man) goes to a weekly cruise night so we have heard it all. Seems to be 3 general groups of people:

1. Don't know anything about the car and don't care. Just walk on by.

2. Think they know all about the car and are overheard telling their buddy or GF all kinds of crazy stuff about it but never approach us to ask for verification. That can be very entertaining.

3. Knows what it is and are so amazed to a see a Marauder in person. Ask a lot of great questions and thank us for bringing the car to the show.

We enjoy being goodwill ambassadors for our cars and talking to anyone who has questions about Marauders. People see a zillion Mustangs, Chevelles, Camaros etc. but we are almost always the only Marauder at the show and the only one most people say they have ever seen. It's one of the things we love about owning a very limited production car.

[SC Cheesehead]

We like to get out to local car shows on he weekends and Eric (Mr. Man) goes to a weekly cruise night so we have heard it all. Seems to be 3 general groups of people:

1. Don't know anything about the car and don't care. Just walk on by.

2. Think they know all about the car and are overheard telling their buddy or GF all kinds of crazy stuff about it but never approach us to ask for verification. That can be very entertaining.

3. Knows what it is and are so amazed to a see a Marauder in person. Ask a lot of great questions and thank us for bringing the car to the show.

We enjoy being goodwill ambassadors for our cars and talking to anyone who has questions about Marauders. People see a zillion Mustangs, Chevelles, Camaros etc. but we are almost always the only Marauder at the show and the only one most people say they have ever seen. It's one of the things we love about owning a very limited production car.

Spot on, Ms. D.

I never get tired of answering questions from people who want to know all about the car, and yep, it's always great to get those complements; isn't it? :)

[Granddaddy Marq]

I was at a car show once, and had a guy walk up look at the engine, then the side, and then the back. Turned to his buddy and said " This might be a SLEEPER right here.":D

[DOOM]

I've never been to a car show, but they sound like lots of fun! :D

[IwantmyMMnow!]

I've never been to a car show, but they sound like lots of fun! :D

That's what happens when you blow up your engine.... :P

[gdmjoe]

Curless - Last night we went to a small weekly cruise in at our local Big Boy. ...
Whereabouts is this "weekly cruise"? i.e. which Big Boy location.

BTW ... Tuesday nights at Fricano's Pizza Restaurant - 5808 Alpine Ave (just before 7 Mile Rd).
BTW(2) ... Don't order/eat the pizza. http://www.gdmjoe.com/nonono.gif
.

[Ozark Marauder]

I've never been to a car show, but they sound like lots of fun! :D

:whistle:..........:lol:

OZ

[Ms. Denmark]

I've never been to a car show, but they sound like lots of fun! :D Oh, they are fun! Sounds like you should come up to NH in August so we can give you a Car show initiation. They give out these prizes called "trophies". I wouldn't get my hopes up since it's your first time, but hey....there's always beginners luck.;)

[Curless]

Whereabouts is this "weekly cruise"? i.e. which Big Boy location.

BTW ... Tuesday nights at Fricano's Pizza Restaurant - 5808 Alpine Ave (just before 7 Mile Rd).
BTW(2) ... Don't order/eat the pizza. http://www.gdmjoe.com/nonono.gif
.

Cedar Springs Big Boy on Wednesdays, half off food for car owners and a drawing for free pies. They are not having one on the 4th of July by the way.

I know about Fricanos, I will NEVER go there. The owner is a complete *******, he treated some fellow motorcyclists with complete disrespect and has made it perfectly clear that NO BIKERS are allowed on his property. Too bad for him cause most bikers are car people too.

Thanks for the heads up!

[SC Cheesehead]

That's what happens when you blow up your engine.... :P

:rofl: Oh, SNAP! :rofl:

[Granddaddy Marq]

I've never been to a car show, but they sound like lots of fun! :D


Oh, they are fun! Sounds like you should come up to NH in August so we can give you a Car show initiation. They give out these prizes called "trophies". I wouldn't get my hopes up since it's your first time, but hey....there's always beginners luck.;)


STOP STOP! YA'LL ARE KILLEN' ME! That's just good comedy right there.:lol:

[CBT]

I've never been to a car show, but they sound like lots of fun! :D

Liar liar pants on fire.

[SC Cheesehead]

Liar liar pants on fire.

Sooooo, you tellin' me Doomie has hot pants? :dunno:

;)

[bigcowl-imp]

Last night we went to a small weekly cruise in at our local Big Boy. I was driving our 96 SS and the wifey had the 03 MM, the young girl at the gate said for us to park out back with the non - show cars......she had no idea what either car was! Another working saw us discussing the issue and explained to her what mistake she had just made. She felt badly, and was embarrassed but to me I though....she's really that young????

Lots of compliments on having the pair of them at the place, lots of "what is a Marauder"! Funny, your at a car show, they were built ten years ago and you don't know what they are...

So whitch one is faster and whats the mpg on both ?? are they stock ?

[Curless]

So whitch one is faster and whats the mpg on both ?? are they stock ?

We have not run em off yet, seat of the pants dyno says that the Imp is faster red light to red light, the MM is all about the top end! The gas mileage on the Imp is 21-26 I have not gone thru a full tank on the MM yet. Yes, they are both stone stock.

[Bluerauder]

We like to get out to local car shows on the weekends and Eric (Mr. Man) goes to a weekly cruise night so we have heard it all. Seems to be 3 general groups of people:

1. Don't know anything about the car and don't care. Just walk on by.

2. Think they know all about the car and are overheard telling their buddy or GF all kinds of crazy stuff about it but never approach us to ask for verification. That can be very entertaining.

3. Knows what it is and are so amazed to a see a Marauder in person. Ask a lot of great questions and thank us for bringing the car to the show.

There's a 4th kind that I just met at the store ..... a lady

4. The kind that walks over and says "Damn, that is really a nice looking car" then oooohs and aaaaahs as I give the full run down on the Mercury Marauder. When I tell them it is almost 10 years old .... they are dumbfounded that it shows like new.

I like ^^^^^ this kind of person because they are really drawn to the Marauder for the same reasons I was ..... the styling, the looks, the performance and the WOW factor. This ain't your father's Oldsmobile. ;)

[FastMerc]

Ive Been told he has a HEMI in there! :rofl: I say why would I want a stinkin HEMI, I have a stroker! lol

[Curless]

So whitch one is faster and whats the mpg on both ?? are they stock ?


Well tonight told the story, headed out to another local cruise in and we ended up on a divided road at a red light, me in the MM and the wifey in the Impala...the turned green and.....all I saw was tail lights, sorry guys the Impala killed the MM to about 100, then I started to real her in, at about 120 or so I got her but it was waaaay passed the quarter mile. Can't say that I am surprised, pushrods make TORQUE! 330 ft/ lbs @ 2400 for the SS and 318 @ 4500 for the MM, you can definitely tell which one pulls from a dig harder.

[Mr. Man]

Well tonight told the story, headed out to another local cruise in and we ended up on a divided road at a red light, me in the MM and the wifey in the Impala...the turned green and.....all I saw was tail lights, sorry guys the Impala killed the MM to about 100, then I started to real her in, at about 120 or so I got her but it was waaaay passed the quarter mile. Can't say that I am surprised, pushrods make TORQUE! 330 ft/ lbs @ 2400 for the SS and 318 @ 4500 for the MM, you can definitely tell which one pulls from a dig harder.
But your MM looked better losing the race on that closed stretch of highway that is being converted into a drag strip than the SS did winning.:burnout:

[myrodr]

one reason people dont know what a Marauder is ford did not run enough ad s when these could be had new.

[guspech750]

Oh, they are fun! Sounds like you should come up to NH in August so we can give you a Car show initiation. They give out these prizes called "trophies". I wouldn't get my hopes up since it's your first time, but hey....there's always beginners luck.;)

:lol:

Good one.


Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!

[Chad1987]

Well tonight told the story, headed out to another local cruise in and we ended up on a divided road at a red light, me in the MM and the wifey in the Impala...the turned green and.....all I saw was tail lights, sorry guys the Impala killed the MM to about 100, then I started to real her in, at about 120 or so I got her but it was waaaay passed the quarter mile. Can't say that I am surprised, pushrods make TORQUE! 330 ft/ lbs @ 2400 for the SS and 318 @ 4500 for the MM, you can definitely tell which one pulls from a dig harder.

I've raced my friend's '96 Fleetwood Brougham and it was the same thing. From a 10mph roll, he got me to 60, but I slowly started gaining on him. I'm sure that if we raced from a 60 mph roll, I would have pulled on him all the way up to 100.

[MMBLUE]

A stock MM is A DOG and I'm not surprized. I can't see it happining with a MM with a tune though.;)

[Curless]

A stock MM is A DOG and I'm not surprized. I can't see it happining with a MM with a tune though.;)

I talked to a local tuner who stated that I would be better off leaving the stock tune in unless I want to mod the car. I don't really have any want to mod this car...At least I tell myself that so I stay sane! My Impala has 260,000 miles on her, STOCK, and I like not having issues.

[Bluerauder]

I talked to a local tuner who stated that I would be better off leaving the stock tune in unless I want to mod the car. I don't really have any want to mod this car...At least I tell myself that so I stay sane! My Impala has 260,000 miles on her, STOCK, and I like not having issues.

I have one of the MM tunes recommended here on the site and still have the 3.55 gears. The difference is MUCH MUCH better than Stock IMHO. Its worth it just to dump the OEM shifting schedule and early O/D lock point. Whether you do anything else to the car ..... the tune is a good idea. I am sure most others here would agree.

[Ms. Denmark]

I talked to a local tuner who stated that I would be better off leaving the stock tune in unless I want to mod the car. I don't really have any want to mod this car...At least I tell myself that so I stay sane! My Impala has 260,000 miles on her, STOCK, and I like not having issues.
You need a tune. Period! You will love the instant improvement in the shift schedule if nothing else. No more buggy lugging under 55 while the car tries to pick a gear. All of us can't be wrong....:cool:

[Curless]

You need a tune. Period! You will love the instant improvement in the shift schedule if nothing else. No more buggy lugging under 55 while the car tries to pick a gear. All of us can't be wrong....:cool:

I'm not one for generic tunes though, I want my car tuned for my car's ability. I will have to talk more with our local dyno shop... I have to be honest, I NEVER drive mine without manually shifting it, up down I always shift it....

[Bluerauder]

Well tonight told the story, headed out to another local cruise in and we ended up on a divided road at a red light, me in the MM and the wifey in the Impala...the turned green and.....all I saw was tail lights, sorry guys the Impala killed the MM to about 100, then I started to real her in, at about 120 or so I got her but it was waaaay passed the quarter mile. Can't say that I am surprised, pushrods make TORQUE! 330 ft/ lbs @ 2400 for the SS and 318 @ 4500 for the MM, you can definitely tell which one pulls from a dig harder.


I'm not one for generic tunes though, I want my car tuned for my car's ability. I will have to talk more with our local dyno shop... I have to be honest, I NEVER drive mine without manually shifting it, up down I always shift it....

Next time let the MM do the shifting. Stock to Stock the Impala should take the first 1/8 mile. After that, it is all MM..... long before either car hits 100 MPH. Sounds like your wife got a better R/T too. ;)

There is nothing "generic" about the MM tunes discussed here .... all of the recommended tuners have nearly 10 years experience specifically with the MM and customized to your specfic mods. Do what you want though ......

[Curless]

Next time let the MM do the shifting. Stock to Stock the Impala should take the first 1/8 mile. After that, it is all MM..... long before either car hits 100 MPH. Sounds like your wife got a better R/T too. ;)

There is nothing "generic" about the MM tunes discussed here .... all of the recommended tuners have nearly 10 years experience specifically with the MM and customized to your specfic mods. Do what you want though ......

I have run it both ways the car is faster when I tell it when to shift. The Impala is faster either way, switch drivers and its the same. At least in 1320 feet, after that its all MM.

Tuning wise its gotta be on a dyno for me, every single car is different.