New Member Looking To Become MM Owner

[Socal Sam]

Hi MMN members! I'm a new member from the L.A. area looking to join the MM owners club. I was briefly a Panther driver but technically not an owner. The CV LX Sport I "bought" had an undisclosed lien on the title which killed the deal.

I have lots of questions before I buy a MM.

1. How many miles is too many when buying used?
2. 2003 or 2004 model year, which is better?
3. Anything specific to look for when evaluating a MM?

Thanks in advance. I'm looking forward to becoming an owner.

[SC Cheesehead]

Hi MMN members! I'm a new member from the L.A. area looking to join the MM owners club. I was briefly a Panther driver but technically not an owner. The CV LX Sport I "bought" had an undisclosed lien on the title which killed the deal.

I have lots of questions before I buy a MM.

1. How many miles is too many when buying used?
2. 2003 or 2004 model year, which is better?
3. Anything specific to look for when evaluating a MM?

Thanks in advance. I'm looking forward to becoming an owner.


:welcome1:

A well maintained Marauder will easily go 150K+, we have a number of guys running strong on the north side of 200,000 miles, and some of these are supercharged cars.

The 2004's had a few enhancements, but either year are good cars, I've owned both.

Various minor electrical gremlins but none which are too difficult or expensive to fix.

Some of the '03s (mostly earlier builds) had issue with soft axles.

Find a clean one that's been well maintained and you're good to go.

[fastblackmerc]

What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Best thing is to have some one in the area knowledgeable in Marauders take a test drive and look it over for you.

[clmrt]

Research the head issues - cylinder 8, the need for the "cooling mod". Loud ticking is a clue that you might need head work. A compression / leakdown test would be a good idea if you have excessive noise near the firewall, driver side.

Stripped spark plug holes, popped plugs that have been repaired.

A scratched back bumper has to be repaired, no replacements are available.

Intake box, interior trim, coolant crossover tube, wheels, floor mats, headlights, corner lamps, grilles are all discontinued and expensive when found.

[Socal Sam]

Research the head issues - cylinder 8, the need for the "cooling mod". Loud ticking is a clue that you might need head work. A compression / leakdown test would be a good idea if you have excessive noise near the firewall, driver side.

Stripped spark plug holes, popped plugs that have been repaired.

A scratched back bumper has to be repaired, no replacements are available.

Intake box, interior trim, coolant crossover tube, wheels, floor mats, headlights, corner lamps, grilles are all discontinued and expensive when found.

Thanks for the tip on cylinder 8. I'll listen for that and definitely do the mod.

This might be heresy but I might turn my future MM into a CVPI. Easy enough to do with the multitudes of wrecks at the pick-a-parts.

What a small world we live in. Are you the same clmrt from the "all audio, no attitude" forum?

[lji372]

:party::welcome1: to the modness!!!!

my two cents is by one that is already supercharged. you will save time and money in the long haul.

and don't forget to add the floating center caps :D

[Socal Sam]

:party::welcome1: to the modness!!!!

my two cents is by one that is already supercharged. you will save time and money in the long haul.

and don't forget to add the floating center caps :D

Ooh, ooh, ooh! I would love to have a supercharged MM. Here in tree hugger land...er...California, I've got to be concerned with the smoggies. There must be a kit the has the required Executive Order number.

[clmrt]

Yep, thought I recognized So Cal!

Welcome!

[guspech750]

Hello fitness friend.

Good luck on your search.


Sent from my iPhone 4S

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[Socal Sam]

Yep, thought I recognized So Cal!

Welcome!

No audio, all attitude! Glad to see a familiar name here.:beer:

[Guittard22]

welcome to the site if you can try to buy a MM from a member here so you know what your getting :welcome1:

[clmrt]

Also, members here have graciously provided OASIS reports.

My 2003 came from a member, which was bought originally by another member here. Very cool - all posts by those two guys gave quite an insight on what my car has been through, ie not much!

[88LTDCV351]

Ooh, ooh, ooh! I would love to have a supercharged MM. Here in tree hugger land...er...California, I've got to be concerned with the smoggies. There must be a kit the has the required Executive Order number.

Vortech is the only CARB legal choice in Cali. For Mercury Marauder Vortech supercharger the California CARB E.O. numbers are D-213-20, D-213-25, D-213-26, and D-213-27. The exemption documenations from here http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...es/amquery.php (http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/amquery.php) <!-- controls -->http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/images/misc/progress.gif

[Shaijack]

Social I may have a low milage DTR soon. I don't need two of them so I will sell one.

[Socal Sam]

welcome to the site if you can try to buy a MM from a member here so you know what your getting :welcome1:

...My 2003 came from a member, which was bought originally by another member here. Very cool - all posts by those two guys gave quite an insight on what my car has been through, ie not much!

Excellent ideas. Ownership and forum history are very important.

[Socal Sam]

Vortech is the only CARB legal choice in Cali. For Mercury Marauder Vortech supercharger the California CARB E.O. numbers are D-213-20, D-213-25, D-213-26, and D-213-27. The exemption documenations from here http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...es/amquery.php (http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/amquery.php) <!-- controls -->http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/images/misc/progress.gif

Me want! If I go this route, I'll have to find a low mileage example.

[Socal Sam]

Social I may have a low milage DTR soon. I don't need two of them so I will sell one.

I almost made the rookie mistake of asking what DTR is. That's a color that will have to grow on me.

[jus4kix03MM]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/3770208161.html

This one is still available. Rarest of the four colors and already supercharged.
Good luck with your search.

[Socal Sam]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/3770208161.html

This one is still available. Rarest of the four colors and already supercharged.
Good luck with your search.

Very, very tempting and not too far away. Looks like a Vortech kit.

Do you know this car?

[SC Cheesehead]

Me want! If I go this route, I'll have to find a low mileage example.

Why is that? Multiple S/C'd Marauders are well over 100,000 miles and still runnning strong.

Regular maintenance and a good tune are the keys to longevity on these motors, not NA or SC.

[Socal Sam]

Why is that? Multiple S/C'd Marauders are well over 100,000 miles and still runnning strong.

Regular maintenance and a good tune are the keys to longevity on these motors, not NA or SC.

That is very good to know. I don't want a fragile mod. Everything I've read and seen of the SOHC 4.6 says tough so the DOHC is just as tough??

[Ozark Marauder]

Thanks for the tip on cylinder 8. I'll listen for that and definitely do the mod.

This might be heresy but I might turn my future MM into a CVPI. Easy enough to do with the multitudes of wrecks at the pick-a-parts.

What a small world we live in. Are you the same clmrt from the "all audio, no attitude" forum?

Yes! This is heresy,

Definition: Heresy, an opinion or doctrine contrary to Marauder dogma.

OZ

[clmrt]

Some good context on the few ills of the MM engine.

http://www.thechicagogarage.com/forum/marauder-tech/115895-nicks-marauder-repair-vostak-2.html

http://www.thechicagogarage.com/forum/marauder-tech/115354-latest-marauder-repair-2.html

Lots of teardown - rebuild stories on that forum. Good seat-of-the-pants garage knowledge that gives you a feel for what a daily-driven MM will look like on the inside.

In short, bulletproof. Occasionally smoky due to valve seals. Often noisy on startup due to 3 miles of timing chain and hydraulic tensioners. No biggie.

[Socal Sam]

Why is that? Multiple S/C'd Marauders are well over 100,000 miles and still runnning strong.

Regular maintenance and a good tune are the keys to longevity on these motors, not NA or SC.

I just realized NA and SC mean something. Don't tell me, I've got to research this stuff.

[Socal Sam]

Some good context on the few ills of the MM engine.

http://www.thechicagogarage.com/forum/marauder-tech/115895-nicks-marauder-repair-vostak-2.html

http://www.thechicagogarage.com/forum/marauder-tech/115354-latest-marauder-repair-2.html

Lots of teardown - rebuild stories on that forum. Good seat-of-the-pants garage knowledge that gives you a feel for what a daily-driven MM will look like on the inside.

In short, bulletproof. Occasionally smoky due to valve seals. Often noisy on startup due to 3 miles of timing chain and hydraulic tensioners. No biggie.

Thanks clmrt! I'll look for the cooling mod in the sc'ed MM.

[jus4kix03MM]

Very, very tempting and not too far away. Looks like a Vortech kit.

Do you know this car?

Dont know the car or owner. I have seen it driving around though. Just never got a chance to speak with the owner.

[Socal Sam]

Dont know the car or owner. I have seen it driving around though. Just never got a chance to speak with the owner.

I spoke with the owner. My Spanish is not so good and his English is not so good either. I'm waiting for a call back from one of his relatives.

[jus4kix03MM]

I spoke with the owner. My Spanish is not so good and his English is not so good either. I'm waiting for a call back from one of his relatives.

Good luck.

[Socal Sam]

I'm still on the hunt. There are three black ones to look at this weekend.

[Socal Sam]

I hope I don't get booted out of MMN. I bought an '04 CV LX Sport instead. Same awesome interior and just about the same driving around town. Of course, the MM has the better top end.

If the MMN members see fit, I would like to maintain dual citizenship. I'm into the Panther platform and should the opportunity arise to get a CA legal supercharged '04, I'll take it.

[L.Mark]

It's all in the Panther Family!!!

[lji372]

I hope I don't get booted out of MMN. I bought an '04 CV LX Sport instead. Same awesome interior and just about the same driving around town. Of course, the MM has the better top end.

If the MMN members see fit, I would like to maintain dual citizenship. I'm into the Panther platform and should the opportunity arise to get a CA legal supercharged '04, I'll take it.

:beer:it's all good

CV or a DTR not much difference

no spectragod i don't want your 5 billion dollars:lol:

[Bluerauder]

I bought an '04 CV LX Sport instead. Same awesome interior and just about the same driving around town.

I test drove the CV LX Sport and then the MM on the same day back in October 2003. IMHO there was no comparison. Actually walked away with the MM for less than what the other Ford Dealer wanted for the CV -- 'cause the LM dealer wanted to move the MM off his lot. :D It just wasn't what his regular clientele were looking for. At $27,500 for a $35,300 sticker ... I felt that I stole mine with 56 miles on it. :o The Ford guy didn't want to "deal" at all.

[Socal Sam]

I test drove the CV LX Sport and then the MM on the same day back in October 2003. IMHO there was no comparison. Actually walked away with the MM for less than what the other Ford Dealer wanted for the CV -- 'cause the LM dealer wanted to move the MM off his lot. :D It just wasn't what his regular clientele were looking for. At $27,500 for a $35,300 sticker ... I felt that I stole mine with 56 miles on it. :o The Ford guy didn't want to "deal" at all.

MM for less than the LX Sport! Textbook thievery!!

[Socal Sam]

I got a PM last night from 1Marauder egging me on to buy a MM. MM owners are class. Great community!

[Mebot]

MM owners are class. Great community!

This is a true and accurate statement (for the most part)

sent from space

[Shaijack]

For the right price I would part with my DTR.

[lji372]

For the right price I would part with my DTR.

Well then $8.00 it is :D