I Feel So Cheap and Used

[Bluerauder]

Looks like we were guinea pigs to boost sales on the Grand Marquis by 8%. Boy, I do love my Marauder; but feel so cheap and used that F/L/M used us a rolling advertizements for the GM line. Any chance FoMoCo might send us all a check in appreciation of our efforts in the marketing biz???

:lol:


From the announcement on the 25 June 2004 end of production on the Marauder at the St Thomas plant --

"DEARBORN, Mich., March 23, 2004 (FCN) --
The big, bad Mercury Marauder is rolling toward the end of the line. Ford Motor Company says Marauder production will end in June, and Lincoln Mercury field operations have been given a timetable for placing final orders.

[.............]

At the 2002 Chicago Auto Show, the Mercury Marauder was reintroduced as a 2003 model. The current Marauder is a member of the Grand Marquis family, designed to be an exciting, limited edition niche product for Mercury. The monochromatic look and distinctive performance cues are matched to a powerful 302 horsepower V-8 that gives the car a "wolf in sheep's clothing" image. Marauder brought attention to the Grand Marquis lineup, which saw an 8 percent sales gain in 2003.........." By Eric Mitchell

[MYSTA KANG]

I see it good and bad. The good- only a few will have the 03 -04 MM. Maybe 5 years from now they will be a hot collectors item. The bad is what if ford brings another line out with 5.4 SC engines in them :rasta: I must be smoking huh!

[Fourth Horseman]

Perhaps that was Ford's plan, perhaps not. Either way, I don't feel used. The timing was absolutely right for me and it was the right car. If the Marauder didn't exist I would have bought a Crown Vic LX Sport, anyway. *shrug*

[stevengerard]

Looks like we were guinea pigs to boost sales on the Grand Marquis by 8%.
I would think the 8% is not all MMs since Ford counts the MM as a GM. So maybe a percentage of that was the MM and some of that 8% is a true increase in the sales of GMs.

Either way they gave us a great car. When GM came around last time I didn't have the funds for the SS, it makes this purchase so much better

[Bluerauder]

If the Marauder didn't exist I would have bought a Crown Vic LX Sport, anyway. *shrug*
I looked at both on the same day ... and I test drove the Crown Vic LX Sport. I was not overly impressed. However, I had not even rolled out of the lot with the Marauder and I knew that it was right ... from a quality and a ride perspective. I didn't get that feel from the Crown Vic LX Sport. Of course, the only color that they had in stock was kinda "Ice Blue" with the same interior -- felt wrong --- I wanted Black and bought a DBP Marauder about 3 hours later.

[Fourth Horseman]

I looked at both on the same day ... and I test drove the Crown Vic LX Sport. I was not overly impressed. However, I had not even rolled out of the lot with the Marauder and I knew that it was right ... from a quality and a ride perspective. I didn't get that feel from the Crown Vic LX Sport. Of course, the only color that they had in stock was kinda "Ice Blue" with the same interior -- felt wrong --- I wanted Black and bought a DBP Marauder about 3 hours later.

I hear you. I've always loved big cars and have owned a couple over the years. I had been following the Marauder from the first concept and was interested, but not really quite sold on plunking down the $35k (I know, I know, that's what I get for getting one of the very first built) until one day... I was driving along when I see this big black car roll past. What caught my eye initially was the wheels. It was a Crown Vic and it was really nicely done up. Spotless, nice window tint and big shiny wheels (sorta like ours) with wide, aggressive rubber on them. It's hard to relate in words, but at the time it really struck me. This guy had figured out the combination. He had a big car totally done up right. Nothing over the top, very classy and yet very aggressive. That was the moment that it clicked for me and I knew I had to go the same route. The Marauder just fit that bill perfectly.

[RF Overlord]

If the Marauder didn't exist I would have bought a Crown Vic LX Sport, anyway.

:up:

Me too, Fourth...or maybe a Bentley Arnage T...450 HP / 645 ft-lbs... :rasta:

[MYSTA KANG]

I had just drop my daughter off at daycare and was waiting for traffic to clear and there it was- a DTR MM cominung down the streetand all i could hear was my heart beating and everything around me was a blur but the MM. It even had the spoiler on itand the pipes look like glasspacks. As I think back to that morning it was a perfect morning, the time was about 7:34am and the sun was wasnt shining but it had that almost dusk look and it was about to rain. All I know is that very same day i went and test drove a MM and that was the same day I joined this site. So I really dont care if ford use me to spike sells, at least I will be happy.

[2005Marauder]

They went to buy the MM but then either the wife or their pocket book convinced them to buy the GM. Others not so well informed didn't see the value in the price difference and then the dealership could bump up the price on the GM and the buyer would still felt like they were getting a good deal. They do the same thing with the Mustang Cobra and many other vehicles. They get you in the door to see the high $$$$$ cars and they don't care what you buy as long as you buy SOMETHING.

[sailsmen]

Wonder how much of the increase in sales was due to the $3,500+ in rebates?

[dwasson]

I'm an IT Consultant. I'm used to feeling cheap and used. You'll get over it.

[teamrope]

I may be easy, but I'm NOT CHEAP!!! :D

[jgc61sr2002]

They went to buy the MM but then either the wife or their pocket book convinced them to buy the GM. Others not so well informed didn't see the value in the price difference and then the dealership could bump up the price on the GM and the buyer would still felt like they were getting a good deal. They do the same thing with the Mustang Cobra and many other vehicles. They get you in the door to see the high $$$$$ cars and they don't care what you buy as long as you buy SOMETHING.


I agree the Marauder served a purpose to bring potential costumers in the door and then sell them something. As long as FMC sold cars they could care less about the Marauder. IMO. :(

[RCSignals]

They always said the Marauder was there partly to bring a new customer to Mercury dealers, preferably one who otherwise wouldn't look to Mercury.

Too bad many Mercury dealers didn't know how to deal with that

[Marc]

If it wasn't for the Marauder, Lord knows what I would be driving now. Either still in my Jeep Gr Cherokee, or worse yet, the Honda Accord EX I traded in. If this is how cheap and used feels like, I hope it keeps happening to me.

[Bluerauder]

If it wasn't for the Marauder, Lord knows what I would be driving now..... If this is how cheap and used feels like, I hope it keeps happening to me.
Well said Marc. Thanks folks for helping me get over this crisis. Or as 'dwasson' indicates .... maybe I'll just get use to it. My, I feel better already. Time for a drive and some travellin' music.

[jstevens]

I don't feel too bad. I looked at the GM. Once I put on the options I wanted, the price was close or even to the MM. My wife looked at the GM and said no way, it looks like an old persons car. Plus, after the test drive, she lauged at the look on my face.:D