03-04 Marauder Shortcomings

[Bigg Cellus]

Okay guys two part question- I need all of your honest opinions-With the various engine & trans problems occuring with some marauder owners -Do you all feel good about still owning your cars with these setbacks and second for those who have not had any shortcomings do you feel good about none of these problems occuring to your marauder in the future? I appreciate all responses as I close in on owning a marauder and wanting to be safe rather than sorry. If this thread has already been done please forgive me. Thanks. :confused:

[Murader03]

Okay guys two part question- I need all of your honest opinions-With the various engine & trans problems occuring with some marauder owners -Do you all feel good about still owning your cars with these setbacks and second for those who have not had any shortcomings do you feel good about none of these problems occuring to your marauder in the future? I appreciate all responses as I close in on owning a marauder and wanting to be safe rather than sorry. If this thread has already been done please forgive me. Thanks. :confused:

I don't think you'll find to many nay sayers on the board. In my case, the engine is being replaced due to a bad thermostat back in February causing it the heat up. I would suspect that was the cause of my eventual engine problems, otherwise, I'm happy with the MM. The car is a daily driver as the 53K+ miles attest. This has been the only major problem I've had with the car. I'll be having some additional mods done in June when I visit Dennis....

[Fourth Horseman]

I've been (and remain) quite critical of Ford's over-all quality control on all of their vehicles, lately, not just the Marauder. I've had more than my share of small problems. Mind you, I've not had any show stoppers. Engine and tranny are very solid. I do have the valve-guide tick, but it's not burning any oil so I intend to just live with it.

Anyway, in spite of numberous little problems I wouldn't trade this car for anything out there. If I had to do it all over again I'd definitely buy the Marauder again. I guess what I'm saying is that my overall experience has been good enough to overcome the quality control issues.

I plan to drive this car until it, I or both of us go down in flames. :)

[RCSignals]

The problems some have experienced are over magnified on this board. That is you sometimes get the impression they are more common than they actually are.

If you want a Marauder, you are very safe in buying one.

[SergntMac]

I agree. We are a small percentage of MM owners, spread out across North America, and the existence of certain problems among us is not reflective of the overall QC of this car.

When I logged in the AM, the first five posts I read have a negative spin to them, and I find that very disappointing. I hope it's just a mood swing, I love this car, and yes I have had my share of headaches with it. I view them as self inflicted, resulting from my enjoyment of the MM as I see fit. However, my MM is still very trustworthy, and I'm ready to drive it anywhere in North America right now. I cannot say that about my '98 Mountaineer.

[gpfarrell]

Okay guys two part question- I need all of your honest opinions-With the various engine & trans problems occuring with some marauder owners -Do you all feel good about still owning your cars with these setbacks and second for those who have not had any shortcomings do you feel good about none of these problems occuring to your marauder in the future? I appreciate all responses as I close in on owning a marauder and wanting to be safe rather than sorry. If this thread has already been done please forgive me. Thanks. :confused:


If you'd like a big, fast, safe, fun, comfy car... get the Mercury.

Cars have never been trouble free... we're just getting better at sharing our problems... and solutions on thissy-here internet thing. Thank God Al Gore invented it!

Btw, reading BMW boards I realized that all is not well with the Ultimate Driving Machines. Honda & Toyota build the best vanilla, but if you want some spice you'll have to spit out a seed once in awhile... it's a small price to pay!

[TripleTransAm]

Btw, reading BMW boards I realized that all is not well with the Ultimate Driving Machines. Honda & Toyota build the best vanilla, but if you want some spice you'll have to spit out a seed once in awhile... it's a small price to pay!


VERY well said...

[Bluerauder]

Okay guys two part question- I need all of your honest opinions-With the various engine & trans problems occuring with some marauder owners -Do you all feel good about still owning your cars with these setbacks and second for those who have not had any shortcomings do you feel good about none of these problems occuring to your marauder in the future? I appreciate all responses as I close in on owning a marauder and wanting to be safe rather than sorry. If this thread has already been done please forgive me. Thanks. :confused:

Bigg Cellus,

I love my '03 MM and have had no problems to date with about 8,500 miles on the odometer. I really enjoy driving the car and like just being in it. I haven't felt this good about a car in a long time. The "rash" of incidents recently appear to be sheer coincidence. I have been around these boards for several months and this is the first such "rash" that I can recall with major engine and tranny issues. Most of the stuff that I have seen and read to this time can best be described as "Nits and Noids".

Well, that's my 2 cents. :banana:

[Jeff]

21,000 miles and I just LOVE this car!! :bounce:

[RoyLPita]

I've test driven 9 MM's: 7 300A's, 1 300B, and 1 '04. Regardless of the gripes that I have about the car (premium fuel, uneven sized tires, all 300A's being black), I still want one. And I will get one even when Ford stops making them.

Food for thought:

There are some former owners out there that have traded in the their MMs and with mileage in the 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's and they are all stock. And looking at the history of some of these, there wasn't much trouble with them at all.

Of all of the VINS that I have checked out through Ford's OASIS, Only a handful each needed an engine, trans, or rear end repair. That's pretty good odds comparing the # of MMs made.

Just my .02 and then some.

[Heavy351]

The Marauder may be unique but the components that created it have been around awhile. We all wish they were defect free but over the years most of the major bugs have been worked out of this platform. This is one advantage to having made thousands upon thousands of CV/Grand Marquis.

I just have to grin when I think of the owner of my company who was "buying the best" a 750iL 12 cylinder BMW. In the shop once a month at least with serious problems (leaks oil everywhere for one)

If all you care about is zero defects buy a Honda. Just think how cheated you will feel when that car strands you (yes, unlikely but is does still happen)

I am having more fun with my "higher risk" Marauder. :banana:

[Ross]

Almost 35K on mine and I would definitely do it all over again! This is the most fun car I have ever owned. It will be more fun in a week or so when I get around to installing my new exhaust!

[DL04]

I recently spoke with a MM owner{not a member here} who has 50k on a 2003 300a. Drives every day from LI to NJ- only 'problem' was uneven tire wear on the rear tires,not bad considering the roads he has to travel on.Some of the problems here can probably be directly related to our enthusiastic driving habits,I know I drive it a lot harder than my others and always will regardless of a few 'defects' some members have had,especially since my stage 1 is in the mail! :up:

[stevengerard]

The Marauder may be unique but the components that created it have been around awhile.

good point, try driving a SHO 5 speed, everything was "unique" though the engine was bullet proof. The MM seems to be almost all tried and true parts.

[Logan]

I already have owned one, sold it and bought another one...So there ya go.

[merc]

I called the dealer and the service manger replied " They have your tranny out and they know what's wrong with it, but I will have to call you back later with details". I don't like the sound of that answer, but I am staying hopeful. :pimp:

[MN6]

I just took my MM out yesterday after the winter hibernating in my garage, boy did I miss driving the beast (the Lumina just doesn't cut it). I have to say that I have not had one major issue since Aug of 03, 8800 miles, I do need the front camber adjusted and an alignment but no other problems at all, good paint, no squeaks/rattles or ticks. I could not be more pleased with my ride. While I would like to put a Trilogy or Vortech on, right now I'm just happy to take her out and drive.

[2003 MIB]

I love my car...10K and no major problems... Come to the meetings in Dallas or catch us at a show...There are more than a few in Tarrant County- I know of 4 in Johnson County.

[LNYTUNS]

Love my MM. Only 2k on the ticker but this is easily the most fun I ever had driving. There is risk in buying ANY car. I had a Ranger that I bought new in 99 becuase I wanted a vehicle that was new and did not always need repair, that POS feel apart every corner I took, bad luck. If you want a Honda you still will not get perfection, my wife has one and every 4 months the car just does not start the first time you turn the key, turn it the second time and away she goes, gremelins, you cannot hid from them, or find them. The MM is still an awesome car and you can mod it!!! Try to mod a Honda and you look like a ricer.

[Bigg Cellus]

:rock: :banana: :beer: :P Hey fellas, I appreciate all the responses and I will be the first to admit that I was more curious than skeptical also my positives are way higher than the negatives. Btw, I did have the chance to drive a taurus sho 5spd and I loved it. It was my best friends car and it was blk/blk. Awsome car. Thanks. :burnout: :cool4:

[Cobra25]

My 2 cents is 03-04 , buy a 04 .Trany and Convertor a little better. I have a little over 5000 miles on my 03 and the only thing I had too do was a wheel Alignment. No problems at all. Look's, run's and handle's great.

[Merc-O-matic]

Only wish I had the money.....
I would buy another one.

Gotta Love It! :pimp:

[chrish]

Today I just turned 2900 miles I'v had it 6 months. The car rocks ; friends have put more miles on the car than I have. I am a FORD nut but, have had man outragious & fun cars. When I drive this car I realy drive it hard , the car demands it!!! MY 2004 is factory stock , has had no problems . If I can get my hands on a Ford GT in the next 2 years I'll do it. The MM will stay in the stable. :rasta: :rasta: :rasta: :rasta:

[mcb26]

Love my Marauder, I put 200,000 on a 63 Galaxie 500 427, 250,000 on a 67 500 289, 150,000 on 94 F150 300 6. The 63 was stolen only problem I rebuilt the motor at 175.000 because it was using 1qt of oil every 500 miles, the 67 the wiring gave out or I'd still have it, the F150 is my everyday driver. I raced the 63 regular on the quarter mile and a friends half mile dirt track on his land, the 67 I had for 20 years treated it a little better than my 63. The F150 has had a tie rod replaced, hit a crater on the interstate in North Carolina on my way to N.Wilksboro (I still hate Bruton Smith for killing that track). I've driven or traveled in about every make out there. I wouldn't trade my MM for any of them

[Bigdogjim]

Best bang for the buck!

Just go get one!

Crazy about a Mercury:up: