Our cars are under valued

[Finally]

I see it all the time or maybe it's the kind of buyer in Canada but I figured since I don't drive mine very much I would list it for what I initially paid which is 10.500.not even counting Headers,tune CAI,and 4:10's,it's a great example of a Marauder with 98000 k's but needs some paint repair which I got quoted at 1800 .
Too date I was offered a 1988 chev wagon as a equal swap and another offer of 5 grand,had another guy ask why so much when he could buy a crown Vic for 3 grand.what I am seeing is these cars are at this time still unappreciated and under valued by most so it looks like I'll be hanging on to mine for some time.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Because they are uneducated about Marauders. Let him go buy a crown vic. Any car is worth what one is willing to pay. They were not willing to pay. Their loss imo

[O's Fan Rich]

I passed on a 1968 GT500 once... at $2500.00.

[Finally]

I passed on a 1968 GT500 once... at $2500.00.

Haha yup that happens,I passed up on a 68 gtx 440 4 spd car for 1.200.00 he had a 71 Demon 340 4 spd for the same price which I drove home.
And my apologies cause I noticed I posted in the Classics Lounge by mistake..

[lji372]

I passed on a 1968 GT500 once... at $2500.00.

Doh!!!!!

Agreed on under valued but it is about supply and demand. I don't have room for anymore :(

But I do have enough to last my life time :2thumbs:

[RubberCtyRauder]

Doh!!!!!

Agreed on under valued but it is about supply and demand. I don't have room for anymore :(

But I do have enough to last my life time :2thumbs:

Hoarder..nuff said:beer:

[CoreyM75]

My dad forced me to not buy a 1959 triple black Edsel convertible. Running, driving, no rust. The top didn't work. The selling price at a auction in 1992, $25.00. My dad's reason, I was 12 and too young for a car and we would have had to trailer it home from Wisconsin. I still think I should have been allowed to buy that car, I even had enough money saved to buy it, and rent a trailer.

Marauder values hopefully have bottomed out, but I think it will be a while before they go back up.

[champ1173]

I passed on an all original 67 Impala SS w 70,000 for $4000. :bigcry: I'm really suprised at how low our MMs are valued too. I paid $12,900 2 years ago for mine w 70,000, and someones selling a Blue for $8500 w 72,000 right now!

[Zack]

All other cars are overvalued making it impossible to afford them.
The Marauder is valued how it should be.
It's not that special in stock form

[03marauderman]

Try running it through Barrett-Jackson! - Here's a lesson...Back in the day an average salaried guy could not afford to by a 396 Chevelle, GTO what ever...& now that the same guy after a life long savings still can't afford to buy what he couldn't when he was young...& Thanks to Barrett-Jackson... So a 30-35k Marauder can be had through Barrett-Jackson & that my friend is how you protect your investment...

[lji372]

Try running it through Barrett-Jackson! - Here's a lesson...Back in the day an average salaried guy could not afford to by a 396 Chevelle, GTO what ever...& now that the same guy after a life long savings still can't afford to buy what he couldn't when he was young...& Thanks to Barrett-Jackson... So a 30-35k Marauder can be had through Barrett-Jackson & that my friend is how you protect your investment...

:confused:
12 years ago I couldn't have afforded one, nor did I even know what they were.
I now have 2 or 3 more than I need.
Still :confused:

[Shaijack]

You still want my Tucker's?

[lji372]

You still want my Tucker's?

Always and forever..........

[Logizyme]

Unfortunately Marauders don't get the value bump they should for their uniqueness.

Ignoring the fact that they are special, they typically command the same prices of a comparable luxury sedan. Go look at prices for a 2003 Lexus LS or GS, Lincoln Town Car, Infinity G35, or even an E-class.

[akr619]

our cars are a breed of its own. the last crown victoria was 2011, the marauder was 2003 but yet they are similar. This makes it a timeless car, one that you can drive and no one will say "geez thats a 12 year old car!" Also, it is easy to fix and have a lot of parts, but still its a rare car. You cant really find any good Marauders no more... most have high mileage and some are neglected and a lot are overpriced. Give it 5-10 more years and this problem will grow ten fold. Just keep building the car and enjoy it as your own.

[Finally]

our cars are a breed of its own. the last crown victoria was 2011, the marauder was 2003 but yet they are similar. This makes it a timeless car, one that you can drive and no one will say "geez thats a 12 year old car!" Also, it is easy to fix and have a lot of parts, but still its a rare car. You cant really find any good Marauders no more... most have high mileage and some are neglected and a lot are overpriced. Give it 5-10 more years and this problem will grow ten fold. Just keep building the car and enjoy it as your own.

Agreed,I'm trying to keep mine below 100.000 k,s so I guess ill plan for spring and get the paint done and do a few more things..

[kernie]

I thought prices have firmed up, at least here in Canada, in the past couple of years. Here is the autotrader Canada-wide current listings. Remember $10,000 Canadian is $7,500 US dollars.

Interesting the DTR in Calgary, i thought there were no 2004's sold in Canada?


http://www.autotrader.ca/cars/mercury/marauder/?prx=-1&prv=Ontario&loc=london+on&sts=Used&hprc=True&wcp=False&inMarket=basicSearch

:beer:

[DrZ]

The value of most things in life are individual. So my first 2004 Silver MM with 133,000 miles is basically the best car I have ever owned. WOW, whoopie-Yes! You need to have owned many cars to say this for it to have true meaning. 1974 Oldsmobile Omega, 1976 Firebird Formula 350, 1976 455 stick Trans Am, 1979 L-82 close ratio stick Corvette, 1984 Corvette, 1985 Buick Grand National, 1989 Ford Taurus SHO, 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, 2002 Z06 Corvette, 2004 Mercury Marauder X 2, 2008 Jeep Rubicon. Both my Marauders, one from new and one used are the best American cars I have ever owned at any price! Why? Because I enjoy driving Marauders! Notice- Marauders. I want to buy one more in red. :violin:

[Finally]

I thought prices have firmed up, at least here in Canada, in the past couple of years. Here is the autotrader Canada-wide current listings. Remember $10,000 Canadian is $7,500 US dollars.

Interesting the DTR in Calgary, i thought there were no 2004's sold in Canada?


http://www.autotrader.ca/cars/mercury/marauder/?prx=-1&prv=Ontario&loc=london+on&sts=Used&hprc=True&wcp=False&inMarket=basicSearch

:beer:

Some of the auto trader units are listed quite high or maybe I should have asked more.

[Badass_forever]

I see it all the time or maybe it's the kind of buyer in Canada but I figured since I don't drive mine very much I would list it for what I initially paid which is 10.500.not even counting Headers,tune CAI,and 4:10's,it's a great example of a Marauder with 98000 k's but needs some paint repair which I got quoted at 1800 .
Too date I was offered a 1988 chev wagon as a equal swap and another offer of 5 grand,had another guy ask why so much when he could buy a crown Vic for 3 grand.what I am seeing is these cars are at this time still unappreciated and under valued by most so it looks like I'll be hanging on to mine for some time.

once you mod a car, its not worth as much, with you kms and mods i feel you are in the 6-8k range. they are not worth anything, just keep it and enjoy it, thats is why i got one. I have invested 35K into a 1988 foxbody mustang, i would be lucky if i got 8 for it.

[03Merc]

The value of most things in life are individual. So my first 2004 Silver MM with 133,000 miles is basically the best car I have ever owned. WOW, whoopie-Yes! You need to have owned many cars to say this for it to have true meaning. 1974 Oldsmobile Omega, 1976 Firebird Formula 350, 1976 455 stick Trans Am, 1979 L-82 close ratio stick Corvette, 1984 Corvette, 1985 Buick Grand National, 1989 Ford Taurus SHO, 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, 2002 Z06 Corvette, 2004 Mercury Marauder X 2, 2008 Jeep Rubicon. Both my Marauders, one from new and one used are the best American cars I have ever owned at any price! Why? Because I enjoy driving Marauders! Notice- Marauders. I want to buy one more in red. :violin:


There's a brand new DTR on eBay right now!http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/12/a6f1328625edf2362522e791712cf5 06.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/12/fe5e588d3e0c1197320470c1b75490 84.jpg


2004 - MM 1618 - DTR 537

[Bad_S55]

I can honestly say I'm glad they're not commanding a ton of money. That makes them easier for the next generation to actually get a Marauder. When people mod their cars & go "oh it's worth this much all day everyday," that's stupid. It's worth that to YOU. To everyone else, it's just an 11 or 12 year old car that happens to be a little different. Just my .02

[Spectragod]

once you mod a car, its not worth as much, with you kms and mods i feel you are in the 6-8k range. they are not worth anything, just keep it and enjoy it, thats is why i got one. I have invested 35K into a 1988 foxbody mustang, i would be lucky if i got 8 for it.

If you put 35 in it, and it's worth 8, that's not an investment. As far as mods making it worth less??? There's an azz for every seat, someone will pay your price.


Doh!!!!!

Agreed on under valued but it is about supply and demand. I don't have room for anymore :(

But I do have enough to last my life time :2thumbs:

A lifetime supply, now he just needs a semi load of transmissions..... :D :burnout:

[jsignorelli]

Many "purists" will insist that any mods performed on a car will devalue it..True! But only true if selling to a purist.
There are people out there with large check books and absolutely no mechanical ability. For them, the mods may attract them to the car more.

I sold a very modified Mustang some years ago to a fellow who paid me an obscene amount of money because he wanted to brag to friends that his car had 800 HP. (crate motor, Vortech V-7 supercharger with 29 lbs of boost).

[96gt4.6]

All other cars are overvalued making it impossible to afford them.
The Marauder is valued how it should be.
It's not that special in stock form

I agree with this. After I had made mine immaculate, I tried to sell it in all stock form before I 5.0L swapped it. The highest the Ebay bid went was 7k, which was near the listed retail price of $7200 at the time. I too, had noticed the ones for 15-20k on Autotrader, with similar miles to mine, ect. And, I see a lot of them are still there.

Unique, sure. Does that add THAT much value, no. Maybe in 15-20 years.....but not anytime soon.

For 15k, I'd buy a Pontiac G8 GT, run a faster 1/4 than a Marauder all stock, and have complete modern amenities, 4 doors and still look good.

But, again, that's just me, everyone is different. Hence, why I chose to retain mine and push on with my ideas for this car.


Many "purists" will insist that any mods performed on a car will devalue it..True! But only true if selling to a purist.
There are people out there with large check books and absolutely no mechanical ability. For them, the mods may attract them to the car more.

I sold a very modified Mustang some years ago to a fellow who paid me an obscene amount of money because he wanted to brag to friends that his car had 800 HP. (crate motor, Vortech V-7 supercharger with 29 lbs of boost).

This is also correct. On my last Panther swap, which was my Turbocharged Chevy LS powered '97 Vic, I obtained $6k over retail for it when I sold it. There are buyers out there who want something that's complete and ready to go, and battle tested.

After buying/building/selling cars for the last 6 years, there really is a buyer for anything out there it seems, just have to find them and be willing to wait. If you have something unique, and the market isn't flooded with them, they usually sell pretty quick.

[J-MAN]

Even though the Marauders I've owned are the best vehicles in over five decades of driving they aren't an investment. Just drive em and enjoy em, that's where the satisfaction comes from. That and meeting all the great people who are fellow owners and contribute to the Marauder experience. This goes for the car and parts hoarders too. :D

[Finally]

I agree with this. After I had made mine immaculate, I tried to sell it in all stock form before I 5.0L swapped it. The highest the Ebay bid went was 7k, which was near the listed retail price of $7200 at the time. I too, had noticed the ones for 15-20k on Autotrader, with similar miles to mine, ect. And, I see a lot of them are still there.

Unique, sure. Does that add THAT much value, no. Maybe in 15-20 years.....but not anytime soon.

For 15k, I'd buy a Pontiac G8 GT, run a faster 1/4 than a Marauder all stock, and have complete modern amenities, 4 doors and still look good.

But, again, that's just me, everyone is different. Hence, why I chose to retain mine and push on with my ideas for this car.





This is also correct. On my last Panther swap, which was my Turbocharged Chevy LS powered '97 Vic, I obtained $6k over retail for it when I sold it. There are buyers out there who want something that's complete and ready to go, and battle tested.


After buying/building/selling cars for the last 6 years, there really is a buyer for anything out there it seems, just have to find them and be willing to wait. If you have something unique, and the market isn't flooded with them, they usually sell pretty quick.


Yup patience I have,it took 4 yrs to sell my 64 Fairlane and it sold for my asking to the first guy that responded with a your asking to much. Lol
I can't see tastefull mods as devaluing this car if they want I kept the stock air box and manifolds and gears are no big deal. I'll get what I want.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I keep most of my factory junk in case I want to sell and new owner wants to return to original for some reason..

[CoreyM75]

There's a brand new DTR on eBay right now!http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/12/a6f1328625edf2362522e791712cf5 06.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/12/fe5e588d3e0c1197320470c1b75490 84.jpg


2004 - MM 1618 - DTR 537
I was going to make a seperate topic about that car. I saw it last night and it was like love at first sight.

[Vortech347]

While there are certain things about these car that are very easy to fix. It becomes a challenge if you daily drive one to source needed exterior/interior parts that are Marauder specific and wear. Mine was kept in excellent condition and was close to that when I sold it but the idea of finding Marauder specific parts didn't sound fun as things start to fall out of stock. (For someone that uses their car as a daily this idea sucks)

If you find the right buyer that understands what they are, yes you'll get decent money for them well over a Crown Vic. Damn near double actually. Hell, I bought mine with 42k miles for $14,000 in 08'. Sold it two months ago with 125k miles for $7750. Yes its a close to 50% depreciation but only by a small amount. Compare that to a Beemer that you may by used for 30k and after 7 years Its worth 5k. The only car I've ever owned that held its value better than my Marauders is my Terminator. I'd have no problem selling it for what I bought it for 4 years ago. (Its a garage queen though and only see's 3-4k a year)

[Marauderman]

This all true about the MM. Reminds me of this happening --and it's real--happened in '04 at Charlotte's Auto Fair-held every spring and fall--at the motor speedway--all type and years of cars on display--But there is a "sell "coral for those wanting to display their cars for sale. We had our MM's car club showing --and while there went to looking at those other cars for sale.
There was this guy who had the perfect looking 1957 Black Chevy , interior and V-8--show room condition. The guy, sitting in a small chair, said he has been coming to each of the events to offer his beauty up for sell--prices at $38,500. My dad sold these as a Chevy dealer for 2800- to 3200. He said some day the guy who wants this beauty will come by and pay me the price--otherwise I will take it home --no problem, he was not in a hurry. He mentioned there was a guy who had stopped three days in row and he felt he may be the guy---at that point this same guy shows up--saying "wont take less will you--right?" well I just have to ADD this to my fleet!!! Holly Cow!!--at this point the guy turns around and whistles to another guy dressed in a suit from England---turns out to be his finance guy with his checkbooks!! At this point I felt this has to be filmed and I am on camera and don't know it--NOT the case!! shows what can Happen--seller winked at me!!

The guy was loaded ($$) --so much he said my guys will contact you later to get all paper work out-- Said he too also not in a hurry--

The unusual about it all--The buyer worn Bib Overalls and smoke a cigar---looked like he had no $$$

As hard as this might be to believe--this again happen to me twice more afterwards---in similar situations--but the main item was --each of the men wore the same--Bib Overalls--and looked like had no $$$$

So beware of those with Bib Overalls--the first thing I will put on when I Win the Lottery--just so you all will know...carry on.........

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Be careful of those chicken farmers in overalls

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/12/f3dd6e3252c5e9aa15b033b807c63a 21.jpg

I've been thinking that the Marauder will increase in value when the generation that coveted it gets money.

The most comments/enthusiasm that I get about the car is from the expected demographic (us) and young men in their mid/late 20s and early 30s.

Think about this latter demographic. They coveted the car when in their formative years. We'll have to wait until they get some $$ before prices will rise.

That, or, a Marauder is featured in a movie, tv show, video or other socially explosive media type.

I have spoken.

[jsignorelli]

In 1970, when I ordered my Boss Mustang, I sold my daily driver for $ 50 and I was glad to sell it. The car was a 1957 Chevy, 2 door coupe. The car today at car shows, (same car) gets trophies. I don't want to know what it is worth.
But at the time, $ 50.00 seemed like a good deal.

[MGDriver]

I believe this hasn't got anything to do with our cars in particular, I think it's a normal and natural procedure that every car will undergo at one point during its life at roughly the same age.

I don't know about the States but I notice that here in Germany, cars aged somewhere between 15 to 25 years old are completely worthless. I believe that at this age, a car simply isn't exciting anymore to the general public, it's been around long enough for everybody to know the car but it still has a long way to go before it becomes a classic. Then what happens is that adrenaline hungry youngsters will pick these cars up for cheap, drive the crap out of them, ruining them with some stupid mods and destory them mostly because they don't have the experience to handle a higher performance cars, massively decreasing the overall number of a car model on the road. Then once a car reaches the ages of 20-25, they are getting quite rare people will say "oh I haven't seen one of those for ages" and they get reminded again of how good of a car it was when they were new. "I'd like to own one of those again they were good fun back in the day" and that's when the value will increase again.

About the comment of our cars being rare, well are they really? If you ask me a total production count of over 11k isn't particularily rare. Comparable German cars, namely Audi S6, BMW M5 or Mercedes E55 AMG all had similar production numbers and you can pick them up dirt cheap over here too. Compared to the Crown Victoria which they probably made millions of, yes it is rare, but compared to similar cars I wouldn't call it rare.

Then there is all this talk about wanting to keep the car mint and under 100k miles, but what's the point? I didn't buy this car to put behind glass and look at it all day, I bought it to enjoy it. I actually daily drive it at the moment and I know the minute I will put it away for winter storage I will miss it again so I've decided I'm actually going to drive it all the way through winter for which many people have called me insane. I don't drive it like an outright moron and most of it is highway, a car is built to be driven and if you carry out all the necessary maintenance it'll drive forever. Of course I would love the idea of having another immaculate example stored away somewhere but I simply cannot make that happen so I might as well enjoy what I've got for a long as I can.

Being in Germany however and giving the fact that there are only a hand full of these in the country, I don't have the problem of it being under valued, I picked the car up for $12k and can get $12k again any day if I ever wanted to sell it.

[jsignorelli]

Marvin is correct about driving the cars we own. The place them in a glass bubble and not get the thrill or enjoyment of driving them defeats the reason for even buying these cars. Drive them yes... but responsibly!
Every day, when I sign on to the website, I see that another MM has been wrecked. This is sad. Now another owner, for what ever reason, doesn't have the joy of driving these beauties.
The value may not be in money in owning the Marauder. The real value is in how it makes you feel when you drive it.

[MGDriver]

Unfortunately the owners are not always to blame that these cars get wrecked, actually on here it seems as if most cars get destroyed by other careless drivers and that's even worse because this is where being under valued is beginning to hurt us. To others this is just another 13 y/o car with a defined book value, they don't see the value it holds to us enthusiasts and neither do their insurance companies.

I had a similar experience back in April when some careless idiot reversed into the back of my car in multi storey car park and fled the scene. Witnesses told me it was a white van on foreign license plates so there was absolutely nothing I could do about it and I had to pay for the entire damage out of my own pocket. Fortunately we managed to save the bumper cover which was pushed in at the passenger side and had to be repainted but the passenger taillight couldn't be saved and I'm still to this day waiting for my replacement taillight from the States which is on its way now.

[jsignorelli]

My biggest complaint are the idiots who park as close to my car as possible so they can dent my door when they open theirs.
Each year, I pay to have the dents and paint repaired on my doors. My local body shop gives me a break as I'm a favored customer: I pay cash.. they are no insurance forms.. there is no waiting to get paid... there is no arguing with a clerk at the insurance office... I bring them in when he is slow so there is no rush getting it done.