Page 1 of 7 1234567 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 98

Thread: 6 weeks with Marauder

  1. #1
    213Cobra Guest

    6 weeks with Marauder

    This post is written primarily for people who are considering buying a Marauder and come here for insight about the car, but those of you who already own the car might be interested in my comments.

    I've had my 2004 Silver Birch Marauder about 6 weeks now and have some observations about the car.

    I'll start by saying that I never expected to enjoy a 4 door sedan as much as I do this one. I've driven every sedan desirable to people like us, foreign or domestic, and can afford anything from a Crown Vic to a Jag XJR. The Marauder is just simply the most interesting 4 door sedan available today short of the Maserati Quattroporte, and there's about $65,000 difference between them. Everything else between them is irrelevant in terms of emotion and exclusivity. I know this is a bold statement, but you have to understand I live in Los Angeles. BMW 7 series and Mercedes AMGs are beside me on the freeways each and every trip to anywhere. Hell, I see test cars and prototypes of coming models more often than I see another Marauder. Audis disappear blandly into the crowd. Infinitis, Acuras, Lexi -- please don't even try to make the case there is anything interesting to own there. The most interesting Infiniti sedan is the one most like the Marauder and least-liked by auto writers -- the M45. The Cadillac CTS-v will be an exception to the bland uniformity of performance sedans prevailing in the $30k - $95K price range. Against this backdrop of luxury sedans bought for poseur purposes, the Marauder offers crisp and serious performance, what-was-that? exclusivity, old-school automotive emotion and classic sedan proportions. Sure we always want more power from the factory, but the only thing I'd really love from the factory is a little more sway bar and a 6 speed manual instead of a slushbox. And I wish it has the Mustang steering wheel because then I could install the FRP FR500 wheel to get a nice thick perf-leather grip. Would I have paid more for an SVT-style supercharger setup? In a hearbeat. But what we have is outstanding in every way.

    The Marauder is one of those cars that when you drive it, you have to wonder if auto reviewers -- even those solidly in the domain like staff at Car & Driver or Road & Track -- know anything at all about automobiles. We have a 4100 pound ultra-safe large sedan with hp and torque numbers over 300, that runs in the 14s right out of the box and is an under 7 second car in any competent driver's hands. It won't be too hard to put it in the 6s or even high 5s. Its suspension is so well sorted out that even the old-school solid rear axle can make you forget anyone ever bothered to engineer independent rear suspensions for rear-drive cars. Steering is communicative in its own vocabulary once you understand its feel. With hydroformed frame rails this chassis is stiff. It has rack & pinion steering and a sophisticated front-end and a modern aluminum multi-valve 4 cam motor.

    I am not a stranger to meaty-motored cars. I have chosen to put American iron in my garage for the past decade. Everyone here has to understand that most people are "brand ****ies" when it comes to buying cars. They don't have the personal confidence to consider or own a car that is undeclarative of what they've accomplished or want to accomplish in life. Most people are sheep about this sort of thing and simply want to be perceived as belonging to a group they aspire to join. Lexus did an outstanding job of synthesizing a brand from a standing start. BMW has aligned itself with intellectual arrogance for close to 30 years with its "Ultimate Driving Machine" positioning. Porsche has evolved a flawed and highly idiosyncratic design into a proposition that persuades some people who should know better that it is "the best car on the planet, bar none" as I read again recently. Now some of these cars are bought by an enthusiast core popultion that knows what they are buying, but most Porsche/BMW/AMG/Audi/Lexus owners don't fall in that category. So of course, don't expect to buy a Marauder and have people infer from your choice that you are wealthy, glib, smart, highly educated, or in any other way discriminating just like they perceive themselves to be. But if you have any sense of inner-directedness and imagination about expressing yourself through the major purchases in your life, then the Marauder will do just fine in the 4 door sedan category.

    I have had the Ford aluminum 4V DOHC V8 engine architecture 3 times now -- as the Intech motor in a '97 Lincoln LSC, as the SVT Cobra motor in my '96 I still own, and now in the Marauder. Different configurations of the same 4.6L architecture but easily identifiable as being different grades of the same design. Frankly, I love these motors. No, they don't have the same instant-on creamy torque of my Corvette LT4 but they are quite strong in their own right, and midrange to high rpm performance is free-breathing, smooth and seamless. They sing too, pouring polished music out of the tailpipes. Oh yeah, you can make this motor sound rumbly and intimidating with some aftermarket attention, but I think the the factory has it right on the SVT cars, the Mach 1 and the Marauder. They aren't supposed to sound like pushrod V8s. They have their own distinct note, as different from a Ford 302 or 351 as a Ferrari is from a Ford GT. (continued)...

  2. #2
    213Cobra Guest
    The Marauder wins on all the emotional cues, for anyone paying attention and knowing a little history about the philosophy behind muscle sedans. The interior is correct and serious but not overly luxurious. It shouldn't be. It is designed to deliver performance at a price. The extra gauges in the center send the right cue even if the oil pressure guage is functionally binary. Leather is in the right places, on the touch points -- steering wheel, shifter and seats. Elsewhere, the plastics are touch-pleasing and appropriate. Yes, a Recaro-style seat like the Cobra has now would be appropriate for me, but frankly would likely not please many buyers in the car's psychographic. Once you get them adjusted, the front seats are much better than reviewers commonly describe, especially after you find the lumbar inflation switch. Everything is functional with appropriate luxuries like automatic climate control. The car properly does not have wasteful distractions like navigation or DVD. That's up to you if you want to lux up your muscle machine. What it does have is a fantastically strong chassis driven by a meaty motor through a robust transmission all sprung and damped astutely for crisp performance. The aesthetics of the car are understated and sleek with wheels among the handsomest on any car at any price, and tires that telegraph authority. The car is emotionally enveloping.

    Is it quick enough? With the 2004 transmission and the engine management upgrade (dual knock sensors) I am left wondering what people expect. As it is, I drive the car with my toes most of the time and I still seem to incur the resentment of BMW, Lexus, Mercedes and Audi owners who lag behind from a stoplight or who attempt to close a gap in trafic to prevent me from passing. A quick motion to bury my foot in the throttle kicks the 4 cammer into its excitement zone and suddenly there's a look of surprise in the rear-view mirror. Would I like it even quicker? Sure, and it will be in time. Do I want it to be faster? Well, there is something about knowing the limiter won't shut me down at 118 mph, and I'll get the drive shaft and a chip to take care of that, but really....I live in the US and I don't see too many chances to drive at 118mph and neither does anyone else. This is not a serious issue to inhibit a buying decision.

    I find many things amusing about perceptions people have about cars. For instance, Audi went to the trouble of building the A8 in aluminum. Cool. I like the idea of an aluminum car. The new Jaguar XJ8 is aluminum too. Aluminum is light and stiff. So how come the A8 is a few hundred pounds HEAVIER than my Marauder? Because it's overengineered for its purpose, like many German cars. I've driven one. It is fast and competent, but it still feels like a pig. It "drives heavier & bigger" than it is. The Marauder, however, like all really good cars "drives smaller" than it really is, and is a vastly more appropriately engineered device. A friend of mine bought a new Jag XJ8 and boasted how light his doors feel. Then he opened the rear door of my Marauder and asked, "oh wow, is this aluminum too?" Of course it isn't, but it is a platform that has been sorted out and optimized over many years of development. I have had friends have to follow me on mountain roads, who had difficulty keeping up with me in my Marauder while they were driving some of the vaunted sedans cited in the Atlanta JC article. Am I just a better driver? Maybe. But personally I didn't find myself able to drive the same roads faster in higher-cost big sedans when I've tried.

    Everyday driving in real world conditions tells me the Marauder has unusually high competence in handling and load management, stopping ability, traction, acceleration, accessibility of its power, interior room, comfort, structural integrity, and reliability for a performance machine. It is a big dog in the cut and thrust of driving, not a whelp.

    I've seen criticism of Marauder factory paint here and elsewhere. I don't doubt those problems were authentic. However, the silver paint on my 2004 is among the best I've seen on cars under $50K and I really can't find any noteworthy flaws in it. Inside, I have high confidence in the durability of materials, born out by my experiences with Ford products in general over the last decade.

    Worried about street cred in the car you buy? Who cares what the luxury car set thinks. It's the valet staff and the other performance car jockeys you want respect from, and they love this car. Even the ricers give it a measure of respect for old-school presence and disguised punch. It gets parked up front with the Jags and Astons at restaurants and hotels here in L.A. and when the 4 cammer bursts to life, more than a few heads turn toward the combustion music burbling from the horns out back. Leave them wondering.

    This issue of whether the Marauder is a muscle car is moot to any buying decision. Back in the day when you could get a 500 cubic inch Caddy for $10,000 in a $3500 sedan market it wasn't considered a muscle car. So the fact that there are 400+ hp AMGs and M series sedans is irrelevant to judging the Marauder's value. Muscle cars were historically hi-po platforms that were an affordable starting point for many of their owners to build on from there. Just like Mustangs the same is true for the Marauder. This is a car that people pay $30 - $34K for new, that can be modded to 450hp while remaining well under $50K total investment. Unlike a pony car, chassis refinements to handle the power are minimal and cheap. Driveline refinements needed from the engine output to the tires are a driveshaft, a diff cap, plus a Torsen would be beneficial.

    I've driven an Impala SS and considered buying one back in '96. Compared to a Marauder it feels dated and crude, but nevertheless is an immensely fun 4 door. It has all the grunt advantages of the pushrod Vette motor. But in the upper midrange and in the chassis quaking, it shows its age. I'd much rather have the Marauder in 2003 as my starting platform. (continued)...
    Last edited by 213Cobra; 12-07-2003 at 04:50 PM.

  3. #3
    213Cobra Guest
    For all their cachet, the Euro hi-po cars also have to get spinning to feel fast. They are multi-valve, multi-cam mills too. Can Ford build a supercharged Marauder with a proper driveshaft? Sure. We know they can because they do it with the SVT Cobra, SVT Lightning and the Harley pickup. The howling about $40K being too much for a Mercury will be deafening. Back to the brand thing again and the limitations imposed by perception. Sure it's Ford's fault for allowing to Mercury brand to be diluted over the decades. But there's a cultural problem too, with buyers valuing vanity and cultural elitism over everything else and the concomitant brand-****ification that inhibits too many people from having the courage to buy something different.

    That's not us. So if you're reading here because you're considering a Marauder and have the independent mindset to buy something different that's also more exclusive in numbers than the vast majority of cars people buy for their "exclusivity", then join us. One thing I have learned in buying specialty Fords (SVTs, Harley pickup, Lincoln LSC, Marauder) is that they invariably deliver immense value, package emotion missing from mainstream cars, combine power and handling in their class and are reliable, highly maintainable machines. More important, each of these cars have strong communities organized around them. The Marauder is a car understood only by People Who Know. We still grasp the essential emotion of the Blues Brothers' formula for automotive cool, with a little Steve McGarrett thrown in. For all the rest who don't get it, we perfectly understand your bafflement. We'll see you in our rear view mirrors. Be sure to catch a glimpse of our God's Head wheels as we flash by.

    Phil
    Last edited by 213Cobra; 12-07-2003 at 04:36 PM.

  4. #4
    alright...who do you write for?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Burbs of Chicago, IL
    Age
    46
    Posts
    515

    Thumbs up

    That could be the longest post I have ever seen. But nevertheless, I agree with all of your observations.

    Everyone of my German/Japanese car driving friends looks at me funny when I said I bought a Marauder. But when they take a good look at the car and go for a ride they are impressed. I previously drove a '98 Mark LSC and the same thing occurred with that car.

    Its a shame the initial reviews of the car were so poor and the "sticker" price so high. I think the Marauder was just a few steps away from beeing a commercial success had Ford launched it properly. Oh well, I'll just continue to enjoy how rare my car is.
    2012 Mustang GT500
    2001 Corvette Z06
    1992 Cadillac Brougham d'Elegance 5.7L



    Previous MMs:
    2003 Dark Blue Pearl/Charcoal
    2003 Black/Charcoal 300A

  6. #6
    213Cobra Guest
    I just write for anyone who cares to read.

    Phil

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Boca Raton, Fl
    Age
    64
    Posts
    83
    Phil

    Your observations are right on & if you don't write for a living, maybe you should consider it.

    Lotusstv
    Black 300A - Sold 4/23/07
    Trilogy S/C #13, Self installed
    4.10 gears
    Boost gauge installed in cig lighter spot
    Bosch wiper blades
    McGard wheel locks
    Metco control arms
    MM Pads & Pens
    Powered by Ford Aluminum cam covers
    Rear sway bar
    Sirius satellite
    SS Inserts
    Sylvania Silverstars
    Tinted windows
    Zaino

  8. #8
    213Cobra Guest
    Funny, you can't write something non-obscene on this board that any 4th grader would understand perfectly.

    Phil

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Virgo Super Cluster
    Age
    20
    Posts
    1,562
    I think Linda Sharp from THIS thread should read this thread.
    Dave

  10. #10
    Originally posted by 213Cobra
    I just write for anyone who cares to read.

    Phil
    Well...I for one enjoyed it. Well said.

  11. #11
    Originally posted by Agent M79
    I think Linda Sharp from THIS thread should read this thread.
    I think this post should be emailed to her. It would teach her about cars....AND how to formulate a thought (multiple thoughts)in a coherent, cohesive message.

  12. #12
    mtnh Guest
    Great post. It used up 12:36 of the game clock in the Pats/Dolphins 4th quarter, too, to read it. It must have taken "a while" to write that gem of a post! Again, great observations, M. 213.

    Mike

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Virgo Super Cluster
    Age
    20
    Posts
    1,562
    To quote Linda, TAF, "LOLOL!"
    Dave

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Doin time in the Universal mind
    Age
    58
    Posts
    10,837


    Nice article....uhh, thread? Great reading
    2017 Niro

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Hinesville, Georgia.
    Age
    63
    Posts
    1,372
    Originally posted by TAF
    Well...I for one enjoyed it. Well said.
    I second that motion, very well said.
    Carlos
    '03 Marauder 300A
    • Built 8-23-02
    • TRADED IN

Page 1 of 7 1234567 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •