20 years this month!!
October 2025 marks 20 years since I bought my Marauder.
I wasn't looking for one. I didn't know they existed. I sure could not afford one!
For the 8 years previous my daily was a silver 1995 Taurus SHO. Automatic and no sunroof. It was getting tired and I had been looking at cars. Options were the Altima SE-R, Maxima, Cadillac STS. Nothing rear wheel drive but I wanted something fast and silver. A sunroof was imperative and so was RWD.
Enter Tom Archambault (Marauder TJA) as he had his new 2004 marauder in my shop for a security system and some sound system upgrades. The car was big, brawny, loud, and had a presence. YES!! That was it! That's the one I want. "Hey if you ever sell this give me first dibs!". He had no interest in selling and that was evident for a decade.
Enter Claude Babineau (Carfixer) who was an associate at our local Lincoln/Mercury dealer and we met by chance while fetching our Lincoln Navigator for service. In passing I had mentioned a silver Marauder with a sunroof and that I had in interest in one.
Eleven months later Claude emailed me a link to mine and I went to the other coast and bought it with 13,900 miles on the clock and a smudged Carfax. I had the credit and bargaining power to bring her home for $24,300 with TTT paid in full. Based on the window sticker price, she lost about $1 in value for every mile driven.
Twenty years is a LONG time and some of you may remember me selling her in 2012 when the opportunity arose to buy my home. The guy lived in Columbus, GA and had her for 4 years and put 2700 miles on and I bought it back. Only rear tires and a battery were different. Since ownership she had been damaged twice but not structurally. There's been paint touchups and the occasional PDR but the interior still looks and smells new. All four floormats have not been used and aside from every electrical component failing and some three or more times - I have no complaints. She has been modded tastefully and to the vicinity of $25,000 in total mods. Hagerty insurance has an agreed value with 'Cherished Salvage' of $37,000 when the policy was opened.
I reluctantly wanted to sell and get a 3rd Gen Viper convertible but decided with a family I'd enjoy this more with a supercharger. Although I assisted somewhat in the install of a dozen or so Trilogy kits I never bought one. I was hoping I could lean on Jerry to squeeze one out more but you have to respect what is and I never inquired. A majority of my Eaton swap has been acquired starting 5 years ago and doing as close to OE as possible. The install has been started but only heat exchanger and gauges. I am going for the Ford GT engine bay look with blue cam covers and a satin silver blower front and center.
After the complete home remodel is done.
Twenty years has seen a LOT of Marauder events and cruises. I have made more than friends- I have made family. Every one of you have been there when the silliest question was asked and I have reciprocated. My car means more to me that just some car I had for 2 decades.
It was the car I was looking for when my dad was dying. He never saw it but he loved American Muscle and would probably steal it from me. He was a GM guy, though. Part of my dad is in this car and it's going nowhere.
Boy have we seen it all and made friends for life.
Today she has 58,700 miles on the odometer and has been garaged every day.
Let's hope we are back here in another 20 years!
Thanks everybody!
'04 Silver Marauder w/ sunroof - HID lighting, JL Audio / Eclipse DVD/NAV/iPod/camera, 4.10's, 2" drop, Progard Bumper Baffle, Delete tips, Billet Pedals, BC4E dead pedal, Lidio Tune, Mach1 chin spoiler, K&N CAI, TCE lines, Super40's, tinted tails, SS Inserts, Heinous Control Arms, Real oil gauge, lighted door handles. Currently installing Eaton M112.
2004 Mercury Marauder
Born March 2004, adopted October 2005. Sold January 2012, adopted AGAIN January 2016
2,187 of 3,214
997 in Silver Birch
448 with light flint interior
304 with heated seats
336 with sunroof
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