Anyone drive a Mercury Marauder?

Mr.BadExample

Mr.BadExample

Joined
Sep 11, 2002
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3,548
Just wondering if any of you drive the new Merc Marauder. I was looking at getting one this year, either that or the Crown Vic sport (less hp and $, but apparently better quality control, from some reviews).
I currently drive a 93 Mustang 5.0 ragtop, and I was going to either get a Crown Vic and keep the vert for weekends, or just get a Marauder with a sunroof and drive it all year, including in winter.
I also like the 2005 Mustang, but I need a car with more room, that I can depend on in winter.
 
Marauder is too slow for the price, but a very cool ride, in my opinon. You're obviously not looking for power if you are considering a Crown Vic, so if you are deciding between those two, definitly go for the Marauder.
 
A neighbor of mine has a tricked out Impala SS generating 660hp and 770ftlbs of torque. I want a cruiser with some speed. My racing days are over for now :)
 
get the impala ss over the merc i have a 96 impala ss its my favorite car, to check out more about them go to impalaclub.com
 
Originally posted by SCARFACE
get the impala ss over the merc i have a 96 impala ss its my favorite car, to check out more about them go to impalaclub.com
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Good advice if you are considering used as an option. Those 383 Impala SS's could put a lot to the ground with the proper tuning.
 
I already have a ten year old car :)
I'm going to test drive a Marauder, if it lacks b*lls, I'll keep the stang and get a Vic for daily driving.
 
I looked at the Marauder.

Really liked it.

If I were looking at buying I would first as the dealer if he can get the CV with the Police Interceptor package on it.

Just another option.

I also like the new Impala's. I think they are putting an SS out now, not sure. I have read good reviews about them from the police side of the house.

The Marauder is cooler though:D
 
Originally posted by ohen cepel
I looked at the Marauder.

Really liked it.

If I were looking at buying I would first as the dealer if he can get the CV with the Police Interceptor package on it.

Just another option.

I also like the new Impala's. I think they are putting an SS out now, not sure. I have read good reviews about them from the police side of the house.

The Marauder is cooler though:D
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The New "Malibu SS" is actaully a second faster to 60 than the old SS stock, but all the old SS guys love to rag on the new one, as it's still FWD, still a V6, and still a Malibu.

However, faster stock as it might be, the old SS has much greater potential obviously, and is 10x cooler than the "Impala."

But back to the Merc. I can't I've driven one, but I love the look. All the auto rags say it's gutless, but that's for you to decide. If you have some cash to spare, however, that 4.6L in the Marauder is amazingly easy to upgrade, as it's the same modular V8 that was put in the 01-03 Mustang Cobra, and the '04 Mach 1.
 
Well, there's always Vortech or Eaton superchargers for the Marauder. :) I've already found a superchip and 4.10 gears available for it.
Both Kenny Brown and Alternative Auto have supercharger packages for when it starts feeling slow.
 
I would find a used Lincoln town car with a Stang engine (Think its the modular 4.6... not a ford guy.) For around 20k with 10k miles... and then drop a supercharger on that or pocket the dollar difference in between... :cool:
 
Originally posted by ohen cepel
I looked at the Marauder.

Really liked it.

If I were looking at buying I would first as the dealer if he can get the CV with the Police Interceptor package on it.

Just another option.

I also like the new Impala's. I think they are putting an SS out now, not sure. I have read good reviews about them from the police side of the house.

The Marauder is cooler though:D
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When I bought my Mercury Grand Marquis, I also looked in the the Crown Victoria with the Police Interceptor package. Yes, as a Civilian non-government entity I can buy one. The vinyl seats and rubber floor turned me off though. The drive trains were essentially the same with the Handling package on my car versus the Police package but, the police car did have a mechanical limited slip rear end. Perhaps things have changed since then .....
 
Originally posted by Namagomi
But back to the Merc. I can't I've driven one, but I love the look. All the auto rags say it's gutless, but that's for you to decide.
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Okay, so it's not a twin turbo 12 cylinder Mercedes sedan. Shave a few feet of the length of the car, a foot or two off the width, cut passenger capacity and weight, and then you wouldn't have a sedan but, you would have the power to weight ratio of a hot rod car. My meager 238HP gives me plenty of acceleration at the on-ramp to the Interstate, it runs 85MPH without breathing hard and has enough power left to accelerate pretty good at that speed. I'm not into stop light racing myself.

If you want an all out racer, this isn't the car for you. Sure, you can upgrade it to AMG Mercedes type specs if you want. I like the ride quality, safety, and capacity when I travel or take friends out to lunch during the lunch hour at work. Try cramming 6 people into a sports car or your typical Euro-sedan the Auto-rags all rave about. Sure a 3-series Bimmer is nice but, let's compare apples to apples. It ain't a minivan either - all Sedan all the time.

And yes, I've driven the Chevy/GM products and did not like them at all. The new GTO was a promising car until they put the gas tank in the trunk and killed trunk space. Add the smaller cabin into the mix, and oh well :rolleyes: ......
 
I'm test driving a Marauder tomorrow, but I'll probably go with a Marquis for price reasons. I can always have Kenny Brown put a Vortech on the 4.6L engine if you want to pep it up later. :)
Plus I want the car in Dark Blue Pearl... the Marauder used to be black only, but now it's yucky red and silver too. You'd think they'd at least let you choose the premium paints the Vic and Marquis have as options!
 
Kenny Brown and crew can really upgrade the performance if you want it. A stock Grand Marquis is capable of being a real sleeper when you soup it up, unlike the Marauder.

Plus, you get into all the other issues. I don't really like the center console myself as it eats up front seat space. Sure, you're not going to put a 300 pound or 6 foot tall person over the tansmission tunnel but, there is still a lot of space there to stretch out if nothing else.

The options available on the Grand Marquis are pretty good too. I'm not sure but, I think the Handling Package like I have is now 275HP so, it's almost as strong as the Maurader. Add paint options, interior options, and well..... :rolleyes: lets face it - Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, Maurader - they are all nice sedans.
 
I sat in a Marauder at the auto show last year. Reminds me of the 94-96 Impala SS, in that it is a big cruiser that is not appointed like your fathers' Buick.

The one thing I did not like was the seats. They seemed to be built for people with short legs! The Grand Marquis, essentially the same car, had much more comfortable seating. I am 5'11" @ 195 lbs - not huge, but lately my biggest gripe on cars has been the seating. Everything is shrinking except the American Butt!
 
I drove a Marauder and it's an OK cruiser. It's big and handles a rough road flawlessly but it does *Not* handle like a sports car, not even close.
For 300HP it is a DOG. It does 0-60 in enough time to eat lunch and top end is equal to a Toyota camry's.

Drive a Crown Vic; there is not that much of a difference to warrant the price difference. Maybe find an Interceptor????
 
What is the diff on the Interceptors besides the Performance & Handling package you get with the Vic sport? 239hp, dual exhaust, bigger tires, etc?
I mean the Marauder is $4k more... about the same price as a Vortech or Eaton supercharger kit and install, which might give a 100hp boost.
 
The Interceptors have a MECHANICAL limited slip rear end, not an ABS traction control setup based on my reasearch about 3 years ago.

300HP a dog? :confused: It will still outrun a normal pickup with higher horsepower. What do you expect from a car that weights as much as these do with as much drag as they have in the wind. As I go down the road (I-10/I-20/I-30/I-40/I-35/I-75/I-85....), the acceleration, top end speed and acceleration, ride quality, etc. all suit me just fine. I don't miss the numbmess in my hands from steering wheel feel (or is that kickback?), the sore back from bad seats, the general fatique from 14hours behind the wheel, etc. Sure that little hotrod is great for grocery store runs but, for my lifestyle, that is too little a percentage of total usage.

I wouldn't trade my Grand Marquis for my friends 'Vette, nor would he trade for mine. I guess it all depends on what you are looking for.
 
I'm sure the LS is nice, but they are smaller and much more expensive, about $10k above the Vic if I want a V8 (which I do).
Since they are discontinuing the Marauder and T Bird this year, I may just wait to see if their are any leftovers or demos they want to get rid of when the 2005 Mustang comes out and dominates their sales.
 
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