Mercury Marauder

[86 TR]

Im thinking about buying a 03-04 Marauder. Anybody out there have one of these cars?? Ive had 2 Ford Crown Vics. police cars for my daily drivers and all I have to do is change oil and put gas in. Actually the Fords have been one of the best daily drivers Ive ever owned. Although the crown vic. has a hard time getting out of its own way being underpowered, otherwise I like it.

The Mercury is basicly a Crown vic but has a little bit different engine. I know my car has the 4.6 SOHC. Everybody always asks me why the big grandma style car. Thats why I would like to get a Mercury. A little more sportier.

Ive been doing some research on the Marauder and I see it has a 32-valve 4.6 V-8 advertised to make 300 hp. I know thats not alot for this big land yacht but is this a good engine. Reliable??

If its as reliable as my crown vic. I guess I won't think twice about buying one.

Thanks for the input.

 

[SVORay]

I've never heard anything bad about this car. The short block is probaly the same as your current car and probaly the 98-04 GTs as well. I'm pretty sure the heads are the same as those on the 98-04 Cobras. So I would think the motor would be pretty sound in my opinion. Heck, I would buy the car my self if I had a need for something like that.

 

[RobsIron]

My brother is looking for one now. He has a bunch of cars, but when he and I want to not rack miles up on our vehicles we share a 2000 police crown vic. I like them and they are dependable. He wants a '04 with graphite leather and a sunroof. Only 04's have a sunroof. Good Luck.

 

[GNTIM]

My buddies wife has one and I have been in the car a few times. A little soft on the low end but way better than the SOHC motor. I have always liked the way these full size Fords ride and feel. A few guys at the local shows have put blowers on them and are really happy. One wierd thing is the oil pressure gauge does not measure the pressure but rizes to a pre-set reading. My budy upgraded to a real gauge and sensor.

 

[matswtt]

bad azz sleeper

I run at the local test and tune and there's a marauder that shows up every once ina while thats cuttin 7.4 to 7.0 in the 1/4 with slicks. that four door sleeper is the bomb for the new shool. If i didn't have my 87gn brick i'd pick one up ina min. I'll see if i can get some pic tonite......

 

[FlyinGN]

don't cha mean the 1/8th mile???

I run at the local test and tune and there's a marauder that shows up every once ina while thats cuttin 7.4 to 7.0 in the 1/4 with slicks. that four door sleeper is the bomb for the new shool. If i didn't have my 87gn brick i'd pick one up ina min. I'll see if i can get some pic tonite......

 

[matswtt]

yea

1/8 mile

 

[Christophah]

I'm pretty sure that the motor in these cars is the aluminum headed engine they used in the MACh1 mustangs. I know a old guy with one, he has a kenne bell blower on it and it F'n SCREAMS.

 

[FlyinGN]

yup, same motor(with slight differences)

I'm pretty sure that the motor in these cars is the aluminum headed engine they used in the MACh1 mustangs. I know a old guy with one, he has a kenne bell blower on it and it F'n SCREAMS.

 

[Mr86t-type]

Ahh Crown Vic's...I LOVE these cars, I own 2, wife has a '98 Grand Marquis, and I have a LOW Mile (48k) '90 Vic, they are about the MOST DEPENDABLE thing on 4 wheels, thier Extremely Roomy and Comfortable, also..and this Important...THIER CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP..I bought my '90 Vic off E-bay last Oct. with only 40k on it, from the Original Owner for 2k, I now have 55k of VERY Trouble free miles on it!!! WHY folks insisit on buying 20k (or more) Sport Utility's for Daily Beaters is Beyond me...Maybe I'm missing something...

 

[TTA197]

Buy a 2004

I had a 2003 Marauder that I bought new. Most of the 2003's had noisey valve trains which were linked to improperly torqued camshaft bearing cap bolts. I couldn't believe that was the fix for it until I did the job myself and it worked.

Anyway, if I had to do it all over again, I'd buy a 2004 to avoid the issue I stated above. The 2004's had an improved torque converter on the transmission as well. I never did care for the way my 2003 shifted. I drove a 2004 and thought it was just right. By the way, these are very comfortable cars. They come with rear air ride suspension (air springs).

Hope that helps.

 

[Renthorin]

I too have been looking at them for a while.

Lots of info and good people to chat with here: MercuryMarauder.net

My friend has a 2004 and is very happy with it.

He said it came new with a black leather jacket with the "Mercury god's head" logo embroidered on the inside so if you buy one.....see if you can get that too."

Things he told me that I did not know:

1) the 03 has a clock in the middle of the dash, 04 does not.
2) it is the Cobra motor making 300 hp
3) rear tires are larger than the front tires giving it a nice stance.