Marauder Down - And Out

[murphypeople]

With regret and disappointment, I am here to inform you that my Marauder has been totaled. All involved are well and unharmed except for the 6 point buck that my son struck about a week ago. The insurance adjuster will be out tomorrow. The airbag deployed and the front grill, left headlight, and hood are a mess. I assume the repair cost would be upwards of $10,000. KBB.com shows an excellent value of $6,300.

This was a great car in all the fun ways we know and love. Then from the perspective of a daily driver vehicle, it was just as sold and trustworthy as anyone could hope to have.:violin:
:bigcry::alone:

Oh, what to do...:shake:

[Mr. Man]

Sorry for you loss. Glad the Marauder did it's job. Post a pic or two. Maybe it can be brought back to life on a salvage title.

[sailsmen]

If they haul it off to a salvage yard it will become a total.

[Joe Walsh]

Probably worth saving your Marauder....you can buy it back from the insurance company...cheap!

I have 'bought back' totaled cars and parted them out.
My stepson wrecked our '95 Grand Marquis, which was a super clean car.
Wiped the entire front end out....airbags deployed.
Could have fixed everything, but didn't want the hassle of a 'salvage' car.

I asked the insurance company: How much for the buy back?:
Answer: "$189"....:eek:
I said: "How much again!?"
Had it towed to my driveway, started it up and drove it off the flatbed and into my garage.
Sold parts totaling at least $3,000...engine, tranny, seats, carpet, headliner, trunk lid, wheels, mirrors....
Then I scrapped the steel 'carcass' for over $300.
I recently re-discovered the mint condition trunk liner and spare tire cover (dark grey). I wonder if they would fit a Marauder trunk...:hmmm:

[Turbov6Bryan]

Definitely buy it back, I would be interested in buying it from you.

I live in Kansas City

Hopefully with insurance and my purchase you will have a nicer marauder as a replacement

[murphypeople]

My son was about 3 miles from home so he drove it home. Here are some pics.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181205/33473e14ecd556823c32ea66dbc66d 21.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181205/9b8ac3e71af50af2ebc8452967f75b c2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181205/2b69c602dd2763099c410f2439182f 78.jpg


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[Mr. Man]

Buy that back and fix it. You hardly broke anything hard to get.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

Easily fixable. MM specific front bumper isn't even busted all other parts should be plentiful.

[Gerry24]

Easily fixable. MM specific front bumper isn't even busted all other parts should be plentiful.

What ^^^^^said

[Cosgrandmarquis]

That's definitely fixable!

[murphypeople]

Surprised by all the “fixable” opinions. The insurance adjuster left without providing an option of value. They recognized the rarity factor of the Marauder and will get back to me.
I can’t do this work myself. I do not have the skills, talent, tools, garage, time or inclination to complete the task.

Question: how much does it cost to get a new airbag? Plus the repairs would surpass the car value, right?


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[CoreyM75]

Swapping the airbag is super easy, and they are cheap from sources like eBay or junkyards. That’s the least labor intensive job on your car. It doesn’t look like a totaled Marauder.

[a_d_a_m]

Man, the most expensive part on the front end (the bumper cover) looks like it could stay on. Hell, the rest of that is cheap. Fix!

[Turbov6Bryan]

My car was totaled when the previous owner smacked someone at 10 mph and busted the lights, nose and put a wrinkle in the hood

Yours needs that, plus core support, fender and the air bag

Typically air bag alone and it's totaled,..

Air bags are about 75.00 , but you have to take it to ford to get the air bag computer reset or replaced????? That can't be cheap.

Where are the marauder wheels?

[Agent2006]

I'm fixing one worse one than that...maybe if it doesn't make sense to fix yourself you can sell it along to someone who would. At some point, we gotta start saving these beasts! They can't all go to the junkyard...how many 4th gen F-bodies do you see anymore? They all got junked and cannibalized ...and the MM is a much more substantial car.

[murphypeople]

Where are the marauder wheels?



My Marauder wheels are in my garage stored in the big bags from the tire store. I have been running the Michelin X-Ice on those rims for a while now.
The MM wheels are in great shape.


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[gdmjoe]

While not a Marauder, had a similiar accident with my 2003 Crown Victoria LX Sport ...

http://www.gdmjoe.com/gothvic/pictures/20170526/pic01.jpg

*More -HERE- (http://www.gdmjoe.com/gothvic/pictures/20170526/20170526accident.html)


Was fortunate enough to have full coverage. Insurance (AAA) paid for all associated co$t$ (towing, etc.) and repairs with no out-of-pocket $$$

The only issue I had was finding NOS, OEM parts. In the case of Marauder parts - corner light assembly and associated wiring harness. *Got fortunate on eBay®. With the exception of header panel (obsolete from FoMoCo), all other parts were OEM.

Total repair bill was $6900(+-). Result ...
http://www.gdmjoe.com/gothvic/pictures/20170719/pic001-50.jpg
.

[murphypeople]

Looks good. $6900. More than the value of my ride.
How does the “buy back” scenario work? That is an open question to anyone that is well-versed.


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[crownvic97]

I agree that it’s fixable, either for you or someone else.

To buy it back insurance will take off some of the money they were going to give you. Say they offer you $8k, if you want to keep the car it will be $7,500 instead.

[murphypeople]

This just in.
If I keep my MM the Ins. Co will pay $5407.00.

If I sign it over to them they pay me $7234.23

Do any of you know of a cash buyer resource for slightly damaged Mercury Marauders?
If so please let me know ASAP.

Thanks in advance.




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[stevengerard]

I've seen more damaged to a car just being backed out of their owners garage. That car is definitely fixable

[BAD MERC]

These are EASY parts to replace. There's no structure there. The DTR I bought and fixed a few years ago now belongs to a member here.

[Mr. Man]

Go get an estimate from a body shop to fix it. That will give you a better negotiating point with your insurance company who are low- balling you. Someone here just got over 9K for their really totaled car.

[Gerry24]

Would a Marti report help too?

[murphypeople]

Would a Marti report help too?



I guess? What is a Marti report?


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[Gerry24]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjuvPTp047fAhVlrlkKH XPeAX8QFjAAegQIChAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.martiaut o.com%2Fmartireports.cfm&usg=AOvVaw2KqzoZ_8aw_L0rxhBjjg ZS

[murphypeople]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjuvPTp047fAhVlrlkKH XPeAX8QFjAAegQIChAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.martiaut o.com%2Fmartireports.cfm&usg=AOvVaw2KqzoZ_8aw_L0rxhBjjg ZS



Got a Free code for that Marti report?[emoji3]


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[murphypeople]

Go get an estimate from a body shop to fix it. That will give you a better negotiating point with your insurance company who are low- balling you. Someone here just got over 9K for their really totaled car.



PM’ed you. Who got $9K for their totaled MM?


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[Greg]

My Understanding

If you keep it, you will get a salvage title. This usually means after you fix it you will have to get it inspected (police in Maryland I think). Take lots of pictures of before, process, etc. so you can show it was fixed right. The value of the car will now be less because of the salvage title. So, depends how much it is worth to you. Good news if you fix it you shouldn't worry so much about driving it.

How many miles? Sell it to someone outright for the difference if you don't want to deal with it. If you were closer, I would probably pick it up from you. Give it a chance ...

It would be a great project for my 16 year old son.

[88LTDCV351]

My brother just had his 88 Grand Marquis rearended. They totaled it but he bought it back and got a salvage title. Fixed the bear minimum and had a brake light test and other things done to get a normal title again. Got a normal title now even though the car still needs a new rear right quarter panel replacement. It can be done.

[sailsmen]

It's a car. Do you want to keep it? How much will it cost to keep it? Can you afford to keep it?

[murphypeople]

It's a car. Do you want to keep it? How much will it cost to keep it? Can you afford to keep it?



Wisdom. Well said.


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[Gerry24]

Got a Free code for that Marti report?[emoji3]


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No, sorry...

[Turbov6Bryan]

This link is this car from this thread.

Wondering if the car will sell for less than $1827.00 (difference between keeping car and letting it go)

Car has 211K

https://www.iaai.com/Vehicle?itemID=30383729&RowNumber=4&loadRecent=True

[justbob]

Now you need to get your second estimate from them as they NEVER offer full payout on the first time around. (It normally takes 3 discussions..)

Bring up the rarity factor and back it up with a Ford Certificate. Tell them you still have the original rims which will also increase the value.

I bet you could walk away with another $2,000 or your car back for free EASILY. All it takes is a small amount of effort in negotiations on your part. They are in business to make money and hope you agree on the first offer. This goes for any and all insurance policies. Auto, home, health, doesn’t matter.

Years ago my F150 with very light scratches from kids throwing rocks at it was estimated at $1750 for the repaint of a couple of panels. I walked away not 10 minutes later with somewhere around $3,600 after pushing their offer back across the desk twice. I brought up that the unique color was a tri tone metallic paint and I don’t remember all the scuffs on the windshield and the aluminum wheels... “Must have been missed by your estimator, good thing I caught that for ya” [emoji1303][emoji6]


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[03marauderman]

Depending on the Insurance Company most likely they will retain the salvage. You have a fighting chance that its at your residence and storage charges aren't building. However most have an agreement or contract with Copart or IAA, then there's the branded title issue, they won't let you keep the car & hold the title from branding....I retired from the claims end of the Insurance industry, and have seen people retract claims just so they could retain their total loss.....Once you submit a claim they make all the decisions, including what they will pay.....Its a lost cause.....Good Luck......