'03 Gran Marquis Marauder (again) on E-Bay

[MERCMAN]

If ignorance is bliss, there must be a LOT of happy car dealers out there!! :lol:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2483328518&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS% 3A1

[jerrym3]

Don't kid yourself. Dealers know exactly what they are doing.

They're using the the Marquis nameplate for those buyers who are shopping for a Marquis, and the Marauder nameplate for those who want (and know) what a Marauder is.

They are hitting two potential buying groups with one stone.

Ask yourself this question: if you were shopping for a used Marauder, would you NOT look at this car because the dealer advertised it as a Marquis Marauder?

Of course you'd look at it.

Smart marketing.

[Marauder]

Funny but my Roadside assistance card from Mercury has my correct VIN but says a 2003 Grand Marquis LS.

If you look on the some of those magazines that review cars like consumer reports, they list the Marauder as a "Grand Marquis Option". :D

[HwyCruiser]

I'll try sneaking this by here, but I'm ready for it :flamer:

I think some of us have a collective identity crisis.

Wasn't the 63, 64 & 65 Marauder's basically option packages on the Montclair, Monterey and Park Lane models?

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~stanchfi/1964-models/marauder.html

OK, the '69 and '70 Marauder X100 was cool and was probably much closer in context to the '03 and '04 models.

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2004/02/marauder/index.shtml

We should accept our late model MMs as one of many limited production spin-offs of an otherwise fine automobile and enjoy the uniqueness. As of a few days ago, we are now own a part of automotive history.

No one who's ever rode in her refers to her as a Grand Marquis. Those who've lined up against her figuring they're going to put the fancy looking Grand Marquis to the test got a suprise. I kind of like that.

I'd enjoy the car just the same even if they labeled her a Grand Marquis GT. Maybe they would have sold more...

My $0.02.

- JD

[jerrym3]

Following paragraph was taken from an old Edmunds chatbox on the Marauder (this was part of a heated exchange as to whether or not the Marauder was a Gran Marquis in wolf's clothing):

"""From Car&Driver web site on the Marauder "The Marauder, based on the Grand Marquis sedan..... and "car borrows performance oriented pieces from the Grand Marquis police package"."""

The fighting about the heritage of the car actually got pretty nasty at times. We even had fights as to what the car would sell for. (I projected an MSRP of 35K plus, and was told I was nuts.)

Unfortunately, calling the car a Gran Marquis GT or "Marquis Special Edition" would have eliminated a lot of potential buyers. There's a whole bunch of folks out there that don't want to be identified with anything that denotes "old timer", and that's what the Marquis name does, right or wrong.

[Bigdogjim]

I'll try sneaking this by here, but I'm ready for it :flamer:

I think some of us have a collective identity crisis.

Wasn't the 63, 64 & 65 Marauder's basically option packages on the Montclair, Monterey and Park Lane models?
This is indeed true. Much simpler times then.

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~stanchfi/1964-models/marauder.html

OK, the '69 and '70 Marauder X100 was cool and was probably much closer in context to the '03 and '04 models.

These two models were differant form the reagular line up some what. These two were a about 5" or so shorter than the Marquis.

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2004/02/marauder/index.shtml

We should accept our late model MMs as one of many limited production spin-offs of an otherwise fine automobile and enjoy the uniqueness. As of a few days ago, we are now own a part of automotive history.

No one who's ever rode in her refers to her as a Grand Marquis. Those who've lined up against her figuring they're going to put the fancy looking Grand Marquis to the test got a suprise. I kind of like that.

I'd enjoy the car just the same even if they labeled her a Grand Marquis GT. Maybe they would have sold more...

My $0.02.

- JD
Now the '04 will have their own vin#'s not mixed in with the Grand Marquis models. Thanks for the info!

[HwyCruiser]

...Unfortunately, calling the car a Gran Marquis GT or "Marquis Special Edition" would have eliminated a lot of potential buyers. There's a whole bunch of folks out there that don't want to be identified with anything that denotes "old timer", and that's what the Marquis name does, right or wrong.

Yup, I hear you.

The name Marauder brings to mind something better and badder, with a certain heritage to honor, which set an expectation that Ford more than just missed. A lot of us around here are up to the task of improving on what was delivered, no doubt showing what could have been at a different performance vs. cost level.

I just hope they hit it a little closer next time around.

- JD

[SHERIFF]

The real idiots are the ones who bid $1,000 and $2,000 and think they are going to meet the reserve price. :fire: