Your best "WTF is it?" stories (and then some).

[RoyLPita]

(A little special thanx from Cruztaker), But this happened yesterday. One of my fellow club members was getting some work done on his MM at my workplace. One of my former co-workers stopped by to visit and saw the car. He asked "WTF is it?" I thought that after 2 years (or so), this wuld stop, I guessed not.
So, I thought about this for a while. I don't usually start threads (my count doesn't equal the amount on 1 hand).
So, what could you all post here about your "WTF is It?" stories. You could even state how many times you've been asked that question. This applies to all who have (or had) MMs. You could even post about being in the middle of nowere and the locals know what you've got (true story from SouLRioT, may he post a long version). Have fun with this, please.

[Marauder2005]

(A little special thanx from Cruztaker), But this happened yesterday. One of my fellow club members was getting some work done on his MM at my workplace. One of my former co-workers stopped by to visit and saw the car. He asked "WTF is it?" I thought that after 2 years (or so), this wuld stop, I guessed not.
So, I thought about this for a while. I don't usually start threads (my count doesn't equal the amount on 1 hand).
So, what could you all post here about your "WTF is It?" stories. You could even state how many times you've been asked that question. This applies to all who have (or had) MMs. You could even post about being in the middle of nowere and the locals know what you've got (true story from SouLRioT, may he post a long version). Have fun with this, please.I own one myself and I still dont know WTF it is...LOL. I have had it
happen a couple of times but this one ticked me off a little... at work I was helping the customer outside and he asked me if it was a
Buick......My insides fell out my a** but.... I just told him it was a Grand Marques on steroids :rolleyes:

[wsmylie]

Great idea Brian... Although I've had several WTF is that experiences my favorite took place at a McDonalds near CRUZTAKER's house (McD on rt 21 in dwntwn Brecksville) last summer. An old-old guy pulled up next to me in a fairly new Merc GM that was bedecked with a vinyl top, all kinds of gold trim etc (looked like your basic,overdone south Florida/Boca Raton retiree special package).... he flagged me down as I was backing up and asked me if he could look at the silver MM. He looked the MM over and told me almost tearfully how much he had always loved Merc's and asked WTF is this thing (well...he didn't use the expletives...but you get the idea). I explained the limited production story, lack of any real advertising to speak of and how production had just recently ended. Nice old guy patted me on the back and said how he wished he were younger. BILL

[HwyCruiser]

My WTF is it story is when I saw the Marauder for the first time ever.

There was a black '03 parked in the back of the dealership's used lot. I was driving my '00 Grand Marquis by the lot one night and I happened to glance over that way. Something shiny caught my eye.

It was one of those classic double-takes and subsequent hard braking maneuvers. I ditched the GM and ran over and started to smear up the windows with my face. Marauder? WTF is that? How come I've never seen one of these running around?

Needless to say, it wasn't very long before the GM and MM swapped places. I'm loving every mile of it too. Now I've turned into one of those guys you can't throw a compliment at without having to listen to the whole story. Just give me an excuse to pop the hood, go ahead and make my day.

:rolleyes: <- my wife when she's held hostage by one of my many Marauder bloviations.

[LCSO34]

My WTF story was also a first time seeing a Marauder. I went to Jackson for an autopsy and when I pulled up in front of the morgue I saw it, but I thought to myself "What agency allowed someone to put rims on a CVPI"? I went inside and did the autopsy thing (photos). While I was there, one of the guys was a dentist getting his cert in forensic identification, turns out he was from the Navy base here in Meridian. Anyway when we left, he left a few minutes before us, and I didn't see him leave. A few minutes later we pulled into a convience store to get gas for the trip home, the Marauder was at one of the pumps and that dentist was putting gas in it. While my buddy filled up I went over and talked about the car and such. The winning over point was when he cranked it up. LET ME TELL YOU the sound that came out of my mouth was a series of grunts and slobbers that inmitated something from Tim Allens " Tool Time" show. Needless to say we caravaned home that night and the Doc got home in record time. I got home (after midnight) and started searching the internet. I ran across this site. This all happened in OCT 2002. I lurked here until I joined in Aug 2004, and brought the Marauder home January 7, 2005. I don't know where the doc got stationed somewhere in the Carolinas, maybe. His last name was Vandermark.

[DL04]

Just had a WTF happen this morning. I was dropping my daughter off at church,as we were getting out a couple pull up next to us the husband jumps out of his 300 and says "wow thats nice how do you like it--like it I love it--thats a 500 right? --uh no its a Marauder-- oh a Marrrauder..wow thats nice enjoy it--I do"

[Constable]

I originally posted this in June of '03... it's still my favorite WTF story to tell.


So yesterday I took the Rauder to a local car security shop that supposedly does good work. I dragged one of the workers outside to show him all the bubbles and wrinkles in the tint. The first words outta his mouth were, "What the ****** is that?!" (referring to the car, not the tint). So I told him and he just stood there with a stupid look on his face. Then he says, "You got da D.F.W.'s.... DAMN!!"

I was baffled, so I had to ask, "What the hell are D.F.W.'s???" He replies, "DOOKIE-FRESH WHEELS, yo!" I'm still laughing about that phrase.

I still use the Dookie Fresh phrase all the time, too. "Hey look at your hair! You got a DFC... dookie-fresh cut!"

[Two Hawks]

Great thread RoyLPita should be very entertaining. :up:

Like Marauder2005 I've had many wrong guesses as to WTF my car was, yes even a Buick. As irritating as that is, it still gives me a good excuse to show her off. I specially enjoy poppin' the hood and watching the :awe:, and its still stock, no S/C, no bling bling (yet).<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shape id=_x0000_i1026 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> :D <v:imagedata o:href='\\\\\\\\\\\"http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif\\\\\\\\\\\"' src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Owner/LOCALS~1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image002.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape>

So, it's the Friday night pizza run (delivery? NOT when I can be driving my MM) and I'm hanging outside smoking and waitin' on my order. There's a couple of other guys doin' the same. They are all looking at my MM, which I had safely parked in a no parking area :D. After a little while one of them, who looks about my age, approaches me, guess he saw me drive up. So he says, "Nice car, how much did those rims set you back?" I'm thinkin', he's already convinced himself that it was a CV that I had added some Bling to. So without hesitation I said "A little over 30 thousand, if memory serves me right." At first he looks a little stunned, then irritated as he says, "not the car the rims" I just :D <v:shape id=_x0000_i1028 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""><v:imagedata o:href='\\\\\\\\\\\"http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif\\\\\\\\\\\"' src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Owner/LOCALS~1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image002.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape>and said "had to buy the car to get the rims". He looks a little confused, then asks WTF is it. Anyway, got to do the show and :blah:, which I soooo enjoy.

[STLR FN]

I haven't had a WTF is it?? story yet.... but my wife went back to PA for the w/e and took the Marauder. Well she stopped over my parents house and my dad asked if the wheels came with the car. He knows I like to swap out the factory wheels for aftermarket ones. So, my wife politely tells him they came with the car.

[Mike Poore]

So, what could you all post here about your "WTF is It?" stories.
Nice thread Royal.
I'd guess you're gonna get more McDonalds stories, and here's another.

We were in the McDonalds drive up lane in Taneytown, MD and some kids (not ricers) in a 70's something Cutlass/Buick/Chevy/Pontiac two door, pulled up along side and asked about the car. Since I've replaced the Hockey sticks with the GM Brogahm emblem, it's not easy to tell what the MM really is. Anyway, the kids were very nice, and asked a million questions, ending with "*****in' ride, dude". Barb gave me that "yeh, I'm with him" look. :)

[Bootlegger]

Earlier this month I entered a local car show and they were taking pictures of each vehicle as we drove into the show arena. The photographer had a backdrop of a large American Flag that you pulled your vehicle in front of. I followed his directions, and stopped the MM in front of the Flag, waiting for him to take the photo, the next thing I know the photographer is standing at my car asking me if I was entering this Limousine in the show.. I just smiled and told him yes..As posted earlier after the show the LIMOUSINE won a First Place in Ford High Performance Street Class. Limousine uh????

[Mike Poore]

Have fun with this, please.
Barb just reminded me about the folks (40's somethings) who were waiting, sitting in their car, next to our MM at the WalleyWorld in Gettysburg. She jumped out saying they never thought we were gonna get done our shopping, and could we tell 'em about the car. Of course, they got the grand tour, and directions to the L/M dealer in Frederick, where I knew they had three of 'em left. I never did hear if they got one; perhaps they're on the MM net, since I gave 'em my card, and the URL to this website. Nice couple.:)

[marauder307]

Good thread. :up:

It's interesting...I bought mine in Daytona Beach; the folks around there knew what it was. Drove it home to Montgomery; folks there knew what it was. Drove to my job in St. Louis; folks there knew what it was.

I had to come to Pt. Arthur/Beaumont, TX, to get the "WTFizzit?" stories. Oh, and I've got a couple of doozies...

Had the Black Hulk in at Energy Country F-L-M coupla months ago for routine service; I was taking advantage of their cleanup and detail shop to get the monster a "Beauty Day"...huh. Anyhoo, I go back to the rack to check on the progress, and one of the salesmen is leaning in my DS window. He asks the inevitable question....

Wait for it...

"Man,...what'd you do to that Crown Vic?" Ooohh, boy..."Um, no sir, that's not a Crown Vic...." and told the story from there. He was a USED-car salesman who'd only been working there a few weeks; I didn't ask where he'd come from, and don't remember caring.

The all-time award winner, tho, has to be the one that I got this last weekend. I took it in my own hands to try and get the car compliant with TSB 16856 (Revised spark plug usage); the dealer was hemming and hawing too much, and my patience was at an end. So I bought the damn things myself, and was looking for a place to get 'em installed (I don't have any tools or I'da put the sunuvaguns in myself). Called up a local auto service chain here in SE TX called Modica Bros. After you read the rest of this, you'll understand why I posted their name...

Had to deal with a long phone-tag runaround (Yessir, let me put you on hold...nosir, that's not my dept, let me put you on hold...etc.). Then when I got a wrench on the line, I explained that I had a 2003 Mercury Marauder and I was looking for someone to install a set of sparkplugs. His response?

Wait for it...

Oh, this is the best...

Classic, even...

"Mercury Marauder? What is that, some kind of motorcycle?"

After I picked the phone up off the floor where I'd dropped it, I gamely attempted to explain that no, it's not a motorcycle...Of course, I can see how the young man could be so easily confused. Lincoln-Mercury is long famed for their line of motorcycles ; why, they're churning 'em out by the thousands. :rolleyes: Run down to the dealership right this instant--Go! Don't Stop for anything!---and get yourself one. Hell, buy 1/2 dozen...they're cheap.

And, as if that's not enough, they also require the ASE-trained services of a technician to replace the dozens of spark plugs in 'em too. Those Lincoln-Mercury motorcycles, boy, they're sophisticated critters...wouldn't try turning a wrench on one myself; I'd be afraid to break it.

I think I'm gonna change my sig: "Mercury Marauder...some kind of motorcycle." :puke:

Postscript: I took the car to Energy Country F-L-M Saturday 26th Feb to get the plugs replaced. The even bank of cylinders (2-8) was actually okay; aside from a clearly visible film of oil on the plugs, they looked alright. Not so for the odd bank of cylinders (1-7). Cylinder 7 was badly fouled, and cylinder 3 exhibited signs of severe arcing/burning around the base of the electrode arm. It was so bad, in fact, that I wondered how the damn engine ran at all.
All told, this cost me $169.19 to get it fixed ($49.19 for the plugs, $120 to get 'em installed)...thanks so much Lincoln-Mercury. Be sending ya that bill real soon. :mad2:

[Patrick]

Too many too list!!!!! But luv to hear all of yours thanks!!!! Time to go to the doctors so I should be adding another ONE!!!!!!!!!!

[ckadiddle]

What has struck me as bizarre is being stopped by several people who actually KNOW what a Marauder is.

Ona a side note: Funniest thing I have seen in a long time - in traffic the other day, saw an older Crown Vic , white, that someone had put big shiny rims on. These puppys had to be 22 inch or larger. I had never seen a Crown Vic stand on it's tippytoes before.

[SouLRioT]

So, what could you all post here about your "WTF is It?" stories. You could even state how many times you've been asked that question. This applies to all who have (or had) MMs. You could even post about being in the middle of nowere and the locals know what you've got (true story from SouLRioT, may he post a long version). Have fun with this, please.


Well, my best "WTF IS IT", would be on day I was driving down the road and I notice two girls in a white Mustang behind me and I start to see the mouthing of "M-A-R-A-U-D-E-R", which is made easy by my SSInserts. There are also the all too many times driving on the interstate and people in the HOV lane drive by looking back at me and the car to see I guess if I'm FHP. And then there is the time Brian is mentioning that about a week after I bought the car I drove up from south florida to see my friend in Greenville SC, and when leaving to go back home I was at the gas station filling up and there is a guy that looked like he was waiting for one of those work trucks to pick him up and he knew all about the car, so I'm rather impressed since I've only seen one befor mine on the road(the one that made me buy the car) so that was rather unexpected.

[CBT]

I've gotten a few, but the best was when I went to my bank for the loan, and the loan officer commented that 23 thousand seemed like a lot for a motorcycle. Appearently there actually is a Marauder motorcycle. Thankfully I got the loan after explaining it was a car, I can only imagine if I had been denied because she thought I wanted a motorcycle.

2 days ago I stopped at Tread Quarters just to price a set of tires. He asks what kind of vehicle and when I said Marauder, one eyebrow arcs up, his bottom lip stuck out, and he said "hmmm...I better go out and look." So, we go out, he says he's never seen one before, writes down the front tire size and starts to go back in. I said "The backs are a different size." He says, "Are you sure?" I felt like saying "NAW!! I JUST MADE THAT UP TO WATCH YOU BEND OVER AGAIN!" But I restrained myself and just said "I'm positive."

[Marauder2005]

I've gotten a few, but the best was when I went to my bank for the loan, and the loan officer commented that 23 thousand seemed like a lot for a motorcycle. Appearently there actually is a Marauder motorcycle. Thankfully I got the loan after explaining it was a car, I can only imagine if I had been denied because she thought I wanted a motorcycle.

2 days ago I stopped at Tread Quarters just to price a set of tires. He asks what kind of vehicle and when I said Marauder, one eyebrow arcs up, his bottom lip stuck out, and he said "hmmm...I better go out and look." So, we go out, he says he's never seen one before, writes down the front tire size and starts to go back in. I said "The backs are a different size." He says, "Are you sure?" I felt like saying "NAW!! I JUST MADE THAT UP TO WATCH YOU BEND OVER AGAIN!" But I restrained myself and just said "I'm positive."
LOL Screw restraining yourself that was a good line to wayste

[Cartman]

Yes there are motorcycles called Marauders - made by Suzuki. When I would look for MMs on ebay I'd get them mixed in there until I filtered them out. Anyway here's a black one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4530266072&category=50032

[Bradley G]

While at the dreamwood cruise last summer Jerry Barnes took Big Slims father and I for a ride in Trilogy #2.After being warned several times by the LEO's for air polution, We pulled up to a red light and was joined to our right by a Mustang.The stang was occupied by a Male driver(20's) and a female passenger.

By the sound I kept hearing from my right (engine reving):hmmm: This lad Must be in the mood for, "Playtime"!Unfortunately for Kid Mustang, so was Mr. Barnes. When the Light turned Green so did the Face on the kid driving the Mustang.:laugh: Will these kids ever:bop: Learn???
Bradley G

[CRUZTAKER]

I said "The backs are a different size." He says, "Are you sure?" I felt like saying "NAW!! I JUST MADE THAT UP TO WATCH YOU BEND OVER AGAIN!" "Heeeere's your sign..." :P

[CRUZTAKER]

During the first month of ownership I pulled up aside an SS Impalla, light green, beautifull, with a guy in a bussiness suit driving. I thought for sure this would be my first opportunity to test her out. I rolled down the window and hollered....we both spoke from our windows as we slowed to a crawl on a 35 mph 4 lane divided road. We held up traffic for better than a block.

He declined to race, and asked where he could find "one of those Marauders", as he was no longer impressed with his Impalla.....NICE!

I have had my fair share of WTFISIT questioning....so many at this point it isn't even funny any longer. I just gave up and made my own SIGN.

I love looking in the rear view mirror and watching folks mouth out my plate...nod...look at each other...and finally break out in laughter as they discover its meaning.


http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/627Plate.jpg

[wesman]

I don't get it a whole lot, but the last one was from Uncle Ray. Uncle Ray has a '95 Grand Marquis and was a truck driver for 30 years. He likes big cars. So last weekend we go for a spin to the nursing home to see Aunt Francis, and I drive. Uncle Ray gets in and can't believe how nice the interior is. He says why do they finally build a nice car like this and then discontinue it? I shrug, they couldn't sell them. Then he asks the price. I tell him the sticker. He nearly faints. Then I drop the hammer, bark off a 1-2 shift and get yelled at from the back seat by Mom and Auntie Harlene. Then Uncle Ray smiles.

[Bluerauder]

"Heeeere's your sign..." :P
I love that song ..... funny as heck !!! :rofl:

Here's two WTF is it stories ....

#1 ... Last April, a bunch of MM owners headed to the "Philly's Best" Car Cruise at Northeast L/M. We rallied at Bennigan's off Roosevelt Blvd and parked all 17 MMs (14 Black, 2 Blue, 1 Silver) in the side lot. The restaurant nearly shut down as the staff and customers wandered out to looky see. The best comment came from one of the local passers-by who was walking the line and turning his head back and forth like he was at a tennis match ... "Hey, did you notice that all those cars are similar?" This guy was a regular darn Sherlock Holmes. :rofl:

#2 ... At a recent meeting of the Capitol Area Marauders (CAM) at Big's Bats on Kent Island, the group had gathered outside for the traditional after meal activities in the parking lot. There were about 11-12 Marauders lined up and members milling about -- most in their leather jackets. Several BB customers were standing off to one side trying to figure out WTF was going on. I walked over and told 'em to come on over and that we didn't bite. Seems that they thought we were a motorcycle club (or something) out driving around in our "other" vehicles. We gave 'em the grand tour. :lol:

[Mike Poore]

#2 ... At a recent meeting of the Capitol Area Marauders (CAM) at Big's Bats on Kent Island,
Hey Charlie, I remember those guys. There were some great comments, along with the looks of disbelief. :D

[Bigdogjim]

Well today I was at the bodyshop where my Marauder is parked for safe keeping.
I was hanging around for the the fellow to return that I needed to speak to when the other fellow in the waiting room asked "who's back car outside?"
I said the Marauder? (Thinking he would not know what it was?)
He replied yes!
I was shocked? Someone who knew about our cars?
He said his friend owned one and talks about it all the time!
Knew a lot about the car and I was impressed:up:
Then I ask if his friend knew about the web site?
He look at me like a dog does when your talking to it?
I then hand him a card with the web site and he smiles:)
Looks at me and says" figures you all would have your own web site!"
Put the car in his pocket and left, smiling no less!

[Joe Walsh]

The best 'WTF' moments actually came from people who KNEW what a Marauder was.

#1: I'm driving my 3 day old Marauder over to have the windows tinted in late Dec. '02. As I approach a traffic light to turn left, I notice in my passenger's side mirror a car weaving through traffic and closing very fast.
As I slow for the left turn lane, this guy pulls up along side me and starts frantically blowing his horn. I roll down my passenger's window and he starts losin' it over my Marauder. It's the first one he has seen and he LOVES IT!
Best thing of all was that this guy was driving a Honda and he was blocking all the thru traffic at the green light.

#2: I'm up at 75-80 Dragway waiting to run in the staging lanes and a bunch of Mustang guys walk by me. They glance over and keep walking, probably thinking that I put rims on a CV. Then one guy takes a second glance and sees the 'Megs'.
He stops dead in his tracks and says: "Man! That's a MARAUDER!!!" They all come trotting over and start drooling over the Marauder.

#3: I'm at Capitol Raceway (OK, I love to Dragrace! :D ) in the staging lanes with my hood up to cool the engine between runs. A guy who I saw running a black Impala SS comes over and proceeds to say:"Chevy did it first, BUT Mercury did it right!"
He loved the Marauder wheels, interior, and exhaust. Meanwhile his buddy looks under the hood and says: " HOLY *****!!! Look at the size of that big block!!!" Seems he was confused by the width of the 4 cam valve covers...heh, heh, heh. ;)

[hwy73]

Excellent Thread!!! My grin was ALMOST as wide as when I'm driving the car.

Hwy 73
2004 Blk

[RoyLPita]

Welcome aboard. Enjoy the site and your MM.

[wesman]

I just remembered another one. At Road America, Wisconsin, the Marauder's first trackday, the corner workers were trying to figure out what it was. They all have headsets that connect them and they need to identify cars that have gone off track and get black flagged. First it was a Lincoln, then it was a Ford, and finally it was the big, dark car. Then one of the corner workers came over after my session and realized it was a Marauder. Generally people at the track treated it with mild disdain, I'm talking porsche jockeys & Z06 types. Near the end of the second day one of the organizers in a heavily modified WS6 Trans Am was out on the track with the rookie group. I saw him coming in the rear view, and thought, OK he's faster than me, do I give up now and let him by quick or do I step on it and try to stay out of his way. I stepped on it. He took a few corners to catch me and I pointed him by. Then I tried my damnest to stay on his bumper. After the session was over he saw me and jumped out of his car and said "I've got to shake this man's hand! That thing moves!"

[mcb26]

1. Young kid walked up as I was getting out at Home Depot and asked if it was a new Dale Earnhardt Monte Carlo.
2. Heard my step son describe to one of his friends " Looks like an Impala."

[merc406]

2. Heard my step son describe to one of his friends " Looks like an Impala."




That's the remark I was waiting for, with all 3 of my 63's I had people thinking they were Impala's and with the frt end and the 3 taillights on each side of the tailpanel, they were similar, but the 63-64 Marauder's look more like boats than anything.
The new MM, doesn't look like a Chevy tho..... :burnout:

[CBT]

Well I was in uniform and didn't want him to think I was a submariner....:D
LOL Screw restraining yourself that was a good line to wayste

[Johnman]

Everybody who has expressed interest in my car already knew what it was-they just hadn't seen one, etc. The WTF factor has always been the color (blue). One guy at a gas station asked me if I had had the car painted. A mechanic at the Mercury dealership was amazed; he never knew they were offered in blue even though I bought the car at that same dealership.
But just today, I was at a stoplight when a girl in a Camry frantically motioned me to roll my window down. Then she said "Let me hear your car!"
I revved the engine for her and she cooed: "I love those cars". Rest assured she wasn't coming on to me-I'm at least 20 years her senior- but she was obviously a fan of the Marauder, and had seen one before.

[bigjon]

i, unfortunately, do not own a mm. i did use to work for a lincoln/mercury dealership as a salesman. my boss understood my passion for the mm when we got our first one after the launch. he knew how much i loved panthers and he was amazed i knew every spec on the car even before it was officially announced.

well, long story short, he would let me take any mm home with me anytime i wanted. i got numerous wtf is that statements. the two best are:
1) one of my neighbors son's came over. he was 17, owns a honda. he saw me get out of a blue marauder with about 3 of my friends(we took her for a 'little' drive). he ran over screaming how awesome this car is. he never took his eyes off the car. i even let him rev the engine. he still talks of that car.

2) i took a black one to my parents-in-laws, parked on the grass in there front yard. i then popped the hood/trunk, and opened all the doors so they could see it (they were thinking of getting one). then about 30 people passing by, stopped and all stared and talked about this beauty.

none of these people ever bought a mm. but they still say they will... right. a lot of them have purchased many vics and marqs that look exactly like mine though.

kinda flattering. :)

[N40GL]

In August 2003, I'd had my Kenny Brown #10 about two months, and scheduled my annual trip to the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, where the honored marque was Ford. I thought bringing my car to that meet wouold be pretty cool.

My plans included meeting an old friend for dinner at the Inn at Spanish Bay (on 17 Mile Drive) Friday night. The Historics are well-known as one of, if not <i>the</i>, premiere car gatherings of the year, and the car companies and clubs take over the Monterey Peninsula for the weekend with shows, auctions and so forth. The Inn serves as the headquarters for DaimlerChrysler's presence during the weekend, as well as the headquarters of the worldwide Ferrari club and worldwide Lamborghini club, as well as Bentley USA's center of operations.

Well, I was feeling pretty proud of my car, especially after having driven it from Chicago to Monterey, and probably feeling pretty cocky as well. When I drove up to the valet for parking, I tipped him $20 to park the car out front. The valet looks down his nose at me, but parks my car among the select few parked under the awning in the front. There's space for about eight cars there, and the roster looks like: Rolls, Ferrari, Rolls, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Mercury, Ferrari, Mercedes. That, in and of itself, was priceless.

So, dinner, drinks and cigars eventually come to a conclusion a few hours later, and I go back out to retrieve my car. The valet, with a sh** eating grin on his face, sprints over to my mere Mercury and zips it right back to the front (about 50 feet) with a big smile, clearly having more fun with this car than he expected. As I walk around to the driver's door, he gets out and, with eyes as wide as saucers, says "WTF is this? I've never seen anything this nice, and I get to drive everything!"

Needless to say, I gave him the 60-second history of the car. But it was pretty cool being in that crowd and standing out amoung the cognoscenti.

P.S. If you are ever in the area around sunset, the Inn has a bagpiper that pipes the sunset while standing in the Carmel Highlands right outside the Inn at the waters edge. He's about forty feet from the restaurant and bar, and it makes a great start to any evening.

[Matt In Detroit]

STLR FN, hey are you the other DTR I see running around in Canton? I live at Warren And Sheldon..







I haven't had a WTF is it?? story yet.... but my wife went back to PA for the w/e and took the Marauder. Well she stopped over my parents house and my dad asked if the wheels came with the car. He knows I like to swap out the factory wheels for aftermarket ones. So, my wife politely tells him they came with the car.

[wsmylie]

That's a great "WTF Is That" story N40GL. Some respect for the North American iron amongst all that foreign rolling stock.... priceless. BILL

[Mike Poore]

That's a great "WTF Is That" story N40GL. Some respect for the North American iron amongst all that foreign rolling stock.... priceless. BILL
Y'know what? I agree! There's a few really great stories, and to that end I propose a contest. Let's pick a few of the best ones, and vote on a winner, for a wonderful prize of some sort (to be determined later) What say guys? :D

[valkyrie]

I was at a business trip in Washington DC. As the Valet at the Willard was bringing my car out and I was about to get into it one of the guys standing around it says "Wow thats a nice car. I'm gonna have to do that stuff to mine" I got into the car mumbling "whatever".

[Captain Steve]

I was at a business trip in Washington DC. As the Valet at the Willard was bringing my car out and I was about to get into it one of the guys standing around it says "Wow thats a nice car. I'm gonna have to do that stuff to mine" I got into the car mumbling "whatever".
The guys were a bunch of limo drivers?

[FastMerc]

This one just happened to me.I was out with a buddy of mine one sat night we stopped by where a female friend of his works at a restaurant,I had just cleaned the car.We pulled up to the front windows everyone making pizzas stopped and:awe: Well the lady friend just divorced ex knows some shady caracters,black car black windows rolls up what would you think:D .My buddy calls her on the phone, asking where he is,he said black car out front all you heard was OH MY GOD,every body planted there faces to the window,they wanted to know what the heck kind of car that was.He told them they didnt know it existed.We all had a good laugh after they realized we werent there to redecorate the place...

[2003DOHC]

People where my wife works why are you driving an old police car?

New salesman where I work this morning says does that thing have a V8? I thought he was going to ask if it had a hemi! Also asks if it is a ford 500.

21 year old girl at my work says you drive a cool car. Never know what pepole are going to say.

My 75 year old Mother calls it the beast.

[merc]

On my way down route 66 to pick up Pam I ran across the new Cadillac CTS-V. It was black like mine and displayed a racing badge on the front fender lick my Marauder. It had highly polished 18’ rims and Brembo brakes. As I pulled up beside the gentleman I gave the glance that all racers give during a full erection. For the first time I was instigating reckless behavior on public highways and loving it. So as I lowered the speed to keep pace with the hotrod Cadillac, I turned the O/D off, what a major mistake. As I watched his simile diminish as the 4.6 Marauder chorus of 8 played loudly through the dual pipe organ. He seemed discouraged, but still somewhat interested in the challenge. At this point I was in the right gear and power band, just waiting for the first indication of a challenge. Then a second later I noticed his car began to pull away bristly. Oh baby, it’s on now. With a reaction time of a drag racer I crushed the gas pedal to the floor. The cabin noise level increased as the stallion lifted the car slightly. As I passed the 50,000 dollars performance vehicle I could almost read his lips as he said “What the ****** is That”. It was not much of a challenge, but if an experienced driver was behind the wheel I might have been dinner on his plate. :banana2:

[jgc61sr2002]

[QUOTE=Blue Oval]People where my wife works why are you driving an old police car?

Heard the same when I was getting my windows tinted.

[Bluerauder]

For the first time I was instigating reckless behavior on public highways and loving it.
Looks like you have trouble keeping those demons under control also. :seesaw: Hope this wasn't a result of my Saturday morning ricer runoff story. :burnout: .... I don't want to be a corrupting influence. :rolleyes:

[merc]

Looks like you have trouble keeping those demons under control also. :seesaw: Hope this wasn't a result of my Saturday morning ricer runoff story. :burnout: .... I don't want to be a corrupting influence. :rolleyes:

The the winter months, it's getting to me. :mad2:

[MaLo03]

My 1st "WTF IS IT" was actually to myself. I was driving pass the dealership and saw "IT" I didn't know what it was and I shouted out to my son and nephew, who were with me at the time, "what the ferkin friday is that!" We stopped, looked, drooled, had a half hr test drive. 3hrs later I drove "IT" out the lot. Since then, I get WTF's all the time. I remember the first time was when a Police Officer pulled next to me and asked, "hey, is that the Marauder car" he looked like a kid who just passed a Fire Truck full of waiving Firemen. I've been on top of the world ever since.

[PJR]

I've had several real interesting WTF inquires. The last one asked if my car was a 'hot rod Lincoln'? ?????????????????????? People are just generally clueless!

[de minimus]

This morning I stopped by a local Ford dealer plannng to buy a trunk organiser. When I enquired whether I could order one for a Marauder, the parts clerk said, "A what?"
I replied, " A Mercury Marauder....2004".
A puzzled look came over the clerks face until a more knowledgable co-worker piped up, "That's like a souped up Grand Marquis isn't it?"
It occured to me that Ford didn't really advertise this car much.
I didn't order the organiser but that's only because they told me it would be $340 Cdn.

[Bluerauder]

When I enquired whether I could order one for a Marauder, the parts clerk said, "A what?" I replied, " A Mercury Marauder....2004".
Last week, I got one of those reminder calls that my MM was due for service. The woman said ... "Marauder ... that's a Mitsubishi Marauder, right ???" :rolleyes:

[de minimus]

Last week, I got one of those reminder calls that my MM was due for service. The woman said ... "Marauder ... that's a Mitsubishi Marauder, right ???" :rolleyes:
Fills you with confidence when they're servicing your car and they don't know what it is. They'll probably rotate your rear tires to the front.

[maraudernkc]

My WTF story was in November 2001 In Las Vegas at the SEMA show. I saw this big black mean looking Mercury in there booth and went over there to take a peek and said the WTF is this. All I knew was that I loved it but had just bought a brand new car and could not afford another one but 4 years later I have one and am buliding blowers for these bad ass cars. Go figure!

[Bluerauder]

Fills you with confidence when they're servicing your car and they don't know what it is. They'll probably rotate your rear tires to the front.
Actually, to be fair ... these service reminder calls come from a centralized location and they handle multiple dealerships. :rolleyes: So the call bank really has no direct connection to the dealer service center. Personally I am quite happy with my dealer. :D

[Al Goguen]

Hey?
I represent that remark!!! LOL I am a retired Submariner! X Radioman.....
Be safe....:beer:




Well I was in uniform and didn't want him to think I was a submariner....:D

[1stMerc]

During the first month of ownership I pulled up aside an SS Impalla, light green, beautifull, with a guy in a bussiness suit driving. I thought for sure this would be my first opportunity to test her out. I rolled down the window and hollered....we both spoke from our windows as we slowed to a crawl on a 35 mph 4 lane divided road. We held up traffic for better than a block.

He declined to race, and asked where he could find "one of those Marauders", as he was no longer impressed with his Impalla.....NICE!

I have had my fair share of WTFISIT questioning....so many at this point it isn't even funny any longer. I just gave up and made my own SIGN.

I love looking in the rear view mirror and watching folks mouth out my plate...nod...look at each other...and finally break out in laughter as they discover its meaning.




http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/627Plate.jpg

:banana2: Now i know what to put across the top of the windshield :) .

[Joe Walsh]

This morning I stopped by a local Ford dealer plannng to buy a trunk organiser. When I enquired whether I could order one for a Marauder, the parts clerk said, "A what?"
I replied, " A Mercury Marauder....2004".
A puzzled look came over the clerks face until a more knowledgable co-worker piped up, "That's like a souped up Grand Marquis isn't it?"
It occured to me that Ford didn't really advertise this car much.
I didn't order the organiser but that's only because they told me it would be $340 Cdn.


Not to Hijack this thread, but you should check with Ray ("The Dealer") at Northeast LM....He can set you up with a trunk organizer for MUCH cheaper than $340. He will only charge you exact shipping costs as well.

[de minimus]

Actually, to be fair ... these service reminder calls come from a centralized location and they handle multiple dealerships. :rolleyes: So the call bank really has no direct connection to the dealer service center. Personally I am quite happy with my dealer. :DPoint taken. You're quite right.



Not to Hijack this thread, but you should check with Ray ("The Dealer") at Northeast LM....He can set you up with a trunk organizer for MUCH cheaper than $340. He will only charge you exact shipping costs as well.
Thanks Joe, I'll check into that.

[Patrick]

I've had several real interesting WTF inquires. The last one asked if my car was a 'hot rod Lincoln'? ?????????????????????? People are just generally clueless!

Yep Clueless, Thrursday I was forced to use a car wash (In know) but had too. My car was about done and 2 people walked by it and said nice Grand Marquis. I said thanks and then got in her and nailed it out of the lot!!!!!!! Luv the thier look on thier faces as I was peeling out of thier!!!!!

[jstevens]

Patrick, you are so right. They don't know anything until you start it up and they hear the growl.

I also luv it when I open it up. With the CAI, children and women run for the hills. Priceless.

[Patrick]

Patrick, you are so right. They don't know anything until you start it up and they hear the growl.

I also luv it when I open it up. With the CAI, children and women run for the hills. Priceless.

Just leave them standing thier with that look!!!!!!!!! Priceless!!!!!!!!!

[ckadiddle]

Kid accidentally bumped us from behind at a stoplight on Kirkman Road this past Saturday. Wife jumped out had him scared spitless before I could get my seatbelt undone. NO damage, except the young dude may have wet the seat of his ricemobile. I think he was trying to read my bumper.

[1stMerc]

Kid accidentally bumped us from behind at a stoplight on Kirkman Road this past Saturday.
I think he was trying to read my bumper.Glad you the missus and the car are okay.

Sounds like a good reason for inserts.


04 DTR
Born 03/04
Adopted 01/05
Everything but the trunk organizer

If you see it you won't forget it.

[johnfain]

Best WTF? I don't know if it is the best but it's surely ongoing and collective.

Every time I drive on I-75 or I-85 (Metro Atlanta Georgia) Traffic slows around me, tailgaters drop back, people in front in the fast lane immediately get out of my way. I even have had speeders that were flying - slow it down and cruise behind me not wanting to pass when they saw me on their horizon. I have gone past GHP and local cops with radar on me doing 80-90, and as long as I make sure they see me waving to them as I go by they have yet to pull me over. (Hope local Cops do not read this).

Does this happen to any of you in your cities?

[kartherma]

There are many great WTF's here and I dont begin to think mine will compete, but here goes!

I live in Yuma Az and there are MANY border patrol check points along the highways. You never know which one will be active but I go through many of them that it is not much of a bother. Usually they see a sedan and waive it right on through...there must be little expectation that a new model sedan is trying to smuggle illegal aliens up and down the highways in arizona.

Well this day there is alot of traffic. I gather they had stopped a van with painted over windows earlier. I say this because the line was excessively long and they were waiving nearly all people through before they could even stop for the officer and that painted window van had like 10 dudes all sitting next to it with several BorderPatrol officers hovering around.

So with this monster of a line flowing freely I am thinking that I will get the early waive like all others. As I approach, the young BP Officer pinches his face but no waive. I get closer and his head turns like a dog who is trying to understand what he is looking at. I get closer and have to stop, window rolled down looking up at him. He just stares. At the car, at me, back to the car again. After a mind twisting 30 seconds of silent staring I tell him "how ya doing?"

He doesnt even acknowledge me. He looks up and waives his buddy over. Now his buddy is walking over and he says "who are you?"

Not knowing what is up...is there some sort of look-a-like thing I have just gotten into? So I say Curt, who are you?

"You a patrolman?" he says?

"NO, I am just trying to get to Tucson, why?"

"Is that your car? What are you doing in that car?"

By this time his buddy gets there. The second one does like three laps around the car. If you could have been there, you would have seen how big this realy got to be. Traffic flowing through this checkpoint was at least 15mph and now it is at a dead stop while these dudes look like a pair of dogs who just heard a dog whistle as they stare at my car.

After his three or 4 laps around the car, the second breaks silence.
"please pull the car over here, sir"

I couldnt help but laugh. At the end, every officer at that check point (numbering at least 15) had to come over and sit in the car as all four doors were open and hood up.

As it turns out, the first one thought I had stolen an arizona Department of Public Safety cruiser and it just got better from there. I left with the numbers of two of them who flat out swore they would have one within a month who I gave both the website address to MM.net...hopefully two new members!

(For those that dont know...Arizona does not have a "highway patrol" we have "Department of Public Safety")

[drgnrdr33]

I was parked outside a small local business when the owner and his employee came out and asked if I was FBI. "No". Then they asked if I was a cop. "No" again. Then they asked if it was a new police car. "No" again. I opened her up and they would not believe it came with gauges stock (even fake ones) (sorry, that's for another thread).

[duhtroll]

I just got a nice one. Went to Best Buy to spend some gift cards yesterday. I had my 10-month old daughter with me, all but her face covered in her fluffy pink snowsuit.

I came out at dusk and saw three very large black men circling my car. I could see them from a distance reading the bumper lettering and the badges "Ma-RADDD-a. What the f:censor: is that?"

"some unmarked sh:censor: that's what that is!"

I walk up.

"Hey, what car is 'at?"

"A Marauder."

"who makes it?"

"Mercury."

"What kinda engine in there?"

"4.6 dual"

"Man I bet that f:censor:er RUN!!"

"Yep!"

"How fast?"

"14.3 in the 1/4"

"DAMMNNNNN!!"

I load the pink ewok into the baby seat, start up the MM, and hear howls of laughter. I wave and drive off.

I also was driving in downtown Waterloo once. Someone flashed a dual fisted sideways power gesture at me, probably thinking I was uh, someone else.

Still the best ones are the kids that try to beat you off the line and end up reading the bumper from behind, trying to figure out what the heck just smoked them.

-A

[ckadiddle]

Last night stopped at the CVS pharmacy, parked close to the door. As we came out and were getting into the car, I noticed an older gentleman (well, a little older than me :)) eyeballing Blue Thunder as he walked toward the doors, Kept glancing over his shoulder. When the wife hit the ignition the initial "vrooom" caused this poor man's entire body to suddenly jerk around. (Exhaust is completely stock.) I woulda had to go see my chiro if i jerked my self around the way he did.

[Bluerauder]

.... I load the pink ewok into the baby seat .....

-A
That is funny ... Pink Ewok ... I can picture it now. :rofl: :lol:

It has been a long time since I had to handle Ewoks .... pink or blue; but I remember ...... very well !!! :D

[RoyLPita]

That is funny ... Pink Ewok ... I can picture it now. :rofl: :lol:

It has been a long time since I had to handle Ewoks .... pink or blue; but I remember ...... very well !!! :D


What he said.

Keep this up, y'all.

[Mike Poore]

What he said.

Keep this up, y'all.

See, Royal: is this a 5 star thread, or what?

I'll be bringing mine back in two more weeks, and already the gate guards, and guys at work are asking when she's gonna be back on the road.

The wedding trip to Greenfield, Ohio on April 9th will be the first road trip of the season, and the start of another series of "Old-coot-in-the-country-with-the-marauder-stories.

In all this time, except for you guys, and the FBI guy at Boyd's Bears, I've yet to see another MM. :)

[Dark_Knight7096]

I was driving the other day with my girlfriend and another friend of mine in the car when we pulled up next to some punk lookin kid in a 3.2TL Type-S, he looked over, learily at first, thinking I was a LEO. Once he realized that we were just a bunch of people out for a drive he started revving his fart can and getting real cocky. When the light turned green I started out normally, and still pulled ahead of him off the line. He cought up with me and began pulling away and gave us the finger, ow that really hurt, like because i got flipped off i'm gonna stop trying. So i proceeded to put the pedal halfway down and pulled alongside of him. I backed off so as to stay even with him, and his car was struggling. It was hitting the high end of his RPM band and he was trying everything he could to get ahead but it wasn't working. He looked over with a look of fear and dispair in his eyes as he realized what was about to happen. I gave him the peace sign and finally floored the pedal, my car took off and never looked back, nothing he tried could have helped him then. Two lights later he finally caught up and got in behind me, good move i'm glad he thought that one over, and i could see him in my rear view trying to figure out what just handed him his :censor: on a silver platter.
"WTF??? M-A-R-A..." <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_209-->

[King Fubar]

I had one yesterday, I went to the DQ Grill & Chill to pick up the Xbox I won and a kid outside watched me pull around in the parking lot. I get out and walk up to the door he asks, "excuse me sir is that an Oldsmobile?". I told him that it was a Marauder and proceeded with the 5-6 minute discertation on the workings of such a fine automobile and went in. I come out he's hanging around to watch me leave and gave the all approving head nod as I passed him.