Too many owners?

[2ndMDRebel]

I don't know what to make of this...

Per Carfax report: 2003 Mercury Marauder

6/27/02 shipped to original dealer PA
8/15/02 PA, 1st owner, personal vehicle
1/21/04 10,671 miles, sold at auction, listed as fleet vehicle PA
2/4/04 dealer inventory, offered for sale PA
3/3/04 10,724 miles, sold at auction, listed as dealer vehicle (same auction as above) PA
3/10/04 10,740 miles, dealer inventory, NJ
7/6/04 11,264 miles, New owner reported, NJ
9/16/05 19,226 miles, New owner reported, NJ
9/30/05 19,978 miles, sold at auction, listed as dealer vehicle, PA
10/7/05 New owner reported, PA
11/23/05 Dealer inventory, MD

Thats alot of owners in a short amount of time. OASIS shows only three warranty repairs in history, engine overheating which was an air pocket in the system, a pinion seal leak, and left taillight housing. Carfax shows "clean" otherwise. It has just a hair over 20k miles, dealer has it listed at $22,900, KBB shows $19,600.

Any opinions? Should I run from this one?

[twolow]

'Christine' comes to mind....

[merc6]

mine had 2 before me. One was Flordia and other was texas where I got it. The KBB came up higher than the dealership sale price. I also opted for carmax 1 year extended warenty incase something happened out of factory warenty. What dealership is it?

[dwasson]

Who is selling it? New car dealer's used lot or a used car dealer?

[2ndMDRebel]

Who is selling it? New car dealer's used lot or a used car dealer?

Its for sale at a new car dealer's used car lot, Rich Morton Lincoln-Mercury. One of our sales guys' father works there and I was hoping to get a deal cut. That many owners is a red flag in my mind, this car will be for the wife and if its a lemon I'll never hear the end of it... you married guys know what I mean!

[merc6]

only issue with my car was the sender cause after like 70 miles I was almost on E and If the dealership I went to the 1st time is where he was going for service then I know why he sold it ;)

[Vortech347]

Got mine with 28k for $17,500.

I'm the 3rd owner. It was sold at a local dealer, Then traded in, then purchased pre-owned, then I think it got repo'd and was sold at an auction, then I got my paws on it from my friend that got it at auction.

Thats not a bad history at all. Some people just like to own cars for 10k and unload them.

[merc6]

have you driven the car yet? also did the dealership know what it was? My car was labled as MM on the paperwork but other stuff just said Black Grand Marquis.

[King Fubar]

In 2003 they were titled as Grand Marquis - Marauder. 2004 they were just known as Marauder

[hitchhiker]

'Christine' comes to mind....

Yes, One of my favorites!

http://k43.pbase.com/v3/79/515779/2/50583285.100_0008.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/pubertlove/hollywood_stars&page=6)

[magindat]

The dealership is trying to show 'collector' value with price higher than KBB. Use report as a bargaining chip. Get the price down.
Good Luck
RW

[RoyLPita]

If the OASIS showed just those repairs, then there is the possiblity of those former owners not liking or affording this one.

[MENINBLK]

Go see the car.
Show the CarFax history to the dealer.
Make a deal and see if he bites.

[MarauderMark]

Yes, One of my favorites!

http://k43.pbase.com/v3/79/515779/2/50583285.100_0008.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/pubertlove/hollywood_stars&page=6)
Great pic"up"

[Joe Walsh]

Its for sale at a new car dealer's used car lot, Rich Morton Lincoln-Mercury. One of our sales guys' father works there and I was hoping to get a deal cut. That many owners is a red flag in my mind, this car will be for the wife and if its a lemon I'll never hear the end of it... you married guys know what I mean!

Rich Morton in Glen Burnie/Pasadena? That's only about 5 miles from my house.
Have you been over to look at it yet?

[2ndMDRebel]

I've looked at it a couple times with the wife but haven't driven it yet. Today I am picking it up around 10 or so and taking it back for my techs to give it a good going over. If we can get the price down a bit and the techs don't find anything majorly wrong with it then we'll more than likely buy it early next week.

I'm hoping for the best...

Update...

the bad:
Front bumper appears to have been replaced/repainted, left rear door repainted w/run in paint, right front door dinged in on bottom front edge, output seal on trans leaking, oil pan seeping, both front tires worn low along inner edges (alignment), various scratches/swirls all around. cartridge for 6-disc changer missing
the good:
All stock, all bells and whistles work

Its going to take them coming way down on their asking price to get this deal done. $3300 above KBB for "excellent" condition is plain ridiculous for what the car is.

[2ndMDRebel]

Sorry to bump my own thread...

I tried negotiating with the dealership, told them what I found on the car and offered them 20k plus a short-term premiumcare contract. They said their bare-bone price would be 21.6k with no contract because "you don't need one". Needless to say I scratched them off the list.

Found another '03 in DC (45k miles) and went to look at it the other night. Just a short walkaround in the showroom and I was ready to run away. The fuel door wouldn't close, the rear seat bottom slid off, there was a hole in the driver seat leather, scratches and marks all over, plus there was an odd smell inside like there was some serious funk-masking going on. They were asking KBB of 18.6k plus a 2.5k "market value" mark-up.

How hard is it to find a somewhat decent Marauder at a reasonable price?

[Haggis]

Sorry to bump my own thread...
There was a black '04 in Frederick at the 'Easterns' car lot on MD 355 not too long ago, they were asking around $20k. I don't remember the details of the car at this time and I have not seen it lately.

[Joe Walsh]

Sorry to bump my own thread...

I tried negotiating with the dealership, told them what I found on the car and offered them 20k plus a short-term premiumcare contract. They said their bare-bone price would be 21.6k with no contract because "you don't need one". Needless to say I scratched them off the list.


How hard is it to find a somewhat decent Marauder at a reasonable price?

I'm not suprised that Rich Morton LM wouldn't work a good deal with you...

I looked at a Marauder that they had on the lot in late '02 when I was trying to buy my Marauder.
They didn't know ***** about the car and had tacked on a "ADP' (Additional Dealer Profit) due to limited availablity.
I said "BYE BYE" and drove down to Safford LM in Burtonsville, Md. where they had 7 Marauders on the lot and would deal on the price.
Rich Morton seems more interested in selling Mazdas than Lincolns & Mercurys...:(

P.S. I was over at Rich Morton's Parts Counter about 3 weeks ago trying to buy a MM rear trunk spoiler for my brother's B'day (2001 CV) and only one guy there knew what I was asking for.
He checked the computer and said that it was a discontinued part...no longer available.
I left, called Ray "The Dealer", which I SHOULD have done in the first place, and had one on my front porch in a week.

[2ndMDRebel]

I said "BYE BYE" and drove down to Safford LM in Burtonsville, Md. where they had 7 Marauders on the lot and would deal on the price.

I tracked down a '04 Marauder there and drove down during my lunch to look it over. They were very helpful and we bought the car just this evening at a fair price. The car looks nice and has no major flaws like we were finding on the other cars for the same price range. It needs a little TLC on some spots but thats to be expected. My wife was sold on it when I told her it had a sunroof and heated seats hehe. I'll be taking it in to my dealership for a thorough going over in the morning as its still under factory warranty. She might get to drive it eventually, at least until I get my car back from Dennis!

[Haggis]

I tracked down a '04 Marauder there and drove down during my lunch to look it over. They were very helpful and we bought the car just this evening at a fair price. The car looks nice and has no major flaws like we were finding on the other cars for the same price range. It needs a little TLC on some spots but thats to be expected. My wife was sold on it when I told her it had a sunroof and heated seats hehe. I'll be taking it in to my dealership for a thorough going over in the morning as its still under factory warranty. She might get to drive it eventually, at least until I get my car back from Dennis!
Congrats on the purchase, now all you need to do is go to some Marauder meets. Their is one coming up at the end of March in Lexington, KY., we're having a burboun run. You and your wife should join us and meet so of the people on the site. Their is also a January Meet at the D.C. car show on the 28th.