Who hasn't taken the plunge yet?

[71red]

Was just curious who else is on the verge of or debating purchasing an MM. What is your status? Closer/ farther?
Are you like me, waiting to find a particular color?
Or are you waiting for the price to drop?
Waiting to hear more about collectablity value?
Waiting for incentives?
Waiting for more feedback? Waiting to hear more craftmanship/quality stories? ETC...
Would love to hear that I am not alone.

:up: :up:

[jgc61sr2002]

Red - If you wait too long they will be gone. You will probably get your best deal now on a leftover 2003. The 2004's are on order. IMHO.

[TripleTransAm]

Personally, I waited for incentives and to get a personal grip on all the quality issues. I was also curious if they were going to up the power for 2004 via S/C.

No word of a S/C for 2004, so I took the plunge in late March. Now that I've owned the car a few months, I think I made the right decision *for ME*. The car cruises effortlessly, has buckets of passing power, and just about fits me and my needs like a glove.

If ever I do come to need more oomph for whatever reason, I know the options I have open to me (and some are VERY inexpensive for the improvements they bring, if I am to believe the hype). So, no need for a 2004 for me...

[Bigdogjim]

71red: Don't sit on the wall too long.
Get into the game.
Can't play on the sidelines.
Price is about as good as its going to get.
collectablity value? That will take years?
Maybe the blue '03 if any, only 1 year, and a short one, Jan-July. Have to see about red in '04.
There was talk of a transmission change in '04.
No factory s/c as of yet.
Aftermarket is red hot with s/c's.

GO FOR IT:D :) :cool: :D

[71red]

Man...are you guys sure you're not Mercury salesmen? LOL
You know, honestly, if the salespersons I have personally spoken to had any clue regarding the Maruaders, I might have already been sold. Until I found this site, I was only going by net reviews.
Haven't personally met anyone with an MM although I have seen 2 on the road. And the salesmen I met didn't know enough about the car. I was turned off that they didn't appreciate what they had in their hands, but also apprehensive because a few mentioned how they thought it was overpriced. So that doubt crept up...maybe since (they are Mercury "experts"), this car isn't really worth it.
But again after hearing everyone on this site, I feel that the MM is just a well kept secret.

[RoyLPita]

I haven't yet. I have a wholesaler checking the auctions for a used 300a for me. After my recent condo purchase, I can only afford so much so a MM will be mine when it is affordable for me.

[Mad4Macs]

71red...
I was getting ESP warranty work on my '97 Toreador Red SHO when I spied the MM on the lot. "Salesmen"? Yeah, we are. Ford won't do it, so We The Owners will push the sales. Marauders, factory stock, need minor tweaking, but there isn't a thing on the road like them.
The SHO? Well, pictures are all that remains ;)
http://homepage.mac.com/mad4macs/PhotoAlbum5.html
BUY THE MARAUDER ;)

[03SILVERSTREAK]

Just though I pass this nickel along . The Dealership in which I Aquired my 03MM stated to me and that he strongly knew this for a fact that the 04MM would be the last ones put out . He also stated that there would be no plans for a convertible one due to chasis problems with the top and no plans for a factory S.C. due to waranties issues . Just alittle food for thought...

[TAF]

Originally posted by ADELG670
Just though I pass this nickel along . The Dealership in which I Aquired my 03MM stated to me and that he strongly knew this for a fact that the 04MM would be the last ones put out . He also stated that there would be no plans for a convertible one due to chasis problems with the top and no plans for a factory S.C. due to waranties issues . Just alittle food for thought...

And I can say that your dealer was being straight with you. All true.

[Bigdogjim]

Originally posted by 71red
Man...are you guys sure you're not Mercury salesmen? LOL
You know, honestly, if the salespersons I have personally spoken to had any clue regarding the Maruaders, I might have already been sold. Until I found this site, And the salesmen I met didn't know enough about the car. .maybe since (they are Mercury "experts"), this car isn't really worth it.
But again after hearing everyone on this site, I feel that the MM is just a well kept secret.

71red: If you read all the national ads in the newspaper you will see that L&M is not putting the Marauder in thier! We at MM.net could never understand why?

Truth is we at MM.net are the Mercury experts.
Yes the car is the best keep secret in the auto marketplace.
I always felt that a very big part of the problem is the fact the Mercury has not had a preformance car to sell since the '70 Marauder.
Again do your self a favor go get one. NOW! You won't be sorry.

[cruzer]

I was informed by a member of the SVT Club that the reason we haven't seen any commercial ads on the MM is that we are a" limited edition muscle car" and fall in the category with the Mach 1, Cobra, Harley edition trucks--which have not been advertised on commercial TV--you know it makes some sense---but IMHO, Mercury missed the boat---this car has great appeal to the young , affluent family as well as the older performance oriented group--They need to wake up

[RCSignals]

cruzer
That's very true. Advertising and creating some excitement would have brought more people into Mercury showrooms at least.

[LincMercLover]

The Harley has it's own spot on the F-150 commericals...

[martyo]

red71: How far up the Valley are you? I am in mid-Westchester. Come for a ride and you won't look at another car (except maybe your own MM).

[71red]

You know, I was talking to a couple of dealerships today trying to locate the blue beast, and was discussing the incentives, you know like many of you mentioned about the marketing...Mercury is definately off. Their premise with this car was to bring life and exhuberance to their brand. But yet one of their incentives of $500 off is for seniors 55 and up. (Granted at 38, I'm not too far off that number myself...) Anyways, you would think that they would have a "gimme" incentive for the younger crowd.
ANyways, I found a couple of blues, but they were still being offered at $35K sticker less the rebates...still too rich for my blood.
Also for anyone interested, some dealerships are expanding their "loyalty" incentives beyond just having previously owned a Marquis, since I own a 99 Lincoln Continental, I qualified for an additional $500 rebate.

MartyO, I'm in Orange County, by the Woodbury Outlets. Let me know and I'll meet you somewhere.

[Zack]

At the Matteson auto mall in duh Matteson Illinois at Capital Lincoln Mercury... They have three Marauders left at a crazy price. They are reduced to start, 3500 rebate, 500 AARP rebate and 500 Owner loyalty rebate. What is the final price before tax? WOW $26,119!!! Ive seen these cars myself today. Theyve been on the lot for about 9 months now and all have between 100 & 200 miles on them. But at that price, go for it!!

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by 71red
ANyways, I found a couple of blues, but they were still being offered at $35K sticker less the rebates...still too rich for my blood.
Also for anyone interested, some dealerships are expanding their "loyalty" incentives beyond just having previously owned a Marquis, since I own a 99 Lincoln Continental, I qualified for an additional $500 rebate.



That's normally how incentives and rebates work, reducing the MSRP.
What you have to watch for are dealers who add "Dealer added value" (which is sometimes just putting air in the tires) to MSRP, then take off the incentives and rebates.

As far as I know, the "loyalty" incentive applies to any prior Ford produced vehicle, and the dealer has some discretion there

[SILVERMARAUDER]

I would offer invoice cost minus rebates off the invoice and i would get a 300B less lot rot! any dealer should jump on that maybe maybe not?

[RCSignals]

It's worth a try Silvermarauder. But most dealers are probably going to settle at a price above their cost, then apply rebates.

[71red]

RC,regarding the "loyalty", as far as the dealers I spoke to, they only would accept a Mercury or Lincoln (they would give $500 off per each vehicle) but it had to be a 98 or newer. Besides the 99 Conti, I have a 99 Taurus (they didn't accept) and a 71 Cougar (too old).

[martyo]

71red: Any interest in going to a cruise in Thornwood, NY on Saturday, August 2?

[71red]

MartyO

May have to take the kids to Sesame Place this weekend, but am definately interested otherwise. Let me know the specs and I may meet you out there. Do you anticipate a few MMs there besides yourself?

Thanks
71red

[Crazieboutamerc]

well for me I am just waiting for the dealer to work a deal with the trade on my 02 Focus wagon lease(will never lease again) and a payment with in our budget. They have had the MM since last oct. So they are going to want to move the car soon.

Tim

[Bigdogjim]

Originally posted by 71red
MartyO

May have to take the kids to Sesame Place this weekend, but am definately interested otherwise. Let me know the specs and I may meet you out there. Do you anticipate a few MMs there besides yourself?

Thanks
71red

If you are going to be there call me I live 10 minutes away. And your Blue Marauder is 20 minutes away.

[martyo]

Originally posted by 71red
MartyO

May have to take the kids to Sesame Place this weekend, but am definately interested otherwise. Let me know the specs and I may meet you out there. Do you anticipate a few MMs there besides yourself?

Thanks
71red

I am in for it as long as a can scare up another member or two....

[RCSignals]

Crazieboutamerc, hope it all works out for you

[Bruce Phelps]

Trying to decide to go for 2004 with traction control and new transmission, with all the items deleted from it or going for a 2003 300A before they stripped the B model.

[martyo]

Originally posted by Bruce Phelps
Trying to decide to go for 2004 with traction control and new transmission, with all the items deleted from it or going for a 2003 300A before they stripped the B model.

I bet you could get a pretty good deal on the '03 300A's that are sitting around.

[jgc61sr2002]

I also think that the dealers are trying to unload the 2003 models. Some dealers have 300A's that have been on their lot for more than one year. This has to be a losing propersition for them as they have to pay the bank each month.

[jaywish]

71red,


Maybe this is your car....

In the Bronz at Courtesy Linc merc. It is a dealer demo. The service managers car

300B +heated seats & 6disk
white & blue pinstripe + red painted calipers (for that all American look)

Has 7K on it.

Needs new front bumper.

Ask for Jay or Marty. Tell them Jay, who looked at it last week, sent you.

------------------------------------------------------------
Also if you do take a look at it let me know two things?

Build date & If it has an underhood light.

Take Care

I you see a really good deal on another one let me know. I've been holding off purely for monetary reasons.

Jay

[martyo]

Jay:

You know that Smith Cairns had one up in Mt. Kisco a while back and I don't think they sold it yet. It looked like a neglected orphan. White Plains L/M had one the same way. There was also a dealer in Queens (on the Boulevard) in the same spot. If one of these are still around, you may be able to get a good deal. Works the phones; that's what I did and saved $$$.

Keep us posted.

[Zack]

I posted a dealer selling Marauders for 26,119 about 2 weeks ago. Well, my dealer just wrote me a finders fee check because someone on the site jumped on the deal!! I guess the guy is from South Carolina and I think part of his name is Weaver. Well, Weaver, thank you and Im sure We'd all like to hear about your new car!

[DetGeno]

71red anyone can join AARP now go to www.aarp.com and pay $12.50 for the first year and get you $500 off Rebate on the Marauder. By the way you are welcome!!!

[jgc61sr2002]

DetGeno - Welcome to the MM site.:up:

[Logan]

DetGeno, how's that work? Just provide the dealer with your AARP member number or?