Dealer has A and B in stock, which would you buy?

[jason]

So i'm about to buy a black mercury marauder, and I have two in stock choices at the dealer. There have been a few posts on here talking about the difference of A and B, like B having traction control and no auto-gas pump door, but aside from these differences (which aren't labeled on the sticker so far as I can tell), which one is actually the preferred model?

Here are links to the stickers:

300a:

http://flm.dealerconnection.com/pages/present/flm/notlocalized/searchinventory/windowsticker.asp?orgid=4876&vin=2MEHM75V53X638480&year=2003&model=MARAUDER

300B:

http://flm.dealerconnection.com/pages/present/flm/notlocalized/searchinventory/windowsticker.asp?orgid=4876&vin=2MEHM75V03X663853&year=2003&model=MARAUDER

Both have about 100 miles on them, and i'm going to probably be able to work the dealer down pretty low in price (27/28k), so I guess my question is, if you had the choice, which version of the car would you want and why?

-Jason

[RF Overlord]

Jason:

Welcome to the board... :)

If it's a coin-toss for you, then decide if you want a separate clock, automatic parking-brake release, remote fuel door release, and a full-size spare. If so, get the 300A. If traction control is more important, get the 300B. Other than that, they're identical in every important way (handling, performance, braking, etc).

Remember, the traction control is over and above the standard Trac-Lok axle, which both flavors get, so unless you live in a northern state that gets winter-type weather, it's not as critical as if the choice was traction control OR Trac-Lok...

IMHO

[tbore007]

i favor the options of an A myself...

[Agent M79]

What do you guys think about this:

"A" if you plan to treat it as a collectable.
"B" if you plan to use it.

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by Agent M79

"A" if you plan to treat it as a collectable.
"B" if you plan to use it.

Mr. Secret Agent Man:

I don't get it...why is an A less suitable for use than a B? :confused:

[GarageMahal]

I think the thought is that an A is more collectable.

jta

[prchrman]

fuel door, big spare go A dude...be part of the A team...:flamer:

[Merc-O-matic]

Buy the one you can get the best DEAL on!!!! I bought a "B"
because it was BRAND NEW.....all the A's I looked at were
"beater's" meaning they had been sitting on the lot anywhere
from 12-10 months, even the stickers were shredded from
the windows being used to much. They only thing that
disappoints me on the "B" is the lack of tint on the upper
windshield.....which can be switched to an A windshield if it
ever needs replacement.
GOOD LUCK.....Gotta Love it!

[Bigdogjim]

Jason: If you look on the sticker under key Marauder features you will see 300A on one 300B on the other.
It really is a coin toss.

Good luck

[duhtroll]

What Merc said - the "A" has been sitting there longer. And TC is worth far more than a fuel door and full spare IMO.

Go with the B.

Thanks,
-A

[MERCMAN]

now,, to the owners, would you trade your "a" for a ""b" or vice versa? Now There is the real question!!

[GodOSpeed]

IMO it all depends on what you are going to do with your car. In case you havent heard Marauders are going to be discontinued soon and in a collectors eyes the little things mean alot.

[Jeff]

300A !

[RCSignals]

Make sure which 300B it is. Early ones are not decontented, except for the different spare.

Other than that, buy which ever one you like best and they are best willing to deal on

[Geo]

collectibility? How about the 300A/300B transition cars marked either way. I saw one in Canada with the traction control AND the seperate clock.

[RCSignals]

The 300A in Canada are not the same as 300A in the US. 300A only indicates "job1" and for Canada, job1 coincided with the US "job2". So in effect US 300Bs are Canada 300As

[TAF]

Originally posted by Geo
collectibility? How about the 300A/300B transition cars marked either way. I saw one in Canada with the traction control AND the seperate clock.

^^^You mean...Marty's......you bastage Marty!

[Dr Caleb]

Mine has the Seperate Clock, Remote fuel door, TC, under hood light, Pockets, full size spare (made the dealer throw one in), etc.

They are like pre-decontented U.S. 300B's, with all the 300A features. Plus my speedo is calibrated to 240. Bwahhahahahaha!

We call them 300eh's.
:lol:

[TripleTransAm]

So, with all the weight-increasing fluff deleted from the car, wouldn't that make the 300Bs quicker? ;)

(I'm sure Traction Control doesn't weight THAT much... :D )

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by TripleTransAm
(I'm sure Traction Control doesn't weight THAT much...

Yeah, it does...I heard TC was actually a really fat hamster that runs from side-to-side, depending on which wheel needs traction...

:lol:

[Dave Compson]

I live in the desert, and i dont feel like traction control was a (had to have item). When i heard about all the little things they removed from the 'b' model, i was dissapointed. They should be improving on the car, not taking stuff out of it to save money. I dont plan to just have this car sit in the garage and collect dust. I plan to drive it!

If you can get a 300a for a better deal, go for it.

I like the 300b's but i am happier with my 'a'.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by RF Overlord
Yeah, it does...I heard TC was actually a really fat hamster that runs from side-to-side, depending on which wheel needs traction...


Well, that explains the squeaky seat problem... what the dickens is going on back there on Fourth Horseman's car that's making all that clunking racket?? ;)

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by TripleTransAm
what the dickens is going on back there on Fourth Horseman's car that's making all that clunking racket?? ;)

List of things in Fourth's trunk making clunking sounds:

1. Mother-in-law.
2. Load of illegal immigrants.
3. Leftover Olympic snow-boarders.
4. Traction Control hamster imbalance.
5. Coyote.
6. Roadrunner (meep-meep)
7. Moose and Squirrel
8. Saddam Hussein.
9. Sarge's side-drum.

[Agent M79]

RF,

Not ever having the necessary fiduciary resources, I could not tell you what a car collector would look for. I was thinking that since there will only be 2003 and 2004 MMs, that means there are even fewer '03 300A's and that would make it more valuable to a collector.

Me, I drive what I buy so I would likely fall into the best buy category which is a whole 'nother debate.

[Marauderman]

Who knows--the red 2004 could be a sleeper "C' model with a few more other things missing--

[JohnnyB]

Take the one you can get for the lowest price

[03SILVERSTREAK]

Johnny B is right . Take the one you can get for the lowest price
But also take the one that you feel you will enjoy the most . :) :) :)

[bugsys03]

I believe there will be a lot more A's than B's, but i wouldnt trade my A for a B

[jgc61sr2002]

You will probably get a better deal on the 300A since the newest is over 8 months old.

[FLA RAUD FAN]

I had the same choice back at the end of April when I bought my B model. I really liked the A goodies better but the B was still in the plastic with 12 miles on her. It basically came down to the paint. The B car had much fresher, less oxidized paint, which in a black car was important to me. I wanted the ability to properly maintain the black beauty from the start. I too was dissapointed at the removal of some worth while features on the A cars. Some of the lucky ones that got pre-decontented B's got the best of both......Lucky bastiges....
Either way the car is a winner!!!!!!
JP

[TripleTransAm]

Sounds like we went through the same thought process when buying our cars...

[martyo]

Originally posted by TAF
^^^You mean...Marty's......you bastage Marty!


:D

[RCSignals]

Well there is sMartyo's, mine, and at least one other here

[Bigdogjim]

Jason: If you siffted through all of this your NUTS! j/k Just go buy one and don't worry about As & Bs. You gotta watch the Ps & Qs.

:lol: :lol:

Get one before they are all goneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by RF Overlord
Yeah, it does...I heard TC was actually a really fat hamster that runs from side-to-side, depending on which wheel needs traction...


I think Mercury needs to watch this issue closely, since Honda just got busted over a similar issue. :cry:


http://cnn.heavyplasma.com/www/cnn/2003/NEWS/08/04/world/319678index.html

[Dr Caleb]

Originally posted by TripleTransAm
I think Mercury needs to watch this issue closely, since Honda just got busted over a similar issue. :cry:


http://cnn.heavyplasma.com/www/cnn/2003/NEWS/08/04/world/319678index.html
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[jgc61sr2002]

Originally posted by ColePerformance
I would buy the one with the traction control. Its something you can't add later.

Cole Cole - I concur.

[RF Overlord]

That IS a good point...it would be much easier to add the automatic releases and door openers and whatnot, than to add the TC...never thought of it like that...

[DetGeno]

Just got my 300B and paid premium for it and could of gotten a 300A for $4500 less. It really depends on where you live and how is your driving style. Don't really matter if you've gotten a full size spare because both front and back wheels are different. 300B have both limited-slip and traction Control. The limited slip is that it will transfer power to the other wheel if it detects one wheel spinning but in rain or snow both will spin so it doesn't really matter. Traction control kicks in to slow down the wheels if both are spinning.

[jgc61sr2002]

DetGeno - Congrats enjoy your new ride.:D

[BUCKWHEAT]

IMHO, don't buy the B. Traction Control is the deal breaker. I had it on my '99 Cobra and don't have it on the MM A. Traction Control was always coming on when I didn't want it and it never came on when it was important. The default was the "on" position on the swith. Drove me nuts turning it off all the time. Enjoy.

[Rapsco34]

Hello RC, I saw your post concerning 300 MMs. You mentioned the early ones not being decontented. Would you explain the term "decontented". Thanks

[Merc-O-matic]

Traction control or No traction control......when I want to
lay some rubber, I just turn it off!
Gotta Love It!

[DetGeno]

BUCKWHEAT I would agree with you if I was living in Texas too, but unfortunately I live here in Metro Detroit and we have winter 7 months out of the year and having that traction control on all the time it's really not a bad idea. Again I would have to say it really depends on where you live and how you drive it!

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by DetGeno
Again I would have to say it really depends on where you live and how you drive it!


Snow is definitely one thing, but I find the Marauder can easily blow away the rear tires on rainy days, with the TC off. So I definitely would have to place myself among the group of people who prefer to have TC on by default, just as an extra a$$-saving measure. In the two dozen or so runs I put in at the track last month, I never once forgot to turn it off before a run.

Edit: from what I remember from my time in Dallas in the mid 90s, Texas gets its king-sized share of rain now and again, too. ;)

[Logan]

Yeah, but 15 minutes later it's gone for another month. :)