Purchase suggestions...what to look for

[CaifanSC]

Hello all, i'm contemplating the marauder as a near future purchase. However, i do have a few questions...i tried looking for a buyers guide or suggestions before buying but my quick browse didnt yield any. So if there is...please direct me towards it, if not...then below are my q's.

1- i checked the PDF for the manual, and it does say PREMIUM for the octane level...but is anybody running regular or at least super? Can this be done by changing the tune? I thought premium was really necessary only for forced induction applications. Just wondering...i have no problem running premium...but with gas prices today that is a factor to consider. I currently run premium on my supercharged tbirds (and I own 4!! :mad:)...so im used to growling in the gas pump already.

2- i've seen that one marauder-specific thing to look for is the paint. I've read taht its mostly on black cars and only the early 300A, some say in all...is there any consensus? Apparently is just the clearcoat peeling (problem with most fords i'd say)...or is it actual cracking in the paint? or fading?

3- i kinda read something about an axle problem...which cars were affected by this?

4- any other specifics to look for? As far as I know the 4.6 is a pretty reliable engine. Much more so than the 3.8L supercharged engines i'm used to...this is actually a reason i'm buying a new car. Transmission-wise the 4r70w/4r75w only needs basic care ..but its still pretty reliable no?

5- any high-milage problems? The marauders i've seen are anywhere from 50-100k already so most likely if I get one it will be around the same milage.

FYI the car would be a daily driver and for longer trips of 2-4 hrs each way. My other consideration at the moment is just a Stang GT convertible. Thanks for any help!

[Eric-Blk2004]

Make sure the tires are 235/50/18 in the front and 245/55/18 in the rear or else you upset and post things on the forum and people get upset and the world becomes upset.

[arejayesss]

Make sure the tires are 235/50/18 in the front and 245/55/18 in the rear and be respectful and courteous and helpful to the people giving you FREE advice or else you upset and post things on the forum and people get upset and the world becomes upset.

There, I fixed it for you

[Eric-Blk2004]

I was going to donate to the site for all the happy hamspters to keep going.

But the superiority complex seems to be doing great!

[Zack]

My advice is to buy BLUE MARAUDER

[Eric-Blk2004]

I wanted one so rare to find these days

[J D]

Hello all, i'm contemplating the marauder as a near future purchase. However, i do have a few questions...i tried looking for a buyers guide or suggestions before buying but my quick browse didn't yield any. So if there is...please direct me towards it, if not...then below are my q's.

1- i checked the PDF for the manual, and it does say PREMIUM for the octane level...but is anybody running regular or at least super? Can this be done by changing the tune? I thought premium was really necessary only for forced induction applications. Just wondering...i have no problem running premium...but with gas prices today that is a factor to consider. I currently run premium on my supercharged tbirds (and I own 4!! :mad:)...so im used to growling in the gas pump already.

2- I've seen that one marauder-specific thing to look for is the paint. I've read that its mostly on black cars and only the early 300A, some say in all...is there any consensus? Apparently is just the clear coat peeling (problem with most fords i'd say)...or is it actual cracking in the paint? or fading?

3- i kinda read something about an axle problem...which cars were affected by this?

4- any other specifics to look for? As far as I know the 4.6 is a pretty reliable engine. Much more so than the 3.8L supercharged engines i'm used to...this is actually a reason i'm buying a new car. Transmission-wise the 4r70w/4r75w only needs basic care ..but its still pretty reliable no?

5- any high-mileage problems? The marauders I've seen are anywhere from 50-100k already so most likely if I get one it will be around the same mileage.

FYI the car would be a daily driver and for longer trips of 2-4 hrs each way. My other consideration at the moment is just a Stang GT convertible. Thanks for any help!

1) definitely use premium, no if's and's or but's

2)haven't heard much on this but my paints pristine.

3) hear of it, but no problems so far, other than possibly changing them out for 4.10 gears

4)Indeed

5) ask RayLPita for a Oasis report to check for bad maintenace and carfax stuff.



Make sure the tires are 235/50/18 in the front and 245/55/18 in the rear or else you upset and post things on the forum and people get upset and the world becomes upset.

hey now, that was a specific thread with weird out come, though yes, definitely make sure you have the right tire size on the fronts and rears

[Dragcity]

CaifanSC,

Back to your original questions...
1) I have always used 93, Manual says it requires "91 or higher". Yes, they can be de-tuned even more than from the factory...
2) The earlier 2003 Blacks had Thin Color and poor clear. Some folks got dealers to pony up for a re-paint.
3) 2003 model year was suspect for the soft rear axles. There is a lot of info on the site about it.
4) Many 2003 had a driver's side tick in the head. Many were replaced by the dealer. Trannies are pretty good, 2004 had some revisions. Stay out of O.D. when driving hard.
5) Lots of folks have a ton of miles on their Marauders, some of them S/Ced. Good engine if you take care of things and don't put the wrong fuel and oil in it.

As I'm sure you know, the more you fiddle, the more careful you have to be.

[magindat]

Check and double check the CV joints. This car eats them up.

[Breadfan]

Make sure the tires are 235/50/18 in the front and 245/55/18 in the rear or else you upset and post things on the forum and people get upset and the world becomes upset.

Actually you can run several other tire sizes without upsetting the TC.

[Dragcity]

Check and double check the CV joints. This car eats them up.


April 1st was yesterday.........

[Breadfan]

April 1st was yesterday.........

He is serious, mine were so bad once htey lost their grease they completely disentigrated, you couldn't even tell they had ever been there.

[arejayesss]

Yesterday, he would have said "Check the front CV joints"

[Dragcity]

Ya'know,

Glad to see everyone in such a good mood around here lately.

[Breadfan]

I thought Rich or someone was always getting civics stuck in them???

[magindat]

I thought Rich or someone was always getting civics stuck in them???

I said this car 'eats them up'!!! :laugh:

[magindat]

Ya'know,

Glad to see everyone in such a good mood around here lately.

Whaaaaat?! We're just mad you ruined our fun with the noob!!! :shake:

[Breadfan]

Maybe we need a repository of "what to look for's" to make a sticky.

I can start...

#1. Black paint - if the Marauder doesn't have black paint it may not be a real Marauder. Also, it will be slower.

:lol:

OK maybe we're not starting on the best foot but if we actually get some good responses maybe a place to store info for prospective MM buyers and new owners isn't a bad idea.

[Eric-Blk2004]

I second that

[Dragcity]

You second What???

You don't have enough post to get seconds.......

[CaifanSC]

Thanks for the good info guys....so the CV joint problem is something to look for?

I'm a big ford guy...I have 5 tbirds, 4 of them 3.8L supercharged...i know the value of a good forum and I see this one is full of good people and good info. I've loved the marauder since it came out..in fact, i know somewhere around here I have a post card and a CD of when it was being advertised new.

Also, just by browsing I see there's a good number of owners here in MD...which im glad about too. We'll see how things develop with the purchase.

[Breadfan]

Well for the record Marauders do not have CV joints. :)

On that note, there IS a TSB for early production models having soft axles, I don't recall the TSB # offhand but it only affected early build 2003 cars.

So, no CV's but atleast that had to do with axles...

[CaifanSC]

duh!..thats what I meant...u guys got me! haha...im hella busy at work to so it was a brain fart!

[vkirkend]

I was going to donate to the site for all the happy hamspters to keep going.

But the superiority complex seems to be doing great!

You can always start your own site, then you can be the superior one......

[gohogs]

I'm not trying to be offensive, but if you can't afford premium gas, you can't afford the car. This car wakes up with a tune....and 93 octane. Why would you want to drive anything less? I know the price of gasoline hurts, but on a percentage basis, premium hasn't gone up as much, and the smile factor is worth it!

[CaifanSC]

Just wondering...i have no problem running premium... I currently run premium on my supercharged tbirds (and I own 4!! :mad:)...so im used to growling in the gas pump already.


None taken my friend...its not that I cant afford it...i was just curious since i thought it was only really "necessary" in forced induction apps. I've actually done 3 fill ups of premium on three different cars in one week. Not fun on the wallet...but as you said...good smile factor.

[magindat]

duh!..thats what I meant...u guys got me! haha...im hella busy at work to so it was a brain fart!

Thanx for letting me have my fun. You are initiated. :D

Now go get a Marauder and mod the ***** out of it!!! :burnout:

[magindat]

None taken my friend...its not that I cant afford it...i was just curious since i thought it was only really "necessary" in forced induction apps. I've actually done 3 fill ups of premium on three different cars in one week. Not fun on the wallet...but as you said...good smile factor.

It's the 9.8-1 compression ratio that likes the higher octane.

[CaifanSC]

yeah, its definatelly between the marauder and a convertible stang....the only thing is that the marauder MUST have a sunroof...and from browsing around the sunroof is not that easy to find. But i've got some time to look.

[Paul]

Check and double check the CV joints. This car eats them up.



^^^ one of his favorites :rolleyes:

[RocsMerc]

the only thing is that the marauder MUST have a sunroof...and from browsing around the sunroof is not that easy to find. But i've got some time to look.
That's because the sun roof option was only available in 2004 and most Marauders are 2003's by almost a 2 to 1 ratio. Also, keep in mind the 04 version has a higher stall torque converter than the 03's.

[dohc324ci]

I was going to donate to the site for all the happy hamspters to keep going.

But the superiority complex seems to be doing great!

Quite it already! You sound so bitter. Let it go.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

higher stall in 04 is a myth. Do a search and read about it.

I didn't even realize you could get a sunroof in this car. That should tell you how likely you are to find one! Good luck w/ the search.