hypothetical Transmission questions.

[Michael_S]

Disclaimer 1: I'm only a wannabe Marauder owner. I can't afford to get a new car. Most of my discussion topics are strictly theory.

Disclaimer 2: I'm new to these forums. If this has been discussed to death elsewhere, just tell me to do a search and I will drop the subject until I have read more about it.

I think the Marauder is a great idea, and I'm sad to see that Mercury is discontinuing the model. I can't help but wonder why they only made it available with a 4 speed auto.

I read that putting a manual in would have required tons of extra engineering, and since Mercury didn't expect there to be many buyers who would get the manual, they dropped it. That's fine.

But I would think a five or six speed auto would make a big difference in both performance and gas mileage. The 2003 Honda Accord V6 was bumped from 200 to 240 horsepower and went from a four speed auto to a five speed automatic transmission, if I remember correctly. The change shaved something like a second off the 0-60 mph time while improving gas mileage.

So here's the questions:

1. Why doesn't Ford/Mercury offer a five speed auto on the Marauder (or even the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis and Taurus/Sable)?

2. Is there any way to put one in the Marauder, aside from paying a custom racing shop a small fortune to design and build one? So far the only transmission modifications I've seen is changing the drive ratio to a 4.10 or higher and/or chipping it.

Thanks.

[merc406]

1. Could be simple as a problem with the trans. tunnel.

2. You want more gears, go to a GearVendors overdrive unit.

[Dr Caleb]

The panther platform in general is a specific use chassis. Mostly fleet vehicles, Taxis, Police etc. These vehicles have no requirement for a manual transmission. A private buyer can't even get a Crown Vic anymore in Canada.

The other uses, Grand Marquis, Lincon Town Car are typically purchased by people who don't want a manual transmission ethier.

The Marauder was built with off the shelf parts, for the most parts. Changes in paint and interior items are minor when compared with designing a manual transmission.

so:
1) Couldn't tell you why, other than - if it doesn't already exist for the Panther platform, or won't fit in the chassis, it wouldn't be put in the Marauder.

2) I don't know if an existing trans could be shoehorned into it. Perhaps a Mustang or truck tranny could be modified to fit - I'll leave that for the experts.

[Mark McQuaide]

Well the Lincoln Aviator has the Marauder Motor and the 5 speed auto. This is the tranny that's in my wife's Mountaineer, and I can tell you it's a sweet unit. Close ratios and shifts that are extremely smooth.

It's just another example of all the development money going to trucks, not cars. Imagine if all the money that was spent on the Explorer or F150 went to a sports sedan - it would be the best one in the world.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by Michael_S
1. Why doesn't Ford/Mercury offer a five speed auto on the Marauder (or even the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis and Taurus/Sable


I'll take a stab at this one...

Anytime a manufacturer offers a new drivetrain combo, there's the possibility that they will need to undergo certification procedures with the EPA for emissions and consumption reasons, as well as possible gov't crash testing, etc. Perhaps the fact that no other Panther has this powertrain combo makes it prohibitive to invest this kind of engineering money?

Looking to the root of the issue, why would one prefer a 5-speed automatic over a 4-speed? The Honda example you quoted seems to indicate that the reason would be for increased efficiency, resulting in improvements in performance and fuel consumption. If you analyze what's been done to the '04 Marauder, one of the changes is a revised transmission with improvements in efficiency. So there you have it... the benefits we were looking for, neatly packaged in a box that's tried and true (the 4-speed automatic Panther drivetrain), crappy C-clips notwithstanding of course.

My own personal opinion leads me to believe that packaging more complexity (such as extra gear ratios) into the same space (the transmission tunnel of the Panther platform) would result in smaller and weaker components. For this reason, I'd give the nod to the traditional 4-speed unit.

[Michael_S]

Thank you for all of the quick responses. I appreciate it.

I love the idea of a large, spacious, American made (not that I have anything against foreign cars, carmakers, or auto workers), comfortable, safe, fast vehicle. The Mercury Marauder fits all that to a 'T'. Too bad it doesn't fit my budget. :D

I figured a five speed automatic transmission would be a great way to jack the performance while still maintaining reasonable gas mileage.

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by Mark McQuaide


It's just another example of all the development money going to trucks, not cars. Imagine if all the money that was spent on the Explorer or F150 went to a sports sedan - it would be the best one in the world.
That's much of it in a nut shell.
Advertising $ too

[Michael_S]

Originally posted by RCSignals
That's much of it in a nut shell.
Advertising $ too

For better or for worse, people are buying the big SUVs in big numbers. I don't blame Ford for following the money there. If it wasn't for the F-series trucks and the Explorer SUV, Ford might not be around to make the Marauder.

It's amazing, really. If you aren't taking your SUV or truck off road - and most people aren't, and if you aren't hauling big items with your truck often - and most people don't, then a car is absolutely the smarter buy. It's cheaper to insure, it gets better gas mileage, it handles better, and it can be much faster.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against SUVs and don't think people should be forced not to buy them. I'd just much rather have a Mercury Marauder and rent a truck when I need it than drive an F-150 or Explorer every day.

As it is, I'm stuck with the Impala I bought in 2001. It's spacious, comfortable, reliable, very safe, and gets good gas mileage. Unfortunately, on a driver excitement scale of 1-5, it ranks about -3.

[jgc61sr2002]

Michael_S - Welcome to the MM site.:D

[Michael_S]

Originally posted by jgc61sr2002
Michael_S - Welcome to the MM site.:D

Thank you! So far, it's very nice to be here.

I've been a member of the RX8 forum for a while. I've seen the car in person, and it's gorgeous. Unfortunately, while the rotary is different that doesn't necessarily mean it is better.

Anyway, I decided to join this forum because
a.) I like the Marauder and wish there were more cars like it.
and
b.) Unlike the Rx8 forum, there doesn't seem to be too many people here that just love to sling insults around. Over there, for every two intelligent discussions there is at least one flame war. It gets old fast.

[Dr Caleb]

Welcome Michael_S,

Unlike most forums, MM.net is a great place for discussion, mostly because the moderators are very strict in their belief that this place should remain civil :)

And don't worry about LML, he only threatens to push the "Banned" button. :)

[cyclone03]

The Aviator has a 5 speed Auto?
If thats the case then this change HAS to be Dennis' next mod for the list!
If that 5 spd is anything ,ratio wise,like the one in my wifes Sport Track nobody will need 4:10's the rpm drops between the first 4 gears seems to be only about 1500rpm,that trans would rock behind the 4.6DOHC!

Jerry,from Ford Chip, if your out there WILL THIS THING HOLD UP TO 400 FLYWHEEL HP????

I'll forget about a manual Marauder forever if this thing will work!

[Smokie]

Michael S Welcome to our forum ! I think you will find that most of our guys and gals are great people that love the MM. in particular and quality American cars in general and like to exchange ideas and experiences. I went to an SS forum and posted in an area that had a Marauder thread, but I quickly found out that the only opinions wanted were to put down the car and exchange wild unfounded and inaccurate information about the MM. however among the rabble I found some good solid SS owners that can love their car without feeling the need to trash ours, we have several SS owners in our forum that are fine gentlemen. Again welcome.

[the fat bastid]

so....i guess the only question now is who gonna try to jam the aviators 5-speed in the mm first?

[bob35222]

Hi everybody, I'm new here also and soon to be a MArauder owner. Relevant to points raised in the previous posts:

1. SUVs and Trucks-I'm going to keep my basic '93 Nissan pickup to drive to work and all the trips to Home depot, Loew's 84 Lumber, garden places and such. Maybe it will make runs to some of the vendors on the site to pick up parts. Since I can afford to keep it, the "utility" aspect of transportation needs is covered.

2. In addition to taking me back to my youth ('57 Plymouth with '60 Chrysler Hemi) I intend to use the Marauder as a true touring and road car. Long drives to visit the daughter and grandkid in CA and show my wife around this beautiful country that is foreign to her (she's excited about the Marauder and her boy back in Thailand is crazy about it). This is going somewhere; what about highway engine rpm with the 4:10 rear end? I guess I'll get into a few of those stoplight drag races but I'm more interested in long distance trips. Thanks for any input. Bob