Motorhead350
06-02-2011, 03:25 PM
As some of you know a book is going to be published on all the fun I had with my Marauder. From late night racing to BMW techs dropping this clipboards to see the engine compartment.
Here's in intro/day one with the car.
If you think it needs something more let me know. Yes I will credit you for editing!
I have had this car sense I was 16. I originally wanted a 2002 Pontiac 35 anniversary Trans Am, yellow with black wheels. My dad said no because it was too small and was fiberglass. I knew he really thought it was too fast. I really liked big cars, so I asked if a 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS was alright. He said no to that too because he wanted me to have a car with a warranty. My daily driver at the time was a 1990 Chevrolet K5 Blazer and it was in the shop every other week. I don’t think my dad cared about buying me a brand new car because he knew I wasn’t doing drugs, drinking or landing myself in jail. So if getting his son a new car to keep him straight was the ticket so be it.
Finally I asked if a Mercury Marauder was alright. I had seen this car as a concept years back. In 2002 it came out. I loved it, huge, black only (at the time) American and I loved its looks, plus it was rare. My dad was friends with a man that owned a few car dealers. He owned BMW, Saab and Lincoln/Mercury dealers. I knew asking for a Mercury would be a little easier to pull off. I went to the dealer took a look at the car, took a brochure and went home. I showed it to my dad and he actually looked relieved I chose a car like that, I doubt he knew what my plans for it were or the fact that I knew performance parts would be out.
I returned to the dealer with my dad and went for a test drive, just me and the salesman. He didn’t bother to talk to me because he knew I loved it and he didn’t have to negotiate on the price with me, it wasn’t me with the money. I gave it a little gas and was like “Wow! This is fast.” At the time it was fast to me. The best I got it to run stock was 15.1, which I was told is impressive for something weighing in at 4,400 pounds with me in it.
My dad saw the car as soon as we got back from the test drive and we began our final test. I brought a Marshall Cabinet over in my truck to see if it would fit in the Marauder. The trunk was big, but not big enough for that amp. The backseat didn’t hold it either, but I discovered you could remove the rear pad in the rear seat and get it to fit. We left and I think he went to discuss it with my mom and workout a price with the dealer. My dad always bought at the end of the month to get the best deals, he hates games with people and to negotiate, but waiting it out until the end of the month is something he’s always done.
The day came to pick up the car and on the drive over he said to me:
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes why?”
“You don’t want an Escalate or something?”
“I already have a truck. A 1969 Road Runner would be cool though.”
“Well you know the answer to that.”
“Yes it’s what I want. Thanks for asking though.”
We continued onto the dealer on 1111 West Diversey in Chicago, IL on September 28th 2002. Soon as we got there it was ready in the dealer garage, looking great. Almost like how a bride waits for her man, ready to spend the rest of her life with you, looking beautiful and ready to go.
“You know this isn’t the car you test drove. This one has less miles. The interior is a different color too. The one you test drove had a lighter interior color.” Said the sales man named Micky.
I looked in and couldn’t tell the difference at the time. I didn’t care. It had 6 miles on it, a full tank of gas and a CD player waiting for Chuck Berry. I guess they did the paperwork earlier that week because soon as I sat in it they said I was good to go. When I got out of the garage I called my drummer Jeff.
“Hey Jeff! I just got a new car. Do you wanna see it?”
“Not really, I’m with Vanessa and we are at a festival.”
“Alright later man.”
I didn’t really have a lot of friends, so I spend the day cruising in Chicago. I didn’t care that I was alone, in fact I grew to like it. No one to complain the heat was too high, no one to tell me to turn down the radio when it was really the CD player and above all no one to tell me to slow down.
Here's in intro/day one with the car.
If you think it needs something more let me know. Yes I will credit you for editing!
I have had this car sense I was 16. I originally wanted a 2002 Pontiac 35 anniversary Trans Am, yellow with black wheels. My dad said no because it was too small and was fiberglass. I knew he really thought it was too fast. I really liked big cars, so I asked if a 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS was alright. He said no to that too because he wanted me to have a car with a warranty. My daily driver at the time was a 1990 Chevrolet K5 Blazer and it was in the shop every other week. I don’t think my dad cared about buying me a brand new car because he knew I wasn’t doing drugs, drinking or landing myself in jail. So if getting his son a new car to keep him straight was the ticket so be it.
Finally I asked if a Mercury Marauder was alright. I had seen this car as a concept years back. In 2002 it came out. I loved it, huge, black only (at the time) American and I loved its looks, plus it was rare. My dad was friends with a man that owned a few car dealers. He owned BMW, Saab and Lincoln/Mercury dealers. I knew asking for a Mercury would be a little easier to pull off. I went to the dealer took a look at the car, took a brochure and went home. I showed it to my dad and he actually looked relieved I chose a car like that, I doubt he knew what my plans for it were or the fact that I knew performance parts would be out.
I returned to the dealer with my dad and went for a test drive, just me and the salesman. He didn’t bother to talk to me because he knew I loved it and he didn’t have to negotiate on the price with me, it wasn’t me with the money. I gave it a little gas and was like “Wow! This is fast.” At the time it was fast to me. The best I got it to run stock was 15.1, which I was told is impressive for something weighing in at 4,400 pounds with me in it.
My dad saw the car as soon as we got back from the test drive and we began our final test. I brought a Marshall Cabinet over in my truck to see if it would fit in the Marauder. The trunk was big, but not big enough for that amp. The backseat didn’t hold it either, but I discovered you could remove the rear pad in the rear seat and get it to fit. We left and I think he went to discuss it with my mom and workout a price with the dealer. My dad always bought at the end of the month to get the best deals, he hates games with people and to negotiate, but waiting it out until the end of the month is something he’s always done.
The day came to pick up the car and on the drive over he said to me:
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes why?”
“You don’t want an Escalate or something?”
“I already have a truck. A 1969 Road Runner would be cool though.”
“Well you know the answer to that.”
“Yes it’s what I want. Thanks for asking though.”
We continued onto the dealer on 1111 West Diversey in Chicago, IL on September 28th 2002. Soon as we got there it was ready in the dealer garage, looking great. Almost like how a bride waits for her man, ready to spend the rest of her life with you, looking beautiful and ready to go.
“You know this isn’t the car you test drove. This one has less miles. The interior is a different color too. The one you test drove had a lighter interior color.” Said the sales man named Micky.
I looked in and couldn’t tell the difference at the time. I didn’t care. It had 6 miles on it, a full tank of gas and a CD player waiting for Chuck Berry. I guess they did the paperwork earlier that week because soon as I sat in it they said I was good to go. When I got out of the garage I called my drummer Jeff.
“Hey Jeff! I just got a new car. Do you wanna see it?”
“Not really, I’m with Vanessa and we are at a festival.”
“Alright later man.”
I didn’t really have a lot of friends, so I spend the day cruising in Chicago. I didn’t care that I was alone, in fact I grew to like it. No one to complain the heat was too high, no one to tell me to turn down the radio when it was really the CD player and above all no one to tell me to slow down.