Marauder Dead after 2005?

[Murader03]

The below was posted on the IMMC Board today. Fact or Fiction? Your guess.



Posted: 10 December 2002 at 10:35
Subject: 2005 Panther Program Content Update
) )
) ) Heads up, LMPD has made the following business decisions:
) )
) ) * Marauder program is cancelled for 2005 MY. The Marauder
) ) will run its cycle through the 2004 MY (no plan to
) ) reinstate feature in 2006).
)
) )
) ) Sincerely,
) ) (same Ford guy)
) ) LMPD Project Management - 2005 EN/FN


:mad:

[Macon Marauder]

If true:

On the one hand - bad news. Speaks ill of Ford's/Mercury's committment to performance.

On the other hand - good news. Our cars will be that much rarer!

[SergntMac]

LM's waiting that long, eh? Oh well, like ya say Macon, won't hurt us much to own a one or two year run if we keep 'em nice.

[TAF]

Fine with me...I LOVE mine (especially with the help of Dennis Reinhart).
I plan to drive the wheels off mine. Guess by '07 or '08 there will be other offerings for performance (American performance!) for me to choose from.

[Racerx88]

If they don't start selling all these 2003's that are already on dealer's lots, I wouldn't be surprised if they even cancel it for 2004 MY. IMO.

[Ray Snyder]

I'm with you guy's. It just makes our hold value better, look at the Impala's.

[Logan]

I will attempt to get a confirmation from Mercury...

[Directedby]

If this is true, the MM price the last year might go down.

When I went to the LM dealership recently they tried to sell me a Lincoln Blackwood. Because it was discontinued, they knocked off $18,000 from the sticker. This $52,000 car was reduced to $34,000 and boy did they want to get rid of them.

[Beadhead]

If they continue to allocate only 500 or so per year to dealers in The Great White North, it looks like the MM will be a pretty rare beast in its country of origin, no matter what how long production lasts. If production ceases in '05, it may be even rarer up here! Not too concerned about engine, since its pretty much a shared item, but I wonder what a model cancellation would mean for the future availability of any unique parts?

[marauder1]

They may be worth more but, aftermarket companys will stop making performance add ons for them.:mad:

[LincMercLover]

I think the after market will still be there for them for a LONG time. Look at the Impala's. And even if they do discontinue, it'll just make for some mods to whatever vehicle has the 4.6L aftermarket parts. No biggie...

[JohnnyB]

If Ford discontinues it because it's flop, then Ford is to blame and I'll give you my reasons:

1 - No advertisement, nothing... no TV commercials, nothing in the papers...
2 - Dealers know nothing about the car and deny the availability of options and different colors in the future
3 - Stupid "market adjustment" to the sticker price
4 - Should have offered a supercharged engine option
5 - I think the general public is down on FoMoCo products


If it is discontinued, the automotive press will have a field day and slam and bash Mercury. The bottom line is that Ford will have failed in the performance car dep't..............

[Larry Vogel]

Your right John and it isn't the first time time Marauder's been done that way (69-70). Also like the 69-70 round, the economy took a dump.

[JohnnyB]

I was a youngster during 69-70. All I remember was Walter Cronkite reporting the news about the war in Vietnam......

[JamesHecker]

I love my Marauder. Wether it is continued or not, it is still a great car.

Now, if they had put a little more effort into making it a true performance car and not just a poser, and if they had thrown an advertising campaign behind it, it probably be a lot more successfull.

It is little more than a dressed and tuned CV Sport. But hell, a CV Sport is a great car!

I echo the sentiments here that owning a car that was only offered for two years would not hurt my feelings!

[LincMercLover]

Once again, it is merely a car to build upon, calling back to the days of spinning wrenches in the garage to eek out ever single horse available in that motor. Only difference today is, a lot of that's done with pushing buttons rather than spinning wrenches...

[mensrea]

Remember fellas... we have a cobra motor and ford tranny... there is no limit to what you can do to this car.

[TAF]

And mensrea...your purchase looks better and better every day. If they DC the Marauder, then you have a REALLY rare piece of machinery.

Now, I'm even more jealous. Congrats.

[RCSignals]

I'd be surprised if it's true. But the Marauder has had some pretty scathing reviews. some of which i'm sure the reviewer never even drove the car.
I read Consumer Reports review of 2003 cars. They did their typical annual cut and past review of all "Panther" cars. This year adding something to the effect that even though the suspension had changed for '03, handling isn't improved, which is total BS.
they also still say the front seats are too soft. that was addressed by Ford some years ago!
The Marauder only got short mention under Grand Marquis as a GM with higher HP engine, and nothjing more said.

[SergntMac]

Only us owners know the truth about this car, it's unique and has made automotive history ala Buick GN and Impala SS. Who cares what the public at large thinks.

I'm not sold on the theory that FMC or LM failed us, they did produce the car they promised, and we have found countless was to tailor the MM to our own liking. I got nothing to ***** about.

[NYSP618]

Unfortunately, I agree, it seems like Mercury just put the car out there with a sink or swim attitude. No vehicle is going anywhere without a little of those advertising dollars behind them but like others I have mine and I guess I'll just have to keep it a little longer.

:)

[Logan]

Just received confirmation that it simply isn't true. FoMoCo never makes platform cancellation decisions that far into the future.

[Leadfoot]

My rebuttle:


Originally posted by JohnnyB
If Ford discontinues it because it's flop, then Ford is to blame and I'll give you my reasons:

1 - No advertisement, nothing... no TV commercials, nothing in the papers... Not so. I have seen an ad in Hot Rod magazine every issue for several months now. I have seen the comericials countless times on Speed channel. Hot Rod gave an MM away as a promotion give-away. There was a half hour imformercial on Speed which was shown several times. I still have it on the promotional DVD I got from Hot Rod magazine. There was plenty of advertisement. You don't see any for any SVT products. (There's really no need.) So, the MM has a ton of advertisement especially when compared to SVTs.
2 - Dealers know nothing about the car and deny the availability of options and different colors in the future
3 - Stupid "market adjustment" to the sticker price Supply and demand. I have heard the new 2003 Cobra going for $10,000 over sticker. If no one wants to pay it, it will not be added.
4 - Should have offered a supercharged engine option I don't disagree. I haven't driven an MM myself. But, those I talked to who have were disappointed about how it launched. There isn't enough low end torque.
5 - I think the general public is down on FoMoCo products What makes you think that?:confused: The F series is the best selling truck and vehicle in North America. The Focus was voted Car & Driver's top 10 for the fourth year in a row. It is also the best selling vehicle in the world I am told. I've heard nothing but love about the 2003 Cobra and the latest Lighning. Same goes for the new Aviator. The new Expedition is having record sales. The new Volvo XC90 has been winning many awards before it was even available.....

If it is discontinued, the automotive press will have a field day and slam and bash Mercury. The bottom line is that Ford will have failed in the performance car dep't.............. You forgot about the SVT Cobra, Lightning, and Focus. There's also Jaguar and Auston Martin. There's more to FoMoCo than the MM. Failed? That's too strong of a word. They would have failed if they didn't come out with the MM.

[SergntMac]

Well said, Joe, and you saved your best comment for last.

[Brett]

if discontinued, would not worry about aftermkt stuff. its all 4.6. the driveshaft on the other hand....

this might sound crazy, but i would buy some cheap, "rare", and dealer only parts, such as engine compartment decals, marauder logo floormats, while you can still get them. If i had the money and the space i would consider a rear bumper cover and front grill too. I never did this for my 87 mustang (which my family bought new), and wish i had.

would not fault Ford or the car, it is really a very narrow niche market.
I just hope i can still get a new one june 04 when i finish school....

[Joe Marauder]

Yes! the Marauder is dead after '04. So, get your Marauders while they last.

[LincMercLover]

LOL, is everyone ignoring Logan's statement...? It's NOT TRUE!

[the fat bastid]

logans comment could be taken 2 ways...
1) the line really isnt in any danger right now.
2) its spin. they will just officaly announce the dc later on..not right now.

so, hopefully 1 because i'm still saving for mine, dammnit!

[piglet]

Who cares if it gets ****-canned. I've got mine and you have yours, Hell If I could talk my wife out of here 2001 Volvo XC I would get her, her very own Marauder. That way I could mod mine and keep hers virgin (the Car) :-)

[Geo]

Many great muscle cars are short lived. The Impala SS was only for 3 years. The best Grand National was 1 year. The 70 Superbird was 1 year. The great Roadrunners were 68-70 and 1971. Nothing odd, I'm sure the planned Ford Galaxie will have a muscle car version aswell (RWD replacement for Australian Falcon, etc that the US is supposed to get a version of).

Variety is the spice of life.

GEO

[Murader03]

Logan: I started this thread as I saw the post from IMMC Board. I think we can kill it now. Thanks!

[Logan]

Next!!!!!!!